Module 1 | Introduction to Information Management

Module 1 | Introduction to Information Management

I. PROGRAM OUTCOMES:
In pursuance of the above-stated mission, the objectives of the BSIT and ACT are as
follows:
1. Apply knowledge of computing, theories, fundamentals, models, mathematics and science
appropriate to the discipline.
2. Analyze a problem, identify and define the need and user requirements appropriate to its
solution.
3. Design, implement and evaluate a computer-based system, process, component or
program to meet desired needs.
4. Develop ideas and solutions with creativity and innovation with appropriate considerations
to ethics, cultural, and environment factors.
5. Analyze the local and global impact of technology on individuals, organizations and
society.
6. Function effectively as a member or leader of a development team recognizing the
different roles within a team to accomplish a common goal.
7. Assist in the creation of an effective project plan.
8. Recognize the legal, social, ethical and professional issues involved in the utilization of
computer technology and be guided by the adoption of appropriate professional, ethical
and legal practices.
9. Recognize the fast-paced demands of industry allowing him or her to formulate personal
goals aligned to organizational goals in order to determine plans of action to improve own
performance, capability and self. Such goals allow the student to self-assess him/himself
to determine his development needs.
10. Ability to effectively communicate and present the designed solutions with a range of
audiences both in oral and in writing.
11. Apply current and appropriate techniques, skills and tools necessary for the IT profession.

II. COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course provides a broad overview of the issues managers face in the selection, use,
and management of information technology (IT). Increasingly, IT is being used as a tool to
implement business strategies and gain competitive advantage, not merely to support
business operations. Using a case study approach, topics include information technology and
strategy, information technology and organization, and information technology assets
management.

The course takes a management rather than a technical approach to the material presented.
As such, it should be of use to students of general management interested in information
technology and to students of information technology interested in management.

III. COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES

Module 1 | Introduction to Information Management

At the end of the course, the students must have:

1. explain the importance of information within an organization and how ICTs help to manage
information;
2. demonstrate the competition usage of the computer and e-services, Office Applications, the
Internet and Mobile Devices which include Tablets and Smart Phones (Android, Apple, etc.);
3. describe the basic ICT Architecture and explain how governance of ICTs can be achieved
throughout the various business functions of the organization;
4. describe various threats to organizations including measures that can be used to minimize
these threats.

Module 1 – INFORMATION MANAGEMENT

Introduction:
This module will allow you understand the used for decision-making, and for the
coordination, control, analysis, and visualization of information in an organization.

The module is divided into 2 lessons, namely:

➢ Lesson 1: Introduction to Management Information Systems introduce you to the
concept of MIS and the impact it has on business organizations
➢ Lesson 2: MIS Basics: Hardware, Software, Networking, and Security - introduce
the hardware component of technology, followed by software. The unit finishes with a
discussion of networking as a component of technology.

Module Learning Outcomes:

In this module, you should be able to:
1. identify the meaning of information management and system organization;
2. elucidate the computer visualization;
3. categorize the different controls an organization.

Lesson 1: Introducing Information Management System

SPECIFIC LEARNING OUTCOMES:

In this lesson, you are expected to:
➢ define what an information system is by identifying its major components;
➢ describe the basic history of information systems; and
➢ describe what innovation is and how technology contributes to it.

PRE-ASSESSMENT:
Module 1 | Introduction to Information Management

Instruction: Read, analyze and answer each of the questions below by choosing the letter of the
MOST APPROPRIATE answer.
1. People used to be the most important asset for a company. But in the information age,
companies need people with:
A. Data
B. Information
C. Knowledge
D. Computers
2. Facts about online banking and telecommuting include all these except: Discuss
A. They heavily depend on using communications technologies
B. They benefit from the ability to share information between companies and
customers
C. They create anti-social tendencies, which go hand in hand with more air
pollution
D. They are possible due to the expansion of decentralized computing
3. Processed ______________________ is also called ______________, while the
most raw elements of facts and figures are known as ______________.
A. Data; Knowledge; Information
B. Information; Data; Knowledge
C. Information; Knowledge; Data
D. Knowledge; Data; Information
4. The fact that you are able to receive a video clip sent by your friend while having your
lecture in class, through your hand phone, shows the __________________ dimensions
of information.
A. Time and form
B. Form and time
C. Location and form
D. Personal and organizational
5. Which of the following represents the flow of information between the HR manager
and the Marketing manager?
A. Upward flow
B. Downward flow
C. Horizontal flow
D. Outward flow
6. An information-literate knowledge worker will be able to ______________, while a
technology-literate knowledge worker will always be able to _______________.
Discuss
A. Define what information they need; define what technology he/she needs
B. Know how and where to obtain that information; create new technology when
required
C. Understand information before they even receive it; understand how
technology affects him/her
Module 1 | Introduction to Information Management

