1. SFDV2002 - Principles of Information Systems
Lecture 1
Introduction

2. Course Objectives By the end of the course students should:
Purpose: Describe the objectives of the course
Notes to expand/explain some of the material presented on the slide:
Objective 1
We are depend on Information Systems in all areas of live.
Information Systems Definition: “is a set of interrelated components that collect, manipulate, and disseminate data and information … to mean an objective” (Stair and Reynolds)
Examples: banking systems, telecommunication systems, even supermarkets (more later in the lecture and in the next lecture).
The course focuses on how Information Systems that are used in Business. But principles can be applied to multiple domains.
This course will discuss – What IS are? How they are used? Why they are used? How people (user) interact at all levels.
Objective 2
People are involved everywhere! Determining the requirements, clients (stakeholders), working in teams (project groups are more than one). This way it is important to have balance in the field.
Issues involved with the management of people
What value is the development project adding to the organisation? Improving quality? Saving money? Etc.
Objective 3
Once we understand the importance of IS. This course will look at the foundational process of constructing IS (both conceptual and practical)
Look at the IS development by using the different phases of the SDLC. What is involved? Give you an overview/survey of the whole process.
Objective 4
Introduction of the broader issues surrounding IS development.
Ethics and professionalism of software development.
The many different technologies that support and are used for development of IS (e.g. Web, DIS, networking (including wireless)).
Hardware – not specifically talked about in this course. But a basic understanding is required.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course students should:
understand how information systems support people and enterprises;
be knowledgeable about the environment that facilitates systems development such as the people involved, how projects are initiated and managed, impacts on an organisation, and the commercial realities of such endeavours;
be conversant with the concepts and skills required to analyse, design, build, and maintain high-quality information systems;
have an awareness of broader issues relating to software development, such as ethical concerns, professionalism, and technological influences.

3. Course Delivery Lectures Readings Laboratory Sessions
Purpose: Introduce how the course is taught (delivered)
Notes:
Provides a good balance of conceptual and practical.
Some material from lectures is directly applied to practical session, e.g. Application Development (Lectures and Practical Session 7-9)
Some lecture material is more conceptual in nature and the practical more of examples of what can done in the specific area.
Lectures
Support by readings
Laboratory sessions
Software (most of this software will be explored later in the course)
MS Access (both a database and development environment)
Power Designer (Modelling tool – CASE – ERD, database generation, and UML)
Tutorials
Tie the conceptual and practical together
Working collaboratively
Not every week
- Only one lecture during tutorials weeks
- Examinable (in fact everything is examinable – unless otherwise stated)
- Discussion questions available from Blackboard week before.
- Bring prepared answers along.
- Practical group related exercises will be conducted on the day.
Course Delivery
Lectures
Readings
Laboratory Sessions
Tutorials (4 weeks)

4. Practical Test (10%) & Project Submission (10%)
Course Calendar
Week
Lectures
Tutorials
Practical Sessions
Assessment #
Topic 1
Introduction
Information System 2
Building Information Systems 3
Managing the Development Project
Project Management
Replaced by tutorial 4
Understanding the Solution
Analysis 5
Designing the Solution
Quiz number 1 (5%) 6
User Interface Design 7
Conceptual Database Design
Data Modeling
Database Development 8
Logical Database Design
Midterm exam (20 %) 9
Using Database 10
Constructing the Solution 11
Debugging and Testing
Programming
Application Development 12
Distributing Information System
Quiz number 2 (5 %) 13
Business on the Web 14
Maintaining the System
Practical Test (10%) & Project Submission (10%) 15
The Enterprise 16
Final Exam

5. Assessment Quiz and Midterm Practical Test and Project
Final Examination

6. Overview Supporting Enterprises Introduction to Information Systems
Distinction and role of Data and Information
Components of Information Systems
Types of Software

7. System What is a System? Examples of systems:
A set of elements or components that interact to accomplish goals (Stair and Reynolds, 2003)
Examples of systems:
A courier business, education systems, transport system, computer systems, telecommunication systems, etc.
Basic Components or functions
Inputs – capturing and assembling elements
Processing – transformation processes that convert input into output
Output – transferring elements produced by a transformation process to their ultimate destination.

8. Information Systems Definition:
“… is a set of interrelated components that collect (input),manipulate (process), and disseminate (output) data and information … to mean an objective”
Types of IS
Manual: Investment analyst manually draw charts and trend lines
Computer-based information systems (CBIS): We will focus on this type of system.
Data
Raw Data
Information
[Stair and Reynolds, 2006]
Documents & Reports

9. How IS Supporting Enterprises?
Main Functions
Marketing:promotion, sale of existing products,services, etc.
Customer Relationship Management (CRM): “covers methods and technologies used by companies to manage their relationships with clients.
Sales force automation: All activities are conducted electronically.
Human Resource Management:Recruitment, placement, evaluation, compensation, etc.
Typical HR information system would be the payroll system
Productions/Operations:Planning and control of the processes producing goods or services
Systems required to monitor and control inventories (supply of raw materials), purchases, etc.

