LEARNING U N I T 1
Data and the computerised
information system process
Introductory Video: Click on this link to watch a short
introductory video. The video contains a split screen feature;
opting not to watch the video will not disadvantage your
learning.
Contents
1 Introduction............................................................................................................... 3
1.1 Digitalisation of the economy ............................................................................... 5
1.2 Use of Big Data technologies ............................................................................... 6
1.3 Data in an organisation ......................................................................................... 6
1.3.1 Data generation in an institution of learning .................................................... 7
1.3.2 Other examples of data generation ................................................................... 8
1.4 Categories of data ................................................................................................. 9
1.4.1 Structured data ................................................................................................... 9
1.4.2 Unstructured data ............................................................................................... 9
1.5 Input of data ......................................................................................................... 10
1.5.1 Source documents ........................................................................................... 11
1.5.2 Characteristics of a good source document .................................................. 12
1.5.3 Input types ........................................................................................................ 12
1.5.4 Migration ........................................................................................................... 14
1.5.5 Reasons for migrating data ............................................................................. 14
1.5.6 Considerations for data migration .................................................................. 15
1.5.7 Types of data migration ................................................................................... 15
1.5.8 Data migration process .................................................................................... 16
1
,1.5.9 Data migration phases ..................................................................................... 17
1.5.10 Data migration approach ............................................................................... 18
1.5.11 Validation and implementation of data ......................................................... 18
1.5.12 Reasons for data migration failure ............................................................... 19
1.6 System integrating management information across the entire enterprise ... 19
1.6.1 Capturing .......................................................................................................... 20
1.6.2 Online input....................................................................................................... 22
1.7 Processing data ................................................................................................... 24
1.7.1 The main directions in the analysis and processing of big data .................. 25
1.7.2 Electronic Document Management System (EDMS)...................................... 25
1.7.3 Ways of data processing ................................................................................. 26
1.7.4 Applying Big Data technologies and models ................................................. 28
1.7.5 Methods of processing data ............................................................................ 30
1.7.6 Processing types .............................................................................................. 31
1.8 Output/information .............................................................................................. 32
1.8.1 Batch output ..................................................................................................... 32
1.8.2 Interactive output ............................................................................................. 33
1.9 Typical processing systems ............................................................................... 34
1.10 Storage of data and information ...................................................................... 36
1.10.1 Flat file environment ....................................................................................... 36
1.11 Summary ............................................................................................................ 38
Navigation Tip: For ease of navigation through this document, please
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2
,Jelonek (2017) posits that data, information and knowledge have always played a critical
role in business. Companies need new solutions for data processing and analysis as
the amount of various data that can be collected and stored is ever increasing, Following
the 4 Vs (volume, variety, veracity and velocity) of big data, which we learnt about in
AIN1501, organisations use data and analytics to gain valuable insight to inform better
business decisions. In all this, cloud computing technology simplifies the time-
consuming processes of hardware provisioning, hardware purchasing and software
deployment, and revolutionises the way computational resources and services are
commercialised and delivered to customers. Cloud computing technology shifts the
location of this infrastructure to the network so as to reduce the costs associated with
the management of hardware and software resources. This means that the cloud
represents the long-held dream of envisioning computer as a utility, a dream in which
the economy of scale principle helps to effectively drive down the cost of computing
infrastructure (Sakr & Gaber 2014).
1 Introduction
In AIN1501 we learnt amongst others that the world’s most valuable
resource is no longer oil, but data, and that companies have had a rapidly
growing volume of data which is sourced from different areas of the
business. In the relevant learning units 1, 2, 3, 6 and 11 (UNISA 2022),
the basic principles that would help you understand and contextualise
applications were provided as follows:
a. Learning unit 1 provided you with the foundation of how organisations use
information systems to manage their information, reduce uncertainties and costs,
and increase revenues and service delivery.
b. Learning unit 2 was about information systems (IS) as a tool that handles the flow
and maintenance of information which supports the business operations, and
identified four components being people, equipment, procedures, and data. It also
covered the principles relating to the Accounting Information System (AIS)
implementation in an ERP environment and decision-making.
c. In learning unit 3, you learnt about the characteristics of information.
d. In learning unit 6, you learnt that Big Data is a term referring to the collection of data
which is so large that it becomes difficult to store and process using traditional
databases and data processing applications. It described data sets so large and varied
that they are beyond the capability of traditional processing.
e. Lastly, key to learning unit 11, was to create an understanding of how society is
becoming more dependent upon computer and communications technology, where
many would argue that we have left the industrial age behind, and the information
age has taken over. Enterprise systems were described as commercial software
packages that enable integration of transactions-oriented data and business
process throughout an organisation. This included Enterprise Resource Planning
(ERP), software and related packages, such as advanced planning and scheduling
sales force automation, product configuration among others. The intention was to
ultimately create an understanding that information is used by different
organisations for different purposes.
3
, In this learning unit, we will first provide an understanding of the concept of digitalisation
of the economy, the use of Big Data technology, and the role of data in an organisation.
We will then look at the types of data input, processing and output and typical processing
systems and also learn about some of the methods used to process data into
information in an organisation.
The learning outcomes of this learning unit are as follows:
• Distinguish between the different methods of data input, data
processing and information output.
• Apply database terminology, applications and structures.
