MIS 301
Information Systems in Organizations
Dave Salisbury
salisbury@udayton.edu (email)
http://www.davesalisbury.com/ (web site)
What We Will Cover:
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The technological infrastructure of an organization
Databases: the primary data storage for
organizations
Beyond databases: using other methods to store
data, information, and knowledge
The IS integration problem
Information systems that support business activities
Technology to help business gather & use intelligence
about customers, competitors, etc.
Student ROI (Return on Investment)
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Your investment of time and effort in this course will
result in your being able to answer these questions:
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How do organizations use processors, networks, software,
and storage?
What are the key concepts of data organization for an IS?
In what ways can organizations use IT to store and share
data, information and knowledge?
What is the IS integration problem and how are
organizations solving it?
How do organizations use IT to support transactions and
business processes?
How does business intelligence enhance organizational
decision making?
The Basics
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Binary Digits (Bit)
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Byte
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0 or 1
7 or 8 bits, combined to mean something
Coding Schemes
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ASCII – American Standard Code for Information
Interchange (7-bit)
EBCDIC – Extended Binary Coded Decimal
Interchange Code (8-bit)
The Components of IT
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Accepting and storing data and information
Performing mathematical calculations
Applying logic to make decisions
Retrieving, displaying, and sending
information
Consistently repeating the above actions
many times, providing input to human
decision-making
Information Technology Categories
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Hardware: the electronic and mechanical
components you can see and touch
Software: the set of instructions that direct
the hardware
Network technology: increases the power of
IT by allowing the sharing of resources (e.g.
hardware, software, information)
IT Platform
Hardware Components
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Processing: Directs execution of instructions and the
transformation of data
Memory: Temporarily stores data and instructions
before and after processing
Input: Provides the interface used for data entry into
a device
Output: Provides the interface to retrieve information
from a device
Storage: Stores data, information, and instructions
for the long term
Communications: Connects one IT device to another
Desktop Metaphor for Hardware
Primary Storage
Secondary Storage
Volatile (RAM) &
Non-Volatile (ROM)
Read Only & Rewrite-able
Direct & Sequential
Cache
CPU
Communications
(Control Unit, ALU, Registers)
The Central Processing Unit
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Core of all computing operations
is a chip composed of millions
of transistors called the central
processing unit (or CPU).
A transistor is an electronic
switch that can be on (1) or off
(0).
By combining multiple
transistors we can represent
data in a binary format.
The CPU works together with
memory to control the
execution of instructions and
the processing of data.
CPU speed is measured by its
clockspeed in billions of cycles
per second (gigahertz).
Memory
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There are two types of memory—long term
(ROM) memory and short-term (RAM)
memory
Both types of memory are built onto memory
chips
Both are measured in number of bytes
stored:
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1000’s (kilobytes—KB)
Millions (megabytes—MB)
Billions (gigabytes—GB)
Read Only Memory
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Read Only Memory (ROM) contains
instructions that are not meant to be
changed or changed only infrequently
ROM is present in most IT devices
In computers, ROM holds instructions
used to control the startup process
There are far fewer ROM chips than
RAM chips in a computer
Random Access Memory
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Random Access Memory (RAM) is the
predominant form of memory in a computer.
The CPU can access any item stored in RAM
directly (randomly).
RAM is temporary memory so anything in
RAM is lost when the computer is shut down.
Increasing RAM capacity is the easiest way to
increase effectiveness of a computer.
Input Hardware
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Input devices provide
one interface between
the internal processes
of an IS and its
environment.
It allows us to enter
data and commands.
Input devices include:
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Keyboards
Pointing devices such as
a mouse
Scanning devices such a
barcode scanner
Keyboard
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Most widely used input device for computers.
Highly versatile, providing the capability to
enter all types of data as well as instructions.
Ergonomic keyboards are keyboards that are
designed to keep users safe as well as
enabling them to be more productive.
Pointing and Scanning Devices
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Pointing devices such as a mouse allow users
to provide instructions to a computer using
physical movements, such as “point” and
“click”.
Pointing devices tend to require less training
than a keyboard.
More useful to entering commands than for
entering data.
Scanning devices such as barcode readers
improve speed and efficiency or perform a
task more efficiently.
Output Hardware
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Output devices convert ITprocessed information into a
form usable by knowledge
workers (or other machines)
Quality and speed of output
is important in choosing an
output device.
Common output devices
include
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Display devices such as
liquid crystal displays (LCDs)
Printers, typically laser or
ink-jet as well as plotters
Speakers
IT Storage Hardware
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Storage refers to
hardware media and
devices used to contain
large amounts of data
and instructions for the
long term.
Storage is much slower
to access than memory.
Examples include:
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Hard drive
CD and DVDs
USB flash memory
Communications Hardware
 Network interface
card (NIC) provides
the physical connection
between the computer
and a local network
Wired
 Wireless
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 Modems allow you to
connect to a remote
network over a
telecommunications line
(telephone line or cable
TV service)
3 Software Layers on the Computer
Computer
Operating System
Applications
You
Software
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Software is information that specifies how the
device should work with other data,
information, and knowledge.
