MIS516

Users

(sometimes called end-users) inside and outside the company who will interact with the system, and IT staff members, such as systems analysts, programmers, and network administrators who develop and support the system.

Waterfall model problems

- inflexible partitioning of the project into distinct stages makes it difficult to respond to changing customer requirements - the waterfall model is mostly used for large systems engineering projects where a system is developed at several sites

what are the phases in a system development cycle

5 phases 1) system planning,

Business Information Systems

A business IS is a group of interrelated components that interact to manipulate and process data into meaningful information. enterprise computing systems, transaction processing systems, business support systems, knowledge management systems, and user productivity systems.

system design specification

A document that presents the complete design for the new information system, along with detailed costs, staffing, and scheduling for completing the next SDLC phase, systems implementation. Also called the technical design specification or the detailed design specification.

prototype model

A full-scale working model used to test a design concept by making actual observations and necessary adjustments. is an early working version of an information system. Just as an aircraft manufacturer tests a new design in a wind tunnel, systems analysts construct and study information system prototypes

A business process model (BPM)

A graphical representation of one or more business processes, such as handling an airline reservation, filling a product order, or updating a customer account.

systems analysis and design

A step-by-step process for developing high-quality information systems

structured analysis

A traditional systems development technique that uses phases called the systems development life cycle (SDLC), to plan, analyze, design, implement, and support an information system. Processes and data are treated as separate components. Structured analysis is based on an overall plan, similar to a blueprint for constructing a building, so it is called a predictive approach. Because it focuses on processes that transform data into useful information, structured analysis is called a process-centered technique. In addition to modeling the processes, the structured analysis also addresses data organization and structure, relational database design, and user interface issues.

Computer-Aided Systems Engineering (CASE) Tools

Also called computer-aided software engineering CASE tools Can generate program code, which speeds the implementation process. is a technique that uses powerful software, called CASE tool, to help systems analysts develop and maintain information systems. CASE tools provide an overall framework for systems development and support a wide variety of design methodologies, including structured analysis and object-oriented analysis. Because CASE tools make it easier to build an information system, they boost IT productivity and improve the quality of the finished product.

Tables

An arrangement of data made up of horizontal rows and vertical columns.

what are the two main sectors of the Ecommerce

B2C (business-to-consumer) and B2B (business-to-business)

system software

Consists of the programs that control or maintain the operations of the computer and its devices. Example: include the operating system, security software that protects the computer from intrusion, device drivers that communicate with hardware such as printers, and utility programs that handle specific tasks such as data backup and disk management. The system software also controls the flow of data, provides data security, and manages network operations.

Data

Data is the raw material that an information system transforms into useful information. An information system can store data in various locations, called tables. By linking the tables, the system can display the specific information that the user needs. Facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis

components of Business Information Systems

Enterprise Computing, Transaction Processing,Business Support, Knowledge Management,User Productivity & Systems Integration.

business process modeling notation (BPMN)

For complex models, analysts can choose computer-based tools a standard set of terms and graphical notations for documenting business processes

Systems Development Tools

In addition to understanding business operations, systems analysts must know how to use a variety of techniques, such as modeling, prototyping, and computer-aided systems engineering tools to plan, design, and implement information systems. Systems analysts work with these tools in a team environment, where input from users, managers,and IT staff contributes to the system design.

What Information Do Users Need?

In an effort to increase productivity, many companies reduced the number of management levels and delegated responsibility to operational personnel. A typical organizational model identifies business functions and organizational levels, Within the functional areas, operational personnel report to supervisors and team leaders. The next level includes middle managers and knowledge workers, who, in turn,report to top managers. In a corporate structure, the top managers report to a board of directors elected by the company's shareholders.

systems planning phase

In the model of the SDLC usually begins with a formal request to the IT department, called a systems request, which describes problems or desired changes in an information system or a business process. The request can be very significant or relatively minor. A major request might involve a new information system or the upgrading of an existing system. In contrast, a minor request might ask for a new feature or a change to the user interface.

The Internet Model

Internet-based commerce is called E-commerce (electronic commerce). typical model is a series of webpages that provides a user interface, which communicates with database management software and a web-based data server.

knowledge workers

Knowledge workers include systems analysts, programmers, accountants, researchers, trainers, human resource specialists, and other professionals. Knowledge workers provide support for the organization's basic functions. Just as a military unit requires logistical support, a successful company needs knowledge workers to carry out its mission.

inference rules

Logical rules that identify data patterns and relationships. example The WolframAlpha website.

