Information Systems - Week 1 Tutorial PDF

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Tutorial 1 Information Systems 1. Discuss common applications of computers and information systems. They include software such as the operating system, database management systems, networking software, translators, and software utilities. Application software are programs that direct the performance of a particular use, or application, of computers to meet the information processing needs of end users. There are various types of information systems, for example: transaction processing systems, decision support systems, knowledge management systems, learning management systems, database management systems, and office information systems.

Discussion Question Will online classes substitute the traditional class setting someday? If this happens, what would the advantages and disadvantages be? E-learning tools provide educators and students with access to resources they couldn’t have had otherwise, no matter their status or location. An accounting student in Australia can learn from the top professor a continent away and can do so in their own time while balancing a full-time job and a family at home.But even though e-learning has become an education equalizer, it’s still not a replacement for the traditional classroom. Sure, the technology is advancing, but it’s not flawless. Just like any new, burgeoning innovation, e-learning faces its own challenges Advantages 1. Online courses are convenient. The biggest advantage of an online course is that your classroom and instructor (theoretically) are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Your only excuse for missing class is not getting online! Otherwise, everything is available to you. You can get announcements, access notes, review assignments, take practice quizzes, discuss questions, chat with fellow students and study any time you want. Other than certain due dates, you make your own schedule for completing the requirements of the course. 2.Online courses bring education right to your home. Online students often find that their family, friends and/or boy-girlfriends get involved in the course. Oftentimes, a student will study with that special someone present. Children may take an interest in the online environment. Parents may look over the shoulder of an online student while they are surfing across the web. In short, everyone in the household gets involved in learning. Having the support of your family and friends makes you more likely to succeed.

3.Online courses have financial benefits. Although you may think that buying a computer and paying for Internet access is pretty expensive, consider what it would cost you in gas and parking each month if you were driving to campus. Consider the costs of eating out versus eating at home. Consider the costs for child-care, pet care or any other kind of care that you need to provide while you are away from home. Consider the costs of missing work to make classes or not being eligible for a promotion because you can't attend classes to advance your educational level. These are very tangible benefits of having access to education at home. Disadvantages 1.Online courses require more time than on-campus classes. You will spend more time studying and completing assignments in the online environment than you will in an on-campus course. The online environment is text-based. To communicate with your instructor and other students, you must type messages, post responses and otherwise communicate using your fingers (i.e., through typing). As you can probably guess, typing is slower than speaking. (Try reading each word as you type it and compare the difference if you had spoken the same thing.) In the same sense, reading your lecture materials can take more time than listening to an instructor deliver them, although spoken lectures have a distinct disadvantage. If you are sitting in a classroom, it's likely that you'll miss a good percentage of what the instructor says, no matter how focused you are. It's human nature to zone out for brief periods of time. When you are reading, you will tend to go back over the notes if you miss something and that takes more time. The point is that you will likely learn more in an online environment, but you will have to make a greater effort to accomplish that learning. 2.Online courses require good time-management skills. An Internet-based course demands that you develop personal time-management skills. As with most things, if you don't manage your time properly, you will find yourself buried beneath a seeming insurmountable mountain of coursework. Online courses require the self-discipline to set aside chunks of time to complete your studies. It means you have to make online studying a priority and not let other activities interfere. Sometimes, it means making difficult choices. 3.Online courses may create a sense of isolation. In an online course, no one can hear you scream. And that causes discomfort for some online students. Studying alone with only the computer as your companion can be terrifying. There's no whispering in the back of the room, no wise remarks from the peanut gallery, no commanding presence at the front of the classroom pleading for everyone to listen. The online environment is a much different atmosphere that takes some getting used to. Hopefully, your online instructor is sensitive to this problem and can help you overcome those feelings. In any case, you should be aware of them and seek help if they start to impede your studies. A quick e-mail to a classmate, your instructor or a counselor can help you feel better connected if the sense of community you seek is missing.

2. Explain the differences between computer literacy and information literacy Information literacy is the ability to access, organize , evaluate, and use information from various sources. Computer literacy is having the knowledge to use technology in order to manipulate computer software or hardware. There is a strong correlation between the two, but they are still

different. Both concepts are critical thinking, but information literacy goes beyond knowledge and access in learning more. Discussion Question Discuss the importance of computer literacy and information literacy for a knowledge worker to be competitive in the workplace. Being computer literate is important as it opens more opportunities, helps in staying up to date, it is a cheap way to communicate, it enhances professionalism, helps in better record keeping and makes transactions more convenient. Almost all workplaces and businesses have embraced the use of computers in one way or another meaning it is almost impossible not to encounter a computer in everyday life Information literacy is important for today’s learners, it promotes problem solving approaches and thinking skills – asking questions and seeking answers, finding information, forming opinions, evaluating sources and making decisions fostering successful learners, effective contributors, confident individuals and responsible citizens.

