MIS 301 Information Systems in Organizations Dave Salisbury ( ) (web site)

Topic Agenda Hardware (very) basics Different systems & technologies for different work & decision-making roles Systems and their management Management issues

The Basics Binary Digits (Bit) 0 or 1 Byte 8 bits, combined to mean something Coding Scheme ASCII EBCDIC

Size Measurements Bit Byte Kilobyte (1,000 bytes) Megabyte (1,000,000 bytes Gigabyte (1,000,000,000 bytes) Terabyte (1,000,000,000,000 bytes)

Computer System Components Central Processing Unit Output Devices Cache Memory Primary Storage Secondary Storage Devices Control Unit ALU Special Purpose Processors Output Devices Input Devices

General Computing Job Types Input-Output Bound Processor Bound

Information Systems as Applications Hardware Software Data Network Procedures People Hardware Software People Data Application

The point of the exercise: Data, Information, Knowledge Data Facts, figures Easy to structure and transfer Information Data with context Shared meaning Knowledge Tacit Difficult to transfer

Attributes of Information Quality

IS & Organizational Structure Departmental IS Enterprise-Wide IS Inter-Organizational IS An information system (IS) can span departments, business units and corporations. Information systems are usually connected by means of electronic networks

Information Systems by Function

IS by general purpose Support of Strategic Advantage Support of Managerial Decision Making Support of Business Operations

Operational Information Systems Purpose: To improve operational efficiency Types of Systems Transaction Processing Process Control Office Automation

Operational Information Systems, continued Sample Technologies The World Wide Web GPS/Remote Sensing for High-Performance Farming Inventory Control Systems

Transaction Processing System (TPS) Automates routine and repetitive tasks Critical to the operation of the organization Preparing a payroll Billing customers Point-of-Sale Warehouse operations. Data collected from this operation supports the MIS and DSS systems Computerizes the primary and most of the secondary activities on the Value Chain Primary purpose to perform transactions and collect data

Office Automation Systems (OAS) Electronic communication Word processing systems Document management systems Desktop publishing systems. Predominantly used by clerical workers Data workers (who use, manipulate, or disseminate information)

Management Information Systems Purpose: To improve control and decision-making by processing data into useful information Types of Systems Management Reporting Systems Decision Support Systems Expert Systems

Management Information Systems, continued Sample Technologies Artificial Intelligence Modeling Tools

Management Decision & Information Systems Access, organize, summarize, and displayed information for supporting routine decision making Geared toward middle managers, Periodic reports Exception reports Typical uses would be in Replenishment, Pricing Analysis (Markdowns) and Sales Management Decisions supported are more structured

Strategic Information Systems Purpose: To gain strategic advantage Generic Business Strategies Cost Leadership Differentiation Focus

Strategic Information Systems, continued Strategic Roles for Information Technology/Systems Improving Processes Lock-In / Switching Costs Barriers to Entry

Supply Chains Upstream supply chain includes the organization’s first-tier suppliers and their suppliers Internal supply chain includes all the processes used by an organization in transforming the inputs of the suppliers to outputs Downstream supply chain includes all the processes involved in delivering the products to final customers

Inter-Organizational Systems (IOS) IOS connect two or more organizations common among business partners play a major role in e-commerce & supply chain management Electronic data interchange (EDI) was an earlier variant Involved electronic communication of business documents purchase orders order confirmations Usually closed standards, led by one central organization that could afford the infrastructure costs Used to create a switching cost The basis for electronic markets, then electronic commerce. Web-based systems Deliver business applications via the Internet Browsers and the Internet Open standards Across-organization communication & collaboration

Inter-Organizational Systems (IOS) Two or more organizations

Information Systems Function Information Infrastructure Hardware Software Networks & communication facilities Databases IS personnel

Information Architecture by Hardware Mainframe Environment PC Environment PC-LAN Environment Distributed Computing Environment Client/server Environment Enterprise-wide Computing Environment Legacy systems

Web Based IT Architectures The Internet Intranets Extranets Corporate Portals E-commerce Systems Electronic Storefronts Electronic Markets Electronic Exchanges M-Commerce Enterprise Web

Extranets Connect several intranets via the Internet, by adding a security mechanism and some additional functionalities They form a larger virtual network that allows remote users (such as business partners or mobile employees) to securely connect over the Internet to the enterprise’s main intranet. Extranets are also employed by two or more enterprises (suppliers & buyers) to share information in a controlled fashion, and therefore they play a major role in the development of business-to- business electronic commerce and Supply Chain systems.

Managing Information Systems IS have enormous strategic value Failures (even short-term ones) are extremely costly High Life Cycle Costs (i.e. costs of acquisition, operation, security, and maintenance) Skilled management is critical Planning Organizing Implementing Operating Ccontrolling Who’s responsible? Information systems department End users

Managerial Issues The transition to e-business From legacy systems to client/server to intranets, corporate portals, and Web-based systems How to deal with the outsourcing and utility computing trends Justifying infrastructure The roles of the ISD and end users Ethical issues