Information Systems
Information SystemsRichard T. Watson (editor)University of GeorgiaCopyright 2007 by the Global Text ProjectThis book is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License
PrefaceThe Global Text Project (http://globaltext.org/) was initiated in early 2006 to develop a series of free,open content, electronic textbooks. A description of the Global Text Project is available on theproject’s.The impetus for developing the information systems text as one of the first in the series is based on:The worldwide community of IS academics is a closely-knit community. Individuals know eachother and have a long history of cooperating with each other on a global scale. Creation of anopen content textbook will require the cooperation of the worldwide community of faculty andtheir students, as well as practitioners.The IS community, of all academic communities, should be the one that is an early adopter oftechnology that holds the promise of being able to create a state-of-the-art textbook.The Information Systems textbook created by the community will be best-in-class, up-to-date, and,perhaps most importantly, made available at no cost to students anywhere in the world, butparticularly to students in the developing world.The overall approach of the textIntroductory information systems textbooks often present the topic in somewhat of a vacuum. That is,they focus on information systems without really succeeding in showing how IS is integrated inorganizations, how knowledge workers are supported, and how important IS is for an organization’ssuccess. Many undergraduate students do not understand why they are required to take an IS coursesince they are not IS majors. Many also expect the introductory course to focus on personalproductivity software. This textbook will teach students how to exploit IS in a technology-richenvironment. It will emphasize why, no matter what their major, information and communicationstechnologies (ICT) are, and increasingly will be, a critical element in their personal success and thesuccess of their organizations. In other words, they need to be introduced to concepts, principles,methods, and procedures that will be valuable to them for years to come in thinking about existingorganization systems, proposing new systems, and working with IS professionals in implementing newsystems.Students need to understand systems and the systems concept, and they need to understand the role ofICT in enabling systems. Students will learn the characteristics of good systems (e.g., intuitive, likable,error-resistant, fast, flexible, and the like). Knowing the characteristics of good systems will permitstudents to demand well-designed systems and to suggest how existing systems should be changed.Students need to understand the affordances, directions, and limits of hardware, software, andnetworks in both personal and organizational dimensions. They also need to appreciate that, astechnical capabilities change and new ones arise, more opportunities to apply ICT for efficiency,effectiveness, and innovation are afforded. They need to understand the process for developing andimplementing new or improved systems and the activities of IS professionals in this process.The distinction between information systems andinformation technologyWe distinguish clearly between information systems and information technology, a distinction thatseems lacking too often as the terms are often used interchangeably. We define these terms as follows:An information technology transmits, processes, or stores information.An information system is an integrated and cooperating set of software directed informationtechnologies supporting individual, group, organizational, or societal goals.In other words, IS applies IT to accomplish the assimilation, processing, storage, and dissemination ofinformation. Thus, PDAs, cellular phones, music players, and digital cameras as information systems.These devices use multiple information technologies to create personal information systems. SimilarlyInformation Systems2A Global Text
This book is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Licenseother information technologies, such as database, networks, and programming languages, are used tocreated organizational systems.3
Chapter 1 Being a Systems InnovatorChapter 1 Being a Systems InnovatorEditor: David A. Bray (Emory University)Contributors: Benn Konsynski, Joycelyn Streator (Emory University)Reviewer: John Beachboard (Idaho State University)Learning objectivesDefine what broadly constitutes a “system” and an “innovation”Describe examples of innovationDescribe how one might strive to be a systems innovatorDescribe the benefits of innovation to society at-largeIntroductionLet us welcome you the modern age, so full of promise both in terms of human and technologicalprogress! In this chapter, we address the role of innovation and being a systems innovator. Withoutsystems innovators, it is quite possible that our modern age would not be so full of promise andpotential. In fact, without systems innovators, humanity might never have reached modernity at all.Several historians say we humans are “modern” when we do not automatically reject new or foreignelements in society. For human society, modernity begins when communities began to explore,tolerate, and accept the new and diverse. Thus, modernity includes a receptiveness of human societiesto new ideas. Living in the modern age allows us to expect that modern enterprises and markets willtolerate and potentially reward to new ideas and new practice. In a modern age, those individuals whodesign insightful innovations (i.e., innovators) can be highly