Syllabus Focus: Unit 1 Module 1 Content 2

Specific Objective 2: describe the relationship between Information Technology and other
disciplines in Computing;

Content: Computing, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer

Engineering, and Information Systems; commonalities and differences
between disciplines.

Disciplines in Computing

Information Technology professionals possess the right combination of knowledge and

practical, hands-on expertise to take care of both an organization’s information technology
infrastructure and the people who use it. They assume responsibility for selecting hardware and
software products appropriate for an organization. They integrate those products with
organizational needs and infrastructure, and install, customize and maintain those applications,
thereby providing a secure and effective environment that supports the activities of the
organization’s computer users. In IT, programming often involves writing short programs that
typically connect existing components (scripting).

Computing includes designing and building hardware and software systems for a wide range of
purposes; processing, structuring, and managing various kinds of information; doing scientific
studies using computers; making computer systems behave intelligently; creating and using
communications and entertainment media; finding and gathering information relevant to any
particular purpose, and so on.

Computer Science

 The study of computers, including both hardware and software design.

Computer science is composed of many broad disciplines, including
artificial intelligence and software engineering.

 The study of computing, programming, and computation in

correspondence with computer systems. This field of study utilizes
theories on how computers work to design, test, and analyze concepts.
Computer science usually has a stronger mathematical foundation
than a scientific one and on some occasions may not focus directly on
computers and their systems.

Software Engineering
 The systematic application of scientific and technological knowledge,
through the medium of sound engineering principles, to the production
of computer programs, and to the requirements definition, functional
specification, design description, program implementation, and test

CAPE NOTES Unit 1 Module1 Content 2 1

 methods that lead up to this code.

 Development of procedures and systematic applications that are used

on electronic machines. Software engineering incorporates various
accepted methodologies to design software. This particular type of
engineering has to take into consideration what type of machine the
software will be used on, how the software will work with the machine,
and what elements need to be put in place to ensure reliability.

Computer Engineering

 Computer engineering refers to the study that integrates electronic

engineering with computer sciences to design and develop computer
systems and other technological devices. Computer engineering
professionals have expertise in a variety of diverse areas such as
software design, electronic engineering and integrating software and
hardware. Computer engineering allows professionals to engage in a
number of areas such as analyzing and designing anything from simple
microprocessors to highly featured circuits, software design, and
operating system development. Computer engineering is not limited to
operating computer systems but is aimed at creating a broad way to
design more comprehensive technological solutions.

Information Systems

 An information system (IS) refers to a collection of multiple pieces of

equipment involved in the dissemination of information. Hardware,
software, computer system connections and information, information
system users, and the system’s housing are all part of an IS.

Information System is a combination of people, hardware, software,

communication devices, network and data resources that processes (can be
storing, retrieving, transforming information) data and information for a
specific purpose. The operation theory is just similar to any other system,
which needs inputs from user (key in instructions and commands, typing,
scanning). The inputted data then will be processed (calculating, reporting)
using technology devices such as computers, and produce output (printing
reports, displaying results) that will be sent to another user or other system
via a network and a feedback method that controls the operation.

CAPE NOTES Unit 1 Module1 Content 2 2