BUILDING BLOCKS OF

INFORMATION SYSTEM

By:
Akanksha
Tanwar
L Saranya

CONTENTS
DATA AND INFORMATION
INFORMATION SYSTEM AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
FRONT AND BACK OFFICE INFORMATION SYSTEM
A FEDERATION OF INFORMATION SYSTEM
A FRAMEWORK FOR INFORMATION SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE
STAKEHOLDERS
BUILDING BLOCKS
KNOWLEDGE FOCUS
PROCESS FOCUS
INTERFACE FOCUS

DATA AND INFORMATION

Data are raw facts about the organization and its business transactions. Most data
items have little meaning and use by themselves.
Information is data that has been refined and organized by processing and
purposeful intelligence.
Information Systems transform data into useful information.

INFORMATION SYSTEM AND INFORMATION

TECHNOLOGY
An information system (IS) is an arrangement of people, data, processes,
communications, and information technology that interact to support and improve
day-to-day operations in a business as well as support the problem-solving and
decision making needs of management and users.
Information technology is a contemporary term that describes the combination of
computer technology (hardware and software) with telecommunications technology
(data, image, and voice networks).
Information technology has significantly expanded the power and potential of
most information systems.

FRONT AND BACK OFFICE INFORMATION

SYSTEM
Front-office information systems support business functions that reach out to
customers (or constituents).
Marketing
Sales
Customer management
Back-office information systems support internal business operations and interact
with suppliers (of materials, equipment, supplies, and services).
Human resources
Financial management
Manufacturing
Inventory control

A FEDERATION OF
INFORMATION SYSTEM

CLASSES OF INFORMATION SYSTEM

Transaction processing systems are information system applications that capture
and process data about (or for) business transactions. They are sometimes called data
processing systems.
Management information system (MIS) is an information system application that
provides for management-oriented reporting, usually in a predetermined, fixed
format.
Decision support system (DSS) is an information system application that provides
its users with decision-oriented information whenever a decision making situation
arises. When applied to executive managers, these systems are sometimes called
executive information systems.
Expert system is an information system application that captures the knowledge and
expertise of a problem solver or decision maker, and then simulates the thinking of

A FRAMEWORK FOR INFORMATION SYSTEM

ARCHITECTURE
An information systems architecture provides a unifying framework into which
various people with different perspectives can organize and view the fundamental
building blocks of information systems.
Stakeholders have different views of the system and each has something at stake
in determining the success of the system.
Stakeholders can be broadly classified into four groups:
System Owners
System Users
System Designers
System Builders

STAKEHOLDERS
System owners pay for the system to be built and maintained.
System users use the system to perform or support the work to be completed.
System designers design the system to meet the users requirements.
System builders construct, test, and deliver the system into operation.
Systems analysts facilitate the development of information systems and computer
applications by bridging the communications gap that exists between non technical
system owners and users and technical system designers and builders.
IT vendors and consultants sell hardware, software, and services to businesses for
incorporation into their information systems.

PERSPECTIVE OF OWNERS AND USERS

System Owners and System Users tend to focus on 3 common business goals of
any IS:- To improve business knowledge (Knowledge is product of data and information)
- To improve business processes and services
- To improve business communications and people collaboration

PERSPECTIVE OF DESIGNERS AND

BUILDERS
System designers and builders tend to focus on technologies that may be used by
the IS to achieve business goals. Their perspective tend to focus on:- The Database technologies that support business accumulation and use of business
knowledge
- The software technologies that automate and support business processes and
services
- The interface technologies that support business communications and people
collaboration.