praised if their innovations are welltimed, well designed, and well implemented.As systems innovators, we welcome the modern age and strive to be open to new and beneficial ideasof change. Human societies value and evaluate new ideas by expected impact and effect. Modernmarkets and firms represent particular types of human organizations. Markets and firms canincorporate innovations by changing either their design or practices.Being a systems innovatorLet us briefly consider the meaning of the essential words in the title: “systems” and “innovator”(defining “being” is something we will leave to the philosophers).Systems are the object of particular designs. Broadly speaking, systems involve the organization ofthings, logical and physical. Systems include data, processes, policies, protocols, skill sets, hardware,software, responsibilities, and other components that define the capabilities of an organization.Systems include human and non-human aspects. The components, or parts, of a specific system can beeither real or abstract. Components comprise an aggregate “whole” where each component of a systeminteracts with at least one other component of the system. Cumulatively, all the components of asystem serve a common system objective. Systems may contain subsystems, which are systems untothemselves that include a smaller set of interactions among components for a more narrowly definedobjective. Systems may also connect with other systems. The following diagram (Exhibit 1) illustratesan example system.Information Systems4A Global Text
This book is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 LicenseExhibit 1: A sample systemInnovation is the process of “making improvements by introducing something new” to a system. Tobe noteworthy, an innovation must be substantially different, not an insignificant change oradjustment. It is worth noting that innovation is more a verb than a noun in our context. Innovation issimilar to the word evolution, which derives from the Latin root for staying “in motion.” Systemsinnovations often include an expectation of forward motion and improvement. To be worthwhile,innovations must be worth the cost of replacement, substitution, or upgrades of the existing order.The term innovation may refer to both radical and incremental changes to products, processes, orservices. The often unspoken goal of innovation is to solve a problem. Innovation is an important topicin the study of economics, business, technology, sociology, and engineering. Since innovations are amajor driver of the economy, the factors that lead to innovation are also critical to government policymakers. In an organizational context, innovations link to performance and growth throughimprovements in efficiency, productivity, quality, competitive positioning, market share, etc. Allorganizations can innovate, including for example hospitals, universities, and local governments.Rather than construct a narrow definition of innovation, it is useful to think of innovation as including,but not limited by, a few key dimensions. Successful innovations include these dimensions.The first dimension is that of innovation form. Innovations manifest in many ways, but generally areeither tangible or intangible. Tangible innovations result in new goods, services, or systems that youcan physically touch. Examples include the introduction of new products or a style of architecture.Intangible innovations include the creation of new services, processes, modes of operating, orthinking. Intangible innovations might introduce greater efficiency into an existing process or createan entirely new way of doing something. For example, an innovation could reduce the time required tomanufacture a car. This intangible innovation might translate into greater profits for a carmanufacturer.The second dimension is that of innovation degree. Innovation degree compares a particularinnovation to that of the status quo. In 1980, a researcher named John Hage introduced the concept of“radical” versus “incremental” innovation. An incremental innovation introduces an idea, process, ortechnological device that provides a slight improvement or causes minor change in a normal routine.Sometimes the impact of incremental innovation may require only minor adjustments in the behavior,processes, or equipment associated with a system. A manufacturing facility upgrading to a new version5
Chapter 1 Being a Systems Innovatorof software that provides additional features to enhance existing operations is an example of anincremental innovation.Conversely, radical innovations introduce an idea, process, or technological device that dramaticallyalters a current system. For example, if a manufacturing firm acquired a new technology that allowedthe firm to completely redefine and streamline its production processes, then this new technologyrepresents a radical innovation. Often radical innovations involve not only new technologies andprocesses, but also necessitate the creation of entirely new patterns of behaviors.Systems innovators are individuals who design and implement innovations. To design refers to theprocess of developing a structural plan for an object. Systems innovators are individuals whotransform the practice of organizations, markets, or society by making significant forward movingimprovements. Systems innovators seek to designs that improve on the old to take advantage of newtechnologies, new techniques and new practice and processes. We would suggest that systemsinnovators not only recognize that social and economic structures are all human-made, but alsorecognize that human structures are always open to changes, enhancements, and