Information Systems- Chapter 1
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Sam Perduta
ILS 530
Chapter 1
Introduction to Information Systems Design and Analysis
In order to understand information systems, and how they are designed and
analyzed, we must first clarify some pre-requisite knowledge, and define the
concept itself by defining a few terms. Before we discuss information systems in
themselves, we have to know a few things first.
I. Larry Osbourne defines a system as “a series of interrelated elements,
which can be considered complete that perform some business activity, business
function, or business (3).” It is important to note the first section of that definition“series of interrelated elements”- since it gets to the crux of the matter in everything
this lesson relies on; related tasks or functions, in an order or series, that are parts
of a greater whole, that keep a bigger function running. All systems should have
inputs, outputs, and feedback mechanisms, if we go by the dictionary definition.
An example commonly used for a system is an ecosystem-which is a
community of living organisms, such as plants, animals, and bacteria- that sustains
itself by being a part of a larger picture, with the help of non-living organisms, like
water and air. If one part of this “chain” is missing, the ecosystem ceases to exist.
Every member of this “community” is vital, and every part must perform its function
properly.
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II. Information is defined in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “knowledge
obtained from investigation, study, or instruction”. Going further into this,
information is the passing along or receiving (reception) of this accrued knowledge.
Thus, information systems deal with the path of this knowledge; it is a framework
for how an organization can be given and received. But it goes deeper into this, as
there are many parts to this. Information can be defined as a process (informed
person knows that definition or information received is different than before), as
knowledge (already defined), or as a thing (data or documents are tangible pieces of
information; they take up physical space).
III. Information system is “an organized collection of people, information
technology, information resources, and all coordinated activities to achieve certain
objectives in the business organization”, according to Wang and Wang’s Information
Systems Analysis and Design (13). The inclusion of information technology does not
infer that only computerized systems “count” as an information system, pen and
paper, typewriters, etc., count as “technology”.
Michael Buckland, in his text Information and Information Systems, discusses
how information systems, especially ones used and run by human beings (which is
what we are dealing with in regards to this text) will likely be complex, or large
systems, with diverse elements and diverse relationships involved within those
elements or functions. Buckland also emphasizes the importance of a system’s
ability to respond to changes, which is where systems analysis would come in- if a
system has a flaw or becomes obsolete over time, then it is the best interest of the
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business or organization to analyze why this is so, and make the necessary changes
and adapt to this change.
The following section of this chapter uses information taken from two
sources- the University of Washington’s The History of Information Systems in
Business, a webpage, and Edwin Cortez’s Managing Information Systems &
Technologies, a text that emphasizes the role of telecommunications in information
systems. The history of information systems only goes back about forty years, to the
1970s. It was at the start of information systems (in the modern sense) in which
mainframe computers were used, and data was centralized and consisted of only the
basic functions to a business- payroll, billing, and revenue. The U of Washington
piece explains how the “main focus was to automate existing processes”. Later, in
the 1980s, local networks and personal computers became integrated into
information systems. Departments within organizations were able to have their
own systems, and their own networks, to further automate existing processes in the
system. The human element has always been there, but this allowed certain
processes to be performed easier. Wide area networks, or WANs became more
commonplace in the 1990s, replacing LAN’s (local area networks). This led to
different components in systems- systems integration became more prevalent, and
corporations and organizations were able to have centralized control of data more
easily. This is especially true when discussing management information systems.
IV. There are two main approaches to information systems- technical
approaches, and behavioral approaches.
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The technical approach is “centered around mathematical and normative
models to study information systems.” (Oke, 1.7.2.1). Computer sciences and
management sciences play a large role in the technical approach as well. This
method “relies heavily on the physical technology and the formal capabilities of
these systems”.
The behavioral approach, on the other hand, takes into account the human
aspect of information technology. System utilization and system implementation
rely very much on the humans who will be putting the system in place.
Organizational behavior and psychology come into play with the behavioral
approach, as this approach “focuses not on technical solutions but on the changes in
attitudes, management and organizational policy.” (Oke, 1.7.2.2).
V. This brings us to systems analysis. This concept can be defined as the
dissection of a system into its component pieces to study how those component
pieces interact and work. Thus, a systems analyst would be “a person who is
responsible for the development of an information system.” The analyst studies
different systems, piece by piece, in order to create his or her own, or diagnose a
pre-existing system for some organization.
The reasons for systems analysis are generally of a common ilk- of someone
wants to enhance a system that is already in place, to replace a system with a
different kind of system that already exists, or perhaps to develop a new kind of
system specific to the organization that requests the analysis. Whichever way we
look at this, improvement is the main reason for systems analysis. When a system is
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failing or no longer meeting the requirements set forth, change and improvement is
needed.
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Information Systems- Chapter 1
References
American Society for Information Science. Overview of the History of Science
Information Systems. 1998. Retrieved from:
http://people.ischool.berkeley.edu/~buckland/chfintr.htm
Buckland, Michael. Information and Information Systems. New York. Library
of Congress Cataloging-In-Publication Data, 1991.
Cortez, Edwin & Kazluaskas, Edward. Managing Infromation Systems &
Technologies. New York. Neal-Schuman Publishers, New York.
Langer, Arthur. Analysis and Design of Information Systems. New York.
Library of Congress Cataloging-In-Publication Data, 1997.
Oke, Jayant. Management Information Systems. India. Nirali Prakashan,
2009.
Osbourne, Larry & Nakamura, Margaret. Systems Analysis for Librarians and
Information Professionals. Colorado. Libraries Unlimited Inc, 2000.
Shelly, Gary. Systems Analysis and Design. New York. Course Technology,
2007.
Systems Analysis. Principia Cybernetica Web Dictionary. Retrieved from:
http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/ASC/SYSTEM_ANALY.html
University of Washington Press: The History of Information Systems in
Business. Retrieved from:
http://www.uwosh.edu/faculty_staff/wresch/311IShistory.htm
Wang, Shouhong & Wang, Hai. Information Systems Analysis and Design.
Boca Raton, Florida. Universal-Publishers, 2012.
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