CIIS 153: Information Systems Concepts

• CIIS 153 introduces the concepts of information systems
• Senior Lecturer Dominic Kofi Louis heads the Department of Information Systems
• The department resides within the Faculty of Computing & Information Systems at Ghana Communication Technology University
• Dominic can be contacted via [email protected] or 020 529 4331
• His office is in Rm# FCIS7, FOCIS Building

Course Objectives:

• To introduce information systems in modern enterprises, surveying IS technologies and their effect on management
• To provide an understanding of the role, principles, and practice of IS within organizations
• To provide students with strategies and techniques for dealing with the complexity of IS development

Intended Learning Outcomes:

• Upon course completion, students should be able to:
• Identify and explain the components of an information system
• Explain IS concepts and vocabulary
• Examine strategic applications of IS to synthesize complex data
• Make informed business decisions
• Develop an understanding of the requirements for building and deploying effective IS
• Familiarize themselves with security and ethical challenges in the development, deployment, and use of IS

Assessments:

• Course assessments consist of:
• Coursework (assignments, mid-semester exams, quizzes, class participation): 40%
• Final Examination: 60%
• Students must achieve an overall pass mark of 40% to pass the combined assessments

Course Requirements

• Class Participation involves preparing for class, reading topics, and engaging in active and informed discussion
• Assignment Deadlines must be met, as failure to do so will negatively affect grades
• Written assignments should be typed and will be assessed on content, format, directions, and correct spelling/grammar
• Class Attendance requires regular attendance and promptness at each lecture
• Students must inform the Lecturer of unavoidable absences prior to the class meeting
• Students are responsible for obtaining lecture notes and learning materials from the Moodle LMS

Using Moodle

• Moodle, an open-source Learning Management System, will support course delivery
• Lecture notes and relevant learning materials will be available for download
• All students must enroll online via gtuconline.gtuc.edu.gh with their Microsoft live ID

Expectations of Students:

• To read prescribed textbooks and other relevant materials online
• Spend at least 3 hours in private studies for each hour in class

Prescribed/Recommend Textbooks

• James O'Brien and George Marakas. Introduction to Information Systems, 16th Edition, Irwin/McGraw-Hill, 2010.
• Patricia Wallace. Introduction to Information Systems, 2nd ed, ISBN-10: 0133571750

Lesson 1: Foundations of Information Systems in Business

Learning Objectives:

• Explain the importance of information systems in business
• Identify the main components of IS and their roles
• Identify and discuss the major types of information systems in businesses today

Information Systems / Information Technology:

• They are vital components of successful businesses
• They help businesses expand and compete
• Businesses use IT to improve efficiency, effectiveness of processes and also to facilitate managerial decision making

System Definition

• A system is a set of interrelated components that work together to achieve a common set of objectives
• A good system needs a clearly defined boundary
• A good system accepts inputs and produces outputs in an organized transformation process
• Types of systems:
• Physical: solar, planet, sun
• Biological: human body
• Technological: computer, oil refinery

Components of a System:

• Inputs involve gathering and capturing raw data
• Processing involves converting or transforming data into useful outputs
• Outputs involve Producing useful information, usually in the form of documents
• Feedback involves the output that is used to make changes to input or processing activities

System Types:

• Closed System: Stands alone with no connection to other systems
• Open System: Interfaces and interacts with other systems, gets information from and provides information to other systems

Data vs Information:

• Data are raw facts about physical phenomena or business transactions. Examples include = date, name, quantities and amount
• Information is data converted into a meaningful and useful context for end-users. Example amount of sales by product type, sales territory or salesperson

Sources of Data:

• Primary: firsthand observation, experiment, survey, expert estimation
• Secondary: organization's database, purchase orders/sales invoices, journals, commissioned reports, newspapers, public sources

Characteristics of Quality Information:

• Relevant: Information must pertain to the problem at hand
• Complete: Partial information is often worse than no information
• Accurate: Erroneous information may lead to disastrous decisions
• Current/Timely: Decisions rely on the latest available information
• Economical: The cost of obtaining information must be reasonable

What is an Information System?

• An organized combination of people, technology (i.е. hardware, software, telecommunication networks), data resources and processes to transform and disseminate information in an organization
• An information system involves various components working to collect, retrieve, process, and store data/information
• It facilitates planning, control, coordination, analysis, and decision-making in businesses

Information System Components:

• People
• Technology
• Processes
• Data

1. People in IS:

• Play a crucial role in the success or failure of most information systems
• Includes:
• Users
• Managers and Staff
• Information Technology Personnel
• Users that Generate Content

2. Technology in IS:

• Hardware: tangible components such as computers and peripherals
• Software: programs and applications
• Telecommunications: networks for data transmission

3. Processes in IS:

• A process is a set of activities to achieve a task
• Organizations implement IS to support, streamline, and eliminate business processes
• Business Process Management (BPM) focuses on designing, optimizing, and streamlining processes

4. Data in IS:

• IT is the raw ingredient for every information system
• This is converted into digital format and can be integrated and shared across multiple systems

IS and Management Levels

• Information systems are at the heart of supporting corporate strategy, business decisions, and process operations