Information Systems In session 1: Types of information (primary, secondary, quantitative and qualitative) Purposes of information Session 2: What is good information. Case study looking at the advantages and limitations of two retail sales information systems. Last session Sources of information – internal or external. Functional areas Flow of information

Information Systems Today Assignment 1 Building a business Divide into 4 groups You will be allocated a simulation game You have to play the game; but record what happens – you will need to note down information, within your group you will need to allocate individuals to provide information on different aspects of the business. Eg sales, purchases, efficiency, advertising etc

Information Systems Assignment 1 Scenario You have been employed as a junior publicity and media officer by the local council. Part of your role is to help local businesses operate efficiently and to promote themselves. You are to prepare materials for road shows that will be set-up in shopping malls throughout the country advertising local businesses. You will obtain some information from the businesses featured but you need to explain to them the advantages of good information.

Information Systems Assignment 1 Task 1 P1 - explain how organisations use information Prepare a poster entitled ‘Using Information’ to show how data is transformed into information within organisations, and how that data is used within organisations. You need to give examples of specific functional areas and the information which they produce and ways in which they use it. The poster should describe the different type of information: qualitative, quantitative, primary and secondary.

Information Systems Assignment 1 Task 2 P2 - discuss the characteristics of good information Prepare a flyer to describe the characteristics of good information; it should include the terms: valid, reliable, timely, fit for purpose, accessible, cost-effective, accurate, relevant, having the right level of detail, reliable source and understandable by the user. You should give realistic examples for each of the characteristics.

Information Systems Assignment 1 Task 3 M1 - illustrate the information flow between different functional areas Prepare a flyer to describe the characteristics of good information; Prepare a second flyer to show how information flows within organisations. Consider data which flows upwards, downwards and across the organisation. Prepare an example of a flow diagram illustrating the following scenario:

Information Systems Assignment 1 Task 3 Scenario: A company manufactures shoes; the purchasing department buys leather from a tannery and cork from a wood company. The operations function forms shapes from the materials and join them together to make the final product, which they also pack in boxes. The sales function receives orders for the finished products and despatches them to retail shops (e.g. Brantano or Clarkes). Your flow diagram should include arrows showing the direction of flow of the information, rectangles for internal functional areas and ovals for external areas. You should include terms such as invoices and goods received notes.

Information Systems Assignment 1 Task 4 D1 - explain how an organisation could improve the quality of its business information Prepare a brochure entitled ‘How to Improve the Quality of Business Information’. It should be targeted at small businesses, explaining how to make the best of their information. Include your poster from task 1 as an image and have a section in your brochure relating to each of the sections on your poster. Explain how an appreciation of each of the following can improve the quality of information:  Types of information  Purposes of information  Sources of information.

Information Systems Business Simulation Divide yourselves into 5 groups Each group is going to be a business. You will be allocated a business from the following: Soft drink manufacture and selling, supermarket, marina construction and running, Amusement park, fast food chain. Practice the game: What information is available from the game, how can it be captured, how can it be used? next time: Decide within the business which functional areas will be needed, Who will be responsible for each functional area? Some people will need to take more than function.