redesign.It is important to recognize that systems operate within systems. Identifying the connections andlayers of these systems will make you a successful systems innovator. Often identifying newconnections or new layers that no one else has identified yet can provide new opportunities forinnovation.This book seeks to discuss with you the capabilities, approaches, and skills required of the systemsinnovator in the 21st century. How does one prepare for the assessment, evaluation, design, andimplementation of the improvements to systems, particularly those that incorporate informationtechnologies, particularly those systems that incorporate information technologies?Systems innovators are designersSociologists note that humans are unique in their invention and adoption of tools. Among thesehuman-made tools are the systems and procedures that govern, direct, and enable modern societies tofunction. These tools also include the systems that enable the actions of commerce and exchange.Systems enable patterns of work and reward and the conduct of participants in enterprise. For ourmodern age, systems have never been more relevant as the speed of society and the enhancement ofinformation access and opportunity for social interaction increase. Almost all aspects of moderncommerce, modern society, and modern life are connected the designs of humanity. Much of whatdefines the pace and practices of our modern age are systems and technology-enabled.Designers matter. To be a designer implies the task of creating something, or of being creative in aparticular area of expertise. Part of being a systems innovator includes being a designer. It is worthconsidering that the fields of “systems design” and “organization design” are similar as bothincorporate creatable, changeable, and linkable elements.Designers seek the requirements and expectations, identify the objectives and measurements ofsuccess, give structure to the elements, and form to the components of systems. Success or failurehinge on the ability of a designer to attain the proper requirements and expectations of a system. Forexample, a systems innovator plans to design a new cell phone network for 500,000 subscribers.Unfortunately, the innovator fails to include the requirement of future growth of the cell phonenetwork to 2,000,000 individuals in five years. When the network is built, per the design of theinnovator, new cell phone subscribers must be turned-away from accessing the network because of theomitted designer requirement. Since the designer failed to include the proper requirements, thisomission diminishes the success of the system.In addition to developing a structural plan for a system, designers must manage the process of systemsdevelopment, to include overseeing systems implementation, adoption, and continuing operation.Design also sometimes involves the augmentation and extension of an existing system. Part of being asystems innovator includes the enhancement of an existing or legacy system with a new idea, method,or technological device. Extending the life of a useful system, or upgrading capabilities to better alignwith the enterprise objective, may be the best service of the systems innovator. Often, it is easier toenhance an existing system, than it is to decode, decipher, or replace such a system.Information Systems6A Global Text
This book is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 LicenseSocial systems are tools designed by humanity. These systems reflect the bias and the values of thedesigners, or those that task the designers with requirements and expectations. Thus, designers, whocreate rules, influence systems greatly. Essential elements of the process and product of systemdevelopment include the unique style and preferences of a designer.Designers leave their mark, their trail, and their values reflected in the tools they produce. Style andpreferences also guide systems implementation. It is also important to note that systems are networksof interacting elements. Thus, the aggregate “whole” of a large system may be more capable, stronger,or beneficial than the sum of its individual components – or it might be less so. Systems amplify thestrengths and the weakness of their design. Ideally, well-designed systems amplify the benefits of theirindividual components.Innovations are new answers to problemsThe concept of innovation has been widely studied, yet it remains a difficult topic to define. MerriamWebster’s online dictionary describes innovation as “the introduction of something new” or “a newidea, method, or device.” While this definition provides a good starting point for our discussion ofinnovation, there are still a number of dimensions to consider for a more thorough understanding ofthe concept. Careful observation of our surroundings reveals a multitude of innovations. Everythingfrom electricity to running water, or from personal computers to cell phones, represents some form oninnovation from past systems.Innovations are not limited to tangible products. Innovations also occur when processes aredramatically improved. For example, through advances in cell phones, very little human effort isrequired to communicate a message across great distances quickly. More than 100 years ago, thesimilar transactions would have required significant manual work and time for a message to be sent bypostal mail.Many things can trigger innovation. An individual or team of individuals may seek to address anexisting problem, respond to a new situation, or explore new ability.While innovations typically add value, innovations may also have a negative or destructive effect asnew developments clear away or