What is an Information system
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The document defines an information system as a collection of technical and human resources that provide storage, computing, distribution, and communication for information required by an enterprise. It notes that a management information system provides information for managing an enterprise. The key components of an information system are hardware, software, data, procedures, and people. It then describes the functions and advantages of information systems for businesses, including allowing users to access and understand information quickly to respond effectively. Finally, it outlines the steps to build and maintain an information system, including planning, design, development/testing, implementation, operations/maintenance, and maintenance/disposition.
What is an Information system
- 1. INFORMATION SYSTEM Is the collection of technical and human resources that provide the storage, computing, distribution, and communication for the information required by all or some part of an enterprise. A special form of Information System is a management information system (MIS), which provides information for managing an enterprise. An information service is a common name for an organization within an enterprise that is responsible for its data processing and information system or systems. Components of information system Hardware: The term hardware refers to machinery. This category includes the computer itself, which is often referred to as the central processing unit (CPU), and all of its support equipments. Among the support equipments are input and output devices, storage devices and communications devices. 2. Software: The term software refers to computer programs and the manuals (if any) that support them. Computer programs are machine-readable instructions that direct the circuitry within the hardware parts of the CBIS to function in ways that produce useful information from
- 2. data. Programs are generally stored on some input / output medium, often a disk or tape. 3. Data:Data are facts that are used by programs to produce useful information. Like programs, data are generally stored in machine-readable form on disk or tape until the computer needs them. Procedures . Procedures refer to the outline of a course of action. They direct the interaction of human with hardware, software and data base. In other words , procedures are the policies and methods to be followed in using , operating and maintain an information systems 5. People:Every information system needs people if it is to be useful. Often the most over- looked element of the CBIS are the people, probably the component that most influence the success or failure of information systems. Input is anything we wish to embed in a system for some type of use. A variety of sources are used to input: keyboard, scanner, microphone, mouse, even another computer. What we input has a purpose - but until it is processed and generated in some form of output, it doesn't do us much good. Processing takes place in the internal parts of the computer. It is the act of taking inputted data and converting it to something usable. What we typically see on the screen in today's computer world (known as what you see is what you get or WYSIWYG) is the result of our input being processed by some program so we can have usable output: an English paper, an edited photograph, this video you're watching. Output, or processed information in a usable format, comes in many different forms: monitor or printer for visual work, a speaker for audio. Sometimes our output is short-term, such as printing a photo, and sometimes what we work on needs to be kept around for a while. That's where storage comes in. Storage is the term used to indicate we will be saving data for a period of time. We store for many reasons: for future reference; to prevent full loss of data; because we forget to purge.
- 3. But, storage is vital. There are several mediums on which we can keep output and processed data: a hard disk, a USB drive, a CD Functions of an information system The hardware must be reliable and maintain the ability to handles various workloads. Software must be designed carefully and evaluated in such a way as to maximize its effectiveness. All the data entered into the computer must be accurate. The people who maintain these systems must be highly skilled and knowledgeable enough to be able to handle the latest information systems, and the users must be taught how to operate the system. There are many advantages of implementing information systems for businesses. It allows the user to access and to understand the information therefore allowing them to respond to information quickly and effectively. The user can get the most accurate and up-to-date information quickly which is very important for businesses as these decisions affect the business. In addition to this, information systems also allow users to alternate and present information, as well as perform different tasks. B, Information system planning is a set of activities directed toward achieving three objectives recognizing organizational opportunities and problems where IS might be applied successfully. Identifying the resources needed to allow information system to be applied successfully to these opportunities and problems; and developing strategies and procedures to allow IS to be applied successfully to these opportunities and problems. (Hann & Weber, 1996, p. 1044). 1. Comprehensiveness Comprehensiveness is “the extent to which an organization attempts to be exhaustive or inclusive in making and integrating strategic decisions”. 2. Formalization
- 4. Formalization is “the existence of structures, techniques, written procedures, and policies that guide the planning process”. 3. Focus Focus is “the balance between creativity and control orientations inherent within the strategic planning system”. An innovative orientation emphasizes innovative solutions to deal with opportunities and threats. An integrative orientation emphasizes control, as implemented through budgets, resource allocation, and asset management. 4. Top-down flow SISP should be initiated by top managers, with the aid of support staff. 5. Broad participation Even though the planning flow is top-down, participation must involve multiple functional areas and, as necessary, key stakeholders at lower levels of the organization.
- 5. Qn 2 Steps followed to build and maintain and information system 1. Planning and Requirements Definition. This phase begins after the project has been defined and appropriate resources have been committed. The first portion of this phase involves collecting, defining and validating functional, support and training requirements. The second part is developing initial planning Process management plans, including project planning, project management, Configuration Management (CM), support, operations, and training management. 2. Design. During this phase, functional, support and training requirements are translated into preliminary and detailed designs. Decisions are made to address how the system will meet functional requirements. A preliminary (general) system design, emphasizing the functional features of the system, is produced as a high-level guide. Then a final (detailed) system design is produced that expands the design by specifying all the technical detail needed to develop the system. 3. Development and Testing. During this phase, systems are developed or acquired based on detailed design specifications. The system is validated through a sequence of unit, integration, performance, system, and acceptance testing. The objective is to ensure that the system functions as expected and that sponsor's requirements are satisfied. All system components, communications, applications, procedures, and associated documentation are eveloped/acquired, tested, and integrated. This phase requires strong user participation in order to verify thorough testing of all requirements and to meet all business needs. 4. Implementation. During this phase, the new or enhanced system is installed in the production environment, users are trained, data is converted (as needed), the system is turned over to the sponsor, and business processes are evaluated. This phase includes efforts required to implement, resolve system problems identified during the implementation process, and plan for sustainment. 5. Operations and Maintenance. The system becomes operational during this phase. The emphasis during this phase is to ensure that sponsor needs continue to be met and that the system continues to perform according to specifications. Routine hardware and software maintenance
- 6. and upgrades are performed to ensure effective system operations. User training continues during this phase, as needed, to acquaint new users to the system or to introduce new features to current users. Additional user support is provided, as an ongoing activity, to help resolve reported problems. 6. maintenance . This phase represents the end of the system's planning Process. It provides for the systematic termination of a system to ensure that vital information is preserved for potential future access and/or reactivation. The system, when placed in the Disposition Phase, has been declared surplus and/or obsolete and has been scheduled for shutdown. The emphasis of this phase is to ensure that the system (e.g., equipment, parts, software, data, procedures, and documentation) is packaged and disposed of in accordance with appropriate regulations and requirements. Diagram showing information system development
- 7. Reference: (1) Segars, A.H., Grover, V., and Teng, J.T.C. (1998), “Strategic information systems planning: planning system dimensions, internal coalignment, and implications for planning effectiveness”, Decision Sciences, Vol 29 No 2, pp. 303-345.