Topic 1 - Introduction to Information Systems

Question 1

Information technology (IT)

Answer 1

computer-based tool used to work with information and support an organization’s information and information processing needs.

Question 2

Information system (IS)

Answer 2

Collects, processes, stores, analyzes, and disseminates information for a specific purpose.

Question 3

4 Reasons to learn about ISs and IT

Answer 3

1. To become an informed user
2. The organization you will join will be undergoing a digital transformation.
3. Because managing the IS function with an organization is no longer the exclusive responsibility of the IS department.
4. IT offers career opportunities.

Question 4

Chief Information Officer (CIO)

Answer 4

Highest-ranking IS manager, responsible for all strategic planning in the organization.

• The CIO works with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and other senior executives.

Question 5

Factors contributing to making managing ISs a difficult and complex task.

Answer 5

1. ISs have enormous strategic value to organizations.
   - Some firms cannot function when their systems are not working.
2. ISs are very expensive to acquire, operate, and maintain.
3. The evolution of the management information systems (MIS) function within the organization.
   - Used to be that only the MIS dept. used the mainframe.
   - Now computers are located in all depts. and almost all employees use computers in their work (end user computing)
   - MIS department now acts as more of a consultant to end users.
   - Managing information resources is divided between the MIS dept. and end users.

• In general, the MIS dept is responsible for corporate-level and shared resources, and the end users are responsible for departmental resources.

Question 6

Data items

Answer 6

Elementary descriptions of things, events, activities, and transactions that are recorded, classified, and stored but are not organized to convey any specific meaning.
- Numbers, letters, figures, sounds, and images.

Question 7

Information

Answer 7

Data that have been organized so that they have meaning and value to the recipient.
- A GPA by itself is data. When combined with the students name it is information.

Question 8

Knowledge

Answer 8

Data and/or information that have been organized and processed to convey understanding, experience, accumulated learning, and expertise as they apply to a current business problem.
- A recruiting company has found overtime that students with a grade point average over 3.0 have the greatest success in its management program. Based on this knowledge, the company may decide to interview only those students with GPAs over 3.0.

Question 9

Computer-based information system (CBIS

Answer 9

An information system that uses computer technology to perform some or all of it intended tasks.

Question 10

Hardware

Answer 10

A device such as a processor, monitor, keyboard, or printer. Together, these devices accept, process, and display data and information.

Question 11

Software

Answer 11

A program or collection of programs that enable the hardware to process data.

Question 12

Database

Answer 12

A collection of related files or tables containing data.

Question 13

Network

Answer 13

A connecting system (wireline or wireless) that enables multiple computers to share resources.

Question 14

What are the basic components of CBISs and which of them are called information technology components?

Answer 14

*Hardware
*Software
*Database
*Network
Procedures - The set of instructions for combining hardware, software, database, and network components in order to process information and generate the desired output.
People - use the hardware and software, interface with it, or utilize its output.

Question 15

Major capabilities of CBISs

Answer 15

• Perform high-speed, high-volume numerical computations.
• Provide fast, accurate communication and collaboration within and among organizations.
• Store huge amounts of information in an easy-to-access yet small space.
• Allow quick and inexpensive access to vast amount of information worldwide.
• Analyze and interpret vast amounts of data quickly and efficiently.
• Automate both semiautomatic business processes and manual tasks.

Question 16

Departmental information system

Answer 16

The business strategy that leverages IT to dramatically improve employee, customer, and business partner relationships; support continuous improvement in business operations and business process; and develop new business models and business.
- The collection of applicant programs in a single department.

Question 17

Enterprise resource planning (ERP)

Answer 17

Systems help functional area ISs communicate with each other by tightly integrating the functional area ISs via a common database and by effect enhance communications among the functional areas of an organization. Expert credit ERP systems with greatly increasing organizational productivity.

Question 18

Transaction processing systems (TPSs)

Answer 18

Transaction processing systems (TPSs) support the monitoring, collection, storage, and processing of data from the organization’s basic business transactions, each of which generates data.
- Collects data continuously and provides the input data for the corporate databases.
- Critical to success of any enterprise
- Nearlly all ERP systems are also TPSs

Question 19

Interorganizational information systems (IOSs)

Answer 19

Information systems that connect two or more organizations.
- Supply chain management
- E-commerce systems are a type of IOSs

Question 20

Knowledge workers

Answer 20

Professional employees such as financial and marketing analysts, engineers, lawyers, and accountants, who are experts in a particular subject area and who create information and knowledge, which they integrate into the business.
- Act as advisers to middle managers and executives.

Question 21

Functional area information systems

Answer 21

Summarize data and prepare reports, primarily for middle managers, but sometimes for lower-level managers.

Question 22

Business analytics (BA)systems (aka business intelligence systems)

Answer 22

Provide computer-based support for complex, nonroutine decisions, primarily for middle managers and knowledge workers.

Question 23

Expert systems (ESs)

Answer 23

Attempt to duplicate the work of human experts by applying reasoning capabilities, knowledge, and expertise within a specific domain.

Question 24

Industrial robot

Answer 24

An automated, programmable machine used in manufacturing operations
- Welding, painting, assembly, disassembly, packaging and labelling, palletizing, and many others.
- Used to automate the manufacturing process with almost no human help.
- Heavy manufacturing

Question 25

Collaborative robots (cobots)

Answer 25

Machines designed to be used in a collaborative applications where there are interactions with humans in a shared space.
- Transporting material and products within a building, inspection of goods, patrolling perimeters
- Assist employees

Question 26

4 capabilities of IBM Watson

Answer 26

• The ability to understand human language, with all of its nuance and ambiguity.
• The ability to learn and absorb information.
• The ability to formulate hypotheses.
• The ability to understand the context of a question.