Information Technology Lecture Notes PDF

1 Lesson 1 Information Technology from bit to cloud ing. Massimiliano Oleotto Learning Objectives 2 Q1. Why do business professionals need to have a minimum knowledge about IT? Q2. What is IT? And IS? Q3. What do business professionals need to know about Hardware? Q4. And about Software? Q5. A...

1 Lesson 1 Information Technology from bit to cloud ing. Massimiliano Oleotto Learning Objectives 2 Q1. Why do business professionals need to have a minimum knowledge about IT? Q2. What is IT? And IS? Q3. What do business professionals need to know about Hardware? Q4. And about Software? Q5. And about Networks? Q6. What is IS Configuration? Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q1. Why do business professionals need to have a minimum knowledge about IT? 3 IT is foundation for IS • Business professionals work frequently with IT → “work” means use, purchase, design, … • In 2023 basic knowledge of IT is a key skill of any business professional • Minimum knowledge = basic terms and concepts Because it has a high rate of obsolescence (!) Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto 4 Q1. Why do business professionals need to have a minimum knowledge about IT? Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Learning Objectives – Recap 1 5 Q1. Why do business professionals need to have a minimum knowledge about IT? • • • truly understand IS have a minimum knowledge to work with it acquire a skill that will be very useful for every career Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q2. What is IT? And IS? 6 Information Technology. The technology of computers, telecommunications, and other devices that integrate data, equipment, personnel, and problem-solving methods in planning and controlling business activities. Information Technology provides the means for collecting, storing, encoding, processing, analyzing, transmitting, receiving, and printing text, audio, or video information [APICS Dictionary] means = Computers (Hardware + Software) + Networks → IT is the technology of Computers and Networks that deals with Information in Business Activities Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q2. What is IT? And IS? 7 Information System. Interrelated computer hardware and software along with people and processes designed for the collection, processing, and dissemination of information for planning, decision making, and control [APICS Dictionary] means = Computers (Hardware + Software) + Networks → IS is a system that uses IT to support the execution of Business Processes by managing information Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q2. What is IT? And IS? 8 Algorithm = sequence of steps to do an activity • Computer = machine that can automatically do an Algorithm • Programming = writing an Algorithm in the «language» of a Computer, that is based on Data • Program = result of Programming • Software = set of Programs • Hardware = machine’s physical components that automatically do the Software • Network = system of Computers connected to each other over transmission lines or wireless connections • Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q2. What is IT? And IS? 9 A simple example of Algorithm – not done by a machine (!) Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Learning Objectives – Recap 2 10 Q2. What is IT? And IS? • • IT is the technology of Computers and Networks that deals with Information in Business Activities IS is a system that uses IT to support the execution of Business Processes by managing information Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto 11 Q3. What do business professionals need to know about Hardware? Hardware elements: • Data → Bit and Bytes • Components → CPU, RAM, Mass Storage and Peripheral Devices • Types → PC, Mobile Device and Server Knowledge of Hardware allows you to understand what are the features that a Computer must have for the work you have to do Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q3. What do business professionals need to know about Hardware? 12 Data: • can be numbers, characters, images, … → whatever • represented by bit = binary digit → 0 / 1 • easy to represent electronically → switch • measured in string / pattern of bit → 1 byte = 8 bit ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢ 1 character = 1 B 1 email (short) = 2 kB = 2 000 B 1 song (mp3 file) = 5 MB = 5 000 000 B 1 film (mp4 file) = 2 GB = 2 000 000 000 B 1 year of data by The Hubble Space Telescope = 10 TB = 10 000 000 000 000 B Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q3. What do business professionals need to know about Hardware? 13 Programs and Data are not different entities → so Data can be … Programs (!) Data is collected in Files on a Computer Note: early Computers Programs were written in electrical circuits → inflexible: if you wanted to change a Program, you would have changed CPU ➢ nowadays Computers Programs are written with Data → flexible: if you want to change a Program, you change it in RAM ➢ Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q3. What do business professionals need to know about Hardware? 14 Components: • CPU (or processor) performs operations on Data ➢ speed = number of operations per second that it performs → measured in GHz • RAM (or main memory) stores Data that CPU needs ➢ capacity = how much information it can store → measured in GB Mass storage (HDD/SDD, CD/DVD, USB thumb drive) stores Data permanently – when the Computer is off • ➢ capacity = how much information it can store → measured in GB or TB Peripheral Devices (e.g. monitor) manages the Hardware UI • Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto 15 Q3. What do business professionals need to know about Hardware? Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q3. What do business professionals need to know about Hardware? 16 CPU RAM MASS STORAGE PERIPHERAL DEVICES Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto 17 Q3. What do business professionals need to know about Hardware? Types: • PC → desktop and laptop • Mobile Device → smartphone and tablet – yes, they are Computers (!) • Server → Data Center and Server Farm Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q3. What do business professionals need to know about Hardware? 18 PC MOBILE DEVICE SERVER DATA CENTER Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Learning Objectives – Recap 3 19 Q3. What do business professionals need to know about Hardware? • • • Computer Data is represented electronically with Bit and Bytes – everything is Data in a Computer, also Programs Computer Components are CPU to process Data, RAM to store Data when the Computer is on, Mass Storage to do it when is off, Peripheral Devices to allow human interaction Computer Types are PC, Mobile Devices and Server Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q4. And about Software? 20 Software elements: • System Programs → OS, Firmware, Virtualization • Application Programs (or Applications) → Type, Customization, Open Source, Native/Thin-Client • Program’s Ownership → License • Program’s Use → UX Again, knowledge of Software allows you to understand what are the features that a Computer must have for the work you have to do Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q4. And about Software? 21 OS is a Program that controls Hardware and Applications → it makes the Computer usable Types: • non mobile Clients → Linux, Windows, Mac OS, … • mobile Clients → iOS, Android, … • Servers → Unix , Windows Server, … Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q4. And about Software? 22 Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q4. And about Software? 23 Firmware is a Program installed in a read-only memory inside a Device (e.g. printer) in order to control it Since a Program is used, and not an electric circuit, the firmware can be updated by re-Programming the memory with a special procedure Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q4. And about Software? 24 Virtualization is the process by which 1 Computer hosts the appearance of N Computers (called VM) → each VM operates exactly the same as if it would do in a stand-alone environment 1 OS (called Host OS) runs N OS guests as Applications: ➢ PC Virtualization → different OS on the same PC ➢ Server Virtualization → cloud ➢ Desktop Virtualization → access your desktop from any location, not tied to a specific Client Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q4. And about Software? 25 Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q4. And about Software? 26 An Application Program is a Program controlled by OS that performs a function Type: • General → Horizontal-market Application: ➢ e.g. word processor, spreadsheet, presentation Program, Internet navigation • Specific → Vertical-market Application: ➢ e.g. IS Program like ERP System • Unique (or Custom) → One-of-a-kind Application: ➢ e.g. Program developed by a company for its unique needs Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q4. And about Software? 27 Customization is the process by which an organization obtains a Custom Application: • • modifying Vertical-market Application in a One-of-a-kind Application (Alteration) developing One-of-a-kind Application (Tailor-made) Customization is the last-choice alternative because: • • • it is difficult, risky and expensive it must be continually adapted and updated – e.g. OS changes (!) it requires a project – and project management is not a job for beginners (!) Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q4. And about Software? 28 Customization can be not the last-choice alternative with Open Source Programs Program Source Code Made By Payment e.g. Open Source Available Community For free (generally) Open Office Closed Source Protected Company For a fee Microsoft Office Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q4. And about Software? 29 Programming = writing an Algorithm in the «language» of a Computer, that is based on Data This is not so easy … • Programming Language = formal language to write Algorithms for any Computer understood by humans • Source Code = set of instructions written using a particular Programming Language • Machine Code = set of instructions accepted by the CPU because written in the «machine language» (0 and 1) • Compiler = Program that translates Source Code in Machine Code, i.e. in an Application • Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q4. And about Software? 30 Developing Software is a very complex job (!) Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q4. And about Software? 31 Again, developing Software is a very complex job (!) Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q4. And about Software? 32 Native Applications are traditional Applications that can run on just one OS Thin-Client Applications are new Applications that can run on Browsers, therefore on many OS → they are getting interesting because: ➢they are portable by definition ➢they use simpler Programming Language (Scripting) ➢they are cheaper Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q4. And about Software? 33 When you buy a Program you are not actually buying a Program because you don’t have the ownership of the Program (!) When you buy a Program you are buying a license to operate with it – the ownership of the Program belongs to who created it Open Source Programs? Replace «buy» with «use» … Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q4. And about Software? 