44221: Information Systems

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44221 Information Systems
Introduction to Module By Ian Perry Room
C48 E-mail i.p.perry_at_hull.ac.uk Tel 01723
35 7287 http//itsy.co.uk/ac/0708/Sem1/44221_IS/
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Why study Information Systems?

• An understanding of Information Systems is vital
  to business management and information technology
  students
• As all business organisations rely upon the
  ability of their Information Systems to
  provide/support the knowledge required for all
  levels of decision-making, i.e.
• Strategic
• Tactical
• Operational

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Learning Outcomes?

• By the end of the module you will be able to
• Understand why a distinction must be made between
  data, information knowledge.
• Identify the role of Information Systems in a
  given business context.
• Relate theoretical models of Information Systems
  to business cases, by describing a given
  situation using systems terminology diagrams.
• Produce a working example of a computer-based
  Information Systems tool, which addresses
  specific business needs.

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Assessment Method

• Two, equally weighted, assignments based upon a
  common Case Study.
• Assignment 1 - Information Systems Analysis
• Deadline 09 November 2007 Weighting 50
• Analyse the current information system, as
  presented by the Case Study, using appropriate
  systems diagrams .
• Discuss where, and how, IT might be used to
  improve the efficiency and/or effectiveness of a
  specific part (i.e. sub-system) of the Case Study
  organisations information system.
• Assignment 2 - Information Systems Tool
• Deadline 14 December 2007 Weighting 50
• Build a software tool that can help improve a
  specific aspect of the information system of the
  Case Study organisation.
• Explain the usefulness of this software tool in
  support of management decision making.

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Assignment Hand-in Process

• You MUST hand in TWO copies of each Assignment
  for this Module.
• BOTH copies must be submitted by 3pm of the
  submission date.
• An Electronic Copy (via Turnitin)
• Add the following to the table on Page 14 of the
  IS Module Handbook.
• Class ID 42019
• Password 1224
• Assignment 1 Code Name E1 IS Analysis
• Assignment 2 Code Name E2 IS Tools
• See the Assessment Method page of the IS
  Web-site in order to find out how to enrol for
  use Turnitin.
• A Paper Copy (to the School Office)
• With properly completed Front-sheets, and a
  Turnitin receipt, in the correct drawer of the
  wooden filing cabinet outside of CH5.

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EZPC Case Study

• EZPC assemble PC Systems for sale to customers
  such as PC World, Dixons, Currys, etc.
• Each PC System is made-to-order (as a result of
  a request from a specific customer), based on a
  limited set of Standard PC Configurations.
• The computer components (i.e. Processors, Hard
  Disks, Memory, etc.), from which the PC systems
  are assembled, are purchased from a number of
  suppliers.
• EZPC also sells computer components directly to
  the same Customers.
• The components, either waiting to be assembled
  into PC Systems, and/or to be passed on directly
  to EZPCs customers, are stored at one of three
  different warehouse locations, i.e.
• Leeds, Newcastle, Reading
• The Leeds Warehouse acts as the Head Office for
  EZPC
• all dealings with suppliers are controlled from
  the Head Office.
• Delivery of PCs and components is contracted out
  to a national distribution company.

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EZPC At each Warehouse

• A sales team deals with their local customers.
• A second group of staff work out what components
  are required to fulfill each customer order.
• A third group of staff assemble the PCs.
• A fourth group of staff control the warehouse
  operations
• ordering receiving components from suppliers,
• passing components on to the assembly process,
• receiving completed PCs back from the assembly
  process,
• packing PCs and components prior to delivery.

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EZPC How things Work?

• When a request arrives from a Customer it is
  either broken down, by the Planning Department,
  to produce a work order (if the request is for
  complete PCs), or passed directly to the
  Warehouse, as a component list (if it is a
  request for components).
• Each work order lists the number and
  specification of each component (mother-board,
  monitor, keyboard, etc.) that will be required to
  assemble the requested PCs.
• The work order is then passed on to the
  Assembly Department, who must then check with the
  Warehouse for the availability of enough PC
  components in order to complete each work order
  before commencing assembly.
• If a work order can not be completed, due to a
  lack of components, then the Warehouse must raise
  a purchase order (via the Head Office) with one
  of EZPCs Suppliers.
• When enough components are received from EZPCs
  Suppliers, then the Warehouse notifies the
  Assembly Department and the assembly process can
  commence.
• Once the Assembly Department has completed a
  work order then the assembled PCs are passed
  on to the Warehouse.
• The Warehouse then produces delivery lists for
  each Customers order, and uses these as picking
  lists in order to find the PCs and/or components
  in the warehouse, and pack them ready for
  delivery.

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EZPC Problems?

