Information Systems Concept

As discussed in chapter one, an information system can be a series of different concepts depending on what your trying to talk about. A system can be everything in a work place from the employees, the computers, the software, the transactions that occur on a daily basis all make up a system. "Information technology is a contemporary term that describes a combination of computing technology, equipment and software, communication technology, data transmission networks, images and voices" (1). A system is best looked at as a collection of data which can be transmitted into information when in the workplace managers or supervisors can used to make judgement calls for the company. This is why the locations of where the data comes from is so critical because what if a decision is made based on false or misleading information causing bigger problems down the road?  Data becomes information once the data is applied to prior knowledge creating a bigger picture of information to really understand what the information is telling you.

A strong system we as students can relate to can be compared to Public Safety at Ramapo College. The entire system works on a network of communication between officers, the police, faculty, and Mahwah fire dept. The basic building network consists of a huge server which has controller and networks within the server. This allows Ramapo to communicate with public safety officers from Campus and communicate with the Mahwah police if necessary. All the data is processed through the network creating information for people to receive and act upon. Lots of important decisions are made from information that is transmitted in from outsources. 

Systems all have important components to complete the circuit of an effective information system. Like we learned in Task 2 of this online class all IS systems must have an input, processing, output, and positive or negative feedback to be a complete system. A computer based system can also be looked at having hardware, software, data, procedures and people to complete the system effectively. Most business are very reliant on information systems to manage their business on a daily basis. Think back 20 years back when computers were just being introduced into the world, how were business ran then which is differently now? "Business firms, other organizations, and individuals in contemporary society rely on information systems to manage their operations, compete in the marketplace, supply services, and augment personal lives" (2).

Technology infrastructure is a big term to be able to understand, its basically everything inside a system. Its the Databases, Networks, Internet, Software ect., everything needed to complete a syetem and having functional working network. Even electronic and mobile commerce play a huge part into Information systems. Think of all the services that are available online instead of doing everything in person; banking, shopping, investing ect. 

There are many ways to describe what Information system is or what is does for its society. "An Information system is an academic / professional discipline bridging the business field and the well-defined computer science field that is evolving toward new scientific area of study. (3) This newly found area of study has brought so many new technology and services to our world its very hard to imagine a world without it. Everything around us is some sort of system of information. Companies strive for a solid value chain which is rooted from information systems. Now a day a company cannot grow a business successfully without some sort of system within the business. If its payroll, customer relations, or IT it all breaks down to a system of data to form information that is useful. All big companies make their management decisions based off these systems so you can understand the importance of their systems. Throughout writing this, I keep saying to myself what was the world like 20-30 years ago? What was the world of business like without the use of technology and computers like they are used today? Typewriters, no computers, and no cell phones?!?!?

1.  Radu, Razvan. "Information Systems." SoftSupplier. Softsupplier, 08/13/2010. Web. 11 Jul 2011. <http://softsupplier.com/information-systems-105082/>.

2.  Zwass, Vladimir. "Information System." Britannica. Britannica, 04/02/2008. Web. 11 Jul 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/287895/information-system>.

3. "Information Systems." Wikipedia. www.wikipedia.com, n.d. Web. 11 Jul 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_systems>.