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: learning synonyms - education, enlightenment, learning, wisdom, cognizance, information

9. Webster’s Dictionary

10. A statistical perspective

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

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

14. 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?

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

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

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

18. 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.
Hardware – physical device
Software – processing instructions and procedures
Communications channels – networks
Stored Data – data resources

19. What is a System? Generic Definition: IS 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

20. SYSTEM
INPUT
PROCESS
OUTPUT
FEEDBACK

21. 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

22. 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
System makes necessary adjustments to input and processing to make sure produces desired output

23. 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

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

25. 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

26. 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

27. Information System Resources

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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.

32. 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

33. 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.

34. 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

35. Information System Resources
Data Resources continued…
West Charles Mann
79154 TM Shoes
Monthly Sales Report
for West Region
Sales Rep: Charles Mann
Emp No
Item Qty Sold Price
TM Shoes $100

36. 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.

37. 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

38. 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

39. 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

40. 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

41. Information System Activities
Information Quality continued..

42. Information System Activities
Name
Field
Payroll
Record
File
Personnel
Database
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

43. 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

44. Business Processes and Operations
Roles of IS in Business
Support of
Strategic
Advantage
Business
Decision Making
Business Processes and Operations

45. History of Business Information Systems
Data
Processing
Management
Reporting
Decision
Support
Strategic &
End User
Electronic
Commerce
- TPS
Information
Systems
- Ad hoc
Reports
Computing
Exec Info Sys
Expert Systems
SIS
Business &
-Internetworked
E-Business &