Course Assessment and Introduction to Data

• The course assessment includes Quizzes and Assignments (20%), Presentation (15%), Mid Term (25%), and a Final Exam (40%).
• Total assessment equals 100%.
• Cell phones should be turned off during lectures.
• Students are responsible for materials covered regardless of attendance.
• Deficiency in attendance may lead to termination or relegation.
• Collaboration on homework is encouraged, but individual work submission is required.
• Cheating will result in failing the assignment/test or the entire class.
• Learning disabilities or special needs should be communicated in advance.
• Assignments will be given every third lecture and are due the following class.
• Quizzes are unannounced.
• Lecture 1 introduces computer systems.

What is Data?

• Data is a collection of raw facts that describes a phenomenon.
• Examples of data include current temperature, price of a movie rental, and age.
• Alternatively, data is a message that a source wants to communicate to a receiver.
• Examples of data include text, voice, images, movies, and music.

What is Information?

• Information has a particular meaning within a specific context.
• Every surprising or new thing can be considered information.
• Information reduces redundancy in data.
• For example, the current temperature is information when deciding what to wear, as it logically helps the decision.
• Knowledge is facts, information, and skills acquired through experience.

Information Technology

• Technology is a set of tools that enables more efficient and effective work with information.
• People and information are the most important resources within MIS, not technology.
• Most organizations need all three: people, information, and technology.
• Information Technology is the branch of engineering using computers and telecommunications to retrieve, store, and transmit information.
• IT includes any computer-based tool supporting information processing needs.
• Information Technology is a set of tools that enables effective work with information and presents facts in a meaningful way.
• IT includes hardware, software, telecommunications, and storage devices.
• Hardware examples: Input and output devices.
• Software examples: Application and operating system software.
• Telecommunications examples: Personal computers, wireless networks, satellites, cellular technology, video conferencing, and the internet.
• A technical definition of IT: The capability to electronically input, process, store, output (transmit), and receive data and information, including text graphics, sound, and video to control machines of all kinds electronically.
• IT supports business processes and operations, decision making, and business strategies for competitive advantage.

Dimension of Information

• Time Dimension: Access to information as needed relating to a specific period.
• Location Dimension: Access to information regardless of location.
• Form Dimension: Information in a usable and understandable format, that is free of errors.
• Examples of Form: Audio, Text, Video, Animation, Graph, Defective products etc.
• Organizational Information Flows are up, down, horizontal, inward, and outward.
• Flows include strategies, directives, current state, relations between units, and stakeholders.
• What Information Describes is internal (specific aspects, i.e operational processes) or external aspects (surrounding environment).
• What Information Describes is objective (something known) or subjective (something unknown).

Benefits of IT

• Speed
• Consistency
• Precision
• Reliability

What is a System?

• A system is a set of interrelated components with a defined boundary, working together to achieve common objectives by accepting inputs and producing outputs through an organized transformation process.

Basic Functions of a System

• Input: Capturing and assembling elements entering the system for processing.
• Processing: Transforming input into output.
• Output: Transferring transformed elements to their ultimate destination.

What is an Information System?

• An information system is an organized combination of people, hardware, software, communication networks, data resources, policies, and procedures.
• It collects, processes, stores, analyzes, and disseminates information.

Components of an IS

• People Resources: End users and IS specialists.
• Software Resources: Programs and Procedures
• System Activities: Control of System Performance
• Data Resources: Data and Knowledge Bases
• Input of Data resources
• Processing Data into Information
• Output of Information
• Storage of Data Resources
• Network Resources: Communications Media and Network Support
• Hardware Resources: Machines and Media
• Developing IS solutions involves investigation, analysis, design, implementation and maintenance.

Information System Examples

• Online bill payment systems at banks.
• Support websites for products.
• Computer systems used to process orders for businesses.

Management Information System (MIS)

• MIS deals with the planning, development, management, and use of IT tools to help people perform all tasks related to information processing and management.

What Makes Information Useful?

• Accurate: Free of errors.
• Complete: Includes everything needed.
• Flexible: Can be viewed in various ways.
• Reliable: Results are always consistent.
• Relevant: Applies to the issue under study.
• Timely: Available when needed.
• Verifiable: Basis for results can be traced.
• Accessible: All those who need the information can get to it.
• Secure: Free from contamination (accidental or deliberate).

Measuring IT Success

• Efficiency: Minimizes cost, time, and use of information resources.
• Effectiveness:
  • Supports business strategies.
  • Enables business processes.
  • Enhances organizational structure and culture.
  • Increases customer and business value.
• Computers are used in education, retailing, energy, agriculture, health, medicine and robotics.
• IT is embedded in every functional domain.
  • Finance
  • Purchasing
  • Sales
  • Warehouse
  • Production
  • Resources
  • Planning
  • Executive Levels
  • Others
  • Includes Online Shopping, Ride Hailing and Renting

IT in Support of Business involves:

• Operational Excellence
• Efficiency
• Doing things right in the least amount of time, at the least expense, with as few errors as possible, while optimizing resource usage.