Unit 2517 Module Designing Computer Based Information Systems

Characteristics of modern computer based information systems / Benefits & Drawbacks of ICT Systems

Benefits - Storage / Large amounts of data can be held on compact storage devices. This allows organisations to cut down on office space, rent and/or building purchase costs. Also allows for cleaner, tidier working environment.

Benefits - Efficiency / Increased processing speeds allow tasks to be completed more quickly by fewer people. Sending a letter using mail merge used to be a boring, time consuming task. Computers, therefore, allow the organisations to respond more quickly to clients needs.

Benefits - Quality of Information / Data held in digital form can be interrogated quickly and flexibly. Ie, searching for a client in a particular location is completed instantaneously. This leads to better quality information which improves the standard of decision making by the organisation.

Benefits - Quality of Information (2) / Data combined with data in other databases will enhance the information provision still further.

Benefits - Presentation / Computers allow organisations to present information about itself economically and in a visually impressive manner. DTP can be used to produce a newsletter with facts and figures. Presentation software could be used to make slide shows for meetings.

Benefits - New Services / The processing power of computers may enable an organisation to provide services that it previously couldn’t. Ie, online processing of transactions when previously the client would have had to visit the premises.

Drawbacks - Capital Investment / Setting up a computer-based system costs money. There is the initial investment of money on hardware and software. Periodically, updates will be necessary. Maintenance of the system costs money.

Drawbacks - Over dependence / Organisations can become to dependent on computer based systems. Occasionally they will malfunction. If the break down is critical, business could be lost. A worst case scenario is the organisation going bankrupt.

Drawbacks - Limitations / Computer based systems are limited by the capacity of hardware, quality of software and the speed of communication links. This requires significant ongoing capital investment. Failure to keep up with technological change can lead to restricting the efficiency of the whole system.

Drawbacks - Loss of flexibility / External changes can occur quickly. Organisations must be able to respond quickly. This can be impeded by systems that take time to change. Ie, if the tax bands changed, software would need rewriting. This could be time consuming.

Drawbacks - Staffing Difficulties / Introducing new ICT systems often means the retraining of staff. In some cases, specialist staff - who may be costly and in short supply - will need to be employed. In some instances, jobs will be lost. This is a cost saving for the organisation but not good news for the individual who looses the job.

Questions 1. Identify three capabilities that computer-based systems have, that give them an advantage over non-computer based systems. 2. Discuss some of the problems that are associated with the introduction of computer based systems. 3. What capabilities do computers have that make them ideal for database systems? 1. Identify three capabilities that computer-based systems have, that give them an advantage over non-computer based systems. 2. Discuss some of the problems that are associated with the introduction of computer based systems. 3. What capabilities do computers have that make them ideal for database systems?