Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION & SYSTEM & SYSTEM CONCEPTS CONCEPTS CSE Information Systems 1 IMS1001 – Information Systems

Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, Use Allocate + for tutorial allocation – no exceptions Use Allocate + for tutorial allocation – no exceptions Course code: IMS1001 (includes CSE1204 students) Course code: IMS1001 (includes CSE1204 students) If you have a problem with tutorial allocation, contact - Christina Branton If you have a problem with tutorial allocation, contact - Christina Branton Ph: No tutorials Week One

Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, Teaching Staff Lecturer: Barry Atkinson Barry Atkinson Room S4.01 – Fourth Floor, Tower – telephone Consult: Monday 9-10am; Friday 2-3pm by appointment Tutor: Katherine Knight Katherine Knight Make sure you obtain your tutor’s contact details and the location and times your tutor is available for student consultation

Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, Unit Information All unit materials: All unit materials: lecture notes, tutorials, assignments, notices at or or Navigate to SIMS – unit pages – first year – IMS1001 (or CSE1204)

Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, Prescribed text WHITTEN, J.L., BENTLEY, L.D. and DITTMAN, K.C. (2001) WHITTEN, J.L., BENTLEY, L.D. and DITTMAN, K.C. (2001) Systems Analysis and Design Methods, 5th ed. Systems Analysis and Design Methods, 5th ed. Irwin/McGraw-HilI, New York, NY. Irwin/McGraw-HilI, New York, NY. Copies available at CITSU Bookshop Copies available at CITSU Bookshop

Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, Assessment exam - 60%, assignment - 40% exam - 60%, assignment - 40% a pass requires a final mark of 50% or more a pass requires a final mark of 50% or more hurdle - you must earn a minimum of 40% for the exam AND a minimum of 40% for the assignments hurdle - you must earn a minimum of 40% for the exam AND a minimum of 40% for the assignments Eg. Eg. Practical mark = 35/40 = 87.5% Practical mark = 35/40 = 87.5% Exam mark = 20/60 = 33% Exam mark = 20/60 = 33% Total mark = 55/100 = FAIL !! Total mark = 55/100 = FAIL !! If either hurdle is not met, a result of 44% will be recorded even if the total mark is > 50% If either hurdle is not met, a result of 44% will be recorded even if the total mark is > 50%

Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, Assignment work requirements Assignments must be submitted according to the School of Information Management and Systems’ assignment submission requirements Assignments must be submitted according to the School of Information Management and Systems’ assignment submission requirements These are available at: These are available at: The School’s style guide for printed assignments is available at: The School’s style guide for printed assignments is available at:

Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, Other important considerations Attendance – the roll Attendance – the roll Plagerism – what is it? Plagerism – what is it? Time management Time management Core subjects – academic progress Core subjects – academic progress

Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, CSE1204, CSE1205 and BComp The nature, purpose and makeup of computerised Information Systems The nature, purpose and makeup of computerised Information Systems What you should know about Information Systems if you intend to work with them What you should know about Information Systems if you intend to work with them Analysts viewpoint: IS project initiation; system development methods; system design Analysts viewpoint: IS project initiation; system development methods; system design

Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, This lecture’s objectives Understand what we mean when we talk about systems: Understand what we mean when we talk about systems: system concepts and components system concepts and components understand the need for information systems understand the need for information systems Introduction to roles and tasks associated with building information systems Introduction to roles and tasks associated with building information systems

Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, A System An assembly of components that interact in an organised way to accomplish goals An assembly of components that interact in an organised way to accomplish goals E.g. river systems, nervous system, public transport system, legal system, education system, water supply system, elevator system, information system. E.g. river systems, nervous system, public transport system, legal system, education system, water supply system, elevator system, information system.

Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, A System system elements system elements a boundary a boundary a purpose a purpose an environment an environment interfaces interfaces inputs, processes, outputs inputs, processes, outputs feedback feedback constraints constraints subsystems subsystems

Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, Systems Systems Simple Complex Simple Complex vending machine; Met Open Closed Open Closed air conditioner; watch Stable Dynamic Stable Dynamic elevator; nervous system Permanent Temporary Permanent Temporary government; concert arrangement

Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, System Elements Purpose - the overall goal or function of a system: Purpose - the overall goal or function of a system: access to medical services Process - the transformation of inputs into outputs: Process - the transformation of inputs into outputs: coin to Coke Boundary - the line that divides the system from its environment: Boundary - the line that divides the system from its environment: buttons on a phone

Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, System Elements (ctd.) Environment - everything external to the system that interacts with it: Environment - everything external to the system that interacts with it: supermarket weighing machine The system exchanges inputs and outputs with its environment: The system exchanges inputs and outputs with its environment: Inputs - what is taken from the environment: Inputs - what is taken from the environment: button press Outputs - what is returned to the environment: Outputs - what is returned to the environment:cash

Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, System Elements (ctd.) Interfaces - points of contact where a system meets its environment or where subsystems meet each other: Interfaces - points of contact where a system meets its environment or where subsystems meet each other: directions on a Met ticket machine; page of a newspaper; reservoir;skin

Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, System Elements (ctd.) The environment may be always changing: The environment may be always changing: busy; smoke; war; dry; cancellation Feedback and control loop allows the system to adapt to its environment: Feedback and control loop allows the system to adapt to its environment: “Press OK to continue”; monitor Constraints - limits on what a system can accomplish Constraints - limits on what a system can accomplish heart pacemaker; Challenger

Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, System example: a business Its environment: Its environment: general population+an industry+business climate+government etc. Its inputs: Its inputs: materials+services+new employees+ equipment+facilities+money+orders etc. Its outputs: Its outputs: products/services+waste materials+payments+ retired employees+old equipment etc. Its feedback/control loops: Its feedback/control loops: customer complaints+new knowledge necessary to make required changes to product etc. Subsystems: Subsystems: payroll system, stock system

Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, Systems thinking The application of formal systems theory and concepts to systems problem solving The application of formal systems theory and concepts to systems problem solving Helps us understand how systems are organised and how they work Helps us understand how systems are organised and how they work Simplifies inherent system complexity Simplifies inherent system complexity Useful to apply systems thinking to understanding of business organisations (“organisations as systems”) and their information systems Useful to apply systems thinking to understanding of business organisations (“organisations as systems”) and their information systems

Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, Data vs. Information Data - consists of raw or unstructured facts (text, pictures, sound) Data - consists of raw or unstructured facts (text, pictures, sound) eg. Student number, date Information - data that has been refined for a particular purpose: a collection of facts organised so that they have meaning and use to a particular recipient in a particular context. It has additional value beyond the value of the facts themselves. Information - data that has been refined for a particular purpose: a collection of facts organised so that they have meaning and use to a particular recipient in a particular context. It has additional value beyond the value of the facts themselves.

Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, Information characteristics Useful information is essential if an organisation is to achieve its goals: Useful information is essential if an organisation is to achieve its goals: accuratecompleteeconomical flexiblereliablerelevant simpletimelyverifiable accessiblesecure An information system is designed to produce such information An information system is designed to produce such information

Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, Business organisations are complex systems Business organisations organise their activities and work practices into various systems because: Business organisations organise their activities and work practices into various systems because: many different tasks must be done many different tasks must be done different data are needed for different tasks different data are needed for different tasks a single task is often done many times a single task is often done many times complex processes must be coordinated complex processes must be coordinated the environment changes constantly the environment changes constantly

Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, How can Information Systems help ? Efficiency, reliability, economy, control Efficiency, reliability, economy, control An Information System is a formal arrangement of people, data, processes An Information System is a formal arrangement of people, data, processes Integrated to Integrated to manage complexity manage complexity support and improve business operations support and improve business operations Support and improve the problem-solving and decision-making activities of managers. Support and improve the problem-solving and decision-making activities of managers. It transforms Data into Information It transforms Data into Information (Why are computers not mentioned?)

Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, Computer-Based Information Systems Information systems may or may not involve the use of computers Information systems may or may not involve the use of computers Computers significantly expand the potential of information systems because they: Computers significantly expand the potential of information systems because they: are more reliable processors than humans are more reliable processors than humans are faster than humans, and “tireless” are faster than humans, and “tireless” are easily replicated are easily replicated are much more productive are much more productive have enormous memory capacity have enormous memory capacity

Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, Information System Components Information system components include: people - need the information, build the system, operate it and use it people - need the information, build the system, operate it and use it data and information -the raw material which the system is set up to manage and distribute data and information -the raw material which the system is set up to manage and distribute machines (usually computers) - help manage and process the data and information machines (usually computers) - help manage and process the data and information procedures - define how the information is to be input/stored/processed/ etc. procedures - define how the information is to be input/stored/processed/ etc. formal – specified, perpetual, expected formal – specified, perpetual, expected informal – unspecified, trivial, one-off informal – unspecified, trivial, one-off

Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, Functions of an Information System Any information system performs four main functions: data input - capturing information data input - capturing information data storage/retrieval - keeping information data storage/retrieval - keeping information data processing - transforming information data processing - transforming information data output - displaying/presenting information data output - displaying/presenting information

Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, Benefits of Information Systems A good information system ensures:- the right information the right information to the right degree of accuracy to the right degree of accuracy when it is required when it is required in the right format/layout in the right format/layout to the right people to the right people in the most efficient way possible in the most efficient way possible (Have you had to deal with an information system which did not work well? Which of these things was not present in that system?)

Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, The Complexity of Information Systems Even small information systems can be very complex: many components (lots of information) many components (lots of information) much interaction between components much interaction between components systems within systems (subsystems) systems within systems (subsystems) the intangibility of information (hard to define) the intangibility of information (hard to define) the subjective nature of information (interpretation) the subjective nature of information (interpretation) differing needs of different system users differing needs of different system users

Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, Computer-based information systems “unique” situations: “unique” situations: customer enquiry system; ticket booking generic business applications: generic business applications: payroll systems; inventory systems Types of information systems e.g.: transaction processing systems, transaction processing systems, decision support systems, decision support systems, expert systems, expert systems, executive information systems, executive information systems, geographical information systems geographical information systems

Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, Building Information Systems Activities involved in building computer- based information systems are:- identifying business information problems identifying business information problems analysing and describing information needs analysing and describing information needs designing solutions to meet those needs designing solutions to meet those needs acquiring/building new systems acquiring/building new systems implementing new systems implementing new systems

Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, System building players System owner/s System owner/s System user/s System user/s Project leader (manager) Project leader (manager) Systems analyst/s Systems analyst/s Systems designer/s Systems designer/s Systems builder/s Systems builder/s IT vendor/s and consultant/s IT vendor/s and consultant/s

Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, Building Information Systems: The Role of the Systems Analyst (our focus in this course) to understand the system’s information needs to understand the system’s information needs what information is needed? what information is needed? for whom? for whom? in what form? in what form? when? when? to describe the system’s information flows and processes to describe the system’s information flows and processes to identify problems, opportunities, constraints to identify problems, opportunities, constraints to suggest possible system solutions to suggest possible system solutions

Monash University, SIMS, Semester One, References WHITTEN, J.L., BENTLEY, L.D. and DITTMAN, K.C. (2001) 5th ed., Systems Analysis and Design Methods, Irwin/McGraw-HilI, New York, NY. Chapters 1 and 2. WHITTEN, J.L., BENTLEY, L.D. and DITTMAN, K.C. (2001) 5th ed., Systems Analysis and Design Methods, Irwin/McGraw-HilI, New York, NY. Chapters 1 and 2. HOFFER, J.A., GEORGE, J.F. and VALACICH (2005) 2nd ed., Modern Systems Analysis and Design, Benjamin/Cummings, Massachusetts. Chapter 1 HOFFER, J.A., GEORGE, J.F. and VALACICH (2005) 2nd ed., Modern Systems Analysis and Design, Benjamin/Cummings, Massachusetts. Chapter 1