Midterm1 OverviewFeb. 26, 2004

• Appendix A – IS Hardware

• Appendix B – IS Software

• Appendix C – Computer Networking

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

Information Systems Defined

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

Key Elements of Information Systems

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

Data

• Data: raw material, unformatted information

• Information: processed data (meaningful)

• Knowledge: understanding relationships between pieces of information

• Wisdom: knowledge accumulated and applied

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

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.

Careers in IS

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

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

IS Managerial Personnel1. CIO2. IS director3. Account Executive4. Info Center Manager5. Development Manager6. Project Manager7. Maintenance Manager8. Systems Manager9. IS planning Manager10. Operations Manager11. Programming Manager

12. Systems Programming Manager

13. Manager of Emerging Technologies

14. Telecommunications Manager15. Network Manager16. Database Administrator17. Auditing or Computer Security

Manager18. Quality Assurance Manager19. Webmaster

The High Value of IS Personnel

• Supply and demand– Aggressive recruiting– High salaries– Broad demand

• Large and small companies

• Urban and rural

Integrating Skills and Knowledge

• Technology– hardware, software, networking

• Business– business, management, social, communications

• Systems– Integration, development methods, critical

thinking, problem solving

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

The Organizational Side of IS1. Transaction Processing System2. Management Information System3. Executive Information System4. Decision Support System5. Expert System6. Functional Area Information System7. Office Automation System (a.k.a. Personal

Productivity Software)8. Collaboration System9. Customer Relationship Management System10. Electronic Commerce System11. Enterprise Resource Planning System

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

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

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?

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.

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

Staying Current with IS News

• Great sources for IS current info:– informationweek.com– computerworld.com– cio.com

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.)