Information Systems Lecture Notes Flashcards

Flashcards based on lecture notes about Information Systems.

Information System (IS)

A set of interrelated components that collect, manipulate, and disseminate data and information and provide feedback to meet an objective.

Data

Raw facts.

Information

Collection of facts organized in such a way that they have value beyond the facts themselves.

Process

Set of logically related tasks.

Knowledge

Awareness and understanding of a set of information.

Alphanumeric Data

Numbers, letters, and other characters.

Image Data

Graphic images and pictures.

Audio Data

Sound, noise, or tones.

Video Data

Moving images or pictures.

Accessible Information

Information should be easily accessible by authorized users so they can obtain it in the right format and at the right time to meet their needs.

Accurate Information

Accurate information is error-free.

Complete Information

Complete information contains all the important facts.

Economical Information

Information should also be relatively economical to produce.

Flexible Information

Flexible information can be used for a variety of purposes.

Relevant Information

Relevant information is important to the decision maker.

Reliable Information

Reliable information can be trusted by users.

Secure Information

Information should be secure from access by unauthorized users.

Simple Information

Information should be simple, not overly complex.

Timely Information

Timely information is delivered when it is needed.

Verifiable Information

Information should be verifiable, meaning you can check it to make sure it is correct.

System

A set of elements or components that interact to accomplish goals.

Efficiency

Measure of what is produced divided by what is consumed.

Effectiveness

Measure of the extent to which a system attains its goals.

System Performance Standard

Specific objective of the system.

Input

Activity of gathering and capturing raw data.

Processing

Converting data into useful outputs.

Output

Production of useful information, usually in the form of documents and reports.

Feedback

Information from the system that is used to make changes to input or processing activities.

Computer-Based Information System

Single set of hardware, software, databases, telecommunications, people, and procedures, configured to collect, manipulate, store, and process data into information.

Technology Infrastructure

Includes all hardware, software, databases, telecommunications, people, and procedures configured to collect, manipulate, store, and process data into information.

Hardware

Consists of computer equipment used to perform input, processing, and output activities.

Software

Consists of the computer programs that govern the operation of the computer.

Database

Organized collection of facts and information, typically consisting of two or more related data files.

Telecommunications

The electronic transmission of signals for communications.

Networks

Connect computers and equipment to enable electronic communication.

Internet

World’s largest computer network, consisting of thousands of interconnected networks, all freely exchanging information.

Intranet

Internal network that allows people within an organization to exchange information and work on projects.

Extranet

Network that allows selected outsiders, such as business partners and customers, to access authorized resources of a company’s intranet.

E-commerce

Any business transaction executed electronically between companies, companies and consumers, consumers, and the public sector.

Mobile commerce (m-commerce)

The use of mobile, wireless devices to place orders and conduct business.

Electronic business (e-business)

Uses information systems and the Internet to perform all business-related tasks and functions.

Transaction

Any business-related exchange, such as payments to employees and sales to customers.

Transaction processing system (TPS)

Organized collection of people, procedures, software, databases, and devices used to record completed business transactions.

Enterprise resource planning

Set of integrated programs that manages the vital business operations for an entire multisite, global organization.

Management information system (MIS)

Organized collection of people, procedures, software, databases, and devices that provides routine information to managers and decision makers.

Decision support system (DSS)

Organized collection of people, procedures, software, databases, and devices that support problem-specific decision making.

Knowledge management systems (KMSs)

Organized collection of people, procedures, software, databases, and devices to share, create, store, and use the organization’s knowledge and experience.

Artificial intelligence (AI)

Computer system takes on characteristics of human intelligence.

Expert systems

Give computer ability to make suggestions and function like an expert in a particular field.

Virtual reality

Simulation of a real or imagined environment that can be experienced visually in three dimensions.

Systems development

The activity of creating or modifying existing business systems.

Outsourcing

Allows a company to focus on what it does best and delegate other functions to companies with expertise in systems development.

Goal of systems investigation

To gain a clear understanding of the problem to be solved or opportunity to be addressed.

Systems analysis

Defines the problems and opportunities of the existing system.

Systems design

Determines how new system will work to meet business needs defined during systems analysis.

Systems implementation

Acquiring various system components defined in design step, assembling them, and putting the new system into operation.

Systems maintenance and review

Checks and modifies the system so that it continues to meet changing business needs.

Computer literacy

Knowledge of computer systems and equipment and the ways they function.

Information systems literacy

Knowledge of how data and information are used by individuals, groups, and organizations.

Organization

A formal collection of people and other resources established to accomplish a set of goals.

Value chain

Series (chain) of activities that includes inbound logistics, warehouse and storage, production, finished product storage, outbound logistics, marketing and sales, and customer service.

Upstream management

Management of raw materials, inbound logistics, and warehouse and storage facilities.

Downstream management

Management of finished product storage, outbound logistics, marketing and sales, and customer service.

Organizational structure

Organizational subunits and the way they relate to the overall organization.

Traditional Organizational Structure

A hierarchical structure where major department heads report to a president or top-level manager.

Project organizational structure

Centered on major products or services with many teams being temporary.

Team organizational structure

Centered on work teams or groups that can be temporary or permanent, depending on tasks.

Virtual organizational structure

Employs business units in geographically dispersed areas where people may never meet face to face.

Organizational culture

Major understandings and assumptions that influence information systems.

Organizational change

How organizations plan for, implement, and handle change.

Reengineering

Radical redesign of business processes, organizational structures, information systems, and values of the organization to achieve a breakthrough in business results.

Continuous improvement

Constantly seeking ways to improve business processes, leading to increased customer loyalty and reduction in customer dissatisfaction.

Technology acceptance model (TAM)

Describes factors that lead to higher levels of acceptance and usage of technology.

Technology diffusion

Measure of how widely technology is spread throughout an organization.

Technology infusion

Extent to which technology permeates a department.

Quality

Ability of a product or service to meet or exceed customer expectations.

Outsourcing

Contracting with outside professional services.

On-demand computing

Contracting for computer resources to rapidly respond to an organization’s varying workflow.

Downsizing

Reducing number of employees.

Competitive Advantage

Significant and (ideally) long-term benefit to a company over its competition.

Productivity

A measure of output achieved divided by input required.

Risk

Consider risks of designing, developing, and implementing information systems.

Operations

Focuses on the efficiency of IS functions.

Systems development

Focuses on specific development projects and ongoing maintenance and review.

Support

Provides user assistance, data administration, user training, and Web administration.

Chief Information Officer (CIO)

Employs the IS department’s equipment and personnel to help the organization attain its goals.

Hardware

Hardware that assists in the input, processing, storage, and output activities of an information system.

Central Processing Unit (CPU)

The unit containing the ALU, control unit, and registers.

Arithmetic/Logic Unit (ALU)

Performs mathematical calculations and makes logical comparisons.

Control Unit

Sequentially accesses program instructions, decodes them, and coordinates the flow of data.

Registers

High-speed storage areas used to store small amounts of data and instructions for rapid access.

System Unit

Houses the CPU and memory.

Clock Speed

A series of electronic pulses produced at a predetermined rate that affects machine cycle time.

Microcode

Predefined, elementary circuits and logical operations that the processor performs when it executes an instruction.

Moore's Law

States that the transistor density of chips will double approximately every 18 months.

Main Memory

Memory located physically close to the CPU, providing data and instructions rapidly.

Random Access Memory (RAM)

Temporary and volatile memory.

Read-Only Memory (ROM)

Nonvolatile memory.

Cache Memory

High-speed memory that a processor can access more rapidly than main memory.

Multiprocessing

Simultaneous execution of two or more instructions at the same time.