1. In the name of Allah, the merciful and compassionate

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

3. 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

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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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.

10. 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

11. 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.

12. 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

13. 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.

14. Components of a CBIS

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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!

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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.

25. 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.

26. 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

27. End of class
Thank you and see you Monday