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1 - Introduction To Information Systems
1 - Introduction To Information Systems
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What is an Information System?
Pyle, I.C. & Illingworth, V. (Eds) (1996). Oxford Dictionary of Computing, 4 th Edition. Oxford / New York: Oxford University Press
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Information Systems vs. Information Technology
The difference between information systems and information technology is
that information systems incorporates the technology, people and processes
involved with information. Information technology is the design and
implementation of information, or data, within the information system.
Computer literacy:
When you are computer literate, you have a general working knowledge of
computers. You understand what they can be used for. Most people know that they
can type a paper, create a power point and if you have internet access, you may e-
mail and search the World Wide Web for information.
Information literacy:
When you are information literate, you understand and are able to gather, analyze
and use information gathered from the various types of technological medians –
especially the internet. This person may access the internet, for instance on their
cell phone, iPod, lab tops, and a multitude of medians, some which may have not
yet been realized.
Data versus Information
Data Information
Raw facts • Data with context
No context • Processed data
Numbers and text • Value-added
• Summarized
• Organized
• Analyzed
Data versus Information
• Data is fact or figures in the form of text, number,
audio, video, image,
• Data can be collected by interview, sensors or from
documents.
• Data may be or may not be useful to decision maker.
• Data must be processed to become useful.
Data versus Information
• Data when processed and becomes useful for decision maker becomes
information.
• Experience, knowledge, intuition is used to convert data into information and
become useful for decision maker.
• Characteristic of information:
• Subjectivity
• Relevance
• Timeliness
• Accuracy
• Correct Information format
• Completeness
• Accessibility
Data versus Information
• The process of converting Data into Information
• Collection
• Classification
• Sorting, Adding, merging and so on
• Summarizing
• Storing
• Retrieval
• Dissemination
Information System Components
* While much of modern computing is done using a network, one is not required (e.g., an accounting system that is
not connected to the Internet).
Types of Information Systems