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• Input: capturing and assembling elements that enter the system to be processed.Example: Raw material, data and human effort must be organized for processing.

• Processing: transformation processes that convert input into output.Example: A manufacturing process.

• Output: transferring elements that have been produced by a transformation process.Example: finished products and management information must be transmitted to their human user.

Continued….

What is a System?

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What is a System? (cont.)

• Feedback: data about the performance of a system.Example: Data about sales performance is feedback to a sales manager.

• Control; monitoring and evaluating feedback to determine whether a system is moving toward the achievement of its goal.Example: a sales manager exercises control when reassigning salespersons to new sales territories after evaluating feedback about their sales performance.

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Example: Manufacturing system

ManufacturingProcess

Input ofRaw Materials

Output ofFinished Products

Environment

Other Systems

Control byManagement

ControlSignals

ControlSignals

FeedbackSignals

FeedbackSignals

System Boundary

4

An Information System Model

5

InformationSystems

Resources

People

So

ftware

Har

dw

are

Networks Data

Components of an Information System

6

IS Resources: People

• End-user: use IS or the information it produces, e.g: accountants, salespersons, customers, managers, etc.

• Most end-user are knowledge workers: spend most of their time communicating and collaborating in teams and workgroups and creating, using and distributing information.

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IS Resource: Hardware

• Includes all physical devices and materials uses in information processing.

• Computer systems: consist of central processing units

• Computer peripherals: devices such as a keyboard or electronic mouse for input of data and commands.

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IS Resource: Software

• Include all sets of information processing instructions.• System software: operating system, which controls and

supports the operations of a computer system.• Application software: programs that direct processing for

a particular use of computers by end-users, example: a sales analysis program, payroll program.

• Procedures: operating instruction for people who will use an IS, example: instruction for filling out a paper form or using a software package.

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IS Resource: Data

• Data resource of IS are typically organized, stored and accessed by a variety of data resource management technologies into:– Databases that hold processed and organized data– Knowledge bases that hold knowledge in a variety of

forms such as facts, rules and case examples about successful business practices.

• Example: data about sales transactions may be accumulated, processed and stored in a web-enabled sales database that can be accessed for sales analysis reports by managers.

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Data versus Information

• Data are objective measurements of the attributes (the characteristics) of entities (such as people, places, things and events).

• Information are data that have been converted into a meaningful and useful context for specific end users.

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IS Resource: Network

• Network resources include: – Communication media: include twisted-pair, coaxial

cable, and fiber-optic cable and microwave, cellular, and satellite wireless technologies

– Network support: many hardware, software and data technologies are needed to support the operation and use of a communication network.

• Example: communication processors (such as modem), communication control software (such as network OS and Internet browser packages).

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Data versus Information

1200100

WestCharles Mann

79154 TM Shoes

Monthly Sales Report for West Region

Sales Rep: Charles MannEmp No. 79154Item Qty Sold PriceTM Shoes 1200 $100

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IS Resource: Network

• Network resources include: – Communication media: include twisted-pair, coaxial

cable, and fiber-optic cable and microwave, cellular, and satellite wireless technologies

– Network support: many hardware, software and data technologies are needed to support the operation and use of a communication network.

• Example: communication processors (such as modem), communication control software (such as network OS and Internet browser packages).

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IS Activities

• Input of data resources

• Processing of data into information

• Output of information products

• Storage of data resources

• Control of system performance

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Input of data resources

• Data entry activities: recording, editing

• For example, data about sales transactions can be recorded on source documents (such as sales order forms).

• Alternately, salespersons can capture sales data using computer keyboards or optical scanning devices; they are visually prompted to enter data correctly by video displays.

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Processing of Data into Information

• Processing activities: calculating, comparing, classifying, and summarizing.

• For example: data of purchasing can be:1. Added to a running total of sales results2. Compared to a standard to determine eligibility for

a sales discount3. Sorted in numerical order based on product

identification numbers4. Classified into product categories (such as food

and non food items)5. Summarized to provide a sales manager with

information about various product categories)6. Used to update sales records.

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Output of Information Products

• Common information products: messages, reports, forms, and graphic images.

• May be provided by video displays, audio responses, paper products and multimedia.

• For example, a sales manager may view a video display to check on the performance of a sales-person, accept a computer-produced voice message by telephone, and receive a printout of monthly sales results.

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Storage of Data Resources

• Storage is the information system activity in which data and information are retained in an organized manner for later use.

• For example, text material is organized into words, sentences, paragraphs, and documents, stored data are commonly organized into a variety of data elements and databases.

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Control of System Performance

• An IS should produce feedback about its input, processing, output, and storage activities.

• This feedback must be monitored and evaluated to determine if the system is meeting established performance standards.

• For example, a manager may discover that subtotals of sales amounts in a sales report do not add up to total sales. This might mean that data entry or processing procedures need to be corrected. Then changes would be properly captured and processed by a sales information system.

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Attributes of Information Quality

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Chapter Summary (cont)

• A system is a group of interrelated components working toward the attainment of a common goal by accepting inputs and producing outputs in an organized transformation process.

• An information system uses the resources of people, hardware, software, data, and networks to perform input, processing, output, storage and control activities.

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• IS Resources:– Hardware Resources – Software Resources– People Resources– Data Resources– Network Resources

• Products:– Paper Reports– Visual Displays– Multimedia Documents– Electronic Messages– Graphics images– Audio Responses

Chapter Summary (cont)