Management Challenges

Foundation Concepts

Information Technologies

Information Systems
Development Processes Business Applications

Foundation Concepts. Fundamental business information systems concepts including trends, components, and roles of information systems and competitive advantage concepts and applications. Other behavioral, managerial, and technical concepts are presented where appropriate in selected chapters. Information Technologies. Includes major concepts, developments, and managerial issues involved in computer hardware, software, telecommunications network and data resource management technologies. Other technologies used in business information systems Business Applications. How businesses use Internet and other information technologies to support their business processes, ebusiness and e-commerce initiatives, and business decision making. Development Processes. Developing and implementing business/IT strategies and systems using several strategic planning and application development approaches. Management Challenges. The challenges of business/IT technologies and strategies, including security and ethical challenges and global IT management.

Information Systems

Information system can be any organised combination of people, hardware, software, communication networks, and data resources that collects, transforms and disseminates information in an organization. People have relied on information systems to communicate with each other using a variety of physical devices (hardware), information processing instructions and procedures (software), communication channels (networks), and stored data (data resources) since the dawn of the civilization.

Information Technologies
Computer Hardware Technologies Computer Software Technologies Telecommunication Network Technologies Data Resource Management Technologies

Why Do People Need Information?

Individuals - Entertainment and enlightenment
Businesses - Decision making, problem solving and

control

Data, Information and Systems

Data vs. Information

Data A given, or fact; a number, a statement, or a picture Represents something in the real world The raw materials in the production of information Information Data that have meaning within a context Data in relationships Data after manipulation

Example
Data

Raw facts such as an employees name and number of hours worked in a week, inventory part numbers or sales orders.
Information A collection of facts organized in such a way that they have additional value beyond the value of the facts themselves.

Data $35,000 12 Units $12,000 J. Jones Western Region $100,000 100 Units 35 Units

Information Salesperson: J. Jones Sales Territory: Western Region Current Sales: 147 Units = $147,000

Data Processing

What Is a System? System: A set of components that work together to achieve a common goal Subsystem: One part of a system where the products of more than one system are combined to reach an ultimate goal Closed system: Stand-alone system that has no contact with other systems Open system: System that interfaces with other systems

So IS is..
Information Systems An information system(IS) is typically considered to be a set of interrelated elements or components that collect(input), manipulate(processes), and disseminate (output) data and information and provide a feedback mechanism to meet an objective.

Open System
Close System

Types of Information Systems

1. Informal Information System
2. Formal Information System

Computer-based Information System

An Information System is an organized combination of people, hardware, software, communication networks and the data resources that collects, transforms and disseminates information in a organization.

IS Vs IT
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Hardware Software Databases are used to build INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Payroll System

Inventor y System

Networks
Other related components

Marketin g System

Customer Service System

Role Of IS in Business
Support of it business processes and operations. Support of decision making by its employees and managers. Support of its strategies for competitive advantage.

Expanding Roles of IS
1. Data Processing: 1950s-1960s

2. Management Reporting: 1960s-1970s

3. Decision support: 1970s-1980s 4. Strategic and End User Support: 1980s-1990s 5. Global Internetworking: 1990s-2000s

Classification of IS
Information Systems

Operations Support System

Management Support System

Transaction processing systems

Process control systems

Office automation systems

Management information systems

Decision support systems

Executive information systems

1. Operations support systems process data generated by business operations

Major categories are: i) Transaction processing systems

ii) Process control systems

iii) Office automation systems

2. Management Support Systems provide information and support needed for effective decision making by managers Major categories are i) ii) Management Information System Decision Support Systems

iii) Executive Information System

OSS
Definition An operational support system (OSS) is a group of computer programs or an IT system used by communications service providers for monitoring, controlling, analyzing and managing a computer or telephone network system. OSS software is specifically dedicated to telecommunications service providers and mainly used for supporting network processes to maintain network inventory, configure network components, provision services and manage faults. With the growth of new broadband and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems, OSS and network management are now applied to home networks. An OSS is also known as a business support system (BSS).

Key Elements Of OSS are:

Processes Data Applications Technology

MSS
A system that applies any type of decision support tool or technique to managerial decision making. It extends the information retrieval capabilities of the end-users with 'query and analysis functions' for searching a database, generating 'what if' scenarios, and other such purposes.

1. Operations Support System

i) Transaction processing systems

Process business exchanges Maintain records about the exchanges Handle routine, yet critical, tasks Perform simple calculations

ii) Process control systems monitor and control industrial processes. iii) Office automation systems automate office procedures and enhance office communications and productivity.

TPS

2. Management support systems provide information and support needed for effective decision making by managers. Major categories are:

i)

Management

it provide information in the form of reports and displays to managers and many business professionals. For ex., sales managers may use their networked computers and web browsers to get instantaneous displays about the sales results of their products and to access their corporate intranet for daily sales analysis reports that evaluate sales made by each salesperson.

information

systems

Routine information for routine decisions Operational efficiency Use transaction data as main input Databases integrate MIS in different functional areas

ii) Decision Support System it give direct

computer support to managers during the decisionmaking process. For ex., an advertising manager may use DSS to perform a what-if analysis as part of a decision to determine where to spend advertising dollars.

