Introduction to Information Skills and Systems

information systems in context

• diagrammatic representation of an information system in context
• the environment – everything that influences and is influenced by the information system
• the purpose – a statement identifying who the information system is for and what it needs to achieve
• who the information system is for includes individuals and organisations
• the information system – a set of information processes requiring participants, data/information and information technology built to satisfy a purpose
• information processes – computer based and non-computer based activities
• information technology – hardware and software used in information processes
• data – the raw material used by information processes
• information – the output displayed by an information system
• user – a person who views or uses the information output from an information system
• participant – a special class of user who carries out the information processes within an information system

information processes

• collecting – the process by which data is entered into or captured by a computer system, including:
• deciding what data is required
• how it is sourced
• how it is encoded for entry into the system
• organising – the process by which data is structured into a form appropriate for the use of other information processes such as the format in which data will be represented
• analysing – the process by which data is interpreted, transforming it into information
• storing and retrieving – the process by which data and information is saved and accessed later
• processing – a procedure that manipulates data and information
• transmitting and receiving – the process that sends and receives data and information within and beyond information systems
• displaying – the process that controls the format of information presented to the participant or user

the nature of data and information

• data – the input to an information system
• data representation – the different types of media, namely:
  • images
  • audio
  • video
  • text
  • numbers
• information – the output which has been processed by an information system for human understanding
• the generation of information from data via the information processes
• how information from one information system can be data for another information system

reasons for digital data representation

• the need for quality data, including:

• • accuracy
  • timeliness
  • accessibility

• current data digitising trends, for example:

• • newspapers on the Internet
  • telephone system
  • video on DVD
  • facsimile
  • media retrieval management

social and ethical issues

• social and ethical issues arising from the processing of information, including:
  • privacy of the individual
  • security of data and information
  • accuracy of data and information
  • data quality
  • changing nature of work
  • appropriate information use
  • health and safety
  • copyright laws

• the people affected by social and ethical issues, including:
  • participants within the information system
  • users of the information system
  • those in the environment

• the ethical and social responsibility of developers
• current government legislation to protect the individual and organisations
• the use of information systems in fields such as manufacturing as well as the traditional fields of observation and recording
• global information systems:
  • where the purpose involves international organisations, or
  • where the data and processes are distributed across national boundaries

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