D. Act appropriately based on the information; know how and when to use
technology
7. Decentralized computing occurs when computing power is distributed to functional
business areas and knowledge worker desktops. Decentralized computing is made
possible by:
A. Inexpensive knowledge workers
B. Inexpensive PCs
C. Decreasing network speeds
D. Increasing costs of electricity
8. Which of the following items is the primary tool used by organizations to support
shared information?
A. PDA
B. Database
C. Application
D. None of the above
9. A computer-based tool that people use to work with information and support the
information and information-processing needs of an organization is:
A. Management Information Systems
B. Computer Security
C. Collaboration System
D. Information Technology
10. What is power in the information age?
A. Data
B. Knowledge
C. Computer
D. None of the above

I. Lesson Map:

Basic Terms

MIS
MIS
MIS Roles
Components

This map shows the overview of basic terms, MIS role and
management informationCORE CONTENTS
components.
Module 1 | Introduction to Information Management

ENGAGE: ENGAGE: Knowing HCI and UX

Activity 1:
INSTRUCTION: Briefly answer the question below.
Illustrate or draw your “understanding” of a information management
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________

EXPLORE: EXPLORE:
Introduction
Information management (IM) concerns a cycle of organizational activity: the acquisition
of information from one or more sources, the custodianship and the distribution of that information
to those who need it, and its ultimate disposition through archiving or deletion.

This cycle of information organisation involves a variety of stakeholders, including those

who are responsible for assuring the quality, accessibility and utility of acquired information;
those who are responsible for its safe storage and disposal; and those who need it for decision
making. Stakeholders might have rights to originate, change, distribute or delete information
according to organisational information management policies.

Information management embraces all the generic concepts of management, including

the planning, organizing, structuring, processing, controlling, evaluation and reporting of
information activities, all of which is needed in order to meet the needs of those with organisational
roles or functions that depend on information. These generic concepts allow the information to be
presented to the audience or the correct group of people. After individuals are able to put that
information to use, it then gains more value.

Information management is closely related to, and overlaps with, the management
of data, systems, technology, processes and – where the availability of information is critical to
organisational success – strategy. This broad view of the realm of information management
contrasts with the earlier, more traditional view, that the life cycle of managing information is an
operational matter that requires specific procedures, organisational capabilities and standards
that deal with information as a product or a service.
Module 1 | Introduction to Information Management

Theoretical background
Behavioral and organizational theories
It is commonly believed that good information management is crucial to the smooth
working of organisations, and although there is no commonly accepted theory of information
management per se, behavioural and organisational theories help. Following the behavioural
science theory of management, mainly developed at Carnegie Mellon University and prominently
supported by March and Simon,[8] most of what goes on in modern organizations is actually
information handling and decision making. One crucial factor in information handling and decision
making is an individual's ability to process information and to make decisions under limitations
that might derive from the context: a person's age, the situational complexity, or a lack of requisite
quality in the information that is at hand – all of which is exacerbated by the rapid advance of
technology and the new kinds of system that it enables, especially as the social web emerges as
a phenomenon that business cannot ignore. And yet, well before there was any general
recognition of the importance of information management in organisations, March and
Simon [8] argued that organizations have to be considered as cooperative systems, with a high
level of information processing and a vast need for decision making at various levels. Instead of
[9]
using the model of the "economic man", as advocated in classical theory they proposed
"administrative man" as an alternative, based on their argumentation about the cognitive limits of
rationality. Additionally they proposed the notion of satisficing, which entails searching through
the available alternatives until an acceptability threshold is met - another idea that still has
currency.[10]

Economic theory
In addition to the organisational factors mentioned by March and Simon, there are other
issues that stem from economic and environmental dynamics. There is the cost of collecting and
evaluating the information needed to take a decision, including the time and effort required.
The transaction cost associated with information processes can be high. In particular, established
organizational rules and procedures can prevent the taking of the most appropriate decision,
leading to sub-optimum outcomes. This is an issue that has been presented as a major problem
with bureaucratic organizations that lose the economies of strategic change because of
entrenched attitudes.