Interactive support for non-routine decisions or problems End-users are more involved in creating a DSS than an MIS

Contd
iii) Executive information systems it
provides critical information form a wide variety of external and internal sources in easy-to-use displays to executives and managers. For ex. Top executives may use touchscreen terminals to instantly view text and graphic displays that highlights the key areas of organizational and competitive performance.

provide critical information tailored to the information needs of executives

Other categories

a)
b) c)

Expert systems
End user computing systems Business information systems

d) Strategic information systems a) Expert Systems are knowledge-based systems that provides expert advice and act as expert consultants to the users b) End user computing systems support the direct, hands on use of computers by end users for operational and managerial applications c) Business information systems support the operational and managerial applications of the basic business functions of a firm d) Strategic information systems provide a firm which strategic products, services, and capabilities for competitive advantage

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

Integrated programs that can manage a companys entire set of business operations Often coordinate planning, inventory control, production and ordering

Enterprise Collaboration System

ECS is a combination of groupware, tools, Internet, extranets and other networks needed to support enterprise-wide communications. Such as the sharing of documents and knowledge to specific teams and individuals within the enterprise. Some examples of enterprise communication tools include e-mail, videoconferencing, collaborative document sharing, project management tools and others. The objective of an ECS is to provide each user with the tools for managing communications, documents and other information that individuals need to manage their own tasks efficiently in their departments.

IS as Discipline
IS is an interdisciplinary field influenced by Computer Science, Political Science, Psychology, Operations Research, Linguistics, Sociology, and Organizational Theory.

Challenges
1. Workforce downsizing 2. Information overload

3. Employee mistrust
4. Difficult to built 5. Security breaches

Opportunities

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Enhanced global competitiveness Capture market opportunities Support corporate strategy Enhance worker productivity Improve quality of goods and services

Artificial Intelligence
AI is a field of science and technology based on disciplines such as computer science, biology, psychology, linguistics, mathematics and engineering. The goal of AI is to develop computers that can simulate the ability to think, as well as see, hear, walk, talk, and feel. A major thrust of artificial intelligence is the simulation of computer functions normally associated with human intelligence, such as reasoning, learning and problem solving.

Attributes of Intelligent Behaviour

Think and reason Use reason to solve problems Learn or understand from experience Acquire and apply knowledge Exhibit creativity and imagination Deal with complex or perplexity situations. Respond quickly and successfully to new situations. Recognize the relative importance of elements in a situation. Handle ambiguous, incomplete or erroneous information.

Applications Of AI
AI

Cognitive Science Applications

Robotics Applications

Natural Interface Applications

Cognitive Science Applications

Expert Systems Learning Systems Fuzzy Logic Genetic Algorithms Neural Networks Intelligent Agents

Contd

Expert Systems ES is a knowledge-based information system that uses its knowledge about a specific, complex application area to act as an expert consultant to end users.

Methods of Knowledge Representation

Case-Based Reasoning Representing knowledge in an expert system knowledge base in the form of cases. Frame-based Knowledge Knowledge represented in the form of a hierarchy or network of frames. Object-Based Knowledge Knowledge represented as a network of objects. Object is a data element that includes both data and method that act on that data. Rule-based Knowledge Knowledge represented in the form of rules and statements of fact.

Contd

Learning Systems - Learning Systems are systems that use experience to construct a general model and to improve their performance. Learning methods are used in a variety of systems including:

* systems for data mining, * text and image classification, * recognition of objects and information in texts, * data mining, * robot control.

Contd
Fuzzy Logic Fuzzy logic systems can process data that are incomplete or ambiguous, that is, fuzzy data. Thus, they can solve semi-structured problems with incomplete knowledge by developing approximate inferences and answers, as humans do. it deals with reasoning that is approximate rather than fixed and exact.

Contd

Genetic Algorithms GA s/w uses Darwinian (survival of the fittest), randomizing, and other mathematical functions to stimulate an evolutionary process that can yields increasingly better solutions to a problem.

Neural Networks

"a computing system made up of a number of simple, highly interconnected processing elements, which process information by their dynamic state response to external inputs. Dr. Robert Hecht-Nielsen.

Intelligent Agents
An intelligent agent (IA) is an autonomous entity which observes through sensors and acts upon an environment using actuators (i.e. it is an agent) and directs its activity towards achieving goals (i.e. it is rational).Intelligent agents may also learn or use knowledge to achieve their goals. They may be very simple or very complex: a reflex machine such as a thermostat is an intelligent agent, as is a human being, as is a community of human beings working together towards a goal.

Robotics Applications

AI, engineering and physiology are the basic disciplines of robotics. This technology produces robot machines with computer intelligence and computer-controlled, humanlike physical capabilities. This area thus includes applications designed to give robots the powers of sight, or visual perception; touch or tactile capabilities; dexterity or skill in handling and manipulation; locomotion or the physical ability to move over any terrain; and navigation or the intelligence to properly find ones way to a destination.

ROBOTICS APPLICATIONS
Visual Perception Tactility Dexterity Locomotion Navigation

Contd

Visual Perception - Visual perception is the ability to interpret the surrounding environment by processing information that is contained in visible light. The resulting perception is also known as eyesight, sight, or vision. Tactility - Lee has defined tactile sensing as- the tactile sensor is defined as a device or system that can measure a given property of an object through contact in the world. Tactile sensing is defined as the process of detecting and measuring a given property of a contact event in a predetermined area and subsequent preprocessing of the signalsbefore sending them to higher levels for perceptual interpretation

Contd

Dexterity - skill in performing tasks, especially with the hands. Locomotion - movement or the ability to move from one place to another. Navigation - the process or activity of accurately ascertaining one's position and planning and following a route.

Natural Interface Applications

Being able to talk to computers and robots in conversational human languages and have them understand us as easily as we understand each other is a goal of AI.

Natural Interface Applications

Natural Languages Speech Recognition Multisensory Interfaces Virtual Reality

Contd
Multisensory Interfaces Multisensory devices that use a variety of body movements to operate computers. Virtual reality It involves using multisensory human-computer interfaces that enable human users to experience computersimulated objects, spaces, activities, and worlds as if they actually exist.