Review For
Exam 1
(September 10, 2009)
BUS3500 - Abdou Illia, Fall 2009
1
Introduction to
Information Systems
2
Summary Questions
Notes
1) Distinguish between Data and Information
3
2) List/Explain main components of an information system
7
3) What is the difference between GDSS and DSS in terms of their
target users?
12
4) What is the difference between Decision Support Systems (DSS)
and Executive Information Systems (EIS) in terms of their target
users.
12
6) What is a Chief Information Officer responsible for?
9
7) (a) What are the major components in a DSS? (b) What is the
function of each?
13
8) What is an Expert System? What are the main components of an
Expert system? What is a knowledge engineer?
17
Refers to the slides # in original class notes
3
Data versus Information
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Data = raw facts that represent the characteristics of an event

Example 1:
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Example 2:

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Event: High temperature
Data: 100° F
Event: Sale
Data: Sale’s date, item number, item description, etc.
Information = facts within a given context


Information results from transforming data by adding context and
meaning to make it more useful.
The temperature today at noon in Times Square, NYC was 100° F
I
P
O
4
Information Systems
A set of interrelated information technologies that
work together to collect, store, process, and
distribute information

Major components of information systems


Hardware (physical parts of a computer or other computing devices)

Software (Instructions that tell hardware what to do)

Databases (Software that enables storage/retrieval of data)

Networks (Computing devices that communicate with each other)

People
Information
Technologies

Information technology (IT): Computer-based tool
that people use to work with information and
support the information and information-processing
needs of an organization
5
Administrative Information Systems

Transaction Processing Systems (TPS)


Office Automation Systems (OAS)


Systems designed to support middle managers and
business professionals during the decision-making
process
Executive Information Systems (EIS) or
Executive Support Systems (ESS)


Systems designed to help office workers in doing their
job.
Decision Support Systems (DSS)


Basic business system that serves the operational level
(analysts) in an organization
Specialized DSS that help senior level executives make
decisions.
GDSS: computer-based systems that facilitate
solving of unstructured problems by set of
decision makers
6
DSS structure


Systems designed to help middle
managers make decisions
Major components

Data management subsystem


Analysis subsystem


Internal and external data sources
User
Interface
Analysis
- Sensitivity Analysis
-> What-if Analysis
-> Goal-seeking Analysis
-Data-driven tools
-> Data mining
-> OLAP*
Typically mathematical in nature
User interface


How the people interact with the DSS
Data visualization is the key
 Text
 Graphs
 Charts
Data Management
-
Transactional Data
Data warehouse
Business partners data
Economic data
7
* OLAP: OnLine Analytical Processing
DSS’ Model Management Tools

Simulation is used to examine proposed solutions
and their impact

Sensitivity analysis
 Determine how changes in one part of the model influence
other parts of the model

What-if analysis
 Manipulate variables to see what would happen in given
scenarios

Goal-seeking analysis
 Work backward from desired outcome
8
Determine monthly payment given various interest Works backward from a given monthly payment to
rates.
determine various loans that would give that payment.
Expert Systems Components




Knowledge base: database of the expertise, often in IF THEN rules.
Inference engine: derives recommendations from knowledge base and
problem-specific data
User interface: controls the dialog between the user and the system
Explanation system: Explain the how and why of recommendations
User
Domain
Expert
Expertise
Knowledge
Engineer
Encoded
expertise
Knowledge
base
Example of rules
User
Interface
Inference
Engine
Explanation
System
System
Engineer
IF
family is albatross AND
color is white
THEN
bird is laysan albatross.
IF
family is albatross AND
color is dark
THEN
bird is black footed albatross
- Knowledge engineer codify the human expert’s expertise into the systems’
knowledge base.
- System engineer is the IT professional who develop the user interface, the
inference engine, and the explanation system.
9
Hardware Technology
10
Summary Questions
Notes
1) Name five (3) computer input devices
2) Name three (3) computer output devices
3) What computer devices can be used for both input and
output? What is the difference b/w impact printers and inkjet printers?
4) What is the difference between: (a) a Kilobyte and a
Gigabyte? (b) a Megabyte and a Gigabyte?
5) Name the two main types of monitors used in today’s
computer systems.
6) (a) Name main components of the Processing subsystem.
(b) What is the function of the ALU?
7) Explain the difference between RAM and ROM.
8) Describe the various types of computers.
9) Distinguish between primary and secondary storage
11
Processing subsystem
Motherboard: chipset that all components connect to
 Two major components in processing subsys.



