Dantes, Hazel Joy P.

November 26, 2014 Business IT Section B6

Wed 4:30-6:30
Information system is a large field of study that refers to systems that are
designed to create, modify, store and distribute information. It is really surprising
but information systems as a field of study has been around much before
computers arrived on the scene.
Information technology can be considered as a subset of information
systems. It deals with the technology part of any information system, and as such
deals with hardware, servers, operating systems and software etc.
A system is always a combination of people, machines, processes and
technology. And IT is just a part of the system. Information system is in essence
bridging the gap between business and the ever growing field of computers. On
the other hand, information technology is all about managing technology and
making use of it for the betterment of business.

The Six Components of Information Systems are:

Computer hardware - refers to the computers themselves, along with any and
all peripherals, including servers, routers, monitors, printers and storage devices.
Computer software - falls into two broad classes: system software and
application software. The principal system software is the operating system. It
manages the hardware, data and program files, and other system resources and
provides means for the user to control the computer. Application software is
programs designed to handle specific tasks for users. Everything you do using a
computer is done by the software.
Data - just as hardware cannot function without software, software cannot
function without data. This is the information part of an information system, and
whether that is statistical data, sets of instructions, lists of names or even
graphics and animations.
Procedures - the rules, descriptions and instructions for how things are done. In
computer-based information systems, procedures are frequently covered in
instruction or user manuals that describe how to use the hardware, software and
data.
People - the most often overlooked and most important part of a computer-based
information system. It is people who design and operate the software, input the
data, build the hardware and keep it running, write the procedures and it is
ultimately people who determine the success or failure of a CBIS.

Telecommunications - used to connect, or network, computer systems and

transmit information. Communication is left out of some lists of CBIS elements,
but for a CBIS that involves more than one piece of hardware to function,
communication or connectivity is a necessity. This is, in part, because parts of it
are covered under hardware. The components that allow one computer to
communicate with another are hardware and are controlled by software.

Data vs. Information vs. Knowledge:

Data refers to the discrete, objective facts about events is the essential
raw material needed for the creation of information; however, it cannot be used to
make decisions because it has no meaning. It lacks meaning because it has no
inherent structure; no established relationships between entities.

Data becomes information when we add meaning. We add meaning by

providing a context to the data. The context identifies the purpose, and
circumstance, that surround the gathering of data; it removes ambiguity. We can
remove ambiguity in a variety of ways: categorizing, calculating, condensing, etc.
Information is helpful because it allows us to answer the who, what, where.
when, and how many questions.
Information helps us decide what to do, not how to do it. The how requires
knowledge. Knowledge is derived from information in the same way information
is derived from data. We can view it as an understanding of information based on
its perceived importance or relevance. It can be considered as an integration of
human perceptive processes that helps them to draw meaningful conclusions. The
hallmark of knowledge is judgement: the ability to make decisions or come to
sensible conclusions.