Strategic information management

Background
According to the Carnegie Mellon School an organization's ability to process information
is at the core of organizational and managerial competency, and an organization's strategies must
[15]
be designed to improve information processing capability and as information systems that
provide that capability became formalised and automated, competencies were severely tested at
many levels. It was recognised that organisations needed to be able to learn and adapt in ways
[17]
that were never so evident before and academics began to organise and publish definitive
works concerning the strategic management of information, and information
Module 1 | Introduction to Information Management

systems.[4][18] Concurrently, the ideas of business process management [19] and knowledge
management [20] although much of the optimistic early thinking about business process
redesign has since been discredited in the information management literature. [21] In the strategic
studies field, it is considered of the highest priority the understanding of the information
environment, conceived as the aggregate of individuals, organizations, and systems that collect,
process, disseminate, or act on information. This environment consists of three interrelated
dimensions which continuously interact with individuals, organizations, and systems. These
dimensions are the physical, informational, and cognitive.[22]

Aligning technology and business strategy with information management

Venkatraman has provided a simple view of the requisite capabilities of an organisation
that wants to manage information well – the DIKAR model (see above). He also worked with
others to understand how technology and business strategies could be appropriately aligned in
order to identify specific capabilities that are needed.[23] This work was paralleled by other writers
in the world of consulting,[24] practice [25] and academia.[26]

A contemporary portfolio model for information

Bytheway has collected and organised basic tools and techniques for information
management in a single volume.[7] At the heart of his view of information management is a
portfolio model that takes account of the surging interest in external sources of information and
the need to organise un-structured information external so as to make it useful (see the figure).

This portfolio model organizes issues of internal and external sourcing and management
of information, that may be either structured or unstructured.

Such an information portfolio as this shows how information can be gathered and usefully
organised, in four stages:
Stage 1: Taking advantage of public information: recognise and adopt well-structured external
schemes of reference data, such as post codes, weather data, GPS positioning data and travel
timetables, exemplified in the personal computing press.[27]
Stage 2: Tagging the noise on the world wide web: use existing schemes such as post
codes and GPS data or more typically by adding “tags”, or construct a formal ontology that
provides structure. Shirky provides an overview of these two approaches. [28]
Stage 3: Sifting and analysing: in the wider world the generalised ontologies that are under
development extend to hundreds of entities and hundreds of relations between them and provide
the means to elicit meaning from large volumes of data. Structured data in databases works best
when that structure reflects a higher-level information model – an ontology, or an entity-
relationship model.
Stage 4: Structuring and archiving: with the large volume of data available from sources such as
the social web and from the miniature telemetry systems used in personal health management,
new ways to archive and then trawl data for meaningful information. Map-reduce methods,
originating from functional programming, are a more recent way of eliciting information from large
Module 1 | Introduction to Information Management

archival datasets that is becoming interesting to regular businesses that have very large data
resources to work with, but it requires advanced multi-processor resources.[30]

Competencies to manage information well

The Information Management Body of Knowledge was made available on the world wide
web in 2004 [31] and sets out to show that the required management competencies to derive real
benefits from an investment in information are complex and multi-layered. The framework model
that is the basis for understanding competencies comprises six “knowledge” areas and four
“process” areas:

This framework is the basis of organizing the "Information Management Body of

Knowledge" first made available in 2004. This version is adapted by the addition of "Business
information" in 2014.

