Midterm1 Overview Feb. 26, 2004

1. Midterm1 OverviewFeb. 26, 2004 • Appendix A – IS Hardware • Appendix B – IS Software • Appendix C – Computer Networking

2. Chapter 1 Objectives • Understand the term information systems (IS) • Understand IS components: • Technology, people, organizations • Understand IS career opportunities • Understand types of information systems • Understand IS and organizational success or failure • Understand the future of IS management

3. Information Systems Defined Combinations of hardware, software, and telecommunications networks that people build and use to collect, create, and distribute useful data in organizations

4. Key Elements of Information Systems

5. Knowledge as a Business Resource • Knowledge Worker • A well-educated professional who creates, modifies, or synthesizes knowledge in one’s profession • Information-literate knowledge workers • Can define what information they need • Know how and where to obtain that information • Understand the information once they receive it • Can act appropriately based on the information • Knowledge Society • Also called digital society, new economy • Working with brains instead of hands • The importance of education • Digital divide

6. Data • Data: raw material, unformatted information • Information: processed data (meaningful) • Knowledge: understanding relationships between pieces of information • Wisdom: knowledge accumulated and applied

7. Technology and Information Systems • Computer-Based Information Systems • One type of technology • Technology – any mechanical and/or electrical means to supplement, extend, or replace human activity • Information Technology (IT) – machine technology controlled by or using information • The goal of IS is to provide useful data to users • IS can be local or global, organizational or enterprise-wide

8. Goals of Information technology • Increase employee productivity: reducing the time, errors, and costs associated with processing (OLTP, TPS, CIS) • Enhance decision making: generate alternatives, recommend solutions, drill down through information (OLTP, DSS, GIS, EIS, AI, Data warehouses) • Improve team collaboration: by sharing info (Collaboration System, Groupware) • Create business partnerships: helping work together to provide better and more timely products and services (IOS, EDI) • Enable global reach: marketing your product all over the world, take advantage of a cheaper/larger workforce (Internet, Translation phones) • Facilitate organizational transformation: responding to the ever-changing needs of today’s marketplace.

9. Careers in IS • Systems Analyst • Systems Programmer • Systems Consultant • Database Administrator • Webmaster • IS Director • Chief Information Officer • Professor • Government scientist

10. Chief Information Officer (CIO) • Responsible for organization’s IS • Executive level • Became prominent in 1980s • Challenges • Tightening budgets • Expectation management • Subordinates • Mid-level managers • IS directors • Project managers

11. CIO IS director Account Executive Info Center Manager Development Manager Project Manager Maintenance Manager Systems Manager IS planning Manager Operations Manager Programming Manager Systems Programming Manager Manager of Emerging Technologies Telecommunications Manager Network Manager Database Administrator Auditing or Computer Security Manager Quality Assurance Manager Webmaster IS Managerial Personnel

12. The High Value of IS Personnel • Supply and demand • Aggressive recruiting • High salaries • Broad demand • Large and small companies • Urban and rural

13. Integrating Skills and Knowledge • Technology • hardware, software, networking • Business • business, management, social, communications • Systems • Integration, development methods, critical thinking, problem solving

14. Hot Skills in IS Workers • Office / E-mail • Languages • Applications • RDBS Administration • Development Tools • Internetworking • Operating Systems • NOS LAN Administration • Networking

15. The Organizational Side of IS • Transaction Processing System • Management Information System • Executive Information System • Decision Support System • Expert System • Functional Area Information System • Office Automation System (a.k.a. Personal Productivity Software) • Collaboration System • Customer Relationship Management System • Electronic Commerce System • Enterprise Resource Planning System

16. Disaster Plans for IS • That IS is crucial to corporate success is illustrated by the need for disaster planning • September 11 • Are companies prepared now? • What’s at stake • The consequences of failing to plan

17. The Dual Nature of IS • Systems can dictate success or failure • Case 1: Denver International Airport • Case 2: Federal Express • Factors affecting success/failure: • Size and complexity of project • Size and nature of organization

18. IS for Competitive Advantage • Strategic Systems to help gain or sustain some competitive advantage: whether the organization is large or small, every organization can find a way to use information technology to beat its rivals • Competition: doing things faster, better, cheaper • How can systems gain one’s organization a competitive advantage?

19. International Outsourcing • United States executives are becoming increasingly comfortable with outsourcing projects to companies that do the work in remote locations at lower prices than can be found domestically. • Increase productivity • Cost savings: goal is 25% cost savings on outsourcing • India has been a prime source of offshore programmers and project managers for information systems projects within companies in the United States.

20. IS Within the Firm • Traditionally a love/hate relationship • “Techies” vs. mere “users” (us vs. them) • Poor service, lousy attitudes • Now: progress toward better customer service • Better relationships within the company • Cooperation, not rivalry

21. Staying Current with IS News • Great sources for IS current info: • informationweek.com • computerworld.com • cio.com

22. The Spread of Technology in Organizations • Technology infiltrates business units • Dual role for IS workers: • Work with IS technical group • Work with business unit (marketing, finance, etc.)