Information Systems

•A computer information system

MGMT2006 – MANAGEMENT therefore comprises
INFORMATION SYSTEMS I •hardware such as input, storage and output
devices
LECTURE 2 •software including custom-written, general
Glenda Gay
purpose and specialised software.
[email protected] •Procedures
•People
•And most importantly...the data flow.

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A system does not exist in a vacuum…

•System exists and functions in an
environment containing other
systems.
Information
Systems = data, procedures, people and is a component of a larger
technology (hw & sw) •Subsystem system, where the larger system
is its environment.

separated from its environment

•Boundary and other systems by its system
boundary.
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Identify the system, subsystems and

boundary The work system is a bird’s eye view of the
connecting ‘elements’ in the company

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 Work System Framework

•Work System = a system in which people

and/or machines perform a business
process using resources (e.g.,
information, technology) to create
products and/or services for internal or
external customers

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elements of work system framework Work system framework:

customer
• The system actually
performing the work
• Business process
• Participants (e.g. •External customers use the product or service
employees)
• Information
• Technology •Internal customers are employees who may also
• Outputs: use the product or service
• Products & services used by
the customers
• External factors
• Infrastructure
• Context
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“…I dream of hot turnovers from zephrins, fresh salt

breads,…”
Business Process http://jdidthoughts.blogspot.com/2004_11_01_archive.html

The
business process
is at the
core
of the work system

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 Business Process Business Process
• The same process can be •A related group of steps (sub-processes)
performed with drastically and/or activities that use resources
different results depending (including information) to create value for
on internal or external customers
•Who does the work • Sub-process = a well-defined part of a
•What information & process
technology is being used

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•A process must add value for its elements of work system framework
customers • The system actually performing
•Always analyze whether a process or sub- the work
• Business process
process adds value or not • Participants (e.g.
• Anobvious but surprisingly often employees)
overlooked point • Information
• Technology
• Outputs:
• Products & services used by the
customers
• External factors
• Infrastructure
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• Context 17

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Participants (e.g. employees) Participants (e.g. employees)

The people that perform the work process Transforming Customers Into Participants

•Self-service work systems

• Ex.: ATMs, Web sites, etc.
•May be beneficial to both
firm and customers
• Cost reductions
• Better feedback, etc.

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Products & Services Technology
•Customers evaluate the
product
• INFORMATION
• Several areas of product TECHNOLOGY =
performance, such as: computer and
•Cost communication
•Perceived quality hardware and software
•Reliability, etc.
• Separate consideration of each factor helps in
devising new ways to improve customer
satisfaction

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Technology Infrastructure
• The shared human, information, and
•IT has no impact unless technical resources on which a work
system relies in order to operate
it is used within a (visible or invisible)
business process • These resources exist and are
managed outside the work
system
• Ex.: a shared corporate
database, a computer network,
a support & training
organization
• The infrastructure should be operated
and managed like any other work
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system 23

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Infrastructure : Information Infrastructure

Human Infrastructure
• Coded information that is
•Often less noticed than the shared across the organization
hardware & software • (say, course code MGMT is
components, but equally unique to the campus)
important
•Responsibilities include:
• Managing the IT facilities
• Training
• Enforcing standards, etc.

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 Balance Between the Elements
Context of a Work System
• The organizational, competitive,
technical, and regulatory •The work system
environment within which the elements must be in
work system operates balance
• Includes:
•A change in one
• External stakeholders
• Organizational policies,
element usually requires
practices, and culture a change in other
• Business pressures, etc. elements
• May create both incentives and • Well-intended changes
obstacles may also have negative
impacts
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Need for a Balanced View of a System

Viewing Information Systems and Projects As
Work Systems

Information system = a work system

devoted to capturing, transmitting,
storing, retrieving, manipulating, and
displaying information
Software products are NOT information
systems
Project = a work system that is
designed to produce a particular
product and then go out of existence
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…let’s see…

•Each of the three viewpoints is • A work system whose business processes is devoted to capturing,
transmitting, storing, retrieving, manipulating, and displaying
essential, but an excessive emphasis information, thereby supporting other work systems, is called
a) e-commerce
on any of them may lead to b) e-business
problems c) electronic data interchange
d) an information system
•Hence the importance of ongoing
collaboration between business and
IT professionals
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 • A system in which human participants and/or
• A set of interacting components that operate machines perform a business process using
together to accomplish a purpose is called a: information, technology, and other resources to
a) System produce products and/or services for internal or
external customers is called:
b) Subsystem
a)information system
c) work system
b)enterprise system
d) none of the above
c)work system
d)management information system

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A work system that is designed to produce a

• The set of steps or activities that are performed particular product and then go out of existence is
within the work system are called: called a(n):
a) products and services a) business process
b) business process b) information system
c) business transactions c) Project
d) business products d) business system

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• Which of the following is NOT true about

• Which of the following is NOT a business processes?
a) a group of related steps in which people use
step in the decision-making information and other resources to create
process? value for internal and external customers
a) defining the problem b) have inputs and outputs
b) designing potential improvements c) have no beginning or end
d) have steps related in time and place
c) design the new solutions
d) decide what to do

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6
 Work System Framework
Fill in the elements of the work system

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Create a work system of the company by identifying the eight (8) Select two elements, and discuss how too much or too little of the
elements element can impact on the business

 Letty’s Costume Rentals is a newly opened  Letty’s Costume Rentals is a newly opened
• Customers • Customers
costume rental business costume rental business
• Products and • Products and
 Contact person: Letty Scott services  Contact person: Letty Scott services
 Letty’s Costume Rentals rents costumes • Business process  Letty’s Costume Rentals rents costumes • Business process
for adults, but in the future will add • Participants for adults, but in the future will add • Participants
children’s costumes to its inventory children’s costumes to its inventory
• Information • Information
 Ms. Scott realizes that a database can help • Technology  Ms. Scott realizes that a database can help • Technology
her costume rental data be further her costume rental data be further
• Context • Context
analyzed to help her make better, more analyzed to help her make better, more
informed business decisions. • Infrastructure informed business decisions. • Infrastructure

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Create a work system of the company by identifying the eight (8)

elements
Thank you!
• The TVC rental company provides various types of
wine for special events.
• The Vanessa and Catherine Tiam’s business is  Customers
situated out of the city on an acre of land, a portion  Products and
of which contains a wine cellar to store the wines in services
a cool area, and another section for parking of trucks
to deliver the wines.
 Business
process [email protected]
• TVC offers a delivery service to locations across the  Participants
country.  Information
• On arrival to the office, a customer provides the  Technology
necessary information, is given a reservation ticket,  Context
pays 25% of the order.
 Infrastructure
• The customer returns to the office after the event,
provides the reservation ticket#, and pays for the
wine ordered, but does not pay for any wines
returned. Delivery costs are also included.

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