INFORMATION SYSTEMS FRAMEWORK

INFORMATION SYSTEM FOCUSES

S
Y
S
T
E
M

A
N
A
L
Y
S
T
S

SYSTEM
OWNERS

INFORMATION SYSTEM SCOPE

(purpose and vision; goals and objectives; costs and benefits)

SYSTEM
USERS

INFORMATION SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

(WHAT the system "is" and "must do" independent of technology)

SYSTEM
DESIGNERS

INFORMATION SYSTEM DESIGN

(HOW the system will be implemented using technology)

SYSTEM
BUILDERS

INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENTS

(the actual, technical implementation of the system)

Data
Technology

Software
Technology

Interface
Technology

Networking
Technology

INFORMATION
SYSTEM
PERSPECTIVE

FOCUSES FOR INFORMATION SYSTEM

Datathe raw material used to create useful information.
Processesthe activities (including management) that carry out the mission
of the business.
Interfaceshow the system interacts with its users and other information
systems.

STAGES OF BUILDING BLOCKS

At an Early Stage, a building block can simply consist of a grouping of
functionality such as a customer database and some retrieval tools. Building blocks
at this functional level of definition are described as Architecture Building Blocks
(ABBs).
Later on, real products or specific custom developments replace these simple
definitions of functionality, and the building blocks are then described as Solution
Building Blocks (SBBs).

CHARACTERISTICS OF ARCHITECTURE
BUILDING BLOCK
Define what functionality will be implemented
Capture business and technical requirements
Are technology aware
Direct and guide the development of Solution Building Blocks (SBBs).

CHARACTERISTICS OF SOLUTION
BUILDING BLOCKS
Define what products and components will implement the functionality
Define the implementation
Fulfill business requirements

BUILDING
BLOCKS

THE KNOWLEDGE FOCUS

THE KNOWLEDGE FOCUS

Knowledge enables a company to achieve its mission and vision. The fundamental goal of
any IS is to improve business knowledge

THE KNOWLEDGE FOCUS: SYSTEM OWNERS

PERSPECTIVE
Add value to the business knowledge --> to take intelligent decisions to that support
organizations mission, objectives goals, vision and maintaining a competitive edge.
Primary role --> define the scope and vision of the project.
identifying business entities and business rules
how the entities interact.
define project vision and expectations in terms of their insights into problems,
opportunities and constraints

THE KNOWLEDGE FOCUS: SYSTEM

USERS PERSPECTIVE
They are experts about the data that describe the business system: more familiar with data
Only see data in how it is currently implemented or think it should be implemented.
They relate data requirements to systems analysts.
Data requirements are a representation of users data in terms of entities, attributes,
relationships, and rules.
Data requirements should be expressed in a format that is independent of the technology
that can or will be used to store the data.

THE KNOWLEDGE FOCUS: SYSTEM DESIGNERS

PERSPECTIVE
Translate requirements into computer files and databases.
Data structures, Database schema, fields, indexes and other technology dependent
components.
System designers view of data as shown in the data column of the framework is a
database schema
A database schema is the transformation our the data model (system users view) into a
set of data structures that can be implemented using the chosen database technology.
The designers' intent is to represent the design such that: (1) it fulfills the data
requirements of the users; and (2) it provides sufficient detail and consistency for
communicating the database design to the system builders.

THE KNOWLEDGE FOCUS: SYSTEM BUILDERS

PERSPECTIVE
Closest to the database technology foundation.
Represent data in very precise and unforgiving languages.
The most commonly encountered database construction language is SQL (Structured
Query Language)
Database management system

THE PROCESS FOCUS

THE PROCESS FOCUS

PROCESSES deliver the functionality of an information system.
Processes perform the work in a system.
The goal is to automate appropriate processes with software technology.

...

THE PROCESS FOCUS: SYSTEM OWNERS

PERSPECTIVE
Business functions are ongoing processes that support the business
Typical business functions include sales, service, manufacturing, shipping, receiving,
accounting, and so forth.
Each function is on-going; that is; it has no starting time or stopping time.
Functions --> sub functions --> processes --> tasks
A cross-functional information system supports relevant business processes from several
business functions without regard to traditional organizational boundaries such as
divisions, departments, centers, and offices.
Historically, most ISs were function-centered. There is an increasing trend towards cross...
functional ISs to ensure complete response to customer order regardless of which
departments are involved.

