Every company in today’s world will have some automation or other. Accounting packages are the first to be implemented. And the sales order processing is automated so that their clients and suppliers can access the data. It helps to implement Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), which allows the entire company to automate all its division/locations. In 1980s, ERP was available only to large industries who could afford the huge expenditure. Many ERP vendors have done their own ERP Review and have developed ERP solutions to different markets. Any thinking of implementing ERP system shall have three stages of ERP Review process – Pre-implementation, Implementation and Post-implementation review. In the pre-implementation ERP Review, the company shall identify itself as large, medium or small scale enterprise. There are many ERPs for small and medium enterprises. Even, some big ERP software vendors offer a different products for small and medium industries. In the pre-implementation Continue reading
Information Systems Basics
What is a Proxy Server? Meaning, Functions and Goals
Proxy severs have been around for quite a while now. Most likely, the history of proxy servers dates back to the beginnings of networking and the internet itself. Proxy servers were originally developed as a tool for caching frequently accessed Web pages. A proxy server is a server that acts as an intermediary for requests from clients seeking resources from other servers. A client connects to the proxy server, requesting some service, such as a file, connection, web page, or other resource, available from a different server. The proxy server evaluates the request according to its filtering rules. It may filter traffic by Internet Protocol (IP) address or protocol. If the request is validated by the filter, the proxy provides the resource by connecting to the relevant server and requesting the service on behalf of the client. A proxy server may optionally alter the client’s request or the server’s response, Continue reading
Why Businesses Need an Efficient Management Information System?
We are living in a time of great change and working in an Information Age. Managers have to assimilate masses of data, convert that data into information, form conclusions about that information and make decisions leading to the achievement of business objectives. For an organization, information is as important resource as money, machinery and manpower. It is essential for the survival of the enterprise. Before the widespread use of computers, many organizations found difficulties in gathering, storing, organizing and distributing large amounts of data and information. Developments in computer technology made possible for managers to select the information they require, in the form best suited for their needs and in time they want. This information must be current and in many cases is needed by many people at the same time. So it has to be accurate, concise, timely, complete, well presented and storable. Most firms nowadays depend on IT. Continue reading
Different Categories of E-Business
Introduction to E-business: E-business is an all-encompassing concept that refers to the numerous ways in which companies are taking advantage of the universal connectivity offered by the Internet and other computer networks. Traditional Information Systems courses also discuss how businesses use computers, but focus in addition on technical issues of hardware, software, databases, networks, and management of all of these components. This course focuses on the ideas and processes involved in starting an e-business or in adding e-business functions to an existing business. E-business enables a customer to conduct business anytime, anywhere and from any place via a distribution channel. It helps to get a continuous dialogue between you and your customer, just as if you both were talking face to face. E- business is more than having a web site for your business. Accessing internet to provide information about the company, products, supplies, using appropriate project management software etc. Continue reading
Introduction to Computer Programming Languages
A programming language allows a programmer to develop the sets of instructions that constitute a computer program. Many different programming languages have been developed, each with its own unique vocabulary; grammar, and use. Machine Languages Machine Languages (or first-generation languages) are the most basic level of programming languages. In the early stages of computer development, all program instructions had to be written using binary codes unique to each computer. This type of programming involves the difficult task of writing instructions in the form of strings of binary digits (ones and zeros) or other number systems. Programmers must have a detailed knowledge of the internal operations of the specific type of CPU they are using. They must write long series of detailed instructions to accomplish even simple processing tasks. Programming in machine language requires specifying the storage locations for every instruction and item of data used. Instructions must be included for Continue reading
The Concept of Proto-Typing in the System Development Process
A prototype is basically a scaled down model or working version of product. The prototype is put through various tests, before it is converted into a polished, sleek product. The process of preparing prototype is referred to as “prototyping”. It is consisting of building an experimental system rapidly and inexpensively for the end-user to evaluate. Prototyping is also viewed as “strategy of experimental assurance in development of information system applications to be achieved by an evolutionary design method”. Steps in proto-typing: Step 1: identify the user’s basic requirements At this stage the systems person works with the user to understand user’s basic needs and requirements as regards the output from the systems. The systems person establishes realistic user expectation, estimates the cost of developing the working proto type, defines data elements required and determines data availability. Step2: Develop the initial/Working proto type: The systems person develops the initial working/interactive prototype Continue reading