Systems Architecture, Fifth Edition

1
SCSC 311 Information Systems hardware and
software
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Chapter Objectives

• Answer three questions in chapter 1
• Why is technological knowledge important for
  information systems professionals?
• What kind of jobs will IS professionals take ?
• How to locate information sources?

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Rapid Technology Developments

• Moore's Law is the empirical observation
• the number of transistors on an integrated
  circuit (for minimum component cost) doubles
• every 24 months.
• -- Gordon Moore, 1965

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Computing Devices are Everywhere

• Increasingly complex and powerful
• And yet easier to use

5
Q1Why is technological knowledge important for
information systems professionals?
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Q1 Why is technological knowledge important for
information systems professionals?

• Ans IS professional is responsible of
• Acquiring and Configuring Technological Devices
• Managing Computer Resources
• Developing Information System

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1. Acquiring and Configuring Technological Devices

• Classroom discussion
• What type of knowledge do you need to know about
  a computer system to purchase a computer for your
  home use?
• What type of knowledge do you need to know about
  a computer system to purchase one for business
  use?
• Note that It requires more knowledge acquiring
  and configuring devices than using devices.
• Challenges of an IS professional
• Computer acquisition
• Upgrading
• Configuration choices

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2. Managing Computer Resources

• Requires attention to compatibility and future
  trends
• Compatibility ensure that each new system
  operates correctly and operates smoothly with
  other systems
• Future trends ensure that software/hardware
  acquisitions provide a good foundation for
  current and future systems

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3. Developing Information Systems

• Systems development life cycle (SDLC) a series
  of steps of developing an IS
• Unified Process (UP) is a modern SDLC, includes
• Business Modeling and Requirements disciplines
• Design discipline
• Implementation and Testing disciplines
• Deployment discipline

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Unified Process
Iteration Under the UP model, an IS is built in
a series of 4-6 week repeated steps.
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Business Modeling Requirements Disciplines

• Purpose to understand the system environment and
  tasks the system must perform
• Technical knowledge required to
• Assess degree to which users needs are being met
• Estimate resources required to address unmet needs

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Design Discipline

• Purpose to determine structure of a specific
  information system that fulfills system
  requirements (information architecture)
• Technical knowledge required to
• Select hardware and network components
• Evaluate compatibility

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Architectural vs. Detailed

• Architectural design
• Select and describe exact configuration
• Detailed design
• Narrower in scope
• Constrained by information architecture

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Specific Systems Design Tasks
Selection of Examples
Computer hardware Processing, storage, I/O, and network components
Network hardware Transmission lines, routers, firewalls
Software OS, database management system, network services, network protocols, security protocols and software
Application program development tools Programming languages, component libraries, integrated development environments
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Implementation and Testing Disciplines

• Purpose of implementation to build, acquire, and
  integrate application software components
• Purpose of testing to verify correct functioning
  of infrastructure and application software
  components and ensure they satisfy system
  requirements

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Deployment Discipline

• Purpose to install and configure infrastructure
  and application software components and bring
  them into operation
• Technical knowledge required to
• Format storage devices
• Set up system security
• Install and configure network services
• Establish accounting and auditing controls

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Systems Evaluation and Maintenance

• Systems Evaluation and Maintenance accounts for
  much of long range system cost
• Although it is not a part of UP model
• Technical knowledge required to
• Address maintenance changes
• Classify a proposed change as major or minor
• Modify an existing system

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• Q2
• What kind of jobs will IS professionals take ?

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Q2 What kind of jobs will IS professionals take
?

• Job classification of IS professionals
• Hardware personnel
• Systems programmer
• Application developer
• Systems manager
• Computer operations manager
• Network administrator
• Database administrator
• Chief information officer
• Computer hardware and software knowledge are
  essential to each group, with different emphasis.

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Hardware Personnel (self-study)

• Design, install, and maintain hardware
• Education
• Technical degree and/or vendor-specific training
  (lower level)
• Degree in computer science or computer
  engineering (higher level)
• Require extensive knowledge of computer hardware
  (processing, data storage, input/output, and
  networking devices)

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Systems Programmers (self-study)

• Develop system software (operating systems,
  compilers, database management systems, network
  security monitors)
• Perform hardware troubleshooting and software
  installation and configuration
• Have degrees in computer science or computer
  engineering
• Need in-depth knowledge of system software,
  computer hardware, and networks

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Application Developers (self-study)

• Contribute to different part of SDLC
• Systems analyst (business modeling and
  requirements)
• Systems designer (design discipline, sometimes
  deployment)
• Application programmer (builds and tests
  software)
• Need in-depth hardware and system software
  knowledge

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Systems Managers (self-study)

• Common job titles
• Computer operations manager
• Network administrator
• Database administrator
• Chief information officer

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Computer Operations Manager (self-study)

• Oversees operation of a large informationprocessi
  ng facility (scheduling, staffing, security,
  system backups, maintenance, upgrades)
• Knowledge requirements
• Broad base of technical knowledge to understand
  organizations information systems and
  infrastructure
• Capability of understanding advice of technical
  staff

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Network Administrator (self-study)

• Responsible for network infrastructure
• Requires technical expertise in computer
  hardware, telecommunications, and system software
• Emphasis on network and data communication
  technology
• Responsible for local area network
• Operates and maintains network
• Installs and maintains end-user software
• Installs and configures hardware
• Trains users
• Assists management in selecting and acquiring
  software and hardware

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Database Administrator (self-study)

• Responsible for management of large collections
  of data
• Requires technical expertise and ability to help
  the organization exploit its data resources

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Chief Information Officer (self-study)

• Responsibilities
• Organizations computers, networks, software, and
  data
• Strategic planning
• Effective use of information and computing
  technology
• Requirements
• Broad base of technical knowledge to interact
  effectively with all technical specialists
• Vision of how technology is changing and how best
  to respond to changes to support organizational
  objectives

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• Q3
• How to locate information sources?

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Q3 How to locate information sources?

• Ans
• Periodical literature (most important)
• Web sites
• Training courses offered by hardware and software
  vendors
• Professional societies IEEE, ACM, etc.

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Periodical Literature

• Examples of available literature
• IEEE Journals and magazines
• ACM Journals and magazines
• Computerworld, Computer,
• Web-based periodicals
• Provide content from back issues, additional
  content, a search engine, other links

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Web Sites

• Technology-Oriented Web Sites
• Provide a common interface to publication
  families
• Enable publisher to provide additional content
  and services
• Can generate revenue in several ways
• May have biased content
• Vendor and Manufacturer Web Sites
• Primarily marketing and customer support tools
• Provide current detailed technical product
  information
• Often biased in favor of vendors products

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Summary

• Technical knowledge of computers are essential to
• IS professionals
• Required to develop information systems
• Required to manage an organizations information
  systems and infrastructure (compatibility, future
  trends)
• Knowledge must be constantly updated