Lecture 3 (Contemporary approaches to Information Systems)

Problem: Tough competition and demanding customers.
Solutions: Redesigned order and production processes reduce costs, increase revenue, and improve customer service.

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Contemporary Approaches to
Information Systems

Lecture 3
Abdisalam Issa-Salwe



Department of Computer Science
Faculty of Information Science and Technology
East Africa University
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East Africa University, Faculty of Information Science and Technology, Department of Computer Science
Content
Business problem and Solutions Perspective
Management Challenges
A Business Perspective on IS
IS Support Business Functions
People in the Organization
Management in the Organization
Approaches to IS
The Interdependence Between Organizations and Information
Systems
The Widening Scope of Information Systems
Interdependence of IS and the Organization
The Impact of the Internet
Impact of IS on Organizational Design
Internet-based technologies

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East Africa University, Faculty of Information Science and Technology, Department of Computer Science
Problem: Tough competition and demanding
customers.
Solutions: Redesigned order and production
processes reduce costs, increase revenue, and
improve customer service.

Business problem and Solutions Perspective
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East Africa University, Faculty of Information Science and Technology, Department of Computer Science
Management Challenges
Design competitive and effective system
Understand system requirements of global
business environment
Create information architecture that supports
organization’s goal
Determine business value of information
systems
Design systems people can control,
understand and use in a socially, ethically
responsible manner

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East Africa University, Faculty of Information Science and Technology, Department of Computer Science
A Business Perspective on IS
Information
Systems
ORGANISATIONS TECHNOLOGY
MANAGEMENT
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East Africa University, Faculty of Information Science and Technology, Department of Computer Science
IS Support Business Functions
Sales & Marketing
Manufacturing & Production
Finance
Accounting
Human Resources

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East Africa University, Faculty of Information Science and Technology, Department of Computer Science
People in the Organization
Managers
Knowledge Workers
Create knowledge for the organization
Data Workers
Process the organization’s paperwork
Production & Service Workers
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East Africa University, Faculty of Information Science and Technology, Department of Computer Science
Management in the Organization
Senior managers
Long term strategic decisions
Middle managers
Carry out plans of senior management
Operational managers
Monitor organization’s daily activities

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East Africa University, Faculty of Information Science and Technology, Department of Computer Science
Approaches to IS
Technical Approach
Emphasizes mathematically based models to
study IS
Behavioral Approach
Emphasis on the use of the technology by
society

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East Africa University, Faculty of Information Science and Technology, Department of Computer Science
Approaches to IS (cont…)
SOCIOLOGY
ECONOMICS
PSYCHOLOGY
COMPUTER
SCIENCE
OPERATIONS
RESEARCH
MANAGEMENT
SCIENCE
TECHNICAL APPROACHES
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
BEHAVIOURAL APPROACHES

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East Africa University, Faculty of Information Science and Technology, Department of Computer Science
Approaches to IS (cont…)
IS performance is optimized when both the
organization and the technology adjust to
each other, until a good fit is obtained
The Sociological Approach:
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East Africa University, Faculty of Information Science and Technology, Department of Computer Science
Optimize systems performance:

Technology and organization

Organizations mutually adjust to one another until
fit is satisfactory
Socio-Technical Systems
Approaches to IS (cont…)

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East Africa University, Faculty of Information Science and Technology, Department of Computer Science
Socio-technical Systems
Approaches to IS (cont…)
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East Africa University, Faculty of Information Science and Technology, Department of Computer Science
The Interdependence Between Organizations and
Information Systems

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East Africa University, Faculty of Information Science and Technology, Department of Computer Science
The Widening Scope of Information Systems
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East Africa University, Faculty of Information Science and Technology, Department of Computer Science
Interdependence of IS and the Organization
hardware
telecommunications database
software
INFORMATION SYSTEM ORGANIZATION
Business strategy
Rules & procedures

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East Africa University, Faculty of Information Science and Technology, Department of Computer Science
The Impact of the Internet
Communicate & Collaborate
Access Information
Participate in Discussions
Supply Information
Find Entertainment
Exchange Business
Transactions
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East Africa University, Faculty of Information Science and Technology, Department of Computer Science
Impact of IS on Organizational Design
Flattening organizations
Separating work from location
Reorganizing workflows
Increasing organizational flexibility
Changing management process
Redefining organizational boundaries

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East Africa University, Faculty of Information Science and Technology, Department of Computer Science
Internet-based technologies
Intranet
An internal network based on
Internet technologies
Extranet
Private intranet that is accessible to
authorized outsiders
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East Africa University, Faculty of Information Science and Technology, Department of Computer Science
Reference
Laudon, K. & Laudon, J. (2006): Management Information
Systems:Managing the Digital Firm, 9th ed. Prentice Hall
Dave Chaffey, Paul Bocij, Andrew Greasley and Simon
Hickies (eds) (2003): Business Information Systems:
Technology, Development and Management, Pearson
Education Limited, London.
BPP, Information Systems, Study Text, Paper 2.1, BPP
Professional Education, United Kingdom.
Lachlan M. MacKinnon, Information: Types of Information
Systems,
http://www.macs.hw.ac.uk/~lachlan/dbislectures/lectures/t
ypes.ppt.
Abdisalam Issa-Salwe, Lecture Notes, Thames Valley
University, 2008.

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East Africa University, Faculty of Information Science and Technology, Department of Computer Science
Group discussion
Group 1: How information systems support
business functions

Group 2: Discuss different approaches to
information systems

Group 3: Explain the interdependence
between organizations and information
systems

Group 4: Discuss the impact of the internet