CHAPTER 1
Introduction to
Information
Systems
CHAPTER 1:
Introduction to Information Systems
1.1 Why Should I Study Information Systems?
1.2 Overview of Computer-B2ased Information
Systems
1.3 How Does IT Impact Organizations?
1.4 Importance of Information Systems to
Society
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LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Begin the process of becoming an informed user of
your organization’s information systems.
2. Define the terms data, information, and knowledge, and
give examples of each.
3. Define the terms information technology, information
system, computer-based information system, and
application, and give examples of each.
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LEARNING OBJECTIVES
(continued)
4. Identify three ways in which you depend on information
technology in your daily life.
5. Discuss three ways in which information technology
can impact managers and three ways in which it can
impact non-managerial workers.
6. List three positive and three negative societal effects of
the increased use of information technology.
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OPENING CASE
CASE 1.1 Will Blackberry Survive?
THE PROBLEM
In 2012, BlackBerry (formerly Research In Motion or RIM) was losing
money. The Canadian company laid off thousands of employees in
an attempt to reduce costs by as much as $1 billion. After several
other wireless products, RIM, founded in 1985, had a highly
successful BlackBerry e-mail service in 1999. BlackBerry is no
longer an only player. Instead, we have seen several competitors
constantly introduce new smart phones (hardware) and the operating
systems and applications that run on them (software). The problem
is that the environment for smart phones changed dramatically; how
will Blackberry respond to the increased competition?
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Opening Case
The IT Solution
RIM must compete with Apple and Android phones, providing the
functionality of the iPhone, while leading in its corporate stronghold.
In early 2013, RIM renamed its company BlackBerry and launched
new smart phones that focused on its traditional strengths. They
were well-built phones with a versatile message centre. The new
BlackBerry phones were accompanied by an aggressive marketing
campaign, which included marketing to software developers to
encourage them to develop more apps for the phone.
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Opening Case
The Results
Media coverage of the 2013 BlackBerry phones was high, with
articles about features and reviews comparing the BlackBerry with
other phones (such as the Apple iPhone 5) resulting in favourable
comments for the BlackBerry. BlackBerry (as a company) is still
alive, selling its phones and talking about more new products to
come.
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Opening Case
Discussion
– Think about the effect of competition in the marketplace. What
could Blackberry (RIM) have done earlier to be maintain their
market position against competitors who entered the market
later?
– Can a company rely on one product in order to survive? Why or
why not?
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OPENING CASE
What we learned from this case?
– The opening case illustrates how rapid changes in information
technology can make products obsolete and drive nonresponsive businesses to the brink of destruction. It is you, the
consumer, who drives this demand.
– Case 1.1 is a dramatic example of the far-reaching effects of IT
on individuals, organizations, and our planet. In this textbook,
there are other examples of the significant impacts of IT on
individuals and societies, the global economy, and our physical
environment.
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DEFINITIONS
•
•
•
Information technology (IT): relates to any computerbased tool that people use to work with information and
to support the information and information-processing
needs of an organization.
Information system: (IS): collects, processes, stores,
analyzes, and disseminates information for a specific
purpose.
The purpose of IS: to get the right information to the
right people at the right time in the right amount and in
the right format to support business process and
decision making.
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E-MEALZ
© Alex/iStockphoto
IT’s about (small) business 1.1
– In 2003, Jane created a meal-planning service, E-Mealz (now called
eMeals, www.emeals.com), that she could both use herself and
offer to other families.. Jane and a few employees create a weekly
meal plan for different-sized families. They then draw up a grocery
list with prices from various grocery stores. Customers pay for the
service—in January 2013, the cost was $1.25 to $1.75 a week—and
they receive their grocery list at the beginning of the week.
– The eMeals website promotes her products and convinces
customers to sign up for her service. She uses Twitter and
Facebook, and visitors can submit their own recipes. Members can
sign up for newsletters, and they can manage their accounts to
determine which particular plan they will join. The website offers
plans for couples and families, and it provides information about a
host of nutritional needs, all of which is updated weekly.
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E-MEALZ
Discussion
– Provide two examples of how Jane uses information technology
to provide her service.
– Provide two additional examples of how Jane might use
information technology to improve her service. Be specific.
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1.1 WHY SHOULD I STUDY
INFORMATION SYSTEMS?
Homo Conexus
– You are the most connected generation in history.
– You practice continuous computing.
– You are surrounded by a personal, movable information network.
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Yuri Acurs/Shutterstock
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THE INFORMED USER – YOU!
•
•
An informed user is a person knowledgeable about
information systems and information technology
Figure 1.1 IT skills open many doors because IT is so
widely used.
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WHY BE AN INFORMED USER?
