ICT2621
NOTES
, PHASE 1 – SYSTEM PLANNING
3 Methods:
- Structured analysis (based on concept of SDLC Systems development life cycle)
- Object – orientated analysis
- Agile methods
IT combination of hardware, software and services people use to manage, communicate and share info.
Information system combines information technology, people and data to support business
requirements.
System analysts plan, develop and maintain information systems
Information systems developed by company itself = in-house applications, or purchased = software
packages.
Mission-critical system is one that is vital to a company’s operations.
IS 5 x Main Components:
Hardware – everything in physical layer
Software – programs that control the hardware and produce the desired info or results.
- System Software = manage hardware components (OS, drivers…) Controls flow of data and provide
system security and manage network operations.
- Application Software = support day-to-day business functions and provide users with required info.
Company-wide apps is called enterprise apps and include order processing systems, payroll…
Incl both horizontal and vertical systems:
horizontal – can be adapted for use in many different types of companies
vertical – meet unique requirements of a specific business or industry
Data – raw material, saved in tables.
Processes – tasks and business functions that users, managers and IT staff members perform to achieve
specific results. Represent actual day-to-day business operations.
People – People with interest in IS are called stakeholders. Include management group, users and IT
staff members.
When planning an IS system a company must consider how a new system will interface with older
systems which are called legacy systems.
2
,UDERSTAND THE BUSINESS!
System analysts use a process called business process modeling to represent company operations and
info needs and requires a business profile and a series of models that document business processes.
Business Profile is an overview of a company’s mission, functions, organization, products, services,
customers, suppliers, competitors, constraints and future direction. Starting point of modeling process.
Business Process is specific set of transactions, events, and results that can be described and
documented.
(BPM) Business Process Model graphically displays one or more business process. For complex
operations computer-based modeling tools that use standard language (BPMN) Business process
modeling notation is used (include various shapes and symbols)
Internet-dependent firm – Amazon
Brick-and-mortar – physical locations
e-Commerce (electronic commerce) or I-Commerce (Internet commerce), 2 x Main Sectors:
B2C (Business-to-Consumer)
B2B (Business-to-Business) – used EDI (Electronic data interchange), enabling computer-to-computer
data transfer, plan production etc based on another companies data. XML (Extensible markup language)
offer std protocols, universal availability and low communication costs… allowing web-based
communication between different hardware and software environments.
Popular form of B2B interaction is called (SCM) Supply Chain Management or (SRM) Supplier
relationship management.
Enterprise Computing
IS that support company-wide operations and data management requirements, referred to as (ERP)
Enterprise resource planning.
Transaction Processing (TP)
Process data generated by day-to-day business operations.
Series of tasks performed by processing a sales order: (processed as one group)
- Verify Cus Data
- Check Credit status
- Post to AR
- Check stock availability
- Adjust Invent Data
- Update Sales Activity File
3
, Business Support
Business Support Systems provide job-related info support to users at all levels of a company. Analyze
transactional data, generate info needed to manage and control business processes and provide info
that leads to better decision-making. Calles (MIS) Management information systems.
RFID (radio frequency identification) – Newest development in data acquisition, uses high-frequency
radio waves to track physical objects and can track parcels constantly.
Knowledge Management
Also called expert systems because they stimulate human reasoning by combining a knowledge base
and inference rules that determine how the knowledge is applied.
Knowledge base consist of large database allowing users to find info by entering keywords or question
in normal English phrases.
Knowledge management system uses inference rules which are logical rules that identify data patterns
and relationships. Do not use strict logical rules but a technique called Fuzzy logic that allow inferences
to be drawn from imprecise relationships. Not black and white like binary logic but shades of gray…
Results from fuzzy logic search will display in priority order.
User Productivity
User productivity systems include e-mail, fax, word processing etc. and include Groupware (programs
run on a company intranet and enable users to share data, collaborate on projects and work in teams.)
Information Systems Integration
Most companies require systems that combine TP, Business Support, Knowledge management and user
productivity features.