Systems Development Methods

Many options exist for developing information systems, but the most popular alternatives are structured analysis, which is a traditional method that still is widely used, object-oriented (O-O) analysis, which is a more recent approach that many analysts prefer, and agile methods, also called adaptive methods, which include the latest trends in software development.

Middle Managers

Middle managers provide direction, necessary resources, and performance feedback to supervisors and team leaders. Because they focus on a somewhat shorter time frame, middle managers need more detailed information than top managers, but somewhat less than supervisors who oversee day-to-day operations.

Who uses supply Chain Management (SCM)

Most large firms and government agencies

takeholders

People who have an interest in an information system. Stakeholders include the management group responsible for the system

Prototyping Process

Prototyping tests system concepts and provides an opportunity to examine input, output, and user interfaces before final decisions are made.

Operational Employees

Rely on TP systems to enter and receive data they need to perform their jobs

Waterfall Model Phases

Requirements analysis and definition System and software design Implementation and unit testing Integration and system testing Operation and maintenance

Modeling Business Operations

Systems analysts use modeling to Represent company operations and information needs. Business process modeling involves a business profile and a set of models that document business operations.

Agile Methods

Systems development method that attempts to develop a system incrementally, by building a series of prototypes and constantly adjusting them to user requirements. Related to the adaptive method. development methods, such as rapid application development (RAD), object-oriented systems development (OOD), and extreme programming (XP)

Knowledge Management Systems

Systems for managing knowledge in organizations, supporting creation, capture, storage, and dissemination of information. use a large database called a knowledge base that allows users to find information by entering keywords or questions in normal English phrases, it also uses inference rules.

Supply Chain Management (SCM)

Systems that can help a firm manage aspects of its value chain, from the flow of raw materials into the firm, through the delivery of finished products and services at the point-of-consumption.

Business Support Systems

Systems that provide job-related information support to users at all levels of a company. These systems can analyze transactional data, generate information needed to manage and control business processes, and provide information that leads to better decision making.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)

Technology that uses high-frequency radio waves to track physi- cal objects. a small computer chip that is attached to the item. The tag contains product information such as price, style, model number, etc., and allows channel members to track the item's movement from the time it leaves the production line to the point of purchase

Information System

a set of hardware, software, data, people, and procedures that work together to produce information

user productivity systems

The application that provides employees of all levels a wide array of tools to improve job performance. Examples include email, word processing, graphics, and company intranets.

system requirements document

The deliverable for the systems analysis phase. A document that contains the requirements for the new system, describes the alternatives that were considered and makes a specific recommendation to management. It is the end product of the systems analysis phase.

why companies give IT budgets a high priority, in good times or bad.

The reason is During periods of growth, companies cannot afford to lag behind the IT curve. Conversely, when the economy slows down, firms often use IT to reduce operating costs and improve efficiency

systems analysis phase

The second SDLC phase. The purpose of this phase is to build a logical model of the new system. The first step is requirements modeling,

systems design phase

The third SDLC phase. The purpose of the systems design phase is to create a physical model that will satisfy all documented requirements for the system. At this stage, the user interface is designed and necessary outputs, inputs, and processes are identified. in addition, internal and external controls are designed, including computer-based and manual features to guarantee that the system will be reliable, accurate, maintainable, and secure.

Waterfall Model

The traditional model of software development. A graph that depicts the result of each SDLC phase flowing down into the next phase.

Top Managers

Top managers develop long-range plans, called strategic plans, which define the company's overall mission and goals. To plot a future course, top managers ask questions such as "How much should the company invest in information technology?" or How much will Internet sales grow in the next five years?" or "Should the company build new factories or contract out production functions?"

Top Managers devote most of their time to

Top managers focus on the overall business enterprise and use IT to set the company's course and direction. To develop a strategic plan, top managers also need information from outside the company, such as economic forecasts, technology trends, competitive threats, and governmental issues.