3. Define transaction-processing systems. A transaction process system (TPS) is an information processing system for business transactions involving the collection, modification and retrieval of all transaction data. Characteristics of a TPS include performance, reliability and consistency. TPS is also known as transaction processing or real-time processing Discussion Question Identify the pros and cons of transaction-processing systems. Will the advancement of such systems affect employment opportunities for people in the future? Advantages of the transaction processing system           

The TPS keeps a stable database and reduces risk of loss of user information in the occurrence of terminal or network failure. The TPS is able to effectively recover from operating system failure and also handle system failures depending on what stage the transaction was in when the system failure occurred. The TPS can process large amount of data in real time or batches. The use of TPS in organizations is a key feature in improving customer service and satisfaction. A TPS allows for the user/customer to have a level of reliability and confidence during transactions. TPS is swift and cost-effective. The use of TPS in businesses minimizes the occurrence of error during data transactions. TPS is available in both batch and real time process The TPS is designed to be user friendly. It is versatile as it encourages the use of online payment system in real time and increases more payment methods. TPS can function anywhere. This means that location, geography, language, or methods are a barrier to using a transaction processing system.

Transaction processing system disadvantages        

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TPS must be designed to exclusively fit the business/Organization needs. TPS may be expensive to set up and install. The use of TPS lacks a standard format. Installation of TPS may be disturbed by hardware and software incompatibility. Maintenance of a TPS requires the use of specialized personnel. A TPS can be difficult to handle if the business is not large enough to utilize it. User may need a good internet connection to access its services. Third party interference may occur in real time (such as hackers and theft of identity etc) due to its online nature. Firewalls must be constantly upgraded else it will lead to loss of customers as a result of not being secure. TPS requires a lot of staff working in groups to keep up inventory. Requests may overload system that may lead to crashing of websites and loss of information in real time.

Transaction-processing systems can have both a negative and positive impact on a business. An example of a transactional processing system could be a company's payroll. The benefit on the business for such a system is that it eliminates time from an employee being tied up in needing to take of this busy work. Instead, the system is able to process and disperse paychecks in an efficient and faster process than before. The only downside to a system is possible inaccurate data input from a user. Speaking from personal use, at the Walt Disney World Resort, we use a system called, "work brain," to ensure the proper payment for our employees. Other systems throughout the Resort communicate to this system. If data is inaccurately inputted into one of these other systems, it results in inaccurate paychecks for our Cast Members; however, if data is correctly inputted, it makes our lives easier when conducting and checking for payroll issues each day I, personally, believe that all systems will always lack one thing which is the human intelligence factor. Even though systems will continually advance, they will only be as best as their computer programmer. With that being said, having advancement of these systems will require more manpower to oversee the program and monitor it to ensure it is working to the best of its ability. Roles in the IT field will continue to grow as these systems continue to flourish

4 Define management information systems. A management information system (MIS) is a computer system consisting of hardware and software that serves as the backbone of an organization’s operations. An MIS gathers data from multiple online systems, analyzes the information, and reports data to aid in management decision-making.

Discussion Question Identify the three tasks involved in designing an MIS. Discuss a case of an organization that has successfully used MIS to gain a competitive advantage. In designing an MIS, the first task is to clearly define the system's objectives. Secondly data must be collected and analyzed and finally information must be provided in a useful format for decision making

purposes There are many benefits that come with applying Management Information Systems. Some of these benefits help make work easier for management while the rest of them help the organization as a whole. Let’s take a closer look and see what you stand to gain from having a MIS. All stakeholders in the company have access to one single database that holds all the data that will be needed in day to day operations. If the MIS is used for project management, the contractor, client and consultant will be able to achieve a high level of transparency hence it will be easy to develop trust. Operations will also be smoother because information will always be readily available and data collection methods like forms or questionnaires will be standardized. Employees and other stakeholders in the organization will be able to spend more time doing productive tasks. This is because a big chunk of their time is saved thanks to the more efficient information system. This time would have otherwise been spent setting up or retrieving traditional information recording systems such as forms and files. As a result, the company is able to save on manpower costs, while at the same time producing more output in a fixed time span will now be spent productively. Reports make it easy for companies to easily identify their strengths and weaknesses in carrying out various tasks. Management Information Systems provide revenue reports, performance reports for employees, expenses tracking reports and many others. When companies use these reports, they are able to improve their operations. MIS helps eliminate redundant roles. When information is stored efficiently, it’s possible to identify parts of a system that are unnecessary. This means that any efforts that were duplicated are eliminated hence the company is able to better use the available resources.

