1 / 42

What is an information system?

What is an information system?. Processes information Requires knowledge of what information is How much information is available Static vs dynamic Explict vs implicit How it is used and structured information management How it’s managed. What is Information?.

pgreg
Download Presentation

What is an information system?

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. What is an information system? • Processes information • Requires knowledge of what information is • How much information is available • Static vs dynamic • Explict vs implicit • How it is used and structured • information management • How it’s managed

  2. What is Information? "Information is produced when data are processed so that they are placed within some context in order to convey meaning to a recipient." Information permits decisions, actions, predictions, etc.

  3. What is Information From the web:

  4. What is Information • Structural / Ontological / context • State based • Representations / rules • Functional / active • Language / communication • Social

  5. What is knowledge? • Data - Facts, observations, or perceptions. • Information - Subset of data, only including those data that possess context, relevance, and purpose. • Knowledge -A more simplistic view considers knowledge as being at the highest level in a hierarchy with data (at the lowest level) and information (at the middle level). • Data refers to bare facts void of context. • A telephone number. • Information is data in context. • A phone book. • Knowledge is information that facilitates action. • Recognizing that a phone number belongs to a good client, who needs to be called once per week to get his orders.

  6. From Facts to Wisdom(Haeckel & Nolan, 1993)one example of the hierarchy

  7. What is knowledge? • Knowledge -A more complex view considers knowledge as intrinsically different from information. Instead of considering knowledge as richer or more detailed set of facts, we define knowledge in an area as justified beliefs about relationships among concepts relevant to that particular area.

  8. What is Information? • INFORMATION What is told: knowledge.synonyms - intelligence, knowledge, news • DATA series of facts: information • KNOWLEDGE What one knows: learningsynonyms - education, enlightenment, learning, wisdom, cognizance, information

  9. What is Information • An aspect of intelligence? • Derivative to its use • An aspect of life? • Innate to physical reality? • Innate code, ex DNA, etc.

  10. Characteristics of Information • Invariant • Dynamic • Personal • Situational • Cultural • An act versus a fact • Additive • Symbolic

  11. http://cognet.mit.edu/MITECS/Entry/cover.html

  12. What is Information • Common model: a representation of data • When possible formalize the information process • Interoperability • Standards • What is formalization? • Logical or mathematical representation • Natural language definitions are becoming formal • Why formal definitions of information? • Examples?

  13. Formalization/automation/digitization of Information Advantages: • Costs • Reproducibility • Scalability • Automation • Interpretation • Others?

  14. Consequences of Information • Information can lead to • Decisions • Actions • Contemplation • Laws • More information

  15. Information Systems Systems that integrate individual components and the interaction among these components • Hardware • Computation vs commuication • Software - middleware • Functional • Operational • Users/operators

  16. What is an Information System? • Simple Definition: It can be any organized combination of people, hardware, software, communications networks and data resources that collects, transforms, and communicates information in an organization.

  17. What is a System? • Generic Definition: A group of interrelated or interacting elements forming an unified whole • IS Definition A group of interrelated components working together toward a common goal by accepting inputs and accepting outputs in an organized transformation process

  18. SYSTEM INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT FEEDBACK

  19. Basic System Components • Input Capturing and assembling elements that enter the system to be processed. Ex: raw materials, energy, data • Processing Involves transformation processes that convert input into output. Ex. Manufacturing processes, mathematical calculations • Output Involves transferring elements that have been produced by a transformation process to their ultimate destination. Ex: finished products to their human users

  20. Additional Components • Feedback Data about the performance of a system. Ex: Data about sales performance is feedback to a sales manager • Control Monitoring and evaluating feedback and control components to determine whether a system is moving toward the achievement of its goal. Ex. Reassigning salespeople after evaluating their performance

  21. Other Characteristics • Environment Other systems that the system interacts with • Subsystem A system that is a component in a larger system • Interface Means in which a system is connected to another • Open system A system that interacts with other systems in its environment • Adaptive System A system that has the ability to change itself or its environment in order to survive

  22. Environment Control by Management Feedback Signals Feedback Signals Control Signals Control Signals Input of Raw Materials Output of Finished Products Manufacturing Process System Boundary Other Systems Diagram of a System - manufacturing example

  23. Components of an IS • Four major concepts • People, hardware, software, data and networks are the five basic resources of information systems • People resources include end users, IS specialists, hardware resources consist of machines and media, software resources include both programs and procedures, data resources can include data and knowledge bases, and networks include communications media and networks