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)

a standard format for the electronic exchange of information between supply chain participants

Strategic Planning

affects the company's future survival and growth, including long-term IT plans. Is the managerial process of creating and maintaining a fit between the organization's objectives and resources and the evolving market opportunities

requirements modeling

Used in the systems planning phase of the SDLC. It involves using various fact-finding techniques, such as interviews, surveys, observation, and sampling, to describe the current system and identify the requirements for the new system. The fact-finding results are used to build business models, data and process models, and object models.

B2B (business to business) e-commerce

Using B2B trading networks, auction sites, spot exchanges, online product catalogs, barter sites, and other online resources to reach new business customers, serve current customers more effectively, and obtain buying efficiencies and better prices.

legacy systems

When planning an information system, a company must consider how a new system will interface with older systems. older information systems that remain in use because they still function and are costly to replace

Data Flow Diagram (DFD)

a graphical description of the flow of data within an organization, including data sources/destinations, data flows, transformation processes, and data storage

server farm

a network of several servers together in a single location. As new technologies emerge, manufacturers race to market the innovations and reap the rewards.

how companies use information technology

as a way to increase productivity, deliver quality products and services, maintain customers loyalty and makes sound decisions. Business success depends on information technology.

disadvantage in the built-in structure of the SDLC

because the waterfall model does not emphasize interactivity among the phases. This criticism can be valid if the SDLC phases are followed too rigidly. However, adjacent phases can and do interact, and interaction among several phases is not uncommon.

Systems Integration

companies require systems that combine transaction processing, business support, knowledge management, and user productivity features.

Application Software

computer software created to allow the user to perform a specific job or task. Examples of company-wide applications, called enterprise applications.

Hardware

consists of everything in the physical layer of the information system. For example, hardware can include servers, workstations, networks, telecommunications equipment, fiber-optic cables, mobile devices, scanners, digital capture devices, and other technology-based infrastructure.

Empowerment

delegation of authority to solve customers' problems quickly—usually by the first person the customer notifies regarding a problem. Many companies find that empowerment improves employee motivation and increases customer satisfaction.

Processes

describe the tasks and business functions that users, managers, and IT staff members perform to achieve specific results. Processes are the building blocks of an information system because they represent actual day-to-day business operations. To build a successful information system, analysts must understand business processes and document them carefully.

business model

describes the information that a system must provide. Analysts also create models to represent data, objects, networks, and other system components. System developers often use multipurpose charting tools such as Microsoft Visio to display business-related models.

what are the key components of an information system

hardware, software, data, processes, and people.

Moore's Law

in 1965, Gordon Moore, a co-founder of Intel, predicted that the number of transistors on an integrated circuit chip would double about every 24 months. his concept has remained valid for 50 years.

SDLC Model

includes five steps: systems planning, systems analysis, systems design, systems implementation, and systems support and security.

what are the systems of application software

includes horizontal and vertical systems.

Internet-based

involve various hardware and software designs.

what is information technology

is a combination of hardware, software and media used to store, organize, retrieve, communicate and share information

A key part of the preliminary investigation

is a feasibility study that reviews anticipated costs and benefits and recommends a course of action based on operational, technical, economic, and time factors.

Visio

is a popular tool that systems analysts can use to create business process diagrams, flowcharts, organization charts, network diagrams, floor plans, project timelines, and work flow diagrams, among others.

Information System Components

is a set of related components that produces specific results. hardware, software, data, procedures, people

Business Process

is a specific set of transactions, events, and results that can be described and documented.

systems Analysis and Design

is a step-bystep process for developing high-quality information systems.

horizontal system

is a system, such as an inventory or a payroll application, that can be adapted for use in many different types of companies.

what does the systems analyst do in an IT environment?

is a valuable member of its department team who helps plan, develops and maintain information systems. An analyst must be an excellent communicator with strong analytical and critical thinking skills.

Business Profile

is an overview of a company's mission, functions, organization, products, services, customers, suppliers, competitors, constraints, and future direction. Although much of this information is readily available, a systems analyst usually needs to do additional research and fact-finding. A business profile is the starting point for the modeling process.