10. Main Functions (Continued………)
Accounting:
Oldest and most widely used information systems for recording and reporting on business transactions & tracking the flow of funds
Financial statements such as balance sheets and income statements are produced, Management Information Systems are also used to help in developing financial budgets etc.
Finance:
Support financial managers with financing the organisation
Cash management: Forecast and manage cash position by collecting information on cash receipts and disbursements.
Credit management: Monitor & control creditors information
Investment management: Manage short-term investments
Capital budgeting
Financial forecasting: Forecast financial performance and financing needs

11. Types of Information Systems
Examples …
Transaction Processing Systems (TPS)
Management Information Systems (MIS)
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems
Virtual Reality Systems (VRS)
Enterprise resource planning (ERP) - Linking multiple applications and databases for different functional areas such as Accounting, Warehouse, Sales in an organisation together
Customer relationship management (CRM) - Used to monitor and control interactions with customers and use data from this to drive sales and improve customer service
Supply chain management (SCM) …

12. Types of Application Software
Develop a kind program
Purchase existing application
Modify off-the-shelf
[Stair and Reynolds, 2006]

13. Advantages & Disadvantages of Customised
Customised (bespoke or proprietary) software
Advantages
Exactly what you need – features, etc.
Involved in the development process – further level of control over the results
Flexibility making modifications – you are able to change to meet new requirements
Disadvantages
Development: can a take a long time and uses significant resources (cost)
With in-house development: it can be costly to allocate the time or maintain the expertise of staff
Feature and performance risk: unsure of the unknown.

14. Advantages & Disadvantages of Generic
Generic (off-the-shelf) software
Advantages
Lower initial cost (purchase cost is less than development cost)
Less likely that the software will fail – can match business need to known existing features
Likely to be High quality because many customers tested and identify bugs
Disadvantages
Paying for features that are not required (but come with the package)
Costly further development: may lack features or requirements could change – required expensive future changes or customization
May not be able to find software that match current requirements, work processes, and data standards.

15. Components of Information System
[Stair and Reynolds, 2006]

16. Data vs. Information
Data are raw facts (stored) or observations (typically physical phenomena or business transactions)
Data takes many forms:
traditional alphanumeric data (numbers and alphabetical)
text data (sentences and paragraphs)
image data (graphic shapes and figures)
audio data (human voice and other sounds)
Note: Data is the plural of datum – through data commonly represents both singular and plural forms.
Information
Collection of facts organized in such a way that they convey value
Data converted into something meaningful and useful within specific context of end user
Value of Information is subjective

17. Data vs. Information (Example)
[Source: Hagg el at, 2004]

18. Data Transformation The transformation Process may
aggregate, manipulate, and organize data
analyse its content and evaluate (to perform calculations)
place in a proper context for human users

19. Quality Information Accurate Complete Economical Current Relevant
Others …
Accessible
The right people need to get the information at the right time.
Secure
Information is only access by unauthorized users.

20. Accurate
Accurate information is error free.
Common source of inaccurate information is inaccurate data. Garbage In, Garbage Out (GIGO)
Reliable – Needs to know that the information is true.
Complete
Valuable information contain all the important facts
Economical
The value of information has to weight up against its cost (as with everything in business)
Relevant
Relevant for the objective desired for information (no need for extra information)
Current (timely)
Information needed to be available when it is needed.

21. Purpose: This diagram provides an overview of the course
Purpose: This diagram provides an overview of the course. The focus being on systems development and what is involved in that process (including their relevance to implementation at three levels: User Interface, Processing, and Data). Showing the significance development and information systems play in enterprise. Lastly, illustrating the influence technology has of development and types of information systems.
Notes:
Systems Development
* Planning
- Goals
- Objectives
- Define the problem
- Schedule
- Understand environment
- Assess feasibility
- Form teams
- Strategies
* Analysis
- Specify
- Understand user needs
- Observe
- Discover
- Interview
- Prioritise
- Document requirements
* Design
- Validate
- Formalise
- Design solution
- Select alternatives
* Implementation
- Train users
- Build
- Deploy
- Document
- Test
* Support
- Maintain
- Evolve
- Enhance
- Monitor
- Respond
- Support
- Fix

22. Enterprise
People, Business processes, Information flow, Functions, Ethics/Integrity, Organisational structures, Strategy and Management
Information Systems
TPS, GIS, VRS and more ...
Technologies
Architectures, Networks, Internet, Hardware, Security, Languages (e.g. visual basic, C#, Java), Environments and more ...

23. Video Store IS Example

24. Example Database – Video Store
Microsoft Access database and a subsection of data
Video Code
Title
Star Wars: Episode IV
Star Wars: Episode V
Star Wars: Episode VI
Hire Number
Member ID
Video Code
Date of Loan
Due Date
142 13
05-Jul-04
10-Jul-04
143
144 14
Member ID
Title
Surname
First Name 13
Mr.
Burns
Montgomery 14
Simpson
Homer 15
Flanders
Ned 16
Drinkwell
Moe

25. Summary
Information Systems play a critical role in supporting all facets of enterprises
Information Systems
Convent data into information
Collection of interrelated components
Software component
Acquire or build (our focus)
References
Stair and Reynolds, Principles of Information Systems, 7th Edition, Thomson, 2006