34 Software UI is the presentation format of a Program: windows, menus, icons, dialog boxes, toolbars, and so on UX is a newer term → it’s UI (both Hardware and Software) + the way a user responds to the Application: ➢enjoyment / positive emotions ➢will to use it again Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q4. And about Software? 35 Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q4. And about Software? 36 Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Learning Objectives – Recap 4 37 Q4. And about Software? • • • • • • OS is the Program that controls Hardware and Applications Virtualization is the process by which 1 Computer hosts N “virtual” Computers – so 1 OS can run more OS Application is a Program that performs a function: general, specific or unique (or custom) Customization is the process by which an organization obtains a Custom Application Buying a Software, you buy the License to operate with it UX is the way a user can experiences the Application Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q5. And about Networks? 38 Network elements: LAN connects Computers: on a single site, e.g. building or campus • under the control of the organization that operates the LAN • WAN connects Computers: at different geographic locations, e.g. company’s branches • under the control of an authorized vendor that has lines • Knowledge of Networks allows you to understand what are the features that an Interconnection of Computers must have for the work you have to do Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q5. And about Networks? 39 Wired LAN: Wireless LAN: line topology ➢ common line (Bus) ➢ protocol IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet) ➢ Network Interface Card (NIC) ➢ UTP cable (10 - 1000 Mbps), coaxial cable (10 - 100 Mbps), optical fiber (100 Mbps - 10 Gbps) ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢ ➢ Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto star topology central machine (Access Point) protocol IEEE 802.11 (WiFi) Wireless NIC (WNIC) no cables (up to 600 Mbps) Q5. And about Networks? 40 What is a Network Protocol? … Yes, what is it? A Network Protocol specifies the rules for making two or more Computers communicate with each other, i.e. the rules that establish how the activities on the Network are carried out Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q5. And about Networks? 41 What is a PAN? … Yes, what is it? PAN is a short-range wireless communication (few meters), such as between a headset and a smartphone It uses Bluetooth as Network Protocol Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q5. And about Networks? 42 What is a internet, lowercase “i” letter? … Yes, what is it? We have WAN with the: • • union of Networks = if the Networks are compatible because they have the same Network Protocol, you can connect them with a devices such as Switches → it is just a bigger Network Network of Networks = if the Networks are incompatible because they have different Network Protocols, you can connect them with devices such as Routers → it is a new kind of Network, i.e. internet Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q5. And about Networks? 43 What is the Internet, capital “i” letter? … Yes, what is it? • • an internet on a global scale → the biggest one, here is the capital letter explained (!) of course, it’s a WAN Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q5. And about Networks? 44 Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q5. And about Networks? 45 The Internet exists today thanks to organizations that build, maintain and use interconnections, i.e. the core of the Internet These organizations are ISPs: ➢ 1st Level ISPs and 2nd Level ISPs build and maintain interconnections on global and regional scale ➢ 3rd Level ISPs use connections because, by buying legitimate Internet access, they can sell it to individuals and businesses Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q5. And about Networks? 46 To connect to the Internet you need to contact a 3rd Level ISP that provides you: Internet address → IP address ➢ Internet gateway → router ➢ Internet access → paying 2nd Level ISP ➢ The connection is possible with: a telephone line ➢ a cable TV line – not in Italy (!) ➢ a WAN wireless Network ➢ Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q5. And about Networks? 47 What is a intranet? … Yes, what is it? A private Network that makes use of Internet technology to meet the needs of an organization – it provides information but only for internal use Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q5. And about Networks? 48 And what is a VPN? … Yes, what is it? A transmission method that allows secure communications between a LAN and individuals or organizations in various locations through the Internet – external VPN users do their activity as if they were inside the Network Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q5. And about Networks? 49 What is the WWW, or simply Web? … Yes, what is it? • • • • it was born by combining Internet and Hypertext = document that contains Tags to indicate how it should appear and Hyperlinks to other Hypertexts it needs a Language to code Hypertexts (HTML), and another one for Hypertexts with images, audio and video (XML) it requires two Applications: one is on the user’s Computer asking/showing Hypertexts (Browser); the other one is on the Computer providing Hypertexts (Web Server) of course … a Web page is a Hypertext Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q5. And about Networks? 50 The Internet has numerous Network Protocols organized in the TCP/IP Architecture Most important: • HTTP → used by Browsers and Web Servers to request and send information • HTTPS → used if information must be protected (online banking) • SMTP → used by e-mail transmission • FTP → used to move files Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q5. And about Networks? 