Fundamentals of Information Systems

494 Pages·2008·16.648 MB·English

by  Ralph Stair, George Reynolds

FM C6841 11/24/08
FIFTH
EDITION
Fundamentals of Information Systems
Fifth Edition
Ralph M. Stair
Professor Emeritus, Florida State University
George W. Reynolds
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FM C6841 11/24/08
Fundamentals of Information Systems, © 2010 Course Technology, Cengage Learning
Fifth Edition by
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Ralph M. Stair and George W. Reynolds
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ISBN-13:978–14239–2581–1
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 13 12 11 10 09
FM C6841 11/24/08
For Lila and Leslie
—RMS
To my grandchildren: Michael, Jacob, Jared, Fievel, Aubrey, Elijah, Abrielle, Sophia, Elliot
—GWR
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FM C6841 11/24/08
BRIEF
CONTENTS
PART 1 Information Systems in Perspective
Chapter 1 An Introduction to Information Systems in Organizations
PART 2 Technology
Chapter 2 Hardware and Software
Chapter 3 Database Systems and Business Intelligence
Chapter 4 Telecommunications, the Internet, Intranets, and Extranets
PART 3 Business Information Systems
Chapter 5 Electronic and Mobile Commerce and Enterprise Systems
Chapter 6 Information and Decision Support Systems
Chapter 7 Knowledge Management and Specialized Information Systems
PART 4 Systems Development and Social Issues
Chapter 8 Systems Development
PART 5 Information Systems in Business and Society
Chapter 9 The Personal and Social Impact of Computers

Glossary
Index
v
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CONTENTS
Preface xvii
PART 1 Information Systems in Perspective 1
Chapter 1 An Introduction to Information Systems in Organizations 2
Fossil, United States 3
Information Concepts 5
Data, Information, and Knowledge 5
The Characteristics of Valuable Information 6
The Value of Information 7
What is an Information System? 8
Input, Processing, Output, Feedback 8
Manual and Computerized Information Systems 9
Computer-Based Information Systems 10
Business Information Systems 14
Electronic and Mobile Commerce 14
Enterprise Systems: Transaction Processing Systems and Enterprise
Resource Planning 16
Information and Decision Support Systems 17
Ethical and Societal Issues: Green Data Centers 18
Specialized Business Information Systems: Knowledge Management,
Artificial Intelligence, Expert Systems, and Virtual Reality 21
Systems Development 23
Systems Investigation and Analysis 24
Systems Design, Implementation, and Maintenance and Review 25
Organizations and Information Systems 25
Organizational Culture and Change 28
User Satisfaction and Technology Acceptance 29
Competitive Advantage 30
Factors That Lead Firms to Seek Competitive Advantage 30
Strategic Planning for Competitive Advantage 32
Information Systems @ Work: Grand & Toy Seeks Competitive Advantage by
Tracking Key Performance Indicators 33
Performance-Based Information Systems 35
Productivity 35
Return on Investment and the Value of Information Systems 36
Risk 37
Careers in Information Systems 37
Roles, Functions, and Careers in IS 39
Typical IS Titles and Functions 42
Other IS Careers 44
Finding a Job in IS 44
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Global Challenges in Information Systems 45
Case One: Yansha Leans on IS to Stay Competitive 52
Case Two: Customer Service Drives Information Systems at Volvo
Cars Belgium 53
PART 2 Technology 57
Chapter 2 Hardware and Software 58
UB Spirits, India 59
Computer Systems: Integrating the Power of Technology 60
Hardware Components 62
Processing and Memory Devices: Power, Speed, and Capacity 62
Processing Characteristics and Functions 62
Memory Characteristics and Functions 63
Multiprocessing 64
Secondary Storage and Input and Output Devices 66
Access Methods 66
Secondary Storage Devices 66
Input Devices 69
Output Devices 72
Ethical and Societal Issues: Collecting Accurate and Verifiable Data Where It
Counts 73
Computer System Types 75
Overview of Software 79
Supporting Individual, Group, and Organizational Goals 80
Installing and Removing New Software 80
Systems Software 81
Operating Systems 81
Current Operating Systems 84
Workgroup Operating Systems 86
Enterprise Operating Systems 87
Operating Systems for Small Computers, Embedded Computers, and
Special-Purpose Devices 87
Utility Programs 89
Application Software 90
Types and Functions of Application Software 90
Information Systems @ Work: Software Helps Target Radiation Treatment for
Cancer 91
Personal Application Software 92
Workgroup Application Software 97
Enterprise Application Software 98
Application Software for Information, Decision Support, and Specialized
Purposes 99
Programming Languages 100
Software Issues and Trends 100
Software Bugs 100
Copyrights and Licenses 101
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Software Upgrades 101
Global Software Support 101
Case One: Advance America Implements Grid Computing 107
Case Two: Systems Management Software Helps Fight Crime 107
Chapter 3 Database Systems and Business Intelligence 110
Wal-Mart, United States 111
Data Management 113
The Hierarchy of Data 113
Data Entities, Attributes, and Keys 113
Ethical and Societal Issues: Web-Based Electronic Health Record Systems 117
Data Modeling and Database Characteristics 118
Data Modeling 118
The Relational Database Model 119
Database Management Systems 122
Overview of Database Types 122
Providing a User View 124
Creating and Modifying the Database 124
Storing and Retrieving Data 125
Manipulating Data and Generating Reports 126
Database Administration 129
Popular Database Management Systems 130
Special-Purpose Database Systems 130
Selecting a Database Management System 130
Using Databases with Other Software 131
Database Applications 132
Linking the Company Database to the Internet 132
Data Warehouses, Data Marts, and Data Mining 132
Business Intelligence 136
Information Systems @ Work: Yangtze Power Harnesses the Power 138
Distributed Databases 139
Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) 140
Object-Relational Database Management Systems 141
Visual, Audio, and Other Database Systems 141
Case One: The Getty Vocabularies 147
Case Two: ETAI Manages Auto Parts Overload with Open-Source Database 148
Chapter 4 Telecommunications, the Internet, Intranets, and Extranets 152
Lamborghini, Italy 153
An Overview of Telecommunications 155
Channel Bandwidth 156
Communications Media 156
Telecommunications Hardware 159
Services 160
Networks and Distributed Processing 162
Network Types 162
ix