Business today

is being shaped by three major trends: rapidly increasing globalization, technology integration for seamless information access across a wide variety of devices such as laptops and smartphones, and the rapid growth of cloud-based computing and software services. These trends are being driven by the immense power of the Internet.

vertical system

is designed to meet the unique requirements of a specific business or industry, such as an online retailer, a medical practice, or an auto dealership

the Changing Nature of Information Technology

is important for IT professionals, who live and work in this exciting world, to realize that each technology advance is part of a long-term process that often brings dramatic change, but never really ends. The story of IBM is a good example. As its name suggests, International Business Machines was a major supplier of office equipment and typewriters long before the modern computer era.

mission-critical system

is one that is vital to a company's operations. An order processing system, for example, is mission-critical because the company cannot do business without it. Every system requires input data

A possible disadvantage of prototyping

is that important decisions might be made too early before business or IT issues are understood thoroughly. A prototype based on careful fact-finding and modeling techniques, however, can be an extremely valuable tool.

The main advantage of the web

is that it offers seamless communication between different hardware and software environments, anywhere and anytime.

Project Management

is the process of planning, scheduling, monitoring, controlling, and reporting upon the development of an information system.

What is the objective of the systems implementation phase

is to deliver a completely functioning and documented information system. At the conclusion of this phase, the system is ready for use. Final preparations include converting data to the new system's files, training users, and performing the actual transition to the new system. also includes an assessment, called a systems evaluation, to determine whether the system operates properly and if costs and benefits are within expectations.

What is the main objective of enterprise computing

is to integrate a company's primary functions (such as production, sales, services, inventory control, and accounting) to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and help managers make key decisions. Enterprise computing also improves data security and reliability by imposing a company-wide framework for data access and storage.

What is the the objective during systems support and security phase

is to maximize return on the IT investment. Security controls safeguard the system from both external and internal threats. A well-designed system must be secure, reliable, maintainable, and scalable.

what is purpose of this systems planning phase

is to perform a preliminary investigation to evaluate an IT-related business opportunity or problem. The preliminary investigation is a critical step because the outcome will affect the entire development process

Systems Analyst Role

must understand the company's organizational model to recognize who is responsible for specific processes and decisions and to be aware of what information is required by whom.

Supervisors and Team Leaders

often called team leaders, oversee operational employees and carry out day-to-day functions. They coordinate operational tasks and people, make necessary decisions, and ensure that the right tools, materials, and training are available. Like other managers, supervisors and team leaders need decision-support information, knowledge management systems, and user productivity systems to carry out their responsibilities.

information

organized, analyzed, interpreted data that offer value to marketers is data that has been transformed into output that is valuable to users.

Transaction Processing

process data generated by day-to-day business operations. Examples of TP systems include customer order processing, accounts receivable, and warranty claim processing. TP systems typically involve large amounts of data and are mission-critical systems because the enterprise cannot function without them

Modeling

produces a graphical representation of a concept or process that systems developers can analyze, test, and modify. A systems analyst can describe and simplify an information system by using a set of business, data, object, network, and process models.

Groupware software

programs enable users to share data, collaborate on projects, and work in teams. Computer-based office work expanded rapidly as companies assigned more responsibility to employees at lower organizational levels.

Enterprise Computing

refers to information systems that support company-wide operations and data management requirements. Wal-Mart's inventory control system, Boeing's production control system, and Hilton Hotels' reservation system are examples of enterprise computing systems.

Software

refers to the programs that control the hardware and produce the desired information or results. The software consists of system software and application software.

A process model

shows the data that flows in and out of system processes. Inside each process, input data is transformed by business rules that generate the output.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems

systems provide cost-effective support for users and managers throughout the company. a software system that integrates information from across the entire company, including finance, order fulfillment, manufacturing, and transportation, and then facilitates sharing of the data throughout the firm

Enterprise Applications

systems that span functional areas, focus on executing business processes across the business firm, and include all levels of management. include order processing systems, payroll systems, and company communications networks.

systems support and security phase

the fifth phase. During this phase of the SDLC, the IT staff maintains, enhances, and protects the system. Maintenance changes correct errors and adapts to changes in the environment, such as new tax rates. Enhancements provide new features and benefits.

systems implementation phase

the fourth phase of the SDLC the new system is constructed. in which the information system is programmed, tested, installed, and supported

Management Information Systems (MIS)

the management and use of information systems that help organizations achieve their strategies

B2C (business to consumer) e-commerce

the online selling of goods and services to final consumers

What is the role of a system

to support business goals