L1 - Introduction Flashcards
What is data and information?
Data – A single facts, easily structured, captured and transferred – no meaning
Information – Processed data that is useful, giving the data a context
What is knowledge and wisdom?
Knowledge – Information used for taking some kind of decision. Knowledge is hard to structure, difficult to capture, often tacit, and hard to transfer.
Wisdom – Knowledge for the greater good (e.g. ethical and moral considerations).
How do organisations use information?
Three main purposes: communication, process support and decision-making
What is a system and what are components?
System: a set of interacting components, working together to form a complex, integrated whole in order to achieve some goal by taking inputs and processing them to produce outputs. Separated from its environment by the system’s boundary. Information from the environment is sensed by the system which
may change its behavior based on the feedback
Component: part of a bigger whole. Could be physical elements e.g. offices, computers. Components of an IS could be data, information, storage, output etc.
What is IT and what is IS?
IT: the system itself, hardware, software and media used to store, organise, retrieve and communicate information
An information system is: “a combination of technology, data, people and processes that is directed toward the collection, manipulation, storage, retrieval, and communication of information”. Thus, enabling users to connect and process data to help with management decision making.
What can IS facilitate and how?
Information systems have 4 different purposes
i. Process improvements - Information systems can help organizations improve both the efficiency and effectiveness of processes. E.g. ATMs
ii. Automation - e.g. online ordering or buying gasoline.
iii. Control - improving process control, i.e. ensuring business rules are followed throughout a process.
iv. Information flow- Workflow systems facilitate information flow throughout a work task. Also facilitate information sharing.
What is a business process?
A set of coordinated activities that lead to a specific goal or outcome.
Business processes are responsible for carrying information around in the organization
Information systems consists of 6 elements, name them.
Data – Facts, letters, numbers, images etc.
Hardware – Physical devices – processor, storage, printer etc.
Software – Set of instructions that govern the operation of an IS (e.g. application)
Media – Rules (protocols) for enabling computers to communicate
Procedures – Instructions for proper use of the IS
People – Users of the system
What is the information processing cycle?
- Input: Collection of data and its conversion into a form that allows processing.
- Processing: Manipulation and transformation of data.
- Storage: Holding place for data so that it can be retrieved at a later time.
- Output: Transformation of processed data into a form that can be understood by its eventual user.
- Control: Enforcement of correct processing procedures.
4 advantages of IS systems
Let us gather large amounts of data quickly, easily and reliably
Allow businesses to store and organize very large amounts of data
Perform their data manipulations quickly, accurately and consistently
Let us retrieve and output information in a variety of forms, depending on what is useful to users
What are cross-functional IS systems?
Information systems that cross boarders for traditional business functions in order
to renew and improve vital business processes across an organization
With the purpose of improving business via use of information systems