The information management knowledge areas

The IMBOK is based on the argument that there are six areas of required management
competency, two of which (“business process management” and “business information
management”) are very closely related.
• Information technology: The pace of change of technology and the pressure to constantly
acquire the newest technological products can undermine the stability of
the infrastructure that supports systems, and thereby optimizes business processes and
delivers benefits. It is necessary to manage the “supply side” and recognize that technology
is, increasingly, becoming a commodity.
• Information system: While historically information systems were developed in-house, over the
years it has become possible to acquire most of the software systems that an organization
needs from the software package industry. However, there is still the potential for competitive
advantage from the implementation of new systems ideas that deliver to the strategic
intentions of organizations.
• Business processes and Business information: Information systems are applied to business
processes in order to improve them, and they bring data to the business that becomes useful
as business information. Business process management is still seen as a relatively new idea
because it is not universally adopted, and it has been difficult in many cases;
business information management is even more of a challenge.[34][35]
• Business benefit: What are the benefits that we are seeking? It is necessary not only to be
brutally honest about what can be achieved, but also to ensure the active management and
assessment of benefit delivery. Since the emergence and popularization of the Balanced
scorecard [36] there has been huge interest in business performance management but not
much serious effort has been made to relate business performance management to the
benefits of information technology investments and the introduction of new information
systems until the turn of the millennium.[26]
• Business strategy: Although a long way from the workaday issues of managing information in
organizations, strategy in most organizations simply has to be informed by information
Module 1 | Introduction to Information Management

technology and information systems opportunities, whether to address poor performance or

to improve differentiation and competitiveness. Strategic analysis tools such as the value
chain and critical success factor analysis are directly dependent on proper attention to the
information that is (or could be) managed [4]

The information management processes

Even with full capability and competency within the six knowledge areas, it is argued that
things can still go wrong. The problem lies in the migration of ideas and information management
value from one area of competency to another. Summarizing what Bytheway explains in some
detail (and supported by selected secondary references):[37]
• Projects: Information technology is without value until it is engineered into information systems
that meet the needs of the business by means of good project management.[38]
• Business change: The best information systems succeed in delivering benefits through the
achievement of change within the business systems, but people do not appreciate change
that makes new demands upon their skills in the ways that new information systems often do.
Contrary to common expectations, there is some evidence that the public sector has
succeeded with information technology induced business change.[39]
• Business operations: With new systems in place, with business processes and business
information improved, and with staff finally ready and able to work with new processes, then
the business can get to work, even when new systems extend far beyond the boundaries of
a single business.
• Performance management: Investments are no longer solely about financial results, financial
success must be balanced with internal efficiency, customer satisfaction, and
with organizational learning and development.

WHAT IS DATA?

Tech Target defines data as “information that has been translated into a form that is
efficient for movement or processing. Relative to today’s computers and transmission media, data
is information converted into binary digital form. It is acceptable for data to be used as a singular
subject or a plural subject. Raw data is a term used to describe data in its most basic digital
format.”
Module 1 | Introduction to Information Management

WHAT IS INFORMATION?

Wikipedia defines information as “that which informs — the answer to a question of some
kind. It is thus related to data and knowledge, as data represents values attributed to parameters,
and knowledge signifies understanding of real things or abstract concepts.”
Data in its most basic, standalone digital format does not provide information. But when it’s
combined with other data or is manipulated in some way, that’s when the organization derives
value from the information — which then leads to knowledge.

INFORMATION MANAGEMENT VS. DATA MANAGEMENT

Information Management is an organizational program that manages the people,

processes and technology that provide control over the structure, processing, delivery and usage
of information required for management and business intelligence purposes.

Information, as we know it today, includes both electronic and physical information. The
organizational structure must be capable of managing this information throughout its life cycle —
regardless of source or format (data, paper documents, electronic documents, audio, video, etc.)
for delivery through multiple channels that may include mobile phones and online.

Data Management is a subset of Information Management. It comprises all disciplines

related to managing data as a valuable, organizational resource. Specifically, it’s the process of
creating, obtaining, transforming, sharing, protecting, documenting and preserving data.

The official definition provided by DAMA International, the professional organization for
those in our data management profession, is: “Data Management is the development, execution
and supervision of plans, policies, programs and practices that control, protect and enhance the
value of data and information assets throughout their life cycles.”

Data Management includes everything from file-naming conventions to policies and

practices on creating metadata and documentation for the long-term. Data Management ensures
data that underlies an organization is available, accurate, complete and secure. Additionally, it
addresses the development and execution of architectures, policies, practices and procedures
that manage the full data life cycle.