THE PROCESS FOCUS : SYSTEM USERS

PERSPECTIVES
Business processes are activities that respond to business events.
Business processes are the work performed by the system.
Representation of the users business processes in terms of activities, data flows, or work
flow.
Business process requirements : policies and procedures.
A policy is a set of rules that govern a business process.
A procedure is a step-by-step set of instructions and logic for accomplishing a business
process.

THE PROCESS FOCUS: SYSTEM DESIGNERS

PERSPECTIVES
Is constrained by the limitations of specific technology.
Choice(s) may be limited by a standardized application architecture that specifies which
software (and hardware) technologies must be used.
The designers view of processes is technical.
The designer tends to focus on an application schema.
An application schema is a model that communicates how selected business processes
are, or will be, implemented using the computer and programs (software and hardware)
Software specifications represent the technical design of business processes to be
automated or supported by computer programs to be written by system builders.

THE PROCESS FOCUS: SYSTEM BUILDERS

PERSPECTIVES
System builders represent PROCESSES using precise computer programming languages
that describe inputs, outputs, logic, and control.
Computer programming languages are used to write applications programs.
Applications programs are language-based, machine-readable representations of what a
computer process is supposed to do, or how a computer process is supposed to
accomplish its task.
Some computer programming languages provide an excellent environment for
prototyping computer process

THE INTERFACE FOCUS

THE INTERFACE FOCUS

Two critical interface goals for an Information System are:Information System must provide effective and efficient communication interfaces to the system
users.
These interfaces should promote teamwork and coordination of activities.
Information System must interface effectively and efficiently with other ISs (within the business
and with other business IS)
Technologies exist to :
implement interfaces
To eliminate human error or intervention.
for system integration

THE INTERFACE FOCUS: SYSTEM OWNERS

PERSPECTIVE
System owners are concerned with costs and benefits of the interfacing solutions that will be
developed
They need to define in the early stage of system development:
With which business units, employees, customers and external businesses the new system must
interface?
Will the system has to interface with other information, computers or automated systems?
Are there any corporate or governmental regulations or policies that may constrain the system
interfaces
System owners are interested in the big picture in this case, the overall context of the system as it
relates to the business as a whole, and other systems. They are virtually never concerned with
details

THE INTERFACE FOCUS: SYSTEM USERS

PERSPECTIVES
The user interface defines how the system users directly interact with the information system to
provide inputs and queries, and receive outputs and help.
Interface requirements :representation of the users inputs and outputs which represent how the
proposed system will interact with users, employees, business units, customers, and other
businesses.
System users also need to specify the business data requirements for interfaces to other systems
and applications.
For example, if a new payroll system must interface with an existing personnel information
system, the inputs and outputs between those systems should be specified in terms of data
content and flexibility (or inflexibility). Chances are that the existing system will impose certain
constraints on the proposed system (to minimize the need to modify the existing system).

THE INTERFACE FOCUS: SYSTEM DESIGNERS

PERSPECTIVE
System designers must be concerned the details of both user and system interfaces
System designers are concerned with consistency, completeness, and user dialogues of
user interfaces
User dialogues (interface navigation) describe how the user moves from window-towindow, interacting with the application programs to perform useful work.
System designers are concerned with system-to-system interfaces.
System designers have to design the system-to-system interfaces that allow a new
information system to transparently interoperate with previously designed systems.

THE INTERFACE FOCUS: SYSTEM BUILDERS

PERSPECTIVE
They construct, install, test, and implement both user and system-to-system interface
solutions using interface technology .
For user interfaces, the technology is usually embedded into the programming language
environments used to construct the computer processes.
System interfaces are considerably more complex to construct and may utilize system
interfacing technologies such as middleware
Middleware is a layer of utility software that sits in between applications software and
systems software to transparently integrate differing technologies so that they can operate