Chapter 2: Business Processes, Information System, and Information Flashcards
What is a business process?
Sequence of activities for accomplishing a function (includes people, computer, data)
What is an activity?
Task within business process
Why do we document business processes?
To use as business process model and notation standard (BPMN)
What is a repository?
A collection of something (records)
What are the benefits to standardize business processes? (4)
1)Policies can be enforced
2)Results are more consistent
3)Processes can be copied and reused
4)Risks from errors/mistakes can be reduced
What is a system?
A group of components that interact to achieve some purpose
What is Information System?
Group of 5 components that interact to produce information
What are the 5 components framework?
1)Hardware
2)SOftware
3)Data
4)Procedures
5)People
What is a software?
Organized instructions to accomplish a task
What is data?
Facts about things used in analysis/reasoning
What are 5 ways to use the 5 components model?
1)Recognize that you are the key
2)Make each component work
3)Estimate scope of a new IS
4)Prioritize components by difficulty/disruption
5)Appreciate that IS is more than tech
Every important business process is supported by….
an IS
Can a process be supported by 2+ IS?
yes
Can an IS support more than 1 process?
Yes
What are the 2 roles of procedures?
1)Anchor an IS to a process
2)Business need you to understand their procedures for using technology so you can be productive
What are structured processes?
Formally defined/standardized processes (support day to day operations)
What is a dynamic process?
A process less specific, more adaptive, intuitive
What are the characteristics of a structured process?
Defined, fixed flow, slow to change, control is critical, no innovation, efficiency/effectiveness = important, IS procedures are prescriptive
What are the characteristics of a dynamic process?
Informal, process change is rapid, adaptation is critical, innovation required, effectiveness = important, IS procedures are supportive
What are prescriptive procedures?
Cleary delimit what the users of the IS can do and under what conditions
What are supportive procedures?
Procedures that allow end users to determine how to best use an IS
What is Information?
Knowledge derived from data
Processed data
Information is data processed by sorting, filtering, grouping, comparing, summing, averaging, ect
What are the 3 common elements in the definitions of Information?
1) Is more than data
2)Varies from person to person (diff people have diff info)
3)Is located inside you
How can you use the ideas about information? (6)
1) Assume it’s hard to communicate
2)Recognize that all new IS are frustrating at first
3)Understand how to be effective on a team
4)Stay curious
5)Realize that people share data but believe it is information
6)Take responsibility for your own learning
