1. Information Systems

2. Find words / expressions / synonyms
Information Systems
We’ll look at several paragraphs separately and do the following activities:
Find words / expressions / synonyms
Paraphrase
Summarize
Make comments
Answer questions

3. Introduction
In a general sense, the term Information System (IS) refers to a system of people, data records and activities that process the data and information in an organization, and it includes the organization's manual and automated processes.
In a narrow sense, the term information system (or computer-based information system) refers to the specific application software that is used to store data records in a computer system and automates some of the information-processing activities of the organization.
Critical to most information systems are information technologies, which are typically designed to enable humans to perform tasks for which the human brain is not well suited, such as: handling large amounts of information, performing complex calculations, and controlling many simultaneous processes.

4. Introduction - Practice
Paraphrase the content of the paragraph in your own words.
2. Find verbs that go with the noun DATA.
3. Think of other verbs that may go with DATA.
4. Find synonyms for the following words in the second paragraph.
to make possible/ facilitate (v.)
significant / decisive (adj.)
errands (n.)
computerized (adj.)
to execute (v.)

5. Types of Information Systems
Data Processing Systems (DP),
Management Information Systems,
Decision Support Systems,
Office Automation Systems,
Intelligent Knowledge-Based Systems,
etc.

6. 1. Data Processing (DP)
The aim of data processing is to process large amounts of data quickly, cheaply and accurately. Automated data processing (ADP) was the first major application of computers in management. It had been carried out, in one way or another, long before computers became generally available in the 1950s, by introducing the punched-card method.
Payroll and manual accounting systems were among the first and most popular systems to be automated. Nowadays, the fact that these tasks are performed by computers - is often taken for granted.

7. Data Processing – Practice
Summarize the content of the paragraph in your own words.
Find synonyms for the following words in the paragraph.
target (n.)
to do (v.) *2 OPTIONS
accessible (adj.)
settled, arranged (adj.)

8. 2. Management Information Systems
Management information system usually refers to a system which contains large amounts of information structured to assist management in decision-making processes.
Typically, the information is kept in a database that mainly consists of financial data from internal systems of an organization, and is mostly used by middle management in monitoring and controlling of the organization's business.
In recent years there has been a swing away from large-scale MIS systems. These large, integrated systems were found to be very expensive to build, cumbersome in operation and not always achieving all the benefits.

9. Management Information Systems - Practice
Summarize the content of the paragraph in your own words.
Find synonyms or words with similar meaning to the ones below in the paragraph.
to aid (v.)
bulky, weighty (adj.)
to supervise (v.)
operations (n.)
move (n.)

10. 3. Decision Support Systems (DSS)
These systems were partly created as a response to some of the perceived shortcomings of MIS. Since MIS was mainly based on internal financial data, it did not directly address the needs of top management and strategic decision-makers.
A DSS usually contains special models designed to provide users with the means of assessing the consequences of a decision. An example of this is known as a "what if? facility: given the task of deciding between various forms of investment, for instance, the system user can see the consequences of each option when the system evaluates their effect on profitability using the financial model of the organization's finances.

11. Decision Support Systems - Practice
Summarize the content of the paragraph in your own words.
Find synonyms or words with similar meaning to the ones below in the paragraph.
alternative (n.)
reply (n.)
inside (adj.)
to create (v.)
outcome (n.)
to estimate (v.)
drawback (n.)
apparent , alleged (adj.)
capacity, ability (n.)

12. 4. Office Automation Systems
This broad term refers to a range of electronic facilities used in modern management. These facilities include personal computers, word processing, electronic mail, electronic funds transfer, etc. Many of these techniques have removed the need for paper-based filing systems, and given rise to the expression 'paperless office'.
However, most offices are still anything but paperless and the strength of the technology lies primarily in the utilization of both computer and communications technology in information processing and transmission.

13. Office Automation Systems - Practice
Summarize the content of the paragraph in your own words.
Find synonyms or words with similar meaning to the ones below in the paragraph.
wide (adj.)
conveniences, services (adj.)
use (n.)
money, finances (n.)

14. 5. Intelligent Knowledge-Based Systems (IKBS)
The search for a means of creating human-like computer systems has been carried out in research departments of many universities since the earliest days of computers. In recent years, this search has been supplemented by substantial commercial development particularly in expert systems.
The capacity of computers to reproduce human skills and abilities is known as artificial intelligence (Al). It is now possible to store the knowledge of human experts in a computer and to enable the knowledge to be used by an enquirer who consults the computer. The system reviews the problem, asks questions if necessary and provides a diagnosis and suggestions for a solution.

15. Intelligent Knowledge-Based Systems – Practice
Summarize the content of the paragraph in your own words.
Find synonyms or words with similar meaning to the ones below in the paragraph.
To add (v.)
Considerable, significant (adj.)
Mainly, predominantly (adv.)
To copy, to replicate (n.)
To examine (v.)
Proposal (n.)

16. Thank you.