4
Data and the computerised
information system process
Introductory Video: Click on this link to watch a short
introductory video. The video contains a split screen feature;
opting not to watch the video will not disadvantage your
learning.
Contents
1 Introduction............................................................................................................... 3
1.1 Digitalisation of the economy ............................................................................... 5
1.2 Use of Big Data technologies ............................................................................... 6
1.3 Data in an organisation ......................................................................................... 6
1.3.1 Data generation in an institution of learning .................................................... 7
1.3.2 Other examples of data generation ................................................................... 8
1.4 Categories of data ................................................................................................. 9
1.4.1 Structured data ................................................................................................... 9
1.4.2 Unstructured data ............................................................................................... 9
1.5 Input of data ......................................................................................................... 10
1.5.1 Source documents ........................................................................................... 11
1.5.2 Characteristics of a good source document .................................................. 12
1.5.3 Input types ........................................................................................................ 12
1.5.4 Migration ........................................................................................................... 14
1.5.5 Reasons for migrating data ............................................................................. 14
1.5.6 Considerations for data migration .................................................................. 15
1.5.7 Types of data migration ................................................................................... 15
1.5.8 Data migration process .................................................................................... 16
1
,1.5.9 Data migration phases ..................................................................................... 17
1.5.10 Data migration approach ............................................................................... 18
1.5.11 Validation and implementation of data ......................................................... 18
1.5.12 Reasons for data migration failure ............................................................... 19
1.6 System integrating management information across the entire enterprise ... 19
1.6.1 Capturing .......................................................................................................... 20
1.6.2 Online input....................................................................................................... 22
1.7 Processing data ................................................................................................... 24
1.7.1 The main directions in the analysis and processing of big data .................. 25
1.7.2 Electronic Document Management System (EDMS)...................................... 25
1.7.3 Ways of data processing ................................................................................. 26
1.7.4 Applying Big Data technologies and models ................................................. 28
1.7.5 Methods of processing data ............................................................................ 30
1.7.6 Processing types .............................................................................................. 31
1.8 Output/information .............................................................................................. 32
1.8.1 Batch output ..................................................................................................... 32
1.8.2 Interactive output ............................................................................................. 33
1.9 Typical processing systems ............................................................................... 34
1.10 Storage of data and information ...................................................................... 36
1.10.1 Flat file environment ....................................................................................... 36
1.11 Summary ............................................................................................................ 38
Navigation Tip: For ease of navigation through this document, please
enable Bookmarks.
2
,Jelonek (2017) posits that data, information and knowledge have always played a critical
role in business. Companies need new solutions for data processing and analysis as
the amount of various data that can be collected and stored is ever increasing, Following
the 4 Vs (volume, variety, veracity and velocity) of big data, which we learnt about in
AIN1501, organisations use data and analytics to gain valuable insight to inform better
business decisions. In all this, cloud computing technology simplifies the time-
consuming processes of hardware provisioning, hardware purchasing and software
deployment, and revolutionises the way computational resources and services are
commercialised and delivered to customers. Cloud computing technology shifts the
location of this infrastructure to the network so as to reduce the costs associated with
the management of hardware and software resources. This means that the cloud
represents the long-held dream of envisioning computer as a utility, a dream in which
the economy of scale principle helps to effectively drive down the cost of computing
infrastructure (Sakr & Gaber 2014).
1 Introduction
In AIN1501 we learnt amongst others that the world’s most valuable
resource is no longer oil, but data, and that companies have had a rapidly
growing volume of data which is sourced from different areas of the
business. In the relevant learning units 1, 2, 3, 6 and 11 (UNISA 2022),
the basic principles that would help you understand and contextualise
applications were provided as follows:
a. Learning unit 1 provided you with the foundation of how organisations use
information systems to manage their information, reduce uncertainties and costs,
and increase revenues and service delivery.
b. Learning unit 2 was about information systems (IS) as a tool that handles the flow
and maintenance of information which supports the business operations, and
identified four components being people, equipment, procedures, and data. It also
covered the principles relating to the Accounting Information System (AIS)
implementation in an ERP environment and decision-making.
c. In learning unit 3, you learnt about the characteristics of information.
d. In learning unit 6, you learnt that Big Data is a term referring to the collection of data
which is so large that it becomes difficult to store and process using traditional
databases and data processing applications. It described data sets so large and varied
that they are beyond the capability of traditional processing.
e. Lastly, key to learning unit 11, was to create an understanding of how society is
becoming more dependent upon computer and communications technology, where
many would argue that we have left the industrial age behind, and the information
age has taken over. Enterprise systems were described as commercial software
packages that enable integration of transactions-oriented data and business
process throughout an organisation. This included Enterprise Resource Planning
(ERP), software and related packages, such as advanced planning and scheduling
sales force automation, product configuration among others. The intention was to
ultimately create an understanding that information is used by different
organisations for different purposes.
3
, In this learning unit, we will first provide an understanding of the concept of digitalisation
of the economy, the use of Big Data technology, and the role of data in an organisation.
We will then look at the types of data input, processing and output and typical processing
systems and also learn about some of the methods used to process data into
information in an organisation.
The learning outcomes of this learning unit are as follows:
• Distinguish between the different methods of data input, data
processing and information output.
• Apply database terminology, applications and structures.
4
