Overview of Computing

and IS
Chapter 1
 OBJECTIVES
At the end of this chapter, the students will be able to:
1. Distinguish between data, information and knowledge.
2. Illustrate how computer-based information systems
work in terms of input, processing, and outputs.
3. Discuss the characteristics used to evaluate the quality
of data.
4. Explain the components of computer-based
information systems.
5. Discuss the modern role of the information systems
department.
6. Analyze case problems related to business information
systems.
 OUTCOMES COVERED
Outcome 1:
Discuss the basic concepts, terminologies, elements,
number systems, operations of computing and
Information systems, and their impact on facilitating
organizational change.

Outcome 4:
Analyze business cases and appropriate IT solutions to
common business problems, based on different
components, elements, types, and levels of IS.
 CHAPTER 1 TOPICS

1. CONCEPTS AND
DEFINITIONS
2. COMPONENTS OF COMPUTER-
BASED INFORMATION SYSTEMS
3. CHARACTERISTICS OF
VALUABLE INFORMATION
CONCEPTS AND
DEFINITIONS
Data, Information, and
Knowledge
How are DATA,
INFORMATION and
KNOWLEDGE linked?
 DATA
- description of things, events, activities,
and transactions that are recorded,
classified, and stored but are not
organized to convey any specific
meaning.
- a collection of text, numbers and
symbols with no meaning.
- Therefore, data has to be processed
or provided with a context, before
it can have meaning.
 DATA
EXAMPLES OF DATA:
• 3, 6, 9, 12
• camel, cows, goats, donkeys
• 161.2, 175.3, 166.4, 164.7, 169.3
• A, B, C
• Abdullah, Mohammed
These are meaningless sets of data. They
could be anything but without a context,
we don’t know what they are.
 INFORMATION

- refers to data that have been

organized so that they have meaning
and value to the recipient(receiver).
- is data that has meaning.
- is the result of processing data,
usually by computer.
 INFORMATION
EXAMPLES OF INFORMATION:
DATA INFORMATION
3,6,9,12 3, 6, 9 and 12 are the first four answers in the
3 x table

camel, cows, goats, camel, cows, goats, donkeys are some of the
donkeys animals you can find in the mountains of
Dhofar

161.2, 175.3, 166.4, 161.2, 175.3, 166.4, 164.7, 169.3 are heights
164.7, 169.3 of students in a class in centimeters

Only when we assign a context or meaning does the data

become information.
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 INFORMATION
When does data become information?

Data on its own has no meaning. It only

takes on meaning and becomes information
when it is interpreted. Data consists of raw facts
and figures. Information is usually the
processed outcome of data.

When data is processed into information, it

becomes interpretable and gains significance.
Information is useful because it means
something.
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 KNOWLEDGE
- consists of data and/or information
that has been organized and
processed to convey understanding,
experience, accumulated learning, and
expertise as they apply to a current
business problem.
- the use of information to solve
If we put Knowledge into an equation it would
problems.
look like this:
Information + application or use =
Knowledge
 DATA, INFORMATION,
KNOWLEDGE
EXAMPLES OF INFORMATION:

DATA INFORMATION

161.2, 175.3, 166.4, 161.2, 175.3, 166.4, 164.7, 169.3 are

164.7, 169.3 heights of students in a class in
centimeters

EXAMPLES OF KNOWLEDGE :
If we now apply this information to gain further knowledge we
could say that:
The tallest student in the class is 175.3
centimeters.
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 KNOWLEDGE
EXAMPLES OF INFORMATION:
DATA INFORMATION

3 CGPA is 3

EXAMPLE OF KNOWLEDGE:
A company hiring students from our University has found that
students with CGPA over 3.0 have had the most success in its
programs. Therefore, based on its experience, that company may
well decide to interview only those students with CGPA over 3.0.
 DATA, INFORMATION,
KNOWLEDGE
How are Data, Information and Knowledge linked?

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 SYSTEM
- can be defined as a collection of
components that work together
towards a common goal.
- the objective of a system is to receive
inputs and transform these into
outputs.
HUMAN BODY AS AN EXAMPLE OF A SYSTEM
CAR AS AN EXAMPLE OF A SYSTEM
COMPUTER AS AN EXAMPLE OF A SYSTEM
Examine the pictures….

