Introduction to Information Systems PDF

Dr. Shimaa Ismail Introduction to Information System Information Systems Department Faculty of Computers and Artificial Intelligence, Benha University  Information Systems in Perspective Chapter 2 Information...

Dr. Shimaa Ismail Introduction to Information System Information Systems Department Faculty of Computers and Artificial Intelligence, Benha University  Information Systems in Perspective Chapter 2 Information Systems in Organizations Part2 2  Organizational Culture and Change Culture➔ A set of major understandings and assumptions shared by a group, such as within an ethnic group or a country. Organizational Culture ➔ The major understandings and assumptions for a business, corporation, or other organization. For example, Employees salaries and age , Faculty student Gender, etc. Organizational Change➔ How for profit and nonprofit organizations plan for, implement, and handle change. Change can be caused by internal factors, such as those initiated by employees at all levels, or by external factors, such as those wrought by competitors, stockholders, federal and state laws, community regulations, natural disasters, and general economic conditions.  Organizational Culture and Change Implementing change, such as a new information system introduces conflict, confusion, and disruption. People must stop doing things the way they are accustomed to and begin doing them differently. Successful implementation of change only happens when people accept the need for change and believe that the change will improve their productivity and enable them to better meet their customers’ needs. The so-called soft side of implementing change involves work designed to help employees embrace a new information system and way of working. Change Management Model➔ A description of the phases an individual or organization goes through in making a change and principles for successful implementation of change.  Careers in Information Systems Today, most organizations cannot The information system worker Successful information system function or compete effectively functions at the intersection of workers must enjoy working in a without computer-based business and technology and designs fast-paced, dynamic environment information systems. and builds the solutions that allow where the underlying technology organizations to effectively leverage changes all the time. information technology.  Characteristics of IS Workers They must have solid They need good analytical and decision- They must be comfortable communication skills and making skills to translate ill- with meeting deadlines and often serve as translators defined business problems solving unexpected between business needs and and opportunities into challenges. technology-based solutions. effective technology-based solutions. They must develop effective Last, but not least, they need team and leadership skills to be prepared to engage in and be adept at lifelong learning in a rapidly implementing organizational changing field. change.  IS Workers Specific technical skills that some experts believe are important for IS workers : Capability to analyze large amounts of structured and unstructured data Ability to design and build applications for mobile devices Traditional programming and application development skills Technical support expertise Project management skills Knowledge of networking and cloud computing Ability to audit systems and implement necessary security measures Web design and development skills Knowledge of data center operations Technology is one of the fastest-growing areas of the U.S. economy, and information systems professionals are in high demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) forecasts  Roles, Functions, and Careers in IS IS offers many exciting and rewarding careers. Professionals with careers in information systems can work in an IS department or outside a traditional IS department as Web developers, computer programmers, systems analysts, computer operators, and in many other positions. In addition to technical skills, IS professionals need skills in written and verbal communication, an understanding of organizations and the way they operate, and the ability to work with people and in groups. IS Organization Functions  Typical IS Titles and Functions Chief Information Officer The role of the chief information officer (CIO) is to Employ an IS department’s equipment and personnel to help the organization attain its goals. Understand the importance of finance, accounting, and return on investment. Help companies avoid damaging ethical challenges by monitoring how their firms are complying with a large number of laws and regulations. Provides leadership and direction to the IS department to help an organization achieve its goals. CIOs need technical, business, and personal skills.  Typical IS Titles and Functions Senior IS Managers A large organization may have several people employed in senior IS managerial levels with job titles such as vice president of information systems, manager of information systems, and chief technology officer (CTO). A central role of all these people is to communicate with other areas of the organization to determine changing business needs. Managers outside the IS organization may be part of an advisory or steering committee that helps the CIO and other IS managers make decisions about the use of information systems. Together, they can best decide what information systems will support corporate goals. IS Organization Functions Typical IS Titles and Functions Operations Roles The operations group is responsible for the day-to-day running of IS hardware to process the organization’s information systems workload. It must also do capacity planning to expand and upgrade equipment to meet changing business needs. The operations group is constantly looking for ways to reduce the overall cost and increase the reliability of the organization’s computing. This group is also responsible for protecting the company’s IS systems and data from unauthorized access.  