Computing Fundamentals and

Applications (DTT 104)

Chapter 1
Introduction to Computing
Fundamentals and Applications

Becoming computer literate and

competent
The evolution of computers
Principal areas of computer use
Becoming computer literate and
competent
 Computing and Information technologies,
including Internet-based information systems
are playing a vital and expanding role in
business.
 IT can help all kinds of businesses improve
the efficiency and effectiveness of their
business processes, managerial decision
making, and workgroup collaboration, thus
strengthening their competitive positions in a
rapidly changing marketplace.
Definitions
 System: A set of interrelated components, with a
clearly defined boundary, working together to
achieve a common set of objectives.
 Information System: Any organized combination of
people, hardware, software, communications
networks, and data resources that stores and
retrieves, transforms and disseminates information
in an organization.
Definitions
 Information Technologies: Various hardware
components necessary for an information
system to operate.
Computer-based Information
Systems (CBIS)
 Focus on computer-based information systems and
their use of the following information technologies:
 Computer hardware technologies, including
microcomputers, midsize servers, and large mainframe
systems, and the input, output and storage devices that
support them.
 Computer software technologies, including operating
system software, Web browsers, software productivity
suites, and software for business applications.
Computer-based Information
Systems (CBIS)

 Focus on computer-based information systems and

their use of the following information technologies:
 Telecommunications network technologies, including the
telecommunications media, processors, and software needed
to provide wire-based and wireless access and support for
the Internet and private Internet-based networks such as
intranets and extranets
 Data resource management technologies, including database
management system software for the development, access
and maintenance of the databases of an organization
Fundamental Roles of IS/IT in
Business and Examples
 Support of the business processes and operations –
Some stores use computer-based information
systems to record customer purchases, keep track
of inventory, pay employees e.t.c.
 Support of decision making by its employees and
managers – Decisions on what products to add or
discontinue, or on what investment to make are
based on analysis provided by CBIS.
Fundamental Roles of IS/IT in
Business and Examples
 Support of its strategies for competitive
advantage – Gaining competitive advantage
requires innovative application of information
technologies.
Trend in Information System

 Until the 1960s, the role of most information systems

was transaction processing, recordkeeping,
accounting and other electronic data processing
(EDP) applications.
 Next was management information systems (MIS),
focusing on developing business applications that
provided managerial end users with predefined
management reports that would give information
needed for decision making
Trend in Information System

 Pre-specified information products produced by MIS

were not adequately meeting the decision making
needs of management, therefore decision support
systems (DSS) were born.
 Their role was to provide managerial end users with
ad hoc and interactive support of their decision
making processes
Trend in Information System

 Once it became clear that many top corporate

executives were not using the reports from MIS or the
DSS, Executive Information Systems (EIS) were
developed. These information systems were
developed to give top executives an easy way to get
the critical information they want, when they want it,
in the formats they prefer
Trend in Information System

 Development and application of artificial intelligence

(AI) techniques to business information systems.
Expert Systems and other Knowledge – based
systems
 A new role for information systems – strategic
information systems – information technology
becomes an integral component of business
processes, products and services that help a
company achieve a competitive advantage.
Trend in Information System

 Enterprise resource planning (ERP) system is an

organization-specific form of a strategic information
system that integrates all facets of a firm, including its
planning, manufacturing, sales, resource
management, inventory control, order tracking e.t.c.
 The Internet has dramatically changed the
capabilities of information systems in business.
 Trend in Information System Internet
(WWW)

Enterprise
Decision Executive resource
support Information planning
systems (DSS) Systems (EIS) (ERP) system

Electronic data Management Expert Strategic

processing information Systems (AI information
(EDP) systems (MIS) Capabilities) systems
Type of Information Systems
 Operations Support Systems
 Transaction processing systems – process data
resulting from business transactions, update
operational databases and produce business
documents. E.g. Accounting systems.
 Process Control Systems – Monitor and control
industrial processes. E.g. power generation systems.
 Enterprise collaboration systems – support team,
workgroup and enterprise communications and
collaborations. E.g. email, chat systems.
Elements of Information Systems (IS)

 Hardware
 Software
 Data
 People
 Procedures

Information
InformationSystems
Systems
Type of Information Systems
 Management Support Systems
 Management Information Systems – Provide information in
the form of pre-specified reports and displays to support
business decision making. E.g. sales analysis.
 Decision support systems – Provide interactive ad hoc
support for the decision making process of managers and
other business professionals. E.g. product pricing
 Executive information systems – provide critical information
from MIS, DSS and other sources tailored to the information
needs of executives. E.g. systems for economic
developments to support strategic planning
Success and Failure with IT
 Success of an information system should not be
measured only by its efficiency in terms of minimizing
costs, time and the use of information resources.
 Success should also be measured by the effectiveness
of information technology in supporting an organization’s
business strategies, enabling its business processes,
enhancing organizational structures and culture and
increasing the customer and business value of the
enterprise.
Developing IS Solutions
 Most computer-based information systems
are conceived, designed and implemented
using some form of systematic
development process.
 E.g. Investigate, analyze, design,
implement, maintain.
Definitions
 Data
 collection of unprocessed items, which can include text,
numbers, images, audio and video (facts).
 Raw facts that do not make sense on their own.
 Information
 (processed data) conveys meaning and is useful to people.
 Data that has been processed in a manner meaningful to
the person who receives it.
Qualities of Good Information
 It should be relevant to the purpose for which it was
intended.
 It should be complete.
 It must be sufficiently accurate for its intended
purpose.
 It should be clear.
 It should be communicated to the right person.
 The recipient of the information must be confident of
the information.
Qualities of Good Information
 It should not be too voluminous. Too much
information is often referred to as ‘information
overload’.
 It should be timely.
 It should be communicated through the correct
channel.
 It should be conveyed at a cost that is less than
the value of the information
Information Processing Cycle

 Input – Processing – Output – Storage

 Communication has become an essential

element as most computers nowadays are
networked.
The evolution of computers
History of computers
 Computers have evolved through four major stages
or generations in their development of computer
hardware. This is distinguished by different
technology for the components that do the
processing work.
 Each generation has greatly improved computer
processing capabilities and storage capacities while
simultaneously reducing costs.
History of computers
Principal areas of computer use

 Information Processing
 Robotic/ Industrial
 Artificial Intelligent
 Graphic and Multimedia
 Banking
 Telecommunication
 Film Making (Animation)
 Research and technology
Information Processing Cycle

 Input – Processing – Output – Storage

 Communication has become an essential

element as most computers nowadays are
networked.