Are all these examples of a System?

YES!
INFORMATION SYSTEM AS AN EXAMPLE
A SYSTEM

• Timetable Registration System in UTAS-

Salalah
• Flight Booking System in Oman Air
• Payroll System in Lulu Hypermarket
• Inventory System in Muscat Pharmacy
INFORMATION SYSTEM AS AN EXAMPLE
A SYSTEM

Flight Booking System in Oman Air

 INFORMATION SYSTEM
- a combination of people,
hardware, software,
communication devices, network
and data resources that
processes (can be storing,
retrieving, transforming information)
data and information for a
specific purpose.
 EXAMPLES OF
INFORMATION SYSTEM
(IS) Applications
 Examples of Information System

 Student Registration System –for student

registration
 Library System – borrowing and returning, records
and inventory of books
 Payroll System - to compute salary of staffs
 Attendance System – for checking and
monitoring staff attendance
 Examples of Information System

 Cash/Money Deposit and Withdrawal System –

for bank transactions
 Examples of Information System

 Payroll System - to compute salary for staffs and

keeps track of checks
 Inventory System - keeps track of supplies of items
or products.
The two systems are separate.
 Examples of Information System

 Point of Sale System- allows the staff/cashier to

accept customer payments, track and manage
sales, inventory od typically small businesses.
 INFORMATION SYSTEM
COMPUTER BASED INFORMATION
SYSTEM (CBIS)

- an information system that uses

computer technology to perform some or
all of its intended tasks.
 INFORMATION SYSTEM
BUSINESS INFORMATION SYSTEM
- (BIS)
a group of interrelated components that
work collectively to carry out input,
processing, output, storage and control
actions in order to convert data into
information products that can be used
to support forecasting, planning,
control, coordination, decision making
and operational activities in an
organization.
Information System
Activities
ACTIVITIES OF INFORMATION
SYSTEM
 INPUT, PROCESS, OUTPUT
INPUT
- the data flowing into the system from
outside.

PROCESSING
- the action of manipulating the input
into a more useful form.

OUTPUT
- results of the processing that then
exit the system. The information
flowing out of the system.
 Example

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 Example
Illustrate the input, process and output
activities of assignment submission to your
teacher.

You work on Your teacher The teacher

your accepted the gives you
assignment assignment your mark.
and and checked
submitted it it
to your
teacher.
 Example
Illustrate the input, process and output
activities of student attendance system.

The teacher The system The student

checks the will process may receive
attendance the warning,
and enters attendance reports
in the records. maybe
system. printed for
the teacher
on who is
always
 Example

A person The keystrokes The keystrokes

types data being entered by being entered
the typist is are immediately
into a
converted into shown on the
database ASCII (American typist‘s or
system by Standard Code encoder‘s
means of a for Information monitor so she
keyboard. Interchange) can see what is
format that the being entered.
computer can
understand.
 Example
Illustrate the input, process and output
activities of the timetable registration
system.

Student details
Timetable details Timetable
(lecturer, section,
course, time) Registration Registered
Advisor details System Timetable
Transcript details
(marks)
Assigned Courses
 STORAGE
- the means of holding information for
use at a later date.

- information often needs to be kept

safe for later use. This information
maybe: an input data, a partly
processed data or most often, it is an
output data.

- Data maybe stored on hard drives.

 CHAPTER 1 TOPICS

1. CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS

2. COMPONENTS OF
COMPUTER-BASED
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
3. CHARACTERISTICS OF
VALUABLE INFORMATION
 COMPONENTS/
RESOURCES OF
COMPUTER-BASED
INFORMATION SYSTEM
 5
COMPONENTS/RESOURCES
OF COMPUTER-BASED
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
1. PEOPLE RESOURCES
2. HARDWARE RESOURCES
3. SOFTWARE RESOURCES
4. DATA RESOURCES
5. NETWORK RESOURCES
 5
COMPONENTS/RESOURCES
OF COMPUTER-BASED
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
1. PEOPLE RESOURCES
2. HARDWARE RESOURCES
3. SOFTWARE RESOURCES
4. DATA RESOURCES
5. NETWORK RESOURCES
 PEOPLE RESOURCES
- include end users and
information systems specialists.
 PEOPLE RESOURCES
End Users
- people who use an information
system or the information it
produces.