An information system (IS) is a formal, sociotechnical, organizational system designed to

collect, process, store, and distribute information.[1] In a sociotechnical perspective, information
systems are composed by four components: task, people, structure (or roles), and
technology.[2] Information systems can be defined as an integration of components for collection,
storage and processing of data of which the data is used to provide information, contribute to
knowledge as well as digital products.[3]
Module 1 | Introduction to Information Management

A computer information system is a system composed of people and computers that

processes or interprets information.[4][5][6][7] The term is also sometimes used to simply refer to
a computer system with software installed.

Information Systems is an academic study of systems with a specific reference to

information and the complementary networks of hardware and software that people and
organizations use to collect, filter, process, create and also distribute data. An emphasis is placed
on an information system having a definitive boundary, users, processors, storage, inputs, outputs
and the aforementioned communication networks.[8]

In many organizations, the department or unit responsible for information systems

and data processing is known as "Information Services".[9][10][11][12]

Any specific information system aims to support operations, management and decision-
making.[13][14] An information system is the information and communication technology (ICT) that
an organization uses, and also the way in which people interact with this technology in support of
business processes.[15]

Some authors make a clear distinction between information systems, computer systems,
and business processes. Information systems typically include an ICT component but are not
purely concerned with ICT, focusing instead on the end-use of information technology.
Information systems are also different from business processes. Information systems help to
control the performance of business processes.[16]

Alter[17][18] argues for advantages of viewing an information system as a special type

of work system. A work system is a system in which humans or machines perform processes and
activities using resources to produce specific products or services for customers. An information
system is a work system whose activities are devoted to capturing, transmitting, storing, retrieving,
manipulating and displaying information.[19]

As such, information systems inter-relate with data systems on the one hand and activity
systems on the other.[20] An information system is a form of communication system in which data
represent and are processed as a form of social memory. An information system can also be
considered a semi-formal language which supports human decision making and action.

The six components that must come together in order to produce an information system
are:
1. Hardware: The term hardware refers to machinery and equipment. In a modern
information system, this category includes the computer itself and all of its support
equipment. The support equipment includes input and output devices, storage devices
and communications devices. In pre-computer information systems, the hardware might
include ledger books and ink.
Module 1 | Introduction to Information Management

2. Software: The term software refers to computer programs and the manuals (if any) that
support them. Computer programs are machine-readable instructions that direct the
circuitry within the hardware parts of the system to function in ways that produce useful
information from data. Programs are generally stored on some input/output medium,
often a disk or tape. The "software" for pre-computer information systems included how
the hardware was prepared for use (e.g., column headings in the ledger book) and
instructions for using them (the guidebook for a card catalog).
3. Data: Data are facts that are used by systems to produce useful information. In modern
information systems, data are generally stored in machine-readable form on disk or tape
until the computer needs them. In pre-computer information systems, the data are
generally stored in human-readable form.
4. Procedures: Procedures are the policies that govern the operation of an information
system. "Procedures are to people what software is to hardware" is a common analogy
that is used to illustrate the role of procedures in a system.
5. People: Every system needs people if it is to be useful. Often the most overlooked
element of the system is the people, probably the component that most influence the
success or failure of information systems. This includes "not only the users, but those
who operate and service the computers, those who maintain the data, and those who
support the network of computers."[25]
6. Feedback: it is another component of the IS, that defines that an IS may be provided
with feedback (Although this component isn't necessary to function).

Data is the bridge between hardware and people. This means that the data we collect is
only data until we involve people. At that point, data is now information.

Types of information system

The "classic" view of Information systems found in textbooks[26] in the 1980s was a
pyramid of systems that reflected the hierarchy of the organization, usually transaction processing
systems at the bottom of the pyramid, followed by management information systems, decision
Module 1 | Introduction to Information Management

support systems, and ending with executive information systems at the top. Although the pyramid
model remains useful since it was first formulated, a number of new technologies have been
developed and new categories of information systems have emerged, some of which no longer
fit easily into the original pyramid model.

