It is important to realize that major changes and trends in computer systems have occurred during the major stages-or generations-of computing, and will continue into the future. The first generation of computers developed in the early 1950s, the second generation blossomed during the late 1960s, the third generation took computing into the 1970s, and the fourth generation has been the computer technology of the 1980s and 1990s. A fifth generation of computers that accelerates the trends of the previous generations is expected to evolve as we enter the 21st century. Notice that computers continue to become smaller, faster, more reliable, less costly to purchase and maintain, and more interconnected within computer networks. First-generation computing involved massive computers using hundreds or thousands of vacuum tubes for their processing and memory circuitry. These large computers generated enormous amounts of heat; their vacuum tubes had to be replaced frequently. Thus, they had Continue reading
Information Systems Basics
Areas of Data Processing
Data processing is the manipulation of data into a more useful form. It is the modern name for paperwork and involves the collecting, processing, and distributing of facts and figures to achieve a desired result. Data processing includes not only numerical calculations but also operations such as the classification of data and the transmission of data from one place to another. In general, we assume that these operations are performed by some type of machine or computer, although some of them could also be carried out manually. Data processing system refers to the equipment or devices and procedures by which the result is achieved. Read More: Concept of Data Processing Data processing may be classified as either scientific or business in nature. Business Data processing (BDP) . Business data processing is characterized by the need to establish, retain, and process files of data for producing useful information. Generally, it involves Continue reading
The Focus of Business Process Reengineering (BPR) on the Current Issues in Business
The existing system in the organization is totally reexamined and radically modified for incorporating the latest technology. This process of change for the betterment of the organization is called as Business process reengineering. With Business process being reengineered, the organizations have to change the workflow and business procedures for efficiency in the organization. Latest software are used and accordingly the business procedures are modified, so that documents are worked upon more easily and efficiently. This is called as workflow management. Business process reengineering is a major innovation changing the way organizations conduct their business. Such changes are often necessary for profitability or even survival. BPR is employed when major IT projects such as ERP are undertaken. Reengineering involves changes in structure, organizational culture and processes. Many concepts of BPR changes organizational structure. Team based organization, mass customization, empowerment and telecommuting are some of the examples. The support system in any Continue reading
What is Electronic Records Management (ERM)?
ISO standard 15489: 2001 defines Records Management (RM) as the field of management responsible for the efficient and systematic control of the creation, receipt, maintenance, use, and disposition of records, including the processes for capturing and maintaining evidence of and information about business activities and transactions in the form of records. Electronic Records Management (ERM) guarantees that your company has the records they need when they are needed. Records management is referred to a set of activities that are required for systematically controlling the distribution, use, creation, maintenance, and disposition of all recorded information that’s maintained as proof of business transactions and activities. Records management is mainly concerned with the evidence of a company’s activities. Applying records management usually occurs according to the value of the records, not their physical formats. The essential records managements are capable of assigning specific identifiers to individual records, providing safeguards against all unauthorized changes Continue reading
Components of an Information System
A system is a set of components (subsystems) that operate together to achieve certain objectives. The objectives of a system are realized in its outputs. An information system is a system that accepts data resources as input and processes them into information products as output. An information system depends on the resources of people (end users and IS specialists), hardware (machines and media), software (programs and procedures), data (data and knowledge basis), and networks (communications media and network support) to perform input, processing, output, storage, and control activities that convert data resources into information products. This information system model highlights the relationships among the components and activities of information systems. It provides a framework that emphasizes four major concepts that can be applied to all types of information systems: People, hardware, software, data, and networks are the five basic resources of information systems. People resources include end users and IS Continue reading
Targeting Strategies Involved in E-marketing
Once the variables that form a lucrative cluster of customer base for the product is identified, advertising campaigns are decided to target those customers. The E-marketer arrives at the second stumbling block here “portals”. Portals have the most popular URLs on the web today. They claim to be a one-stop solution for anything and everything that the netizen looks for. For the netizen it means less URLs to remember and a place to meet people & socialize. It could have, in most probability, also been the place of a successful electronic transaction before, quelling his/her security concerns. Although portals deny their comparison with the supermarkets of the real world, they are doing just that right now. A portal is not exactly a marketers’ paradise. He would rather prefer sites, which have a niche target audience in sync with his requirements. The next step is to select segments for targeting online Continue reading