Information System (I.S.)

Specialists
- people who develop and operate
information systems such as system
analyst, programmers, database
designers, web developers and
 Examples

Colleges Information Management System (CIMS) of the University

Of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS)

END-USERS- STAFF(teachers, advisors, student affairs), STUDENTS

IS SPECIALISTS- Programmers, Systems analysts and Computer

operators
 Examples

Cash/Money Deposit and Withdrawal System – for bank transactions

END-USERS- staff of the bank, CUSTOMERS OR CLIENTS

IS SPECIALISTS- Programmers, Systems analysts, Web Developers,

Mobile App Developers
 5
COMPONENTS/RESOURCES
OF COMPUTER-BASED
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
1. PEOPLE RESOURCES
2. HARDWARE RESOURCES
3. SOFTWARE RESOURCES
4. DATA RESOURCES
5. NETWORK RESOURCES
 HARDWARE RESOURCES

- includes all physical devices and

materials used in information
processing.
 HARDWARE RESOURCES
Hardware
It is the physical layer of the information
system.
 HARDWARE

- the physical components of a

computer system which can be
categorized as:
a. Input devices
b. Central Processing Unit
c. Internal and External memory
d. Output devices
 HARDWARE RESOURCES
a. Input Devices

- are used to capture or enter data into

the computer.

Examples: Keyboard, mouse

 Examples
INPUT DEVICES
 HARDWARE RESOURCES
b. Central Processing Unit

- performs processing by carrying out

instructions given in the form of computer
programs.

CASE MOTHERBOARD PROCESSOR

 HARDWARE RESOURCES
c. Computer Memory is categorized as:

 Internal memory (also called main

memory or primary memory) which
stores data held on the computer
 External memory (also called
external storage) stores data on a
separate device where the information
will be retained even if the machine is
switched off.
 HARDWARE RESOURCES

Internal memory is used as a temporary

means of storage data and instructions
while

external memory provides a means of

storing data and programs outside of the
computer.
 Examples

Pictures of a hard disk as external memory and an

external disk
 HARDWARE RESOURCES
d. Output Devices

- translate the results of processing

into a human-readable form.

- display the results of computer

processing

Examples: Monitor, Speaker

 Examples
OUTPUT DEVICES
 HARDWARE RESOURCES
ADDITIONAL NOTES:

Machines: all physical devices

(computers, peripherals,
telecommunications networks)

Media: all tangible objects on which

data are recorded (paper, magnetic
disks)
 5
COMPONENTS/RESOURCES
OF COMPUTER-BASED
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
1. PEOPLE RESOURCES
2. HARDWARE RESOURCES
3. SOFTWARE RESOURCES
4. DATA RESOURCES
5. NETWORK RESOURCES
 SOFTWARE RESOURCES

- include all sets of information

processing instructions.

- can be defined as a series of

detailed instructions that control
the operation of a computer system
and exist as programs which are
developed by computer
programmers.
TWO CATEGORIES OF
SOFTWARE
SOFTWARE

SYSTEMS APPLICATION
SOFTWARE SOFTWARE

GENERAL-
OPERATING
PURPOSE
SYSTEM
APPLICATIONS

SOFTWARE APPLICATION-
DEVELOPMENT SPECIFIC
PROGRAMS APPLICATIONS

UTILITY
PROGRAMS
 TWO CATEGORIES OF
SOFTWARE
1. Systems Software- manages and
controls the operation of the computer
system as it performs tasks on behalf of
the user.

2. Application Software- can be defined as

a set of programs that enable users to
perform specific information-processing
activities.
 TWO CATEGORIES OF
1. System SOFTWARE
software: manages also the
hardware components.
e.g. operating system and security systems

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TWO CATEGORIES OF
SOFTWARE
SOFTWARE

SYSTEMS APPLICATION
SOFTWARE SOFTWARE

GENERAL-
OPERATING
PURPOSE
SYSTEM
APPLICATIONS

SOFTWARE APPLICATION-
DEVELOPMENT SPECIFIC
PROGRAMS APPLICATIONS

UTILITY
PROGRAMS
 BASIC CATEGORIES OF
SYSTEM SOFTWARE

1. Operating System
2. Software Development Programs
3. Utility Programs
 BASIC CATEGORIES OF SYSTEM
SOFTWARE
1. Operating Systems (OS)
- interact with the hardware of the
computer by monitoring and sending
instructions to manage and direct the
computer’s resources.

