information systems online Nassau Community College CMP 115

Chapter 1 1.1. What are the six primary roles that information systems play in organizations? How are information systems used in each context? 1.2. How is data different from information? How is information different from knowledge? What are examples of each? 1.3. What are the three characteristics that make information valuable? Why is each a critical attribute of information? 1.4. What are the four components of an information system? Describe each component. What are the five functions that these components provide? 1.5. How are information systems important to managers in a variety of functional business units? What are examples of ways that information systems are important to the success of a marketing department, a human resources department, and a small business owner? 1.6. What are the functional areas that are common to most information technology departments? 1.7. What is the role of the chief information officer? 1.8. How do information systems offer promises to organizations? What are some of the perils of information systems? What are some of the ethical questions associated with the use of information systems? 1-1. There are six major roles of information systems. First, is the making decisions role. People in business' make decisions everyday. Majority of these decisions are based on personal judgment. Research proved that in a survey 40% of 250 people of major corporations make decisions on gut instincts. Other managers use information that systems support data driven decision making. Second, is collaborating on teams. This is basically a group of people that form to work together at any time and place. Participants of these teams can share documents and applications, hold meetings online. They can also communicate through microphones, video cameras, and white boards. So many different types of groups can be formed, each group having different ideas or preferences. Third is gaining a competitive advantage. That is anything that gives a firm a lead over its rivals. This advantage can be gained through the application and development of innovative information systems. A fundamental part of a company’s strategic vision are information systems. Fourth is improving individual productivity. These are tools that help people improve their own productivity. For example, Iphones feature a speak to text option, or Siri, which is a voice command system. There are also smart phones that allow voice calls and web browsing at the same time. Fifth, is managing operations. In order to have a successful organization, businesses must excel at operations management. This is the design, operation, and improvement of the systems and processes the organization used to deliver it goods and services. Last is the support of customer interactions. In order to succeed interactions with customers, clients, students, patients, tax payers, citizens are extremely important. This helps build and maintain relationships and support all the processes that underlie them. 1-2. Data refers to individual pieces or facts of information. Data can be replaced in many different forms and in a variety of shapes. Data is a part of every information system. Data can be seconds as they appear on a stopwatch, which is representing time. Data from languages are important for new technologies that accept and analyze voice commands. Data can be, a patients temperature as they arrive at a walk in clinic on Decemeber 15, is 103.9 degress. Information refers to data or facts that are assembled and analyzed to add meaning and usefulness. An example of information could be a table showing flu diagnoses in the region during the month of December. Knowledge is the application of data and information. Knowledge is the appropriate collection of information. Knowledge answers the "how" question. An example of knowledge would be a world wide map of flu outbreaks, suggesting a pandemic. Data, information, and knowledge reflect how raw facts can be combined, assembled, and analyzed to add meaning and value. 1-3. One characteristic that makes information valuable is timeliness. Timeliness matters in a great deal in some settings and near real time information often costs more. Second characteristic is accuracy. The more accurate you want the information to be the longer it may take to obtain. Making extreme accuracy a tradeoff to timeliness. Last characteristic is completeness. This adds value, particularly as a means to avoid bias or spin. A marketing survey that polls customers as they enter a store will completely miss those who online, would be an example. 1-4. One component of an information system are people. The design, development, launch, and maintenance of any information system involves teams of people. People play a number of different roles, as visionaries, developers, and managers of information systems. People play a huge role in the success or failure of most information systems. Second is technology. Technology includes, hardware, software, and telecommunications. Anything capable of collecting, processing, storing, or disp