51 What is https://www.unipd.it? … Yes, what is it? every internet requires a Computer to have a unique address, i.e. an IP address – it’s a Number like 192.207.177.133 • IP address can be translated into mnemonic form using the Domain, which is a “zone” of the internet – it’s a Name like eagle.mu.edu (mu.edu is the Domain) • IP addresses are attributed to ISPs as Number and Name by ICANN and can be requested from vendor, called Registrar • the set of servers that have all the IP addresses, such as Number and Name, is the DNS • on the Web even hypertexts have an address, i.e. a URL – it’s a string with the Network Protocol, the Domain and hypertext position within it • Well … https://www.unipd.it is the URL for the Home Page of UNIPD Site (!) • Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q5. And about Networks? 52 Web is used as a synonym for the Internet because it is the most important service on the Internet … but Web is not the Internet (!) Internet Web The global system of interconnected Networks that use the TCP/IP Hypertexts that are formatted in HTML or XML, and accessed via HTTP or HTTPS When you send an e-mail using SMTP, You are using the Web only when you you are using the Internet, but not the use HTTP or HTTPS Web Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q5. And about Networks? 53 A Web Server can provide Hypertexts, but also Web Services • It is an interface of Application A designed to interact with an Application B so that B can do a request to A and obtain from A a response – request and response are written in XML and transported using HTTP • Application A and Application B can be written with different Programming Languages and implemented on different Hardware and OS (interoperability) • The SOA is a modular Software Design approach in which Applications are assembled using Web Services as “building blocks” Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q5. And about Networks? 54 What is a Distributed Application? … Yes, what is it? Thanks to Networks, a Program on a Computer can communicate with other Programs on other Computers → there are two communication models: client/server and P2P A widely used Distributed Application architecture that uses the client/server model is the 3-Tier: ➢ User/Presentation Tier – UI on user’s Computer ➢ Server/Application Tier – processing on a Server ➢ Database Tier – Data stored on another Server Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q5. And about Networks? 55 An ERP System is an example of Distributed Application that uses 3-Tier architecture Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q5. And about Networks? 56 What is the Cloud? … Yes, what is it? • • • • Cloud Computing is a Network of Data Center / Server Farm enabling computing resources to be accessed and shared as virtual resource – using virtualization Cloud Computing increases availability, reliability, scalability and security of resources and decreases costs – but also privacy The Cloud is a vendor’s leasing of Cloud Computing through the Internet The Cloud allows organizations to use and pay for just the computing resources they need Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q5. And about Networks? 57 There are 3 basic way in which the Cloud is used today Service Description IaaS The Cloud hosts only a Server PaaS The Cloud hosts Computers, OS and Applications SaaS An Application runs in the Cloud because there is everything to run it (Hardware, OS, Application license, other Applications) → the user rents the use of the Software by paying a fee – e.g. Microsoft Office 365 Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q5. And about Networks? 58 Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q5. And about Networks? 59 There are pros and cons comparing Cloud Hosting to Inhouse Hosting But for sure Cloud Hosting will prevail in the future … Why? Just think about electricity … In the beginning the organizations had their own generators Then generation was centralized and organizations were able to purchase only the energy needed by an electric utility Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Learning Objectives – Recap 5 60 Q5. And about Networks? • • • • • Networks connect Computers: LAN and WAN – the biggest Network is the Internet Connection rules are specified in a Network Protocol Web is an example of Internet services – it shares Hypertexts Thanks to Networks, there are Distributed Applications that can run on more than one Computer Cloud Computing is a Network of Data Center / Server Farm providing computing resources to be accessed and shared as virtual ones Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q6. What is IS Configuration? 61 IS Configuration refers to how Hardware, Software and Networks are arranged inside an organization for IS Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto Q6. What is IS Configuration? 62 INFORMATION SYSTEM ERP Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Learning Objectives – Recap 6 63 Q6. What is IS Configuration? • • IS is a collection of specific Software – e.g. ERP IS configuration is the particular set of Hardware, Software and Networks that an organization (i.e. IT) must have in order to use those specific Software Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto References 64 Course book: Earl McKinney Jr. • David M. Kroenke – Processes, Systems, and Information, An Introduction to MIS – Chapter 3 ❑ Other books: J. Glenn Brookshear • Dennis Brylow – Computer Science, An overview – Chapters 1-4 ❑ Organization and Information Systems | a.y. 2023-2024 | Diego Campagnolo – Massimiliano Oleotto