Unit I

Basics of Information Systems

Contents
• What is system?
• Components of system
• Characteristics of system
• Management structure
• Variety of information system
• Types of information
• Management and information requirements
• Qualities of Information

11/07/2021 Unit 1 2
 Definition of System

“A set of inter-related components operates collectively to accomplish

common goals.”
System

Input Process Output

Example: Business systems Example: Computer based information systems

Components: Men, Material, Money, and Machine Components: Hardware, Software, Data, People –
– work operate
Collectively for: Collectively for
Common goal: Profits/market share Common goal: Providing timely information to
authorized users

11/07/2021 Unit 1 3
Components of System Description

Input Elements The data entered into a system. Example : username and password
Process Any specific treatment defined in the system to be performed on the data entered into
the system. Example : Log in into the system
Output Elements The results given by the system after the process has been performed on the data being
input to the system. Example : Welcome , Username
Control Mechanism Every system is expected to generate some sort of standardized output. Hence actual
output needs to be compared with what it is supposed to generate. This comparison of
actual with expected output is done with the help of control mechanism. Example :
Validation messages, Fetch records from database.

Feedback System Once the control mechanism has been devised, it needs to reporting mechanism, which
should respond with a corrective action, if required.
Example : Provide adequate information about communication between components

Objectives We just mentioned that a control mechanism should compare actual output with
expected/Ideal output. But before this is being done, there needs to be a list of specific
objectives which define expected output.
Example : User authentication and role management

11/07/2021 Unit 1 4
Characteristics of System
• Organization:
It implies structure and order. It is the arrangement of components that helps to
achieve objectives.
• Interaction:
It refers to the manner in which each component functions with other components of
the system.
• Interdependence:
It means that parts of the organization or computer system depend on one another.
They are coordinated and linked together according to a plan. One subsystem depends on
the output of another subsystem for proper functioning.
• Integration:
It refers to the holism of systems. It is concerned with how a system is tied together.
• Central Objective:
A system should have a central objective. The users must know the central objective of
a computer application early in the analysis for a successful design and conversion.
11/07/2021 Unit 1 5
 Management Structure

Top
Level

Middle
level

Operational
level

11/07/2021 Unit 1 6
Varieties of Information systems

1. Transaction processing systems (TPS)

2. Management information system (MIS)

3. Decision support systems (DSS)

4. Executive information (support) system (EIS / ESS)

5. Expert systems (ES)

11/07/2021 Unit 1 7
 Types of Information
Type
Of Information Description Example Role/Manager

• Needed for long range planning and directing • Should new branches be
the course the business should take. opened?
Strategic • Less structured information Chief Executive
• Volume of data is small and difficult to obtain

• Needed to take short range decision to run • How to rate vendors?

business efficiently • Should credit limit of
• Requires specially designed processing of data customer be changed?
• Volume of data is more than strategic • How much of each items Middle level
Tactical information and Obtained easily from day-to- should be stocked? managers
day collection of routine data. • Should new discount
policies be introduced?

• Needed for day-to-day operations of a • List of items to be recorded

business organization. • List of defaulting customers
• Obtained easily by clerical processing of data. • List of outstanding bills to
Operational • Volume of information is more than tactical be paid. Workers
information.

11/07/2021 Unit 1 8
Management and Information Requirement
System name: Human Resource management
Information Description
• Policies on
1. Wages and incentives such as stock options
Strategic Information 2. Human resource development and training
3. Personnel welfare and facilities
• Performance Appraisal
• Demographic make-up of personnel and its impact on retirement
• Production incentives and relation to productivity
Tactical Information • Morale of personnel
• Absentee reduction
• Leave and overtime policies
• Personnel deployment policies

• Routine assessment
• Skills inventory
Operation Information • Loans / advances and recovery
• Leave record.
11/07/2021 Unit 1 9
Quality of Information
Quality Description Example
Accurate Ensure correct input and processing 2+2=4
rules.
Complete Include all data. For login module: login credentials,
validation messages, forgot password
mechanism, welcome message after
successful login

Trustworthy Do not hide unpleasant information.

Timely Give at right time. Information with greater processing speed.
Up to date Include all data up to present time. Give all the updated information
Relevant Understand user needs. Give information as per user’s need
Brief Summarize relevant information. Provide concluded information
Significance and Use attractive format and graphical Animated and graphical information specific
understandable charts so that user can immediately to the subject.
understand.
11/07/2021 Unit 1 10
!!..Thank You..!!

Unit 1