System Concepts • System: a set of elements or components that interact to accomplish goals • Components of a system – Input – Processing – Output – Feedback Figure 1.3: Components of a System System Components and Concepts • System boundary: defines the system and distinguishes it from everything else (i.e., the environment) • Configuration: the way system elements are organized or arranged • Systems can be classified as simple or complex, open or closed, stable or dynamic, adaptive or nonadaptive, and permanent or temporary Table 1.3: Systems Classifications and Their Primary Characteristics System Performance and Standards • Efficiency: a measure of what is produced divided by what is consumed
• Effectiveness: extent to which system
attains its goals
• System performance standard: a
specific objective of a system System Variables and Parameters
• System variable: quantity or item
controlled by the decision maker
• System parameter: value or quantity
that cannot be controlled (e.g., the cost of a raw material) Introduction • Information system (IS) – A set of interrelated components that collect, manipulate, and disseminate data and information and provide feedback to meet an objective
– Examples: ATMs, airline reservation
systems, course reservation systems What is an Information System? • An organized combination of – People – Hardware – Software – Communications networks – Data resources – Policies and procedures • That stores, retrieves, transforms, and disseminates information in an organization Figure 1.8: The Components of Information System Information System (IS) versus Information Technology (IT) • IS is all the components and resources necessary to deliver information and functions to the organization • IT is hardware, software, networking and data management
• In theory, IS could be paper based
• But we will focus on Computer-Based Information Systems (CBIS) Computer-Based Information Systems – A single set of hardware, software, databases, telecommunications, people, and procedures that are configured to collect, manipulate, store, and process data into information
– Examples: a company’s payroll
systems, order entry system, and inventory control systems Business Information Systems • Most common types of information systems used in business organizations include: – Electronic and mobile commerce systems