Computer Technology:

Your Need to Know

Chapter 1

Slide 1

Technology and Knowledge

Technical knowledge of computer
hardware and systems software is
required to develop information
systems
System?
Slide 2

Technology and Knowledge

Do not require detailed

understanding of how they work to
be able to use them.
The design of computer systems
have become more complex.
Computers have become easier to
use.
Used in business and home.
Slide 3

Technology and Knowledge

If computers have become so easy
to use, then why do you need to
know anything about their inner
technology?

Slide 4

Acquiring and Configuring

Technological Devices
To purchase a computer, you
must:
Know your hardware and software
preferences
Know your hardware and software
requirements
Have sufficient knowledge of the
available alternatives
Understand related technical terms
Slide 5

Acquiring and Configuring

Technological Devices
The knowledge required to purchase
and configure technically complex
devices is greater than the
knowledge needed to use them

Slide 6

Information System
Development
The steps followed by information
system personnel to develop an
information system are called the
System Development Life Cycle
(SDLC)

Slide 7

Information System
Development

Slide 8

Information System
Development
Systems Survey step Examines user information needs
Examines ways in which the user needs are
being addressed (if any)
Examines the feasibility of developing or
acquiring an information system to address
those needs
Technical knowledge needed to assess if
needs currently met and estimate resources
needed
Slide 9

Information System
Development
Typical questions asked during the
Systems Survey step for a point of
sale system :
How much time is required to process a
sale?
Is the existing system easy for a
salesperson to use?
Is sufficient information being gathered
for marketing purposes?
Slide 10

Information System
Development
Typical questions asked during the
Systems Survey step for a point of sale
system (cont.):
Can the existing hardware handle peak sales
volumes (for example, holidays)?
Can the existing system be expanded easily?
What are the current hardware operating
costs?
Are there cheaper hardware alternatives?

Slide 11

Information System
Development

The systems analysis step

examines the user needs and the
extent to which they are being met.
Needs analysis or requirements
analysis.

Slide 12

Information System
Development
Systems Analysis Step:
Produces a requirements document.
Reexamines and answers systems
survey questions in more detail.

Typical outcomes:
Detailed descriptions of user interfaces
and data access speed
Detailed data-processing and storage
requirements
Slide 13

Information System
Development
Systems Design the configuration
of all hardware and software
components are determined.

Slide 14

Systems Design

Slide 15

Information System
Development
The systems implementation
step is constructed based on the
blue prints created during
systems design

Slide 16

Information System
Development
During the systems implementation
step:
Hardware and systems software are acquired,
installed, configured and tested
Application programs and files are developed,
installed and tested
The entire system is tested

Slide 17

Information System
Development
Technical knowledge needed:
Knowledge of hardware and systems software
Installation and configuration of hardware and
systems software
Knowledge of how to format storage devices,
set up security systems, install application
programs and establish accounting and
auditing systems

Slide 18

Information System
Development

During the systems evaluation and

maintenance step, the system is
evaluated for errors that escaped
undetected during installation and testing.
Minor changes are made as maintenance
changes.

Slide 19

Information System
Development
Technical knowledge needed:
Knowledge is needed to classify the proposed
change as minor or major
Knowledge is needed about the hardware and
software components that are affected by the
change

Slide 20

Management of Computer
Resources
Future Trends:
The manager must have a broad
understanding of current technology, as
well as future technology trends.

Compatibility:
The new system must not only operate
correctly by itself, but also operates
smoothly with all of the other systems in
the organization.
Slide 21

Roles and Job Titles

Computer Professional Groups:

Application Development Personnel

Systems Software Personnel
Hardware Personnel
Systems Management Personnel
www.salary.com - job skills for various ITrelated jobs and salary ranges

Slide 22

Roles and Job Titles

Application Development Personnel

Systems Analyst
Systems Designer
Application Programmer

Slide 23

Roles and Job Titles

Systems Software Personnel
Systems programmers are responsible
for the development of systems software
such as:

Operating systems
Compilers
Database management systems
Network monitors.

Slide 24

Roles and Job Titles

Hardware Personnel
Hardware personnel are responsible for
hardware design, installation, and
maintenance.

Slide 25

Roles and Job Titles

Systems Management Personnel

Computer operations manager

Network administrator
Database administrator
Chief Information Officer

Slide 26

Roles and Job Titles

A computer operations manager is

responsible for the day-to-day operation of
a large information-processing facility.
A database administrator is responsible
to help the organization exploit its data
resources.

Slide 27

Roles and Job Titles

A network administrator is
responsible for the network
infrastructure and the
management of a local area
network.
A Chief Information Officer
(CIO) is responsible for the
management of the personnel and
computer software and hardware.
Slide 28

Computer Technology
Information Sources
Sources of Computer Information:
Periodical Literature
Vendor and Manufacturer Web Sites
Technology-Oriented Web Sites
Professional Societies

Slide 29

Computer Technology
Information Sources
Periodical Literature:
ACM Computing Surveys
Computerworld
Communications of the ACM
Computer

Slide 30

Computer Technology
Information Sources
Vendor and Manufacturer Web Sites:
Vendor Web Pages are oriented to sales,
but they usually contain detailed
information on products either directly or
as links to manufacturer Web sites.

Slide 31

Computer Technology
Information Sources

Slide 32

Computer Technology
Information Sources

Slide 33

Computer Technology
Information Sources

Slide 34

Computer Technology
Information Sources
Professional Societies:
Association for Information Technology
Professionals (AITP)
Association for Computing Machinery
(ACM)
Institute for Electrical and Electronics
Engineers (IEEE) Computer Society

Slide 35

Assign #1
Read chapters 1, 2 and 3; pg. 20, review
questions 1, 2, 3; pg. 20 research problem
1 - 1/2 page summary.

Assign #2
pg. 60, review questions 3, 4, 5, 7, 11, 13,
14, 16, 17; pg. 61, research problem 1 - 1
page summary.

Assign #3
pg. 109, review questions 1, 3, 5, 7, 10,
11; pg. 110 research problem 1 - 1/2 page
summary.
Slide 36