Review For Exam 1

1. Review ForExam 1 (September 10, 2009) BUS3500 - Abdou Illia, Fall 2009

2. Introduction to Information Systems

3. Refers to the slides # in original class notes Summary Questions

4. P I O Data versus Information • Data = raw facts that represent the characteristics of an event • Example 1: • Event: High temperature • Data: 100° F • Example 2: • Event: Sale • Data: Sale’s date, item number, item description, etc. • Information = facts within a given context • Information results from transforming data by adding context and meaning to make it more useful. • The temperature today at noon in Times Square, NYC was 100° F

5. Information Systems • A set of interrelated information technologies that work together to collect, store, process, and distribute information • Major components of information systems • Hardware (physical parts of a computer or other computing devices) • Software (Instructions that tell hardware what to do) • Databases (Software that enables storage/retrieval of data) • Networks (Computing devices that communicate with each other) • People • Information technology (IT):Computer-based tool that people use to work with information and support the information and information-processing needs of an organization InformationTechnologies

6. Administrative Information Systems • Transaction Processing Systems (TPS) • Basic business system that serves the operational level (analysts) in an organization • Office Automation Systems (OAS) • Systems designed to help office workers in doing their job. • Decision Support Systems (DSS) • Systems designed to support middle managers and business professionals during the decision-making process • Executive Information Systems (EIS) or Executive Support Systems (ESS) • Specialized DSS that help senior level executives make decisions. • GDSS: computer-based systems that facilitate solving of unstructured problems by set of decision makers

7. DSS structure UserInterface • Systems designed to help middle managers make decisions • Major components • Data management subsystem • Internal and external data sources • Analysis subsystem • Typically mathematical in nature • User interface • How the people interact with the DSS • Data visualization is the key • Text • Graphs • Charts • Analysis • - Sensitivity Analysis -> What-if Analysis • -> Goal-seeking Analysis • Data-driven tools • -> Data mining • -> OLAP* Data Management - Transactional Data- Data warehouse- Business partners data- Economic data * OLAP: OnLine Analytical Processing

8. DSS’ Model Management Tools • Simulation is used to examine proposed solutions and their impact • Sensitivity analysis • Determine how changes in one part of the model influence other parts of the model • What-if analysis • Manipulate variables to see what would happen in given scenarios • Goal-seeking analysis • Work backward from desired outcome Determine monthly payment given various interest rates. Works backward from a given monthly payment to determine various loans that would give that payment.

9. Example of rules IFfamily is albatross ANDcolor is white THENbird is laysan albatross. IFfamily is albatross ANDcolor is dark THENbird is black footed albatross Expert Systems Components • Knowledge base: database of the expertise, often in IF THEN rules. • Inference engine: derives recommendations from knowledge base and problem-specific data • User interface: controls the dialog between the user and the system • Explanation system: Explain the how and why of recommendations User Domain Expert UserInterface Expertise System Engineer InferenceEngine Knowledge Engineer Encoded expertise Knowledgebase ExplanationSystem - Knowledge engineer codify the human expert’s expertise into the systems’ knowledge base.- System engineer is the IT professional who develop the user interface, the inference engine, and the explanation system.

10. Hardware Technology

11. Summary Questions

12. Processing subsystem • Motherboard: chipset that all components connect to • Two major components in processing subsys. • CPU (Central Processing Unit) or Processor(s) • Primary Storage: • Random Access Memory (RAM) • Read Only Memory (ROM) CPU Busses that transfer data Primary Storage

13. Processor Clock Instruction Control Unit Arithmetic Logic Unit Registers Central Processing Unit • Clock: generate time that synchronize other components • ICU: Fetches instructions from RAM • ALU: Execute instructions (arithmetic & logic operations) • Registers: Store control information, data, intermediate results

14. Primary Storage • Computer’s memory stored on semiconductor chips • Two categories: • RAM (Random Access Memory) which is volatile • Synchronous Dynamic RAM (SDRAM) • Double Data Rate SDRAM or DDR SDRAM • ROM (Read-Only Memory) which is non-volatile • Capacity in Megabytes (MB) or Gigabytes (GB) • RAM holds running programs and the data they use • ROM contains critical programs such as those that boot the computer Primary Storage RAM Program Data ROM

15. Terminology • Dot pitch • Pixel • Screen resolution

16. Make sure you can answer Hardware Review Questions answered in class. They are posted to the Review section of the course website.

17. Software

18. Summary Questions

19. Relationship of software to hardware

20. Main Types of Software • Application software • Programs that allow users to accomplish specific tasks • Examples • Word processing • Web browser • Tax preparation • Data management • Desktop publishing • E-mail • Groupware • Presentation graphics • Programming editors • Spreadsheet

21. Operating Systems (OS) • Software platform on which other programs run • Provides a connection between application programs and the computer hardware • Major tasks • Starting the computer • Managing files • Keeping track of where files are located • Maintaining a table of file entries • Etc. • Managing Programs and Memory (RAM) • Sending programs to the CPU • Allocating primary storage (RAM) to programs • Controlling devices that programs requires • Ensuring security • Providing a user interface

22. OS: Multiprogramming

23. OS: Virtual Memory • A technique that “extends” primary memory (RAM) by using secondary storage devices • Needed when there is not enough RAM to hold programs

24. Utility Software • Accomplish common tasks and maintenance jobs • Disk Defragmentation, Disk Optimization • Virus protection • Edit the Windows registry • Remove Web cookies from HDD • Encrypt data • File and data recovery • Spyware • Program Uninstaller

25. Database Systems

26. Refers to the slides # in original class notes Summary Questions

27. Application 1 Application 2 Program 1 Program 2 Program 2 Program 1 File 1 File 1 File 1 File 1 File 2 File 2 File 2 File 2 File 3 File 3 File 3 File 3 Traditional File Systems • System of files that store groups of records used by a particular software application • Simple but with a cost • Inability to share data • Inadequate security • Difficulties in maintenance and expansion • Allows data duplication (e.g. redundancy)

28. Basic Concepts of Data Management Accounts table • Table • Two-dimensional structure composed of rows and columns • Field • Like a column in a spreadsheet • Field name • Like a column name in a spreadsheet • Examples: AccountID, Customer, Type, Balance • Field values • Actual data for the field • Record • Set of fields that describe an entity (a person, an account, etc.) • Primary key • A field, or group of fields, that uniquely identifies a record Each table has: • Fields • Records • 1 Primary key

29. Basic Concepts in Data Management • A Primary key could be a single field like in this table • A Primary key could be a composite key, i.e. multiple fields