Some examples of such systems are:

• decision support system
• social information systems
• process control system
• management information system
• intelligent system
• enterprise systems
• data warehouses
• enterprise resource planning
• computing platform
• expert systems
• search engines
• geographic information system
• global information system
• multimedia information system
• office automation.

A computer(-based) information system is essentially an IS using computer technology

to carry out some or all of its planned tasks. The basic components of computer-based
information systems are:
• Hardware- these are the devices like the monitor, processor, printer, and keyboard, all of
which work together to accept, process, show data, and information.
• Software- are the programs that allow the hardware to process the data.
• Databases- are the gathering of associated files or tables containing related data.
• Networks- are a connecting system that allows diverse computers to distribute resources.
• Procedures- are the commands for combining the components above to process information
and produce the preferred output.

The first four components (hardware, software, database, and network) make up what is
known as the information technology platform. Information technology workers could then use
these components to create information systems that watch over safety measures, risk and the
management of data. These actions are known as information technology services. [27]

Certain information systems support parts of organizations, others support entire

organizations, and still others, support groups of organizations. Recall that each department or
functional area within an organization has its own collection of application programs or information
systems. These functional area information systems (FAIS) are supporting pillars for more general
Module 1 | Introduction to Information Management

IS namely, business intelligence systems and dashboards. As the name suggests, each FAIS
supports a particular function within the organization, e.g.: accounting IS, finance IS, production-
operation management (POM) IS, marketing IS, and human resources IS. In finance and
accounting, managers use IT systems to forecast revenues and business activity, to determine
the best sources and uses of funds, and to perform audits to ensure that the organization is
fundamentally sound and that all financial reports and documents are accurate. Other types of
organizational information systems are FAIS, Transaction processing systems, enterprise
resource planning, office automation system, management information system, decision support
system, expert system, executive dashboard, supply chain management system, and electronic
commerce system. Dashboards are a special form of IS that support all managers of the
organization. They provide rapid access to timely information and direct access to structured
information in the form of reports. Expert systems attempt to duplicate the work of human experts
by applying reasoning capabilities, knowledge, and expertise within a specific domain.

Information System Development

Information technology departments in larger organizations tend to strongly influence the
development, use, and application of information technology in the business. A series of
methodologies and processes can be used to develop and use an information system. Many
developers use a systems engineering approach such as the system development life
cycle (SDLC), to systematically develop an information system in stages. The stages of the
system development lifecycle are planning, system analysis, and requirements, system design,
development, integration and testing, implementation and operations, and maintenance. Recent
research aims at enabling and measuring[29] the ongoing, collective development of such systems
within an organization by the entirety of human actors themselves. An information system can be
developed in house (within the organization) or outsourced. This can be accomplished by
outsourcing certain components or the entire system.[30] A specific case is the geographical
distribution of the development team (offshoring, global information system).

A computer-based information system, following a definition of Langefors,[31] is a

technologically implemented medium for:
• recording, storing, and disseminating linguistic expressions,
• as well as for drawing conclusions from such expressions.

Geographic information systems, land information systems, and disaster information

systems are examples of emerging information systems, but they can be broadly considered as
spatial information systems. System development is done in stages which include:
• Problem recognition and specification
• Information gathering
• Requirements specification for the new system
• System design
• System construction
• System implementation
Module 1 | Introduction to Information Management

• Review and maintenance.

As an academic discipline
The field of study called information systems encompasses a variety of topics including
systems analysis and design, computer networking, information security, database management,
and decision support systems. Information management deals with the practical and theoretical
problems of collecting and analysing information in a business function area including business
productivity tools, applications programming and implementation, electronic commerce, digital
media production, data mining, and decision support. Communications and networking deals with
telecommunication technologies. Information systems bridges business and computer
science using the theoretical foundations of information and computation to study various
business models and related algorithmic processes [33] on building the IT systems [34][35]
within a
computer science discipline.[36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48] Computer information
system(s) (CIS) is a field studying computers and algorithmic processes, including their principles,
their software and hardware designs, their applications, and their impact on
[49][50][51] [52]
society, whereas IS emphasizes functionality over design.

Several IS scholars have debated the nature and foundations of Information Systems
which have its roots in other reference disciplines such as Computer
Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Management Science, Cybernetics, and
others.[53][54][55][56] Information systems also can be defined as a collection of hardware, software,
data, people, and procedures that work together to produce quality information.