4
NOTES
, PHASE 1 – SYSTEM PLANNING
3 Methods:
- Structured analysis (based on concept of SDLC Systems development life cycle)
- Object – orientated analysis
- Agile methods
IT combination of hardware, software and services people use to manage, communicate and share info.
Information system combines information technology, people and data to support business
requirements.
System analysts plan, develop and maintain information systems
Information systems developed by company itself = in-house applications, or purchased = software
packages.
Mission-critical system is one that is vital to a company’s operations.
IS 5 x Main Components:
Hardware – everything in physical layer
Software – programs that control the hardware and produce the desired info or results.
- System Software = manage hardware components (OS, drivers…) Controls flow of data and provide
system security and manage network operations.
- Application Software = support day-to-day business functions and provide users with required info.
Company-wide apps is called enterprise apps and include order processing systems, payroll…
Incl both horizontal and vertical systems:
horizontal – can be adapted for use in many different types of companies
vertical – meet unique requirements of a specific business or industry
Data – raw material, saved in tables.
Processes – tasks and business functions that users, managers and IT staff members perform to achieve
specific results. Represent actual day-to-day business operations.
People – People with interest in IS are called stakeholders. Include management group, users and IT
staff members.
When planning an IS system a company must consider how a new system will interface with older
systems which are called legacy systems.
2
,UDERSTAND THE BUSINESS!
System analysts use a process called business process modeling to represent company operations and
info needs and requires a business profile and a series of models that document business processes.
Business Profile is an overview of a company’s mission, functions, organization, products, services,
customers, suppliers, competitors, constraints and future direction. Starting point of modeling process.
Business Process is specific set of transactions, events, and results that can be described and
documented.
(BPM) Business Process Model graphically displays one or more business process. For complex
operations computer-based modeling tools that use standard language (BPMN) Business process
modeling notation is used (include various shapes and symbols)
Internet-dependent firm – Amazon
Brick-and-mortar – physical locations
e-Commerce (electronic commerce) or I-Commerce (Internet commerce), 2 x Main Sectors:
B2C (Business-to-Consumer)
B2B (Business-to-Business) – used EDI (Electronic data interchange), enabling computer-to-computer
data transfer, plan production etc based on another companies data. XML (Extensible markup language)
offer std protocols, universal availability and low communication costs… allowing web-based
communication between different hardware and software environments.
Popular form of B2B interaction is called (SCM) Supply Chain Management or (SRM) Supplier
relationship management.
Enterprise Computing
IS that support company-wide operations and data management requirements, referred to as (ERP)
Enterprise resource planning.
Transaction Processing (TP)
Process data generated by day-to-day business operations.
Series of tasks performed by processing a sales order: (processed as one group)
- Verify Cus Data
- Check Credit status
- Post to AR
- Check stock availability
- Adjust Invent Data
- Update Sales Activity File
3
, Business Support
Business Support Systems provide job-related info support to users at all levels of a company. Analyze
transactional data, generate info needed to manage and control business processes and provide info
that leads to better decision-making. Calles (MIS) Management information systems.
RFID (radio frequency identification) – Newest development in data acquisition, uses high-frequency
radio waves to track physical objects and can track parcels constantly.
Knowledge Management
Also called expert systems because they stimulate human reasoning by combining a knowledge base
and inference rules that determine how the knowledge is applied.
Knowledge base consist of large database allowing users to find info by entering keywords or question
in normal English phrases.
Knowledge management system uses inference rules which are logical rules that identify data patterns
and relationships. Do not use strict logical rules but a technique called Fuzzy logic that allow inferences
to be drawn from imprecise relationships. Not black and white like binary logic but shades of gray…
Results from fuzzy logic search will display in priority order.
User Productivity
User productivity systems include e-mail, fax, word processing etc. and include Groupware (programs
run on a company intranet and enable users to share data, collaborate on projects and work in teams.)
Information Systems Integration
Most companies require systems that combine TP, Business Support, Knowledge management and user
productivity features.
4
