Information Systems Basics

Flashcards covering key concepts from the Information Systems Basics lecture notes, including definitions, models, processes, and real-world examples.

What is the formal definition of an information system?

A set of interrelated components that collect (or retrieve), process, store and distribute information to support decision making and control in an organization.

What are the four main components of an information system?

Input, processing, storage, and output.

How is data different from information in the context of information systems?

Data are raw facts; information is data shaped into a meaningful form useful for the business.

What are the three activities that produce information in an information system?

Input, processing, and output (with storage acting as the data repository).

What are Porter’s primary/core activities in the value chain?

Inbound logistics, operations, outbound logistics, marketing and sales, and service.

What are Porter’s support activities in the value chain?

Procurement, technology, human resources, and firm infrastructure.

List the traditional major business processes discussed in the notes.

Acquisition (purchasing and paying for raw materials), Production (transforming inputs into goods/services), and Sales (provision and payment).

What is the purpose of the value chain model?

To break down business processes into primary/core and support activities to understand how value is created.

What is Systems Thinking (GST) in information systems?

An approach that treats the system as a whole, recognizes interdependencies among subsystems, and notes that changes in one part affect others; systems are hierarchical.

What is the difference between material flow and data flow?

Material flow involves physical goods; data flow involves data about products, customers, employees, etc.

Give two real-world examples of information system value propositions described in the notes.

HelloFresh used a centralized IS to automate reporting, saving 10–20 hours per day; Des Moines Public Schools used BI and a regression model to identify at‑risk students and guide interventions.

What are the three types of information system reports?

Scheduled, Ad-hoc, and Real-time reports.

What is the relationship between information systems and business strategy?

They are interdependent; strategy decisions depend on IS capabilities, and IS designs must adapt to strategic changes.

Name major types of information systems listed in the notes.

Executive Information System (EIS), Business Intelligence System (BIS), Customer Relationship Management System (CRM), Transaction Processing System (TPS), Knowledge Management System (KMS), Human Resource Management System (HRMS), Supply Chain Management System (SCM).

What are the main goals or benefits of information systems in organizations?

Informed decision-making, better record-keeping, improved employee productivity, and improved overall business efficiency.

What are the three stages in the business use of information systems?

Automate steps in business processes; create a competitive advantage; support performance-based management.

Why can’t modern organizations survive without information systems?

Because they manage massive amounts of data and rely on data flows to operate and make decisions.

How does a clinical information system illustrate the use of information systems?

It automates a medical treatment process by capturing patient symptoms, examining, diagnosing, determining treatments, and entering data into the software system.

What is the role of Management Information Systems (MIS) in organizations?

MIS tools move data and manage information to support processes, intelligence, and IT; they enable data-driven reporting and decision making.

What factors should you consider when choosing a method of communication for a client?

Urgency, Security/Confidentiality, Nature/complexity, Number of recipients, Record, Distance, Impression/Appearance, Feedback, and Cost.

How do information systems contribute to decision making and control in organizations?

By storing, processing, and distributing information, IS provide timely reports and forecasts to support decisions and management control.

Provide an example of an IS-based value case from the notes other than HelloFresh.

Des Moines Public Schools used BI and a regression model ('dropout coefficient') to predict at-risk students and improve intervention strategies.