‫بسم هللا الرحمن الرحيم‬
Fundamentals of
Information Systems
D r. Ahmed Aboul-Fotouh Saleh
prof. of Information Systems
Faculty of Computer and
Information Sciences
/
‫كلية الحاسبات واملعلومات‬
2012‫ فبراير‬21 ‫الثالثاء املوافق‬
Chapter 1
Introduction To
Information Systems Concepts
3
Preface
• Information systems play a vital role in the business
success of an enterprise.
• Understanding system concepts will help you understand
many other concepts in the technology. For example,
systems concepts help you understand:
- That computers are systems of information processing
components.
- That business uses of computers are really interconnected
business information systems.
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Systems concepts
• A system can be defined a set of elements or
components that interact to accomplish goals
• A system is a group of interrelated components working
together toward a common goal by accepting inputs and
producing outputs in an organized transformation process.
• Many examples of systems can be found in the physical
and biological sciences, in modern technology, and in
human society.
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Elements/Components of a System:
• Such a system ( Dynamic system) has a set of basic
interacting components or functions:
• To reconstruct a system, the following' key elements
must be considered;
a. Inputs & Outputs
b. Processing
c. Control
d. Feedback
e. Environment
f. Boundaries
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Figure 1.3: Components of a System
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System Components and
Concepts(cont..)
• Systems can be classified as simple or
complex, open or closed, stable or dynamic,
adaptive or nonadaptive, and permanent or
temporary
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Table 1.3: Systems Classifications and
Their Primary Characteristics
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System Performance and Standards
• Efficiency: a measure of what is produced divided by
what is consumed
• Effectiveness: extent to which system attains its goals
‫الى أى مدى تحققت اهداف النظام‬
• System performance standard: a specific objective of a
system
10
System Variables and Parameters
• System variable: quantity or item controlled by the
decision maker
• System parameter: value or quantity that cannot be
controlled (e.g., the cost of a raw material)
11
A System approach to problem solving
• The system approach to problem solving uses a systems
orientation to define problems and opportunities and
develop solutions.
• a problem and formulating a solution involves the
following interrelated activities:
- Recognize and define a problem or opportunity in a systems context.
- Develop and evaluate alternative system solutions.
- Select the system solution that best meets your requirements.
- Design the selected system solution so that it meets your requirements.
- Implement and evaluate the success of the designed system.
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The systems approach to problem
solving
Define the problem
Develop Alternative
Solutions
Select the solution
Define a problem or
opportunity in a system
context.
Develop and evaluate
alternative system solutions
Select the system solution
that best meets your
requirements.
Design the selected
solution
Design the selected solution
to meet your requirements.
Implementation the
solution
Implement and evaluate the
success of the designed
system.
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What is the Information systems
• Information system (IS)
• A set of interrelated components that collect, manipulate,
and disseminate ‫ نشر‬data and information and provide
feedback to meet an objective
• Examples: ATMs, airline reservation systems, course
reservation systems
14
Information Concepts:
Data Versus Information
• Data: raw facts
• Information: collection of facts organized in such a
way that they have additional value beyond the facts
themselves
15
Table 1.1: Types of Data
16
Figure 1.2: The Process of
Transforming Data into Information
17
• Knowledge
• An awareness and understanding of a set of information
& Experience and how that information can be made
useful to support a specific task
• Knowledge base
• The collection of data, rules, procedures, and
relationships that must be followed to achieve value.
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Table 1.2: Characteristics of Valuable Data
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Table 1.2: Characteristics of Valuable
Data (continued)
20
Figure 1.7: The Components of an
Information System
21
Input, Processing, Output, Feedback
• Input: activity of gathering and capturing raw data
• Processing: converting or transforming data into useful
outputs
• Output: production of useful information, usually in
form of documents and reports
• Feedback: output used to make changes to input or
processing activities
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Functions of an Information System
Computer-Based Information Systems
• Computer-based information system (CBIS)
• A single set of hardware, software, databases,
telecommunications, people, and procedures that are
configured to collect, manipulate, store, and process data
into information
• Examples: a company’s payroll systems, order entry
system, and inventory control systems
24
Figure 1.8: The Components of a
Computer-Based Information System
25
Summary
• Data: raw facts
• Information: collection of facts organized in such a way
that they have value beyond the facts themselves
• System: a set of elements that interact to accomplish a
goal
• Components of a system: input, processing, output, and
feedback
• A model is an abstraction that is used to represent reality
26
Summary (continued)
• Computer-based information system (CBIS): a single
set of hardware, software, databases, telecommunications,
people, and procedures that are configured to collect,
manipulate, store, and process data into information
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