Software is legally protected just like music
and books.
Firmware is software built into chips
(hardware) like that in cell phones and PDAs
Software gets the job done
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System Software
Application Software
System Software
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Controls the hardware associated with a
system
Supports the execution of application
software
Two main types of systems software
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Operating Systems (OS) Software –coordinates
and handles the details of working with the
computer hardware.
Utility software – provides additional tools to
maintain and service your system (many utility
software tasks are now included in the OS).
Basic OS Tasks
Application Software
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Application software is a complete, selfcontained program or set of programs for
performing a specific job.
Application software is the software you use
to get things done.
Productivity software – software used by
knowledge workers to work with data,
information, and knowledge. For example, MS
Office and Intuit’s Quicken software.
Types of Productivity Software
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Document Preparation Software: used in creating
documents composed of text, images, and graphics.
Electronic Spreadsheet Software: used to perform
general calculations and analyses.
Presentation Graphics Software: used for preparing
slides and graphics for business presentations.
Database Management System (DBMS) software:
used to design, create, update, and query data.
Personal Information Management (PIM) software:
used to manage personal information.
Connecting over Networks
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Networks are everywhere! In
this section, we concentrate on
a computer networks.
A computer network consists of
nodes that represent computer
hardware and network user with
hardware, software, and
communications media forming
links between nodes.
Network consists of 4 primary
components:
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Data
Special hardware
Software that allows computers
to share data.
Communications media to link
computers together.
Black Boxes and Layers
3-Layer Model
4-Layer Model
Applications
Applications
Operating System/
Environment
Redirector
OS
Network
OS
Local
H/W
Network
H/W
Hardware
Network Categories
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Computer networks are
commonly described by the
physical size of the network.
The most commonly use
types are LANs and WANs.
A Local Area Network (LAN)
is confined to a relatively
small area like a building.
A Wide Area Network (WAN)
connects computers over
regions, countries, and
continents.
Network Hardware
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There are three basic categories of
network hardware
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Hardware to connect a device to a
network.
Specialized hardware for handling network
traffic.
Specialized computers that control the
network and delivery of data on the
network.
Network Connection Hardware
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Modems, cable modems, network interface
cards, and wireless cards
The physical link that creates the network
connection is referred to as the carrier or
communications medium.
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Copper wire for telephone systems
Coaxial cable or fiber-optic cables for faster
transmission
Wireless technologies including infrared light, radio
waves, and microwaves.
Network Traffic Hardware
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A bridge is a device that lets you connect to
networks or break a large network into two
smaller, more efficient networks.
A router is an intelligent bridge that connects,
translates, and then directs data that cross
between two networks.
A hub (or concentrator) serves as a central
connection point for devices on a a network.
A wireless Access Point (AP) is a special
bridge that connects between wireless
devices and a wired network.
Specialized Network Computers
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Servers are specialized computers that
manage the various functions on a network.
A file server is a fast computer with large
amount of RAM and storage.
File servers run the network operating system
as well as storing shared software
applications and data files.
Computers connected to a file server are
called clients or workstations.
Network Software
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Network operating system software manages
network functions and the flow of data over a
computer network.
Network application software provides the
instructions that allow for the creation of data
and for transformation to fit appropriate
protocols for transmission over a network.
A protocol is a standard set of rules that
allows the communication of data between
nodes on a network.
Network Benefits
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Efficient communication: E-mail and instant
messaging are just two ways that networks allow us
to communicate more efficiently.
Effective resource management: Networks allow easy
sharing of software, hardware, and data resources.
Complete, accurate, reliable, and timely information:
Multiple users can access or update data quickly from
a central database.
Expanded marketing and customer service
capabilities: Businesses and individuals can carry out
remote business transactions anytime and anywhere.
The Internet
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Any computer network that connects several
networks together is an internet.
Typically we refer to the single largest and most
popular internet as the “Internet.”
Over 1 billion people had access to the Internet in
2006.
The Internet uses the TCP/IP suite of packet
switching protocols.
Any computer using software compatible with TCP/IP,
regardless of OS, can connect and communicate over
the Internet.
Access the Internet
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Home users access the Internet through dialup over traditional telephone lines or
broadband through cable or DSL.
Most users connect through an Internet
Service Provider (ISP) using Internet access
software.
Internet access has moved into libraries,
airports, or coffee shops using Wi-Fi.
Wi-fi stands for 802.11 standards for wireless
network access.
The World Wide Web
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The World Wide Web (WWW) is one the two most
popular Internet applications (e-mail is the other.)
The Web provides a hypertext system that operates
over the Internet.
Hypertext provides an easy way to publish
information on a network in documents that
incorporate hyperlinks to other information on the
network.
Web browser software enables user to view hypertext
document and use hyperlinks to browse other related
documents.
Web Standards
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The Web relies on three basic standards:
A Uniform Resource Locator (URL) which
specifies a unique address for each page that
indicates the location of a document.
The Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
provides rules used by browsers and servers
as they respond to each other.
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) provides
a language for encoding the information so a
variety of IT devices can display it.