• Each work order is currently produced by hand,
  which is both very time consuming and often leads
  to mistakes, both of which upset the customers.
• Each of the Warehouses is quite small, and can
  only hold a small stock of computer components
  and assembled PCs, so work orders often become
  purchase orders (once again a manual
  calculation).
• There was some talk of moving to larger
  Warehouses, but these plans have been abandoned,
  as EZPC can not afford to hold any more stock
  than they do now.
• Raising a purchase order with one of EZPC
  Suppliers can result in a delay of up to 10 days
  for the delivery of the computer components.
• Often, even when Warehouse is almost full of
  computer components, a work order cannot be
  completed, as these are the wrong components with
  which to satisfy a specific customer request.

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Lectures (CG1) Workshops (IT4)

• Introduction to Module
• Systems Concepts 1
• Systems Concepts 2
• Review Ass 1 Reqs
• -- No Lecture -
• -- No Lecture -

• Information for All?
• Drawing Diagrams 1
• Drawing Diagrams 2
• Assignment 1 Support
• Assignment 1 Support
• -- No Workshop --

Assignment 1 Deadline Fri, 09 Nov, 2007

• Intro to Spreadsheets
• Org. Data / Present Info.
• Spreadsheet Automation
• Review Ass 2 Reqs
• -- No Lecture --

• Useful SS Functions
• Worksheets Charts
• Macros Printing
• Assignment 2 Support
• Assignment 2 Support

Assignment 2 Deadline Fri, 15 Dec, 2007
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Data, Information Knowledge

• A clear understanding of difference between Data,
  Information Knowledge is crucial if you are to
  be able to understand/develop an Information
  System.
• Especially one that requires computer-based
  support.
• What is Data?
• A series of observations, measurements, or facts
  (transactions/events).
• Collins Concise English Dictionary
• E.g.
• 12
• Ian
• Sunny

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Data ? Information

• What is Information?
• data that have been transformed into a
  meaningful and useful form for people.
• data placed in a context and given value by
  specific end-users.

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Information Attributes

• Information (or do I mean data?) can be thought
  of as having three dimensions
• Time
• Timeliness, Currency, Frequency, etc.
• Content
• Accuracy, Relevance, Completeness, etc.
• Form
• Clarity, Detail, Order, Presentation, etc.
• Information is often affected by more than one of
  the above.

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What is this? - 120507

• Why did you say that?
• People tend to look for a familiar structure
  place data in a familiar context, e.g.
• 120507 DD/MM/YY 12/05/07 12 May 2007
• We use structure context to transform the data
  we receive into information.
• However
• Different people may see a different structure
  and/or might apply a different context to the
  data they receive
• What if your context were international?
• What if you were me?

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So?

• Information Data Structure Context
• The same data can give different information if a
  different structure and/or a different context is
  applied.
• Try these
• SSMTW_ what letter is next?
• SDLMM_ what letter is next?

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Knowledge

• What is Knowledge?
• That which is gained by the possession of
  information.
• Enabling people to
• have a better understanding of a situation
• And/Or
• make better decisions.

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An Information Systems Approach

• Information Systems ? Computer Systems
• Need to take a holistic view of
• Organisation, People, and Technology.

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Summary

• Data ? Information
• Data are simply facts relating to things like
  events, transactions, etc.
• Information
• is a people thing, because only they can
  determine the structure context with which data
  might become information.
• Knowledge
• is gained by the possession of information that
  enables people to have a better understanding
  of a situation and/or make better decisions.

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Always Remember This!
Data is only potential information information
is potential knowledge and knowledge is
potential competitive advantage if it is used in
a creative, flexible, and above all, accurate
way. Adrian M (1990) Lets Get Serious. Focus
News. Winter.
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You can not afford to miss anything!

• Remember
• ALL of your Year 2 marks count towards your final
  Degree Classification.
• DO NOT leave Assignments to the last minute
• Quite a few of last years students failed
  Assignment 1 for the IS Module.
• DO NOT miss any Lecture or Workshop sessions.
• There are Lectures Workshops for the IS Module
  almost EVERY WEEK.
• The first IS Workshop session takes place
  immediately after this Lecture, i.e.
• 1015 to 1205, in IT4.

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This Weeks Workshop

• Explores the way in which roles within a business
  (i.e. which Department you work for) impact upon
  data sharing, data use and data maintenance
  responsibilities.
• Read the Case Study Form a Team
• i.e. the Case Study for Assignments 1 2
• each team will represent ONE of six Departments.
• Complete a Data Use Statement
• by reference to a limited set of data, from your
  chosen Departments perspective.
• Compare Data Use Statements
• to see if the other Departments agree with your
  teams analysis.

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Web-site Development

• The WSD Lectures (which take place every other
  week) will begin THIS WEEK i.e.
• 1215 to 105, on Friday, in CG3
• The WSD Workshops (which also take place every
  other week) will begin NEXT WEEK
• 215 to 405, on Friday, in IT2
• Please Note
• The WSD Module may be cancelled, unless a few
  more students sign up for it
• so, start looking for an alternative.