Related terms
Information Systems relationship to Information Technology, Computer
Science, Information Science, and Business.

Similar to computer science, other disciplines can be seen as both related and foundation
disciplines of IS. The domain of study of IS involves the study of theories and practices related to
the social and technological phenomena, which determine the development, use, and effects of
information systems in organizations and society.[57] But, while there may be considerable overlap
of the disciplines at the boundaries, the disciplines are still differentiated by the focus, purpose,
and orientation of their activities.[58]

In a broad scope, the term Information Systems is a scientific field of study that addresses
the range of strategic, managerial, and operational activities involved in the gathering, processing,
storing, distributing, and use of information and its associated technologies in society and
organizations.[58] The term information systems is also used to describe an organizational function
that applies IS knowledge in the industry, government agencies, and not-for-profit
organizations.[58] Information Systems often refers to the interaction between algorithmic
processes and technology. This interaction can occur within or across organizational boundaries.
An information system is a technology an organization uses and also the way in which the
Module 1 | Introduction to Information Management

organizations interact with the technology and the way in which the technology works with the
organization's business processes. Information systems are distinct from information
technology (IT) in that an information system has an information technology component that
interacts with the processes' components.

One problem with that approach is that it prevents the IS field from being interested in
non-organizational use of ICT, such as in social networking, computer gaming, mobile personal
usage, etc. A different way of differentiating the IS field from its neighbours is to ask, "Which
aspects of reality are most meaningful in the IS field and other fields?" [59] This approach, based
on philosophy, helps to define not just the focus, purpose, and orientation, but also the dignity,
destiny and, responsibility of the field among other fields.[60]

Career pathways
Information Systems workers enter a number of different careers:
• Information System Strategy
• Management Information Systems – A management information system (MIS) is an
information system used for decision-making, and for the coordination, control, analysis, and
visualization of information in an organization.
• Project Management – Project management is the practice of initiating, planning, executing,
controlling, and closing the work of a team to achieve specific goals and meet specific success
criteria at the specified time.
• Enterprise Architecture – A well-defined practice for conducting enterprise analysis, design,
planning, and implementation, using a comprehensive approach at all times, for the
successful development and execution of strategy.
• IS Development
• IS Organization
• IS Consulting
• IS Security
• IS Auditor

There is a wide variety of career paths in the information systems discipline. "Workers with
specialized technical knowledge and strong communications skills will have the best prospects.
Workers with management skills and an understanding of business practices and principles will
have excellent opportunities, as companies are increasingly looking to technology to drive their
revenue."[61]
Information technology is important to the operation of contemporary businesses, it offers
many employment opportunities. The information systems field includes the people in
organizations who design and build information systems, the people who use those systems, and
the people responsible for managing those systems. The demand for traditional IT staff such as
programmers, business analysts, systems analysts, and designer is significant. Many well-paid
jobs exist in areas of Information technology. At the top of the list is the chief information officer
(CIO).
Module 1 | Introduction to Information Management

The CIO is the executive who is in charge of the IS function. In most organizations, the
CIO works with the chief executive officer (CEO), the chief financial officer (CFO), and other senior
executives. Therefore, he or she actively participates in the organization's strategic planning
process.

Research
Information systems research is generally interdisciplinary concerned with the study of the
effects of information systems on the behaviour of individuals, groups, and organizations. Hevner
et al. (2004) categorized research in IS into two scientific paradigms including behavioural
science which is to develop and verify theories that explain or predict human or organizational
behavior and design science which extends the boundaries of human and organizational
capabilities by creating new and innovative artifacts.

Salvatore March and Gerald Smith [65] proposed a framework for researching different
aspects of Information Technology including outputs of the research (research outputs) and
activities to carry out this research (research activities). They identified research outputs as
follows:
1. Constructs which are concepts that form the vocabulary of a domain. They constitute a
conceptualization used to describe problems within the domain and to specify their
solutions.
2. A model which is a set of propositions or statements expressing relationships among
constructs.
3. A method which is a set of steps (an algorithm or guideline) used to perform a task.
Methods are based on a set of underlying constructs and a representation (model) of the
solution space.
4. An instantiation is the realization of an artefact in its environment.

