Course Introduction
INFSY540.1
Information Resources in Management
Chapter 1 & 2
An Introduction to Information Systems
and Personal Productivity
Lesson #1
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Today’s Agenda
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Introductions
Course Overview
Course Administration:
“Intro to Information Systems”
Personal Productivity
Next Time
Questions
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Course Description
Focuses on what the manager personally does
with Information Technology.
Exposes students to the range of management
issues that challenge the organizational world in
the wake of the digital revolution.
Explores the way information technology is
used to support business operations and
decision-making processes of managers at all
levels of organizations.
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Course Objectives
 To increase student knowledge of the
capabilities and benefits as well as the
limitations and burdens of information
technology and information systems.
• To equip students with the basic skills and
concepts they must apply to leverage the
benefits and minimize the burdens of using
information technology.
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Student Goals
• What are your goals for this course?
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Potential Goals of This Class
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Understand the technology.
Analyze business problems.
An introduction to systems analysis.
Identify types of problems that MIS can
help solve through cases.
• Ability to classify problems.
• Know when to call for help.
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Some Suggested Student Goals
For students to be able to personally use the
computer more efficiently in order to
become a more effective manager.
For students to understand the development,
use and maintenance of information systems
in past, current and future organizations.
To get at least a B in the course.
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Texts
Required:
• Management Information Systems:
Solving Business Problems with IT
by Gerald Post and David Anderson,
2000, ISBN 0-07-229756-5
• Harvard Business Cases
Recommended:
• Management Information Systems:
Managing IT in the E-Business Enterprise
by James A. O’Brien,
2002, ISBN 0-07-244078-3
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Course Administration
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Date
Topic
Assignments
Complete Before Class Begins
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Aug 22
2
3
4
5
Aug 29
Sep 5
Sep 12
Sep 19
Introduction & Personal Productivity
"What should managers know about IT?"
Solving Problems & Web Lab
Information and Organizations
Organizational Decision Making
Systems Development
Read Chapters 1 and 2
Read Chapter 3 and Web Tutorial
Read Chapters 4 & 7
Read Chapters 8 & 9 and Case 1
Read Chapter 12 and IT Technology
Interaction Model http://equity.stern.nyu.edu/
~msilver/ mbacore/itimhdo.htm
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7
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10
11
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13
Sep 26
Oct 3
Oct 10
Oct 17
Oct 24
Oct 31
Nov 7
Nov 14
Database Management
Database Design and Access Lab
Networks & Telecommunications
AI: Intro & Expert Systems and CASE 1
AI: ANN & GA and CASE 2
Ecommerce and CASE 3
Strategic Analysis and CASE 4
Organizing IS Resources and CASE 5
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Nov 28
Dec 12
IT Ethical and Societal Issues
Comprehensive Final Exam
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Read Chapter 5 and Case 2
Read Access Tutorial
Read Chapter 6 and Case 3
Read Chapter 10 and Case 1
Read AI web sites and Case 2
Read Ecommerce sites and Case 3
Read Chapter 11 and Case 4
Read Chapter 13 and Case 5
All Written Case Reports Due
Read Chapter 14
Review Course Material
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Any questions about the course?
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Some Basic Questions
• What is a system?
• What is information?
• What is an information system?
• Why should managers know about information
systems?
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Some Basic Questions
• What is a system?
• What is information?
• What is an information system?
• Why should managers know about information
systems?
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What is a system?
• A set of elements or components that interact to
accomplish goals.
• Examples: Solar System, Penn State University
• Systems:
– Typically have inputs, outputs and processes for changing
inputs to outputs.
– have life cycles.
– have boundaries and typically have sub-systems and supersystems.
– interconnections cause feedback (2nd/3rd order) effects.
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System Classifications and
Primary Characteristics
Simple
Complex
Open
Closed
Stable
Dynamic
Adaptive
Nonadaptive
Permanent
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Temporary
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System Performance Standards
• Efficiency
– A measure of what is produced divided by what
is consumed.
• Effectiveness
– A measure of the extent to which a system
achieves its goals.
• Performance Standard
– A specific objective of the system.
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Modeling a System
• Model
– An abstraction or an approximation that is used
to represent reality
• Model Types
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Narratives - words
Physical - tangible
Schematic - graphical
Mathematical - arithmetic
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Some Basic Questions
• What is a system?
• What is information?
• What is an information system?
• Why should managers know about information
systems?
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Information
“You keep using that word. I do not think
it means what you think it means.”
Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride
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What do we sometimes use as
synonyms for information?
• Data: raw facts. (page 4)
• Information: collection of facts organized in
such a way that they have value beyond the
facts themselves. (page 4)
• Knowledge: an awareness and understanding
of a set of information and ways that
information can be made useful to support a
specific task or reach a decision. (page 6)
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Information Concepts
An awareness and understanding of a set
of information and ways that information
can be made useful to support a specific
task or reach a decision
Knowledge
Information
Data
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A collection of facts organized in
such a way that they have
additional value beyond the
value of the facts themselves.
Raw facts
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An Hierarchical Model of Intelligence
Wisdom
Knowledge
Information
Data
+ Vision
+ Experience
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Context
See page 7
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Types of Data
Data
Alphanumeric Data
Image Data
Audio Data
Video Data
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Represented by
Numbers, letters, and other characters
Graphic images or pictures
Sound, noise or tones
Moving images or pictures
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Characteristics of Valuable
Information
•Accurate
•Complete
•Economical
•Flexible
•Reliable
•Relevant
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•Simple
•Timely
•Verifiable
•Accessible
•Secure
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Some Basic Questions
• What is a system?
• What is information?
• What is an information system?
• Why should managers know about information
systems?
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Information System (IS)
• Information System
– A set of interrelated elements or components
that collect (input) data , manipulate (process) it
to become information , and disseminate
(output) information and knowledge to meet
objectives.
– Examples: ATMs; airline reservation systems;
course reservation systems
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What is a computer-based
information system
A collection of hardware, software, people,
procedures and data. (Page 6)
What is a management
information system
A combination of computers and people that
is used to provide information to aid in
making decisions and managing a firm.
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What is an information system?
An information system is an arrangement of
hardware, software, people, procedures and data
that interact for the purposes of:
supporting and improving day-to-day business operations
or
supporting the problem solving and decision making
needs of management.
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Some Basic Questions
• What is a system?
• What is information?
• What is an information system?
• Why should managers know about information
systems?
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Why is MIS Important?
• MIS affects all areas of business
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Manufacturing
Accounting & Finance
Human resources
Marketing
Top management
• Performance evaluations—expectations
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Business Trends
• Changing business environment
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Specialization
Management by Methodology and Franchises
Object Orientation
Decentralization and Small Business
Temporary Workers
Internationalization
Service-Oriented Business
Re-engineering
• Need for faster responses and flexibility
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What do Managers do?
• It has been said that managers do things
right but leaders do the right things.
• It has also been said that managers focus on
things but leaders focus on people.
• So what do managers do, that an MIS might
help?
– Make decisions
• about operations
• about organization
– Communicate
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Making Decisions
• Methodology vs Ad Hoc Decisions
• Decision Process
– Collect Data
– Identify Problems & Opportunities
– Make Choices
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Levels of Decision Making
Strategic
Mgt.
Tactical
Management
Business Operations
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Examples of
Information Systems
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E-Commerce
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Business-to-business
Business-to-consumer
Business-to-government
Government-to-consumer
Transaction Processing Systems
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Process business exchanges
Maintain records about the exchanges
Handle routine, yet critical, tasks
Perform simple calculations
Workflow Systems
• Provide routing, tracking & imaging
capabilities to improve business processes
• Improve productivity
Enterprise Resource Planning
(ERP)
• Integrated programs that can manage a
company’s entire set of business operations
• Often coordinate planning, inventory
control, production and ordering
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Management Information
Systems (MIS)
Routine information for routine decisions
Operational efficiency
Use transaction data as main input
Databases integrate MIS in different
functional areas
MIS Outputs
• Scheduled reports
• Demand reports
• Exception reports
Decision Support Systems (DSS)
• Interactive support for non-routine decisions
or problems
• End-users are more involved in creating a
DSS than an MIS
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Special Purpose Information
Systems
Artificial intelligence (AI) systems
Virtual reality systems
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Groupware
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Information Systems
Development
Investigation
Analysis
Design
Implementation
Maintenance
Also known as a
Systems Analysis and
Design process
Some Basic Questions
• What is a system?
• What is information?
• What is an information system?
• Why is knowledge of information systems
important for managers?
• What should managers know about information
systems?
• Over the break, talk about these last two questions
in groups of 3 or 4. Be prepared to discuss it when
we come back.
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Take a 10 minute break.
• Be back by …...
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What is IS?
What is IT?
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What is IS?
An information system is an arrangement of
hardware, software, people, procedures and data
that interact for the purposes of:
supporting and improving day-to-day business operations
or
supporting the problem solving and decision making
needs of management.