CPU (Central Processing Unit) or Processor(s)
Primary Storage:
 Random Access Memory (RAM)
 Read Only Memory (ROM)
CPU
Busses that
transfer data
Primary Storage
12
Central Processing Unit
Processor

Clock: generate time that
synchronize other components

ICU: Fetches instructions from
RAM

ALU: Execute instructions
(arithmetic & logic operations)

Registers: Store control
information, data, intermediate
results
Clock
Instruction
Control Unit
Arithmetic
Logic Unit
Registers
13
Primary Storage
 Computer’s memory stored on semiconductor chips
 Two categories:
 RAM (Random Access Memory) which is volatile
 Synchronous Dynamic RAM (SDRAM)
 Double Data Rate SDRAM or DDR SDRAM
 ROM (Read-Only Memory) which is non-volatile
 Capacity in Megabytes (MB) or Gigabytes (GB)
Primary Storage
RAM
Program

RAM holds running programs
and the data they use

ROM contains critical
programs such as those that
boot the computer
Data
ROM
14
Terminology
Dot pitch
 Pixel
 Screen resolution

15

Make sure you can answer Hardware
Review Questions answered in class. They
are posted to the Review section of the
course website.
16
Software
17
Summary Questions
Notes
1) What are the two main types of software?
5
2)
5
What are the three types of systems software?
3) What are the main functions of an operating system?
7
4) (a) Name some Operating Systems. (b) Name some
Application software programs.
6,16
5) What does Multiprogramming mean?
12,13
6) What does virtual memory mean?
12, 13
7) What are utility programs used for?
18
18
Relationship of software to hardware
19
Main Types of Software

Application software

Programs that allow users to accomplish specific tasks

Examples

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Word processing
Web browser
Tax preparation
Data management
Desktop publishing
E-mail
Groupware
Presentation graphics
Programming editors
Spreadsheet
20
Operating Systems (OS)



Software platform on which other programs run
Provides a connection between application
programs and the computer hardware
Major tasks


Starting the computer
Managing files




Managing Programs and Memory (RAM)


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Keeping track of where files are located
Maintaining a table of file entries
Etc.
Sending programs to the CPU
Allocating primary storage (RAM) to programs
Controlling devices that programs requires
Ensuring security
Providing a user interface
21
OS: Multiprogramming
22
OS: Virtual Memory
￭ A technique that “extends”
primary memory (RAM) by
using secondary storage
devices
￭ Needed when there is not
enough RAM to hold programs
23
Utility Software

Accomplish common tasks and
maintenance jobs








Disk Defragmentation, Disk Optimization
Virus protection
Edit the Windows registry
Remove Web cookies from HDD
Encrypt data
File and data recovery
Spyware
Program Uninstaller
24
Database Systems
25
Summary Questions
Notes
1) What is a database, a table, a field, a record, a primary key, a
composite key?
3-6
2) What are the problems with traditional file systems?
7,8
3) What are the major functions of a DBMS?
10,11
4) (a) Name some Desktop DBMSs. (b) Name some Enterprise
DBMSs. (c) Handheld DBMSs
12-14
5) What are the differences between Flat File, Relational, and
Object-oriented database models?
16-18
6) What is a data warehouse? A data mart
19-20
Refers to the slides # in original class notes
26
Traditional File Systems

System of files that store groups of records
used by a particular software application

Simple but with a cost




Inability to share data
Inadequate security
Difficulties in maintenance and expansion
Allows data duplication (e.g. redundancy)
Application 1
Application 2
Program 1
Program 2
Program 1
Program 2
File 1
File 1
File 1
File 1
File 2
File 2
File 2
File 2
File 3
File 3
File 3
File 3
27
Basic Concepts of Data Management
Accounts table




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AccountID Customer
Type
Balance
660001
John Smith
Checking
$120.00
660002
Linda Martin
Saving
$9450.00
660003
Paul Graham
Checking
$3400.00
Each table has:



Fields
Records
1 Primary key
Table

Two-dimensional structure composed of rows and columns

Like a column in a spreadsheet


Like a column name in a spreadsheet
Examples: AccountID, Customer, Type, Balance

Actual data for the field

Set of fields that describe an entity (a person, an account, etc.)
Field
Field name
Field values
Record
Primary key

A field, or group of fields, that uniquely identifies a record
28
Basic Concepts in Data Management

A Primary key could be a single field like in this table

A Primary key could be a composite key, i.e. multiple fields
29