INFS1000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Airline Reservations System, Computer Hardware, Information System
4 Jun 2018
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INFS1000: DIGITAL BUSINESS INNOVATION
WEEK 1: INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION SYSTEMS
WHAT IS A BUSINESS?
• Purpose of a business:
o Production of products + services
o Division of labour, dealing with complexity
o Collaboration of individuals to achieve a greater goal
o Governance and control
o Efficient allocation of resources
o Effectiveness = value/quality
o Efficiency = cost
o Profit
• Business activities:
o Manufacturing
§ Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) à brand holders e.g. Toyota, Apple etc.
§ Suppliers / license producers à parts, components
§ Raw materials à steel, coal, rubber
o Service
§ Professional services: e.g. architects, financial planning, accounting, solicitors etc.
§ Travel, leisure, hospitality
§ Technology: IT services, engineering
§ Education: TAFE, universities
• How is a business organised internally?
o Functional organisation: vertical + horizontal
distribution of tasks
§ Horizontal
• Dividing org into departments
• Functional specialisation
§ Vertical
• Dividing org into hierarchical levels
• Chain of command
o Process organisation
§ Organise materials/value flow through the org
§ Fulfil orders, get things done (operations)
• Where does a business operate? Who are market players?
o Market: part of a supply chain
o Why does it matter?
§ Solving business problems à with technology
• Digital business innovation
• Business information systems
WHAT IS AN INFORMATION SYSTEM?
• 5 fundamental components of a computer-based information system:
o Hardware à e.g. monitor, cables
o Software à e.g. applications, programs
o Data à e.g. customer info
o Procedures à e.g. things firms do to operate
o People à e.g. employees
• E.g. Airline Reservation System
o Computer hardware: computers, routers etc.
o Software: hundreds of different programs to record customer details, reservations, promotions etc.
o Data: about flights, customers, reservations etc.
o Procedures: followed by airline personnel, travel agents, customers
o People: customers, travel agents, airline staff, IT personnel
Document Summary
Original equipment manufacturers (oems) brand holders e. g. toyota, apple etc. Raw materials steel, coal, rubber: service. Professional services: e. g. architects, financial planning, accounting, solicitors etc. Education: tafe, universities: how is a business organised internally, functional organisation: vertical + horizontal distribution of tasks. Vertical: dividing org into hierarchical levels, chain of command, process organisation. Solving business problems with technology: digital business innovation, business information systems. 5 fundamental components of a computer-based information system: hardware e. g. monitor, cables. Software e. g. applications, programs: data e. g. customer info, procedures e. g. things firms do to operate, people e. g. employees. It alone will not help an org achieve goals until it is embedded in is. What is bis, mis, it and is: mis = management information system, bis = business information system, key elements: Learn to read and speak language of is professionals: consider users" needs during new development. Think creatively about problems, challenges and opportunities and find ways to apply it + is.