- functions as an intermediary between

the functions the user needs to
perform.
BASIC CATEGORIES OF SYSTEM
SOFTWARE
1. Operating Systems (OS)
The basic functions of the operating
system include:
2. allocating and managing system
resources,
3. scheduling the use of resources and
4. monitoring the activities of the
computer system.
Examples: Windows, Unix, Linux,
MacOS
Examples of Operating System
 BASIC CATEGORIES OF SYSTEM
SOFTWARE
2. Software Development Programs

- allow users to develop their own

software in order to carry out processing
tasks.
 BASIC CATEGORIES OF SYSTEM
SOFTWARE
2. Software Development Programs
EXAMPLES:
*First generation- requires a programmer to work in
ones and zeros to represent characters and numbers.

*This time-consuming tasks was somewhat simplified

using shorter codes called assembly language.
*Third-generation languages- substantially reduce
the programmer‘s time in producing code such as
FORTRAN, COBOL, BASIC, Pascal and C

*Fourth-generation languages- such as SQL are built

around a database system and make producing code
even easier than third generation languages.
 BASIC CATEGORIES OF SYSTEM
SOFTWARE
2. Software Development Programs
 BASIC CATEGORIES OF SYSTEM
SOFTWARE

3. Utility Programs

- provide a range of tools that support

the operation and management of a
computer system.

Examples: Programs that monitor system

performance or provide security controls such as
antivirus software, backup software and disk
tools.
TWO CATEGORIES OF
SOFTWARE
SOFTWARE

SYSTEMS APPLICATION
SOFTWARE SOFTWARE

GENERAL-
OPERATING
PURPOSE
SYSTEM
APPLICATIONS

SOFTWARE APPLICATION-
DEVELOPMENT SPECIFIC
PROGRAMS APPLICATIONS

UTILITY
PROGRAMS
 CATEGORIES OF APPLICATION
SOFTWARE
1. General-purpose applications
2. Application-specific software

1. General-purpose applications- are

programs that can be used to carry out a wide
range of common tasks.
 CATEGORIES OF APPLICATION
SOFTWARE
1. General-Purpose Applications
Examples:
2. Word Processors- capable of producing a variety of
documents that are suitable for many different
purposes
3. Spreadsheets- enables the storage, organization
and analysis of numerical data
4. Databases software- allows for the storage and
retrieval of information
5. Desktop publishing packages
6. Graphics packages
7. Multimedia software- allows the user to work with
media such as text, sound, animation and video.
GENERAL PURPOSE APPLICATION
Consists of programs that supports day-to-day
business functions and provide user with
information that require.
e.g. Microsoft Office, apps, etc.
 CATEGORIES OF APPLICATION
SOFTWARE
2. Application-specific software- comprises
programs intended to serve a specific purpose
or carryout a clearly defined information
processing task.
Examples of Application-Specific Softwa

• Student Registration System –for student registration

• Library System – borrowing and returning, records and
inventory of books
• Payroll System - to compute salary of staffs
The three systems are separate.
 SOFTWARE RESOURCES
ADDITIONAL NOTES:

Program- set of instructions that cause a computer to perform

a particular task (operating system, spreadsheet program, word
processing, etc...).

Procedures: sets of instructions used by people to complete a

task (data entry procedures, error correction procedures, etc…).
 5
COMPONENTS/RESOURCES
OF COMPUTER-BASED
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
1. PEOPLE RESOURCES
2. HARDWARE RESOURCES
3. SOFTWARE RESOURCES
4. DATA RESOURCES
5. NETWORK RESOURCES
 DATA RESOURCES
Data comprises a valuable
organizational resource. Thus, data
resources must be managed
effectively to benefit all end users in an
organization.