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What is IT?
• Information Technology: the combination of
computer technology (hardware and
software) with telecommunications
technology (data, image and voice
networks).
• Information Technology is a practical way
of providing useful facts.
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Some Basic Questions
• What is a system?
• What is information?
• What is an information system?
• Why is knowledge of information systems
important for managers?
• What should managers know about information
systems?
• Over the break, talk about these last two questions
in groups of 3 or 4. Be prepared to discuss it when
we come back.
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Why IS?
• Value of information rests on how it helps decision
makers achieve the organizations goals.
• IS make it possible for organizations to improve
the way they do business.
• Knowing the potential impact of IS and having the
ability to put the knowledge to work can result in a
successful personal career, organizations that
reach their goals and a better society.
• System users, business managers and IS
professionals must work together in order to build
and maintain successful IS.
Why is knowledge of information
systems important for managers?
• IS is an essential business function as is marketing,
accounting, operations, …
• IS and IT can help businesses gain strategic
competitive advantage.
• There are things about IS and IT that managers
need to personally:
– do in order to provide good example as a leader of people
who use technology. What are these things?
– know in order to interact effectively with other
managers, developers, providers and end users of IT.
What are these things?
What a manager needs to know about IS
(according to James A. O’Brien)
• Management
Resources and Strategies
• Development
Solutions to Business Problems
• Applications
To Operations, Management, and Strategic Advantage
• Technology
Hardware, Software, Networks , and Data Management
• Foundational Concepts
Fundamental Behavioral and Technical Concepts
What a manager needs to know
about IS (according to Bob Kilmer)
• Know when to call.
– Know when it’s time to stop trying.
• Know who to call.
– 1st, 2nd, 3rd lines of defense.
• How to ask for help.
– Be clear and concise.
– Provide relevant details of problem.
• How to say thanks.
What a manager needs to be able to
personally do with IS and IT
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Have a positive attitude about IS and IT
Practice safe computing: Virus Check
Properly Save, Store and Find Files
Communicate: Email & WWW
Word Processing
Presentations
Spreadsheets
Databases
Computer Life In Cubicle Land
Typical IS Titles & Functions
• Chief Information Officer (CIO)
• Network administrators
• Internet careers
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Strategists
Programmers
Website operators
Chief Internet Officer
• Consulting firms
Roles, Functions, and Careers in the
IS Department
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Operations
Systems Development
Support
Liaisons (information service units)
Information Center
• Provides users with assistance, training,
application development, documentation,
equipment selection and setup, standards,
technical assistance, and troubleshooting.
Information Service Unit
• Attached to a functional area of the
business.
• Acts as a local information support
organization within a functional area.
• Performs the critical role of liaison
between the functional area and IS.
Chief Information Officer (CIO)
• Chief Information Officer (CIO)
– A manager at the vice-president level
responsible for IS planning, policy, and
standards. The CIO is focused on supporting
corporate goals.
Other IS Roles
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Database Administrator
Computer Programmer
Network Administrator
Network Specialist
Systems Analyst
Webmaster
User Support
HelpDesk
Trainer
Organizational change
• Fig 2.7
IS Principles
• Use of IS to add value is strongly
influenced by organizational structure,
culture and change.
• IS changes must lower costs, increase
profits, improve service or achieve a
competitive advantage.
• IS change usually is resisted.
• IS personnel are key elements in
successful IS change.
How does our brain work?
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How do we see?
How do we hear?
How do we feel?
How does our brain filter out noise?
How does our brain process data to
obtain information and make decisions?
Today many people describe our brain by using the example of the CPU
in the computer. How does the computer work. You should read Chapter
2 and be prepared to ask questions about hardware and software next time.
Most of that material should have been covered in the prerequisite
Microcomputer Applications course.
Check Out
• Student CD
– Powerpoint slides
– Exercise Data
• Course Web site
– http://www.mhhe.com/business/mis/post
• Hardware/Software - Chapter 2 slides
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Next Weeks Assignment
• In addition to reading chapters 1 & 2 for lesson 1,
read Chapter 3 and the following Web Tutorial for
lesson 2.
• Professor Yaverbaum’s homepage for this course.
http://www.personal.psu.edu/gjy1/infsy540/infsy540main00.html
• Web Tutorial
http://www.davesite.com/webstation/html/index.shtml
• Web Project 1 and Web Project 2: will begin
working during lesson 2.
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Any questions?
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