In the name of Allah, the merciful and compassionate

Kick off As a courtesy to your fellow students, and your instructor please turn off your mobile phone all time

Some points about learning at University: The content of the lectures does not define the syllabus Learning objectives define what should be learned Lectures may help students learn some aspects of some topics. They are one among many learning strategies which can be selected by the student. Material presented in lectures always requires further consideration by the student Repeating the words or notes of the lecturer is unlikely to attract high marks, because it reveals only memory and not understanding

Information Systems Why Do People Need Information? Individuals - Entertainment and enlightenment Businesses - Decision making and problem solving Gathering Storing Manipulating

Data, Information, and Systems Data vs. Information Data A “given,” or fact: a number, a statement, or a picture The raw materials in the production of information Information Data that have meaning within a context Raw data or data that have been manipulated

Data vs. Information Data Processed Collected Presented Data Raw facts, figures and objects. Requires processing to be meaningful. Processing Conversion of data into information Information Structured, meaningful collection of data

Data, Information, and Systems The Four Stages of Data Processing Input: Data are collected and entered into computer. Data processing: Data are manipulated into information using mathematical, statistical, and other tools. Output: Information is displayed or presented. Storage: Data and information are maintained for later use.

Data, Information, and Systems What Is a System? System: A set of components that work together to achieve a common goal Subsystem: One part of a system where the products of more than one system are combined to reach an ultimate goal Closed system: Stand-alone system that has no contact with other systems Open system: System that interfaces with other systems

What Is An Organisation? A formal collection of people and various other resources established to accomplish some set of goals All organisations receive inputs (resources such as materials, people, money etc.) and produces outputs (goods and/or services) by using a suitable transformation mechanism to achieve some purpose/set of goals within some environment. An organisation is part of many environments - physical (geography and ecological), social, political and technological. A changing state of the environment drives change in the organisation to maintain consistency with purpose/goals An organisation can affect its environment.

What Sorts of Information Do Organisations Need? Recording Transactions done for every transaction transactions are usually standard for each event/customer/etc includes very detailed specific information usually done by relatively unskilled staff Managing/Controlling done on a short or medium-term basis based on analysis of aggregate information from many transactions uses overall trends or patterns, not detailed specific information for individual transactions often involves recognising and responding to unusual or unexpected results usually done by managers or skilled staff Planning done on a medium or long-term basis based on analysis of aggregate information of many types - transaction, business, industry, economy, etc needs long-term trends or patterns - business, industry, economic cycles requires prediction of future trends, etc done by senior management

Characteristics Of Good Information Relevant for its purpose. Sufficiently accurate for its purpose. Complete enough for the problem. From a source in which the user has confidence. Communicated to the right person. Communicated in time for its purpose. That which contains the right level of detail. Communicated by an appropriate channel of communication. That which is understandable by the user.

Information Systems Data Information Systems Information A set of interrelated components, that collects, stores, and processes data from various sources to provide information necessary to support and improve the day-to-day operations in a business, as well as fulfilling the problem-solving and decision-making information needs of business managers. Transforms data into useful information. Includes both technology and people. Performs four main functions: data input data storage/retrieval data processing data output Data Information Systems Information

Components of a CBIS Hardware - computer equipment used to perform input, processing, and output activities. Software - computer programs that govern the operation of the computer. Database - an organized collection of facts and information, typically consisting of two or more related data files. People - the most important element in most computer-based information systems. Procedures - include the strategies, policies, methods, and rules for using the CBIS.

Components of a CBIS

Key Elements Of A System (1): The Transformation Process The capturing and assembling of elements that enter the system to be processed The converting of input elements into output elements The transferral of elements transformed by the processing to their ultimate destination Input Processing Output raw materials people skills money production process mathematical calculation a meeting a product information

Key Elements Of A System (2): Outside and Inside the System Environment: All elements which lie outside the system Boundary: The separation of a system from its environment Interface: A shared boundary between two systems Subsystem: A system representing a component of a larger system System Boundary Environment System Sub-system Sub-system Boundary

Using Information in Organisations: The Importance of All This to You The number and variety of information needs the business may have. Each may need a system of its own Although the basic information requirements may be the same, every organisation will have a unique blend of specific needs and ways of meeting them You can have ‘standard’ systems (packages), but every business will have its own variations. Therefore the system developer must analyse the information needs individually for every system Only when you understand the business and its information flows can you know: what data needs to be input; stored; processed; output what interactions there are between different parts of the system what interactions the system has with the outside world, etc. If you don’t know what sorts of information the business needs and how it uses it, how can you know what sort of systems to build to help it! Business people know their business well, but they don’t know about technology Technologists know technology well, but they don’t know about businesses Analysts need to be able to fill the gap by knowing about both!

