Information Systems for Business and Beyond

Information Systems for Business and Beyond

David T. Bourgeois, Ph.D.

Information Systems for Business and Beyond ? 2014 David T. Bourgeois, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license made possible by funding from The Saylor Foundation's Open Textbook Challenge in order to be incorporated into 's collection of open courses available at . Full license terms may be viewed at:

Saylor URL: Attributed to: David T. Bourgeois, Ph.D.



Contents

Introduction

Part 1: What Is an Information System?

Chapter 1: What Is an Information System? David T. Bourgeois

Chapter 2: Hardware David T. Bourgeois

Chapter 3: Software David T. Bourgeois

Chapter 4: Data and Databases David T. Bourgeois

Chapter 5: Networking and Communication David T. Bourgeois

Chapter 6: Information Systems Security David T. Bourgeois

Part 2: Information Systems for Strategic Advantage

Chapter 7: Does IT Matter? David T. Bourgeois

Chapter 8: Business Processes David T. Bourgeois

Chapter 9: The People in Information Systems David T. Bourgeois

Chapter 10: Information Systems Development David T. Bourgeois

Part 3: Information Systems Beyond the Organization

Chapter 11: Globalization and the Digital Divide David T. Bourgeois

Chapter 12: The Ethical and Legal Implications of Information Systems David T. Bourgeois

Chapter 13: Future Trends in Information Systems David T. Bourgeois

Answers to Study Questions Bibliography

Saylor URL:

iv

Attributed to: David T. Bourgeois, Ph.D.

1

5 14 26 39 52 64

76 85 94 104

120 129 144 150 162



Introduction

Welcome to Information Systems for Business and Beyond. In this book, you will be introduced to the concept of information systems, their use in business, and the larger impact they are having on our world.

Audience

This book is written as an introductory text, meant for those with little or no experience with computers or information systems. While sometimes the descriptions can get a little bit technical, every effort has been made to convey the information essential to understanding a topic while not getting bogged down in detailed terminology or esoteric discussions.

Chapter Outline

The text is organized around thirteen chapters divided into three major parts, as follows:

? Part 1: What Is an Information System? Chapter 1: What Is an Information System? ? This chapter provides an overview of information systems, including the history of how we got where we are today. Chapter 2: Hardware ? We discuss information systems hardware and how it works. You will look at different computer parts and learn how they interact. Chapter 3: Software ? Without software, hardware is useless. In this chapter, we discuss software and the role it plays in an organization. Chapter 4: Data and Databases ? This chapter explores how organizations use information systems to turn data into information that can then be used for competitive advantage. Special attention is paid to the role of databases. Chapter 5: Networking and Communication ? Today's computers are expected to also be communication devices. In this chapter we review the history of networking, how the Internet works, and the use of networks in organizations today. Chapter 6: Information Systems Security ? We discuss the information security triad of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. We will review different security technologies, and the chapter concludes with a primer on personal information security.

? Part 2: Information Systems for Strategic Advantage Chapter 7: Does IT Matter? ? This chapter examines the impact that information systems have on an organization. Can IT give a company a competitive advantage? We will

Saylor URL:

1

Attributed to: David T. Bourgeois, Ph.D.



 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download