Exam 01 Review: Management Information Systems

MIS

Management of information systems for organizational strategies.

Data

Raw facts and figures about something.

Information

Data processed with context to provide meaning.

Data Characteristics

Accuracy, timeliness, relevance, sufficiency, cost-effectiveness.

Computer-Based IS

Components interacting to produce information.

IT Components

Hardware, software, and data in information technology.

IS Components

IT plus procedures and people in information systems.

Abstract Reasoning

Ability to create and manipulate models.

Moore's Law

Transistors double every 18 months, impacting computing.

Competitive Strategy

Organization's response to industry structure.

Example of bargaining power of cusotmers

Your power over the procedures and policies of ECU.

Porter's Five Forces

Framework for analyzing competitive environment.

Cost Leadership

Being the lowest cost provider in an industry.

Differentiation

Offering unique products/services for premium pricing.

Focus Strategy

Targeting a narrow market segment.

Switching Costs

Costs incurred when changing products or services.

High Switching Costs

Difficulties in switching products to retain customers.

Business Process

Set of activities to achieve a specific goal.

Procedures

Instructions for completing tasks within an IS.

People in IS

Users and stakeholders involved in information systems.

Quality Information

Information that meets data characteristics for decision-making.

Competitive Advantage

Edge gained through effective use of IS.

Product implementations

Create new product or service; enhance products or services; differentiate products or services

Process implementations

Lock in customers/buyers, lock in suppliers, raise barriers to entry, establish alliances, reduce costs

Organizational Strategy

Long-term plan to achieve goals and objectives.

Business Process

Network of activities transforming inputs into outputs.

Structured Processes

Standardized, formally defined, day-to-day operations.

Dynamic Processes

Flexible, informal, adaptive, strategic decision-making.

Workgroup Processes

Enable groups to achieve specific departmental goals.

Enterprise Processes

Span organization, supporting multiple departments' activities.

Information Silo

Data isolated in separate information systems.

Problems of Information Silos

Data duplication, inconsistency, integrity issues, inefficiency.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Suite managing customer interactions across life cycle phases.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

Suite integrating applications for real-time updates.

Enterprise Application Integration (EAI)

Software connecting applications, enabling data sharing.

Intranet

Private internet used exclusively within an organization.

LAN Protocols

Standards for local area network communication.

Bluetooth

Wireless technology for short-distance data transmission.

Domain Name System (DNS)

Maps domain names to public IP addresses.

URL (Uniform Resource Locator)

Internet address protocol for accessing resources.

Private IP Addresses

Used within a network, not routable on internet.

Public IP Addresses

Globally unique addresses routable on the internet.

Integrated Information

Unified data accessible across different organizational systems.

Data Integrity Problem

Issues caused by data inconsistency and duplication.

Public IP addresses

Identifies a device on the Internet.

Private IP addresses

Identifies a device on a private network.

Net Neutrality

Regulations preventing ISPs from discriminating traffic.

HTTPS

Protocol for secure data transmission online.

The Cloud

Elastic leasing of pooled computer resources.

In-House Hosting

Local management of computing resources.

The cloud is preffered to in-house hosting because

Small capital requirements

When does the cloud not make sense?

- When law or standard industry practice require physical control or

possession of the data

- Financial institution might be legally required to maintain physical

control over its data

Resource Elasticity

Dynamic adjustment of server capacity based on demand.

SaaS

Software as a Service, provides applications online.

PaaS

Platform as a Service, offers hosted environments.

IaaS

Infrastructure as a Service, barebones cloud hosting.

Future of Cloud

Faster, cheaper, and more secure cloud services.

Mobile Systems

Information systems supporting users in motion.

Mobile Devices

Small, lightweight, power-conserving communication tools.

Wireless Connectivity

Connection without physical cables.

Native Applications

Designed for specific devices and operating systems.

Browser-Based Applications

Run in web browsers, platform-independent.

Roaming

Moving activities across different devices.

BYOD

Bring Your Own Device policy at workplaces.

CIO

Principal manager of the IS department

Technology Group Manager (CTO)

Principal manager overseeing technology infrastructure.

Computing Infrastructure Group

Manages the physical and virtual computing resources.

The group managing the computing infrastructure

Operations

Manager for the orgainzation's IS security

CISO

Who manages the organization's asset security?

CSO

Systems analysts

Work with users to determien system requirements, design & develop job descriptions/procedures, and help determine system test plans.

Business analyst, IT

Work with business leaders and planners to develop processes and systems that implement business strategy and goals.

Organizations plan the use of IS by

Aligning information systems with organizational strategy.

Outsourcing

Hiring another organization to perform services

Popular reasons for outsourcing include

Management advantages

Cost reduction

Risk reduction

User Rights

Computer hardware and programs that allow you to perform your job proficiently

Reliable network and Internet connections

A secure computing environment

Protection from viruses, worms, and other threats

Contribute to requirements for new system features and functions

Reliable systems development and maintenance

Prompt attention to problems, concerns, and complaints

Properly prioritized problem fixes and resolutions

Effective training

User Responsibilities

Learn basic computer skills

Learn standard techniques and procedures for the applications you use

Follow security and backup procedures

Protect your password(s)

Use computers and mobile devices according to your employer's computer-use policy

Make no unauthorized hardware modifications

Install only authorized programs

Apply software patches and fixes when directed to do so

When asked, devote the time required to respond carefully and completely to requests for requirements for new system feature and functions

Avoid reporting trivial problems

Systems Development

Creating and maintaining information systems.

Major challenges of systems development

Difficulty of determining requirements

Changes in requirements

Difficulties involving scheduling and budgeting

Changing technology

Diseconomies of scale

Brooks' Law

Adding more people to a late project makes the project later.

Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC)

Framework for developing information systems.

Cost Feasibility

Evaluating if benefits justify costs.

Tangible Benefits

Measurable advantages from a system.

Intangible Benefits

Non-measurable advantages from a system.

Technical Feasibility

Can we make it?

Do we have the hardware/software, expertise, infrastructure to make it work?

Is there existing IT to be able to meet the needs of the new system?

Organizational Feasibility

Will people use it?

How much training is needed?

Will it require operational changes?

Are there any legal or ethical issues?

Will it interfere with the way we conduct business?

Does it fit our customs and culture?

Requirements Analysis Phase

Determining the system's requirements is most important making the Requirements Analysis phase the most important phase of the SDLC!

Implementation Approaches

Methods for introducing a new system.

Parallel Implementation

Running old and new systems simultaneously.

Plunge Implementation

Discard the old system completely and use the new

Pilot Implementation

Start with small groups of people on the new system and gradually add more users (limited portion of the business, entire system)

Phased Implementation

Implement the new system in phases, piece by piece (everyone, parts of the system)