The Role of the Systems Analyst A systems analyst: is a business problem-solving specialist, understands both business and computing, works with users and management to gather and analyze information on current and/or future computer-based systems, helps a business by solving its problems using system concepts and information technology, uses some variation of a system development life cycle, plays an important role in the development team - often the only person who sees the system in its totality - interface, facilitator, moderator, negotiator, interpreter for development activities.

The Role of the Systems Analyst A systems analyst: defines the requirements that are used to modify an existing system, or to develop a new system, identifies and evaluates alternative solutions, makes formal presentations, assists in directing the coding, testing, training, conversion, and maintenance of the proposed system.

Characteristics of the Systems Analyst Working Knowledge of Information Technology: agent of change; responsible for showing end-users and management how new technologies can benefit their business and its operations; must be aware of both existing and emerging information technologies and techniques. Computer Programming Experience and Expertise: must know how to program because they are the principle link between business users and computer programmers.

General Business Knowledge: expected to immerse themselves in the business and be able to specify and defend technical solutions that address the bottom-line value returned to the business; should be able to communicate with business experts to gain knowledge of problems and needs. Problem-Solving Skills: ability to take a large business problem, break that problem down into its component parts, analyse the various aspects of the problem, and then assemble an improved system to solve the problem; must learn how to identify problems, analyse problems, and define alternative solutions to problems and needs. Interpersonal Communications Skills: must be able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; good command of the English language; communications skills, not technical skills, which prove to be the single biggest factor in career success or failure.

Interpersonal Relations Skills: must work effectively with different types of people (e.g. IS professionals, end-users, management) with different backgrounds, education, experience; must be able to co-operate, mediate, compromise, and function as part of a team to achieve benefits for the business as a whole; these skills are also important because of the political nature of the analyst's job Flexibility and Adaptability: no two systems development projects encountered by a SA are identical; no single, magical approach or solution applicable to systems development; so, learn to be flexible and adapt to special challenges or situations presented by specific systems development projects; must be able to recognize when variations upon (or single-instance exceptions to) development standards are necessary and beneficial to a particular project; must be aware of the implications of not following the standards.

Character and Ethics: nature of the SA’s job requires a strong character and sense of ethics; ethics is a personal character trait in which an individual(s) understands the difference between ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ and acts accordingly. Systems Analysis and Design Skills: all SAs need thorough and ongoing training in systems analysis and design; these systems skills involve systems analysis and design concepts, principles, and tools and techniques.

The Changing Role of the System Analyst Business analyst: specialises in business problem analysis and technology-independent reqs analysis; focus on business and non-technical aspects of systems problem solving; help define system reqs for business problems, and coordinate interactions between business users and technical staff; usually appointed to specific project and paired with one or more application analysts. Application analyst: specialises in application design and technology-dependent aspects of development; usually from computer background; capable of business problem analysis and reqs analysis, but are experts in the translation of business reqs into technical designs.

The Systems Approach (or Systems Theory) Holism or synergy All systems are composed of inter-related parts or sub-systems and the system itself can only be fully explained and understood when viewed as a whole. Hierarchical A system is made up of sub-systems and each sub-system is made up of further sub-systems. Indissoluble whole When one part of a system is changed, this change will effect other parts of the overall system. Sub-optimality or sub-optimisation Sub-systems pursuing their own goals independently.

Analysing a System The Systems Approach What are its boundaries? What are its inputs, processes and outputs? What feedback and control mechanisms are in place? How can its efficiency and effectiveness be measured? Decompose a system into its subsystems or components Analyse each subsystem or component separately Describe the subsystems/components and their relationships with each other and the external environment

End of class Thank you and see you Monday