Typical IS Titles and Functions Data Center Manager: Data center managers are responsible for the maintenance and operation of the organization’s computing facilities that may house a variety of hardware devices—mainframe and or supercomputers, large numbers of servers, storage devices, and networking equipment. Data center managers supervise other operations workers to accomplish the day-to-day work needed to support business operations as well as complete software and hardware upgrades. They also plan for capacity changes and develop business contingency plans in the event of a business disruption due to a fire, power outage, or natural disaster.  Typical IS Titles and Functions System Operator: System operators run and maintain IS equipment. They are responsible for efficiently starting, stopping, and correctly operating mainframe systems, networks, tape drives, disk devices, printers, and so on. Other operations include scheduling, maintaining hardware, and preparing input and output.  Typical IS Titles and Functions Information Systems Security Analyst : Information systems security analysts are responsible for maintaining the security and integrity of their organizations’ systems and data. They analyze the security measures of the organization and identify and implement changes to make improvement. Security analysts are responsible for developing and delivering training on proper security measures. They also are responsible for creating action plans in the event of a security breach.  Typical IS Titles and Functions LAN Administrators : LAN administrators set up and manage network hardware, software, and security processes. They manage the addition of new users, software, and devices to the network. They also isolate and fix operations problems. IS Organization Functions Typical IS Titles and Functions Development Roles The development group is responsible for implementing the new information systems required to support the organization’s existing and future business needs. Importantly, they must also modify existing information systems as the needs of the organization evolve and change. They are constantly on the watch for new ways to use information systems to improve the competitiveness of the firm.  Typical IS Titles and Functions Software Developer. These individuals are involved in writing the software that customers and employees use. This includes testing and debugging the software as well as maintaining and upgrading software after it is released for operation. Software developers frequently collaborate with management, clients, and others to build a software product from scratch, according to a customer’s specifications, or to modify existing software to meet new business needs.  Typical IS Titles and Functions Systems Analyst. Systems analysts frequently consult with management and users, and they convey system requirements to software developers and network architects. They also assist in choosing and configuring hardware and software, matching technology to users’ needs, monitoring and testing the system in operation, and troubleshooting problems after implementation.  Typical IS Titles and Functions Programmer. Programmers convert a program design developed by a systems analyst or software developer into one of many computer languages. To do this, they must write, debug, and test the program to ensure that it will operate in a way that it will meet the users’ needs.  Typical IS Titles and Functions Web Developers. These professionals design and maintain Web sites, including site layout and function, to meet the client’s requirements. The creative side of the job includes creating a user-friendly design, ensuring easy navigation, organizing content, and integrating graphics and audio. The more technical responsibilities include monitoring Web site performance and capacity. IS Organization Functions Typical IS Titles and Functions Support Roles The support group provides customer service for the employees, customers, and business partners who rely on the firm’s information systems and service to accomplish their work. The support group responds to queries from these constituents and attempts to be proactive in eliminating problems before they occur. They often develop and provide training to users to enable them to better use information systems services and equipment.  Typical IS Titles and Functions Database Administrator: Database administrators (DBAs) design and set up databases to meet an organization’s needs. DBAs ensure that the databases operate efficiently, and they perform fine-tuning, upgrading, and testing modifications as needed. They are also responsible for implementing security measures to safeguard the company’s most sensitive data.  Typical IS Titles and Functions System Support Specialist: These skilled specialists respond to telephone calls, electronic mail, and other inquiries from computer users regarding hardware, software, networking, or other IS-related problems or needs. System support specialists diagnose the problem through dialogue with the user, research solutions, and implement a plan to resolve the problem or refer the issue to specialized IS staff. Many organizations set up “dropin” centers, where users can come to meet face-to-face with the help desk specialists to get help. IS-Related Roles outside the IS Organization Based on a recent survey of 165 organizations representing over $45 billion in information technology spending in Europe and the United States, only about 60 percent of all information technology outlays are controlled by the information systems department. This means other business units are responsible for 40 percent of the total information technology costs within an organization. Shadow IT ➔ The information systems and solutions built and deployed by departments other than the information systems department. In many cases, the information systems department may not even be aware of these efforts. Certification➔ A process for testing skills and knowledge; successful completion of a certification exam results in a statement by the certifying authority that confirms an individual is capable of performing particular tasks. Getting certified from a software, database, or network company may open the door to new career possibilities or result in an increase in pay.