INFORMATION SYSTEM ACTIVITIES

Information processing (or data processing) activities that occur in information system include the following:

·         Input of data resources

·         Processing of data into information

·         Output of information products

·         Storage of data resources

·         Control of system performance

Input of Data Resources:

·         Data about business transactions and other events must be captured and prepared for processing by the input activity.  Input typically takes the form of data entry activities such as recording and editing.

·         Once entered, data may be transferred onto a machine-readable medium such as magnetic disk or type, until needed for processing.

Processing of Data into Information:

·         Data is typically subjected to processing activities such as calculating, comparing, sorting, classifying, and summarizing.   These activities organize, analyze, and manipulate data, thus converting them into information for end users.

·         A continual process of correcting and updating activities must maintain quality of data stored in an information system.

Output of Information Products:

·         Information in various forms is transmitted to end-users and made available to them in the output activity.  The goal of information systems is the production of appropriate information products for end users. 

Storage of Data Resources:

Storage is a basic system component of information systems. 

·         Storage is the information system activity in which data and information are retained in an organized manner for later use.

Control of System Performance:

An important information system activity is the control of its performance.

·         An information system should produce feedback about its input, processing, output, and storage activities.

·         Feedback must be monitored and evaluated to determine if the system is meeting established performance standards.

·         Feedback is used to make adjustments to system activities to correct deficiencies.

RECOGNIZING INFORMATION SYSTEMS

As a business professional, you should be able to recognize the fundamental components of information systems you encounter in the real world.  This means that you should be able to identify:

·         The people, hardware, software, data, and network resources they use.

·         The types of information products they produce.

·         The way they perform input, processing, output, storage, and control activities.

Analysing BellSouth’s Information System

From the Real World Case of BellSouth Corporation, we will try to recognize or visualize the resources used, activities performed, and information products produced by their information systems.

IS Resources:

·         People resources include end users like BellSouth’s online customers and employees, and IS specialists like CIO Fran Dramis and project leader Lori Groves.

Hardware Resources:

·         Thousands of PC server

·         Other computers that BellSouth and its customers must be using

Software Resources:

·         Web browsers

·         Operating systems

·         e-commerce websites software

·         Oracle’s customer relationship management system

·         Other proprietary BellSouth business software.

Network Resources:

·         Communications media and network support components that are part of the network resources that BellSouth would need to support the e-business and e-commerce activities of such a large telecommunications company.

Data Resources:

·         Computer-accessible databases of data about their customers, employees, services, and other necessary business information.

Information Products:

·         Displays on customer and employee networked PCs that provide information about and support the provision of BellSouth’s services, such as you would find by visiting their Websites at www.bellsouth.com and www.bellsouthcorp.com.

IS Activities:

·         Input activities include the input of Web site navigation clicks and e-commerce and e-business data entries and selections, and online collaboration queries and responses made by customers, suppliers, and employees.

Processing Activities:

·         Processing activities are accomplished whenever any of BellSouth’s computers executes the programs that are part of their e-business and e-commerce software resources. 

Output Activities:

·         Output activities primarily involve the display or printing of information products mentioned earlier.

Storage Activities:

·         Storage activities take place whenever business data is stored and managed in the files and databases on the disk drives and other storage media of BellSouth’s computer systems.

Control Activities:

Control activities include the use of passwords and other security codes by customers, suppliers, and employees for entry into BellSouth’s e-business and e-commerce websites, and access of their databases and knowledge bases.