slide session 4 - reintroducing info systems & exploring types of software

the information systems triangle

1. people

2. business processes

3. information technology

people

the actors who interact in a business process

• the most difficult to change, and the most complex part of any info system

diverse stakeholders

people will have differing info needs/preferences based on the roles that they play

culture

info flow links the ways that people interact and the values that they have

political forces

the distribution of power in an org has a big impact on info access/use

business processes

goal-orientated activities conducted by a business / a set of activities that accomplish a specific task (ex: marketing > order entry > order fulfillment > product distribution)

• a standard set of steps to get through something

• how organizations do what they do

• ex: marketing, strategic planning, new product development, order fulfillment/entry, etc

stakeholder

anyone who has an interest in an existing or proposed info system (owners, users, designers, and builders

systems analyst

a special type of stakeholder who needs to know what tech can do and what the biz needs + someone who studies the problems and needs of an org to determine how people, data, processes, and info tech can be combined to improve the org

• a special type of stakeholder

• analogies include a bridge and interpreter

skills of a systems analyst

1. analytical

2. technical

3. managerial

4. interpersonal

analytical skills

• general problem-solving skills

• systems thinking

technical skills

• working knowledge of IT

• understanding the potential and limitations of IT

managerial skills

• broad biz knowledge

• flexibility and adaptability

interpersonal

• good communication skills

• character and ethics

owners

executive sponsors and management, the people who pay the bill

• ex: ceo, cfo, vp of operations

users

people who use an info system on a regular basis

• may be internal or external

• ex: administrative staff, salespeople

designers

people who translate the info needs of other stakeholders into a designed artifact

ex: network architects, security experts

builders

people who bring. the designer’s vision to life

• ex: programmers, network admins

information technology

the combo of computer tech (hardware + software) and tele-communications technology (data, image, and voice networks) used in the processing and distribution of data

hardware

the physical components that enable computing (ex: central processing unit (CPU) storage components, input/output devices, communications devices, etc)

software

the set of instructions that enable computers to perform tasks as well as the encoded data that the programs use

system software

a type of software that organizes + controls the hardware devices and coordinates other software (ex: operating systems, utilities, etc)

application software

software that enables users to perform specific tasks (spreadsheet, browser, etc)

core functions of IT

• input

• processing

• output

• storage

input

receiving data from outside sources

processing

manipulating data to create information

output

providing the results of the processing

storage

storing data for later us

purpose of information systems

every information system is designed to make someone’s life easier

• provides info needed to do a job

• simplifies the way we work

• supporting decision-making

• improving understanding of customers

• enabling communication between people

categories of software

• personal

• public

• enterprise/organizational

personal software

designed for an individual user or small group for basic/standalone tasks (ex: text messaging, microsoft word, and most mobile applications)

public software