chapter 1

CHAPTER 1  

The Modern Organization Functioning in a Global Environment

* what is IT & IS ?  
- Information Technology (IT) is all forms of technology (tool) used to create, store, exchange and use information.

- Information Systems (IS) is the combination of technology (the “what”), people (the “who”) and process (the “how”) that organization uses to produce and manage information.

* Why Should I Study Information Systems?

•  the most connected generation in history.

• practice continuous computing.

• surrounded by a personal, movable information network

•  pull information from the Web and push your ideas back to the web . 

* Become  Informed User : 

 nInformed User:  a person knowledgeable about information systems and information technology

ØTend to get more value from whatever technologies / systems they use

ØImprove the organizations’ performance, productivity and team work

ØHelp selecting new information systems / applications

ØBuild your own company (entrepreneur) 

* Digital Nomads:  is someone who uses information technologies such as smart phones,  wireless Internet access, and Web-based applications to work remotely from anywhere. 

* Managing Information Resources: 

• Traditional Functions of MIS Department 

               Example: manage data center

• Consultative Functions of MIS Department

                 Example: create business alliances

* Overview of Computer-Based Information Systems : 

• Data: elementary description of things, events, activities and transactions that are recorded, classified and stored but are not organized to convey any specific meaning.

• Information: data that is organized and structured within a context, and provides meaning. 

• Knowledge: information organized and processed to convey understanding, experience, accumulated learning and expertise as they apply to a current problem or activity. 

two types of knowledge : 

1- Explicit knowledge

2- Tacit knowledge

* Computer-based information systems:  are information systems that use computer technology to perform some or all of their intended tasks.

• Hardware :  is a device such as a processor, monitor, keyboard or printer
• Software:  is a program or collection of programs that enable hardware to process data.
• Database : is a collection of related files or tables containing data.
• Network:  is a connecting system (wireline or wireless) that permits different computers to share resources.
• Procedures:  are the set of instructions about how to combine the above components in order to process information and generate the desired output.
• People:  are those individuals who use the hardware and software, interface with it, or uses its output.

* Types of Information Systems: 

1) Functional area information systems (FAIS) : support particular functional areas 

[HR, Marketing, Manufacturing, Finance] in an organization.

2) Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems : tightly integrate the functional area 

information systems via a common database

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 3) Office automation systems (OAS) : support the clerical staff, lower and middle 

managers, and knowledge workers.  These people use OASs to development 

documents, schedule resources, and communicate.

4) Business intelligence systems (BI) : provide computer-based support for complex, non-routine systems, primarily for middle managers and knowledge workers.

5) Expert Systems : attempt to duplicate the work of human experts by applying reasoning capabilities, knowledge, and expertise within a specific domain.

6) Dashboards : support all managers by providing rapid access to timely information and direct access to structured information in the form of reports.

*How Does IT Impact Organizations?

• IT reduces the number of middle managers.
• IT changes the manager’s job.
• IT eliminate jobs
• IT impacts employees at work

* Ergonomic: the science of designing machines and

work settings that minimize injury and illness. 

*Importance of Information Systems to  Society : 

1- IT Affects Our Quality of Life

2- Robot Revolution on the Way

3- Improvements in Healthcare