Also research activities including:

1. Build an artifact to perform a specific task.
2. Evaluate the artifact to determine if any progress has been achieved.
3. Given an artifact whose performance has been evaluated, it is important to determine why
and how the artifact worked or did not work within its environment.
Therefore, theorize and justify theories about IT artifact’s.

EXPLAIN:
Activity 2:
INSTRUCTIONS: Answer the following questions below.
1. Give each meaning of six components in information management
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Module 1 | Introduction to Information Management

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2. How would you manage a wireless network in a building
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EXTEND:)
Activity 3:
INSTRUCTIONS:
Direction: Provide a photo of Components of MIS (Management Information System)

Activity 4:
INSTRUCTIONS: Create an organizational chart for the MIS management roles

EVALUATE: EVALUATE: (Evaluate Title)

Activity 5:
INSTRUCTIONS: Briefly answer the question below.
1. What do you prefer to choose IT manager of IT analyst
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Module 1 | Introduction to Information Management

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2. Why do you want to improve in IT field?
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3. What do you want to be an IT manager

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TOPIC SUMMARY
In this lesson, you have learned that
➢ Information management (IM) concerns a cycle of organizational activity: the acquisition
of information from one or more sources, the custodianship and the distribution of that
information to those who need it, and its ultimate disposition through archiving or deletion.
➢ Behavioral and organizational theories
It is commonly believed that good information management is crucial to the smooth
working of organisations, and although there is no commonly accepted theory of
information management per se, behavioural and organisational theories help.
➢ Economic theory
In addition to the organisational factors mentioned by March and Simon, there are other
issues that stem from economic and environmental dynamics. There is the cost of
collecting and evaluating the information needed to take a decision, including the time and
effort required.[11] The transaction cost associated with information processes can be high.
In
➢ Strategic information management
According to the Carnegie Mellon School an organization's ability to process information
is at the core of organizational and managerial competency, and an organization's
[15]
strategies must be designed to improve information processing capability and as
information systems that provide that capability became formalised and automated,
competencies were severely tested at many levels.
POST-ASSESSMENT:
Instruction: Read, analyze and answer each of the questions below by choosing the letter of the
MOST APPROPRIATE answer.
1. The success of telecommuting depends on what?
A. Suitability of profession
B. Discipline
C. Availability of technology
Module 1 | Introduction to Information Management

D. All of the above

2. Which of the following is not a reason that information is important?
A. Information is one of the three key components of MIS
B. Knowledge can be a source of income
C. We are in the information age
D. Knowledge comes from having timely access to information and knowing what
to do with it
3. Business Intelligence includes which of the following?
A. Knowledge about your internal environment
B. Knowledge about your external environment
C. Knowledge about your competitive environment
D. All of the above
4. Which term describes electronic commerce conducted over a wireless device such as
cell phone or PDA?
A. CIS
B. EIS
C. Now economy
D. M-Commerce
5. What is information?
A. Data that has a particular meaning within a specific context
B. Information with a particular meaning within a specific context
C. Data that has no particular meaning
D. None of the above
6. The time dimension of information includes two aspects: having access to information
when you need it and _______________.
A. Having access to information at the right moment in time
B. Having information that describes the appropriate time period
C. Having information about the most recent time period
D. None of the above
7. Which dimension of information describes being able to access information from a hotel
room?
A. Time dimension
B. Location dimension
C. Form dimension
D. None of the above
8. Which of the following represents the flow of information that describes the organization
based on its daily transactions?
A. Upward flow
B. Downward flow
C. Horizontal flow
D. Outward flow
Module 1 | Introduction to Information Management

9. Which of the following represents the flow of information between functional business
units and work teams?
A. Upward flow
B. Downward flow
C. Horizontal flow
D. Outward flow
10. All of the following statements describe an information-literate knowledge worker,
except:
A. Can define what information they need
B. Knows how and where to obtain that information
C. Understand information before they even receive it
D. Acts appropriately based on the information

REFERENCES:

Saeed, K., Dvorský, J. (2020). Computer Information Systems and Industrial

Management. Retrived at https://learn.saylor.org/course/resources.php?id=41 Retrieved
on February 22, 2021