Chapter 2
Building Systems With Technology
What is a System? A system consists of a number of interrelated components,
only some of which are easily seen. For example, it is difficult to
characterize the actions of individuals who re involved in making decisions as
part of an information system. The flow of information and the processing of
data by computer programmes and / or individuals can also be obscure. One of the major tasks in systems analysis and design is to
describe systems, both existing systems and proposed new systems. Later in this
chapter we discuss some of the tools available for preparing descriptions of
the systems, but first we present an overview of a system. Information systems can be described by five of their key
components:
It is difficult to observe the decision process, though we
can see and review results of a decision. Transactions are usually more
visible, though many current systems use computer programs, which are not easy
to understand, to process transactions. In principle, an observer can see
information and its flows. Individuals
can be observed too, but is not always easy to figure out what information
processing functions they perform.
Systems also have implications for the way individuals communicate and
for coordinating a firm's activities. |