•
Reasons why you should be an informed user:
–
–
–
–
–
You will benefit more from your organization’s IT applications
because you will understand what is “behind” those
applications.
You will be in a position to enhance the quality of your
organization’s IT applications with your input.
Even as a new graduate, you will quickly be in a position to
recommend the IT applications that your organization will use.
Being an informed user will keep you abreast of both new
information technologies and rapid developments in existing
technologies.
You will understand how using IT can improved your
organizations performance and teamwork as well as your own
productivity.
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BUILD YOUR OWN
MULTINATIONAL COMPANY
•
•
•
•
•
www.domystuff.com
www.vworker.com
www.webgrity.com
www.b2kcorp.com
www.guru.com
https://www.elance.com/
© Alex Gumerov/iStockphoto
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DIGITAL NOMADS
•
A digital nomad is someone who uses information
technologies such as smart phones, wireless Internet
access, and Web-based applications to work remotely
from anywhere.
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IT OFFERS CAREER
OPPORTUNITIES
•
IT is vital to the operation of modern business, it offers
many employment opportunities such as:
– Chief Information Officer (CIO), IS Director, Project Manager,
Systems Analyst, Database Administrator, Operations Manager,
Webmaster
•
For further details about current careers in IT see:
• http://www.computerworld.com/careertopics/careers
• http://www.monster.ca
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MANAGING INFORMATION
RESOURCES
•
Traditional Functions of MIS Department
– Example: manage systems development and systems project
management
•
Consultative Functions of MIS Department
– Example: create business alliances with business partners
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COMPUTER-BASED INFORMATION
SYSTEMS
Figure 1.2 Binary code, the foundation of information and
knowledge is the key to making complex decisions.
Copyright
John Dharmasena-Fotolia.com;
Wiley & Sons Canada
(Source: © janaka
Exactostock/SuperStock; uttamgurjar/Shutterstock) 20
COMPUTER-BASED INFORMATION
SYSTEMS
Figure 1.3 It takes technology with appropriate procedures
to make a CBIS
John Wiley
& Sons Canada
(Source: Nasonov/Shutterstock; AngelaCopyright
Waye/Shutterstock;
alexmillos/Shutterstock;
broukoid/ Shutterstock; Mike Flippo/Shutterstock
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TYPES OF INFORMATION
SYSTEMS
Figure 1.4 Information Technology Inside an Organization
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APPLICATION PROGRAMS
•
An application (or app) is a computer program designed
to support a specific task or business process.
Angela Waye/Shutterstock
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MAJOR CAPABILITIES OF
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
Table 1.3
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IT’S ABOUT BUSINESS
E-Discovery Software
– www.autonomy.com
– http://www.blackstonediscovery.com
– http://www.clearwellsystems.com
http:///
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TYPES OF INFORMATION
SYSTEMS
Figure 1.5 Information Systems Among Multiple
Organizations
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TYPES OF INFORMATION
SYSTEMS
Breadth of Support of Information Systems
–
–
–
–
–
–
Functional area information systems
Enterprise resource planning system
Transaction processing systems
Interorganizational information systems
Supply Chain
Electronic Commerce (e-commerce)
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TYPES OF INFORMATION
SYSTEMS (CONTINUED)
Support for Organizational Employees
–
–
–
–
–
Knowledge Workers
Office automation systems
Business intelligence systems
Expert systems
Dashboards
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1.3 HOW DOES IT IMPACT
ORGANIZATIONS?
•
•
•
•
•
•
Reduces the number of middle managers
Changes the manager’s job
May eliminate jobs
Impacts employees at work
Impacts employees’ health & safety
Provides opportunities for people with disabilities
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ERGONOMIC PRODUCTS
Source: Media Bakery
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1.4 IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION
SYSTEMS TO SOCIETY
IT is important to our society as a whole:
– IT Affects Our Quality of Life
– Robot Revolution on the Way
– Improvements in Healthcare
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THE ROBOT REVOLUTION
•
•
•
See video of Big Dog robot in action
See products in the field of robotics http://www.irobot.com/us/
See video of telepresence robot in action
© Stockbrokerxtra/Age Fotostock America, Inc.
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IMPROVEMENTS IN HEALTH CARE
•
•
See video of daVinci Surgical Robot
See video of Laerdal Sim Man in action
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CHAPTER CLOSING
•
•
•
•
MIS supports all other functional areas in an
organizations.
MIS Is responsible for providing the information that
each functional area needs in order to make decisions.
The objective of MIS personnel is to help users improve
performance and solve business problems using IT.
MIS personnel must understand both the information
requirements and the technology associated with each
functional area. They must think “business needs” first
and “technology” second.
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Copyright
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caused by the use of these files or programs or from the use
of the information contained herein.
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