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People, Hardware-Devices, Software, Data

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27 views2 pages

People, Hardware-Devices, Software, Data

Uploaded by

Jasjit Singh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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People, hardware/devices, software, data, networks, processes that

make up the system


People and organizations use information systems every day. An information system (IS) is a set of
interrelated components that collect, process, store, and disseminate data and information; an
information system provides a feedback mechanism to monitor and control its operation to make sure it
continues to meet its goals and objectives. The feedback mechanism is critical to helping organizations
achieve their goals, such as increasing profits or improving customer service.

A computer-based information system (CBIS) is a single set of hardware, software, databases, networks,
people, and procedures that are configured to collect, manipulate, store, and process data into
information. Increasingly, companies are incorporating computer-based information systems into their
products and services. Investment companies offer their customers a wide range of powerful
investment tools, including access to extensive online research. Automobiles are available with
advanced navigation systems that not only guide you to your destination but also incorporate
information regarding the latest weather and traffic conditions to help you avoid congestion and traffic
delays. Watches, digital cameras, mobile phones, music players, and other devices rely on CBIS to bring
their users the latest and greatest features.

The components of a CBIS are illustrated in Figure 1.2. An organization’s technology


infrastructure includes all the hardware, software, databases, networks, people, and procedures that
are configured to collect, manipulate, store, and process data into information. The technology
infrastructure is a set of shared IS resources that form the foundation of each computer-based
information system.

Figure 1.2 Components of a Computer-Based Information System - Hardware, software, networks,


people, and procedures are part of a business’s technology infrastructure.

© various shutterstock photos

1
People make the difference between success and failure in all organizations. Jim Collins, in his
book, Good to Great, said, “Those who build great companies understand that the ultimate throttle on
growth for any great company is not markets, or technology, or competition, or products. It is one thing
above all others: the ability to get and keep enough of the right people.” Thus, it comes as no surprise
that people are the most important element in computer-based information systems.

Good systems can enable people to produce extraordinary results. They can also boost job satisfaction
and worker productivity. Information systems personnel include all the people who manage, run,
program, and maintain the system, including the chief information officer (CIO), who leads the IS
organization. End users are people who work directly with information systems to get results. They
include financial executives, marketing representatives, and manufacturing line operators.

A procedure defines the steps to follow to achieve a specific end result, such as enter a customer order,
pay a supplier invoice, or request a current inventory report. Good procedures describe how to achieve
the desired end result, who does what and when, and what to do in the event something goes wrong.
When people are well trained and follow effective procedures, they can get work done faster, cut costs,
make better use of resources, and more easily adapt to change. When procedures are well documented,
they can greatly reduce training costs and shorten the learning curve.

Using a CBIS involves setting and following many procedures, including those for the operation,
maintenance, and security of the system. For example, some procedures describe how to gain access to
the system through the use of some log-on procedure and a password. Others describe who can access
facts in the database or what to do if a disaster, such as a fire, earthquake, or hurricane, renders the
CBIS unusable. Good procedures can help companies take advantage of new opportunities and avoid
lengthy business disruptions in the event of natural disasters. Poorly developed and inadequately
implemented procedures, however, can cause people to waste their time on useless rules or result in
inadequate responses to disasters.

Source: Stair, R.M. & Reynolds, G.W. (2018), Fundamentals of Information Systems (9th Edition), Nelson-
Cengage Learning, ISBN:978-1-337-09753-6

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