5. Examples of Information Systems

To better understand the four main components of an information system, take a look at the following two examples.

Example 1: A state university stores all student data in a database. The collected data includes each student’s first name, last name, age, gender, major, nationality, and so forth. The process component of the information system performs all sorts of analysis on this data. For example, the university’s DBMS has a built-in query capability that can generate the following information: • How many students are in each major?

• Which major is the fastest growing? • What is the average age of the student body?

• Among the international students, which country is home to the highest number of students? • What is the ratio of male to female students in each major?

Many other types of analysis can be done. A forecasting model could be used to generate the estimated number of students for 2020, for instance. In addition, predictions could be made or improved, based on information this system provides. For example, knowing which major is the fastest growing can help with decisions on hiring faculty, and knowing the estimated number of students for 2020 can help with planning facilities.

Example 2 : Teletech, an international textile company, uses a database to store data on products, suppliers, sales personnel, costs, and so forth. The process component of the information system conducts analysis on the data to provide the following information about the preceding month: • Which salesperson generated the highest sales? • Which product generated the highest sales? The lowest sales? • Which region generated the highest sales?

Forecasting models can be used to generate predictions for the next sales period, and these predictions can be broken down by product, region, and salesperson. Based on this information, many decisions could be made, such as allocating the advertising budget to different products and regions.

6. Activity Identify at least five major computing trends that are already underway and would continue into the future. Discussion Question In light of the predictions surrounding the future of information systems, how do you think the role of humans is going to evolve at the workplace?

Reviews and Discussions

1. What are two applications of computers and information systems at Domino’s Pizza? Information Systems

MIS

ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning

CRM (Customer Relationship Management)

TALEO (Enterprise Recruiting solution)

TPS (Transaction Processing System)

DOM (Dominos voice activated ordering sysytem)

PULSE (Point of sale system)

2. What are the four main components of an information system? Data Database Process Information

3. What are two applications of computers and information systems at the Home Depot?  The Home Depot implemented a POS system for both fast customer service and improved inventory management.  The use of RFDI tag to better manage inventory and improve the efficiency of its supply chain network.

4. What are three features or capabilities of a modern ATM? Cardless ATM access. Like our wallets and personal identification, our smartphones are always by our side. More and more mobile phone manufacturers are building smartphones with near field communication (NFC) technology, which lets your mobile phone communicate with certain devices within close proximity. Live teller video conferencing. The original concept of an ATM was to eliminate the need for a human teller to service a customer. However, banks are making ATMs less automated by offering real-time video conferencing with a live teller.

Varying bill denominations.

For years, most ATMs only dispensed cash in the form of $20 bills. In instances when exact change is needed, the ATM is not very useful. However, banks are recognizing customers want more flexibility when it comes to their cash withdrawals. As such, Chase and PNC have started to roll out ATMs that are capable of spitting out $1 and $5 bills instead of just $20 bills. In addition to the convenience, being able to withdraw cash in smaller denominations may also mean you won’t be taking out more than you need.

5. What is Michael Porter's three strategies for successfully competing in the marketplace? 1). Cost Leadership In cost leadership, a firm sets out to become the low-cost producer in its industry. The sources of cost advantage are varied and depend on the structure of the industry. They may include the pursuit of economies of scale, proprietary technology, preferential access to raw materials and other factors. A low-cost producer must find and exploit all sources of cost advantage. if a firm can achieve and sustain overall cost leadership, then it will be an above average performer in its industry, provided it can command prices at or near the industry average. 2). Differentiation In a differentiation strategy a firm seeks to be unique in its industry along some dimensions that are widely valued by buyers. It selects one or more attributes that many buyers in an industry perceive as important, and uniquely positions itself to meet those needs. It is rewarded for its uniqueness with a premium price. 3). Focus The generic strategy of focus rests on the choice of a narrow competitive scope within an industry. The focuser selects a segment or group of segments in the industry and tailors its strategy to serving them to the exclusion of others. The focus strategy has two variants. (a) In cost focus a firm seeks a cost advantage in its target segment, while in (b) differentiation focus a firm seeks differentiation in its target segment. Both variants of the focus strategy rest on differences between a focuser's target segment and other segments in the industry. The target segments must either have buyers with unusual needs or else the production and delivery system that best serves the target segment must differ from that of other industry segments. Cost focus exploits differences in cost behaviour in some segments, while differentiation focus exploits the special needs of buyers in certain segments.

References Porter, Michael E., "Competitive Advantage". 1985, Ch. 1, pp 11-15. The Free Press. New York.

6. What are two responsibilities of a data scientist? The Data Scientist is responsible for advising the business on the potential of data, to provide new insights into the business's mission, and through the...