  24. Components of an IS • Four major concepts continued… • Data resources are transformed by information processing activities into a variety of information products for end users • Information processing consists of input, processing, output, storage, and control activities

  25. Information System Resources

  26. Information System Resources • People Resources • End Users – the people who use an information system or the information it produces. Ex: Accountants, salespeople, customers • IS Specialists – the people who develop and operate information systems based on the requirements of end users. Ex: programmers, analysts, system operators

  27. Information System Resources • Hardware Resources • Machines, such as computers and other devices, and media, such as paper, disks • Computer Systems such as the personal computer (desktop), mainframe, or laptop • Computer peripherals such as keyboard, mouse, monitor, scanner, printer, disks, PDAs • Networks, such as internet, LAN, WAN, switches, wireless • Telecommunication devices such cell phones, PDAs

  28. Information System Resources • Software Resources • Programs – sets of operating instructions that direct and control computer hardware • Procedures – sets of information processing instructions that people need

  29. Information System Resources • Software Resources continued • System Software – such as operating system that supports the operations of a computer system. Ex. Windows 98 • Middleware – Software that serves as an intermediary between systems software and an application. • Application Software – programs that direct processing for a particular use of computers by end users. Ex. Excel • Procedures – operating instructions for people who will use an IS. Ex. Instructions for filling out a form.

  30. Information System Resources • Data Resources • Types of data • Text • Image • Audio • Video • Sensor • Computed • Data Storage • Databases – hold processed and organized data • Knowledge bases – hold knowledge in a variety of forms such as facts, rules, and case examples of successful business practices • File structures • Flat files - unstructured data • Metadata • Indices

  31. Information System Resources • Data Resources continued… • Data Vs. Information • Data – raw facts or observations, objective measurements of the characteristics of entities such as people, places, things and events • Information – data that has been converted to a meaningful and useful context for specific end users.

  32. Information System Resources • Data Resources continued… • Data is subjected to a value-added process • Its form is aggregated, manipulated and organized • Its content is analyzed and evaluated • It is placed in a proper context for a human user • Called data processing or information processing

  33. Monthly Sales Report for West Region 1200 100 West Charles Mann 79154 TM Shoes Sales Rep: Charles Mann Emp No. 79154 ItemQty SoldPrice TM Shoes 1200 $100 Information System Resources • Data Resources continued…

  34. Information System Resources • Network Resources • Communication media – Twisted pair wire, coaxial cable, fiber-optic cable and microwave, cellular, and satellite technologies • Network support – people and all of the hardware, software, and data technologies that directly support the operation and use of a communication network.

  35. Information System Activities • Input of Data Resources • Data about business transactions and other events must be captured and prepared for processing • Input typically takes the form of data entry activities such as recording and editing • End users typically enter data directly into a computer system or record it on some physical media such as a paper form

  36. Information System Activities • Processing of Data into Information • Data is subjected to processing activities such as calculating, comparing, sorting, classifying and summarizing • This organizes, analyzes, and manipulated data, turning it into information • The quality of data stored in an information system must be maintained by a continual process of correcting and updating activities

  37. Information System Activities • Output of Information Products • The goal of information systems is the production of appropriate information products for end users • Examples are messages, reports, forms and graphic images which may be provided by video displays, audio responses, paper products, and multimedia

  38. Information System Activities • Information Quality • Information that is outdated, inaccurate, or hard to understand is not meaningful, useful, or valuable to end users • Information products should have characteristics, attributes, and qualities that make the information more valuable to the end users • Information has three dimensions of time, form, and content

  39. Information System Activities • Information Quality continued..

  40. Name Field Payroll Record Payroll File Personnel Database Information System Activities • Storage of Data Resources • Data and information are retained in an organized manner for later use • Stored data is commonly organized into fields, records, files, and databases

  41. Information System Activities • Control of System Performance • An IS should produce feedback about its input, processing, output, and usage activities • This feedback must be monitored and evaluated to determine if the system is meeting performance standards • Activities must be adjusted so that proper information products are produced for end users

  42. 1970-1980 1950-1960 1960-1970 1980-1990 1990-2000 Strategic & End User Management Reporting Data Processing Electronic Commerce Decision Support Electronic Data Processing - TPS Management Information Systems Decision Support Systems - Ad hoc Reports End User Computing Exec Info Sys Expert Systems SIS Electronic Business & Commerce -Internetworked E-Business & Commerce History of Business Information Systems

More Related