Data can be a form records, files,

reports, documents and databases.
of
 DATA RESOURCES

Illustrations of physical and computer folders and files as data resources

 5
COMPONENTS/RESOURCES
OF COMPUTER-BASED
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
1. PEOPLE RESOURCES
2. HARDWARE RESOURCES
3. SOFTWARE RESOURCES
4. DATA RESOURCES
5. NETWORK RESOURCES
 NETWORK RESOURCES
- include telecommunication networks like
the Internet, intranets, and extranets.

- also includes telecommunications

media such as twisted-pair wire, coaxial
cable, fiber-optic cable, microwave
systems, and telecommunications satellite
systems.
 NETWORK RESOURCES
NETWORK
- a combination of devices connected
to each other through communication
links to provide channels for
information to flow continuously
between people.

- It is a collection of two or more

computers linked together to share
resources and information.
 NETWORK COMPONENTS
1. Servers
2. End-user computers or terminals
3. Telecommunications processors
 NETWORK COMPONENTS
1. Server
- controls the flow of information around the
network

- a computer or device that manages the network

resources

- uses specialized software called the network

operating system (NOS) to manage the network
NETWORK COMPONENTS

SERVER
NETWORK COMPONENTS

SERVER
 NETWORK COMPONENTS
2. End-user Computers or
Terminals

- also known as clients, nodes, work-stations,

or, most commonly, PCs.

- the access points for users of a network

- computers or other devices that are

connected to the network/devices which end
a telecommunication link.
 NETWORK COMPONENTS
3. Telecommunications
Processors

- the pieces of hardware that are used

to link the servers and clients and
different networks together.

- these are usually referred to by their

specific names such as hubs,
multiplexers, bridges and routers.
NETWORK COMPONENTS
 NETWORK ADVANTAGES AND
DISADVANTAGES
ADVANTAGES:
1. allows people to collaborate;
2. allows hardware such as printers and faxes to be
shared more cost-effectively;
3. help a business connect with its customers, suppliers
and collaborators;
4. reduction of costs through the use of facilities such as
email;
5. reduced time for information flow;
6. ability to share information by accessing a database
over a network system.

DISADVANTAGE:
1. cost of installing the network and ensuring a secure
 CHAPTER 1 TOPICS

1. CONCEPTS AND DEFINITIONS

2. COMPONENTS OF COMPUTER-
BASED INFORMATION SYSTEMS
3. CHARACTERISTICS OF
VALUABLE INFORMATION
 CHARACTERISTICS OF
VALUABLE INFORMATION
1. Accurate: error-free (garbage in, garbage
out)
2. Reliable: can be depended on. Reliability of
information depends on the reliability of data
collection, methods and data source.
3. Simple: not sophisticated
4. Timely: found at the time needed
5. Accessible: information can be used by the
authorized users
6. Secure: unauthorized users are prevented
from accessing the information
IMPORTANT POINTS TO
REMEMBER
 SUMMARY/RECAP
TERMS TO REMEMBER:
1. DATA
2. INFORMATION
3. KNOWLEDGE
4. SYSTEM
5. INFORMATION SYSTEM (IS)
6. COMPUTER-BASED INFORMATION
SYSTEM
7. ACTIVITIES OF IS (INPUT, PROCESS,
 SUMMARY/RECAP
8. CHARACTERISTICS OF VALUABLE
INFORMATION
- ACCURATE
- RELIABLE
- SIMPLE
- TIMELY
- ACCESSIBLE
- SECURE
 SUMMARY/RECAP

9. PEOPLE RESOURCES
- END-USERS
- I.S SPECIALISTS

10. HARDWARE RESOURCES

- INPUT DEVICES
- OUTPUT DEVICES
- CPU
- MEMORY
 SUMMARY/RECAP
11. SOFTWARE RESOURCES
1. SYSTEMS SOFTWARE
- OPERATING SYSTEM
- SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM
- UTILITY PROGRAMS

2. APPLICATION SOFTWARE
- GENERAL-PURPOSE
APPLICATIONS
- APPLICATION-SPECIFIC
APPLICATIONS
 SUMMARY/RECAP
13. NETWORK COMPONENTS
- SERVER
- END-USERS
- TELECOMMUNICATION
PROCESSORS

14. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

OF NETWORK
END OF CHAPTER 1