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

1

Part 1: What Is an Information System?

Chapter 1: What Is an Information System?

5

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Chapter 2: Hardware

14

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Chapter 3: Software

26

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Chapter 4: Data and Databases

39

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Chapter 5: Networking and Communication

52

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Chapter 6: Information Systems Security

64

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Part 2: Information Systems for Strategic Advantage

Chapter 7: Does IT Matter?

76

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Chapter 8: Business Processes

85

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Chapter 9: The People in Information Systems

94

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Chapter 10: Information Systems Development

104

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Part 3: Information Systems Beyond the Organization

Chapter 11: Globalization and the Digital Divide

120

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Chapter 12: The Ethical and Legal Implications of Information Systems

129

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Chapter 13: Future Trends in Information Systems

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144

Answers to Study Questions

Bibliography

150

162

Saylor URL:

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

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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? ¨C This chapter provides an overview of

information systems, including the history of how we got where we are today.

Chapter 2: Hardware ¨C We discuss information systems hardware and how it works. You

will look at different computer parts and learn how they interact.

Chapter 3: Software ¨C Without software, hardware is useless. In this chapter, we discuss

software and the role it plays in an organization.

Chapter 4: Data and Databases ¨C 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 ¨C 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 ¨C 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? ¨C This chapter examines the impact that information systems

have on an organization. Can IT give a company a competitive advantage? We will

Saylor URL:

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

1



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