change old organizational forms and practices. Organizations that donot innovate effectively may die or be destroyed by those organizations that do. Systems innovators arecritical to our modern age. Innovators must insure that their envisioned innovations are appropriate tothe environment of today and tomorrow.Innovations are also reactions to changeWhile innovation can occur as individuals and groups wrestle with new problems, innovation can alsobe reactionary and occur as a response to unplanned changes. The ancient philosopher Heraclatusonce said: “there is nothing permanent except change.”The statement is certainly true today in our high tech world. Advances in computing power,communication technologies, and networking of computers around the world has quickened the paceat which dramatic change can occur across large and diverse groups of electronically connected people.Innovation often arises as a way of coping with, attempting to control, or benefit from changes.Changes in the use of information technology often provide the impetus for innovation. There might beinstances where local conditions encourage a particular innovation. For example, if past historicalconditions prevented installation of wired telephone networks because they were too expensive, butnow cell phone networks are both more affordable and available; the innovation of cell phonenetworks might open up new capabilities for areas that previously did not have such technology. Ascell phone networks networks become more prevalent, the ways individuals communicate, compute,and exchange information will change and local companies may seek to introduce cell phones withnew features that adapt to these changing communications patterns.Exciting times for systems innovatorsWe live in exciting times for systems innovators. Advances in electronic communications, airlinetransportation, and international shipping, increasingly connect the lives of multiple individuals7
Chapter 1 Being a Systems Innovatorthroughout the world. Such connective advances are part of a greater trend known as globalization.For the modern age, globalization includes the opening of commercial markets, increased free tradeamong nations, and increased education for a larger number of people. With globalization, what youdo may influence events on the other side of the world.With globalization, environments for organizations, both businesses and world governments, arebecoming more complex. The reasons for this increased environmental complexity include “the fourV's,” specifically:increased Volume (from local to global context in terms of transactions)increased Velocity (faster transactions between people)increased Volatility (organizations change and reorganize faster)increased concerns regarding Veracity (the truth is harder to distinguish)For systems innovators, it is important to recognize this perspective of increased complexity. Thisperspective is important both
commerce, modern society, and modern life are connected the designs of humanity. Much of what defines the pace and practices of our modern age are systems and technology-enabled. Designers matter. To be a designer implies the task of creating something, or of being creative in a particular area of expertise.
on systems science and engineering within the IEEE SMC So-ciety. They include autonomous and bio-inspired robotic and unmanned systems, blockchain, conflict resolution and group decision making, enterprise systems, infrastructure systems, intelligent systems, model-based systems engineering, service systems, system of systems, and system biology.
Course Title: - Management Information Systems Course No: - MCA-209-EA Unit 1 Organizations and Information Systems Organizations and information systems have a mutual influence on each other. The information needs of an organization affect the design of information systems and an organization must be open itself to the influences of .
Operating Systems, Embedded Systems, and Real-Time Systems Janez Puhan Ljubljana, 2015. CIP-CatalogingInPublication NationalandUniversityLibrary,Ljubljana 004.451(078.5)(0.034.2) PUHAN,Janez,1969-Operating Systems, Embedded Systems, and Real-Time Systems [Electronic
DIGGING SYSTEMS PARTS CATALOG SPRING 2017. . 08 The DuraTooth Advantage 10 19K Digging Systems 12 33K Digging Systems 16 35K Digging Systems 20 33K/35K Digging Systems 24 50K Digging Systems 36 70K Digging Systems 40 70K/110K Digging Systems . It's no different with digging chain. Ditch Witch .
Business Intelligence Systems KID Systems Application Systems Technical Systems Communications Systems Legal Systems Quality Systems Security Systems Business Domain Strategies . L2. Emergent System Models PIMs,
Information systems can be viewed as formal organizational systems aimed to collect, process store and distribute information. Computer information systems are usually composed of computers, infrastructure and people. Information systems can be broadly categorized into four main categories.
Inventory management 5. Human resource management Types of Information Systems: Transaction Processing System (TPS): . Electronic Document Management Systems 3) Electronic Message Communication Systems 4) Teleconferencing and Video -conferencing Systems. QRP Ch 1. Information Systems Concepts ( Pg 5) Sumit Shanker (FCA, DISA, CISA)
Other major categories are expert systems, knowledge management systems, strategic information systems, and functional business systems. However, in the real world most application . Give examples to illustrate how the business applications of information systems can support a firm's business processes, managerial decision-making, and .
