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Information Systems Building Blocks


Systems analysis and design methods are used to develop information systems for organizations. Before learning the process of building systems, you need a clear understanding of the product you are trying to build. This chapter takes an architectural look at information systems and applications. We will build a framework for information systems architecture that will subsequently be used to organize and relate all of the chapters in this book. The chapter will address the following areas:



Differentiate between front- and back-office information systems.

Describe the different classes of information system applications (transaction processing, management information, decision support, expert, communication and collaboration, and office automation systems) and how they interoperate to supplement one another.

Describe the role of information systems architecture in systems development.

Identify three high-level goals that provide system owners and system users with a perspective of an information system.

Name three goal-oriented perspectives for any information systems.

Identify three technologies that provide system designers and builders with a perspective of an information system.

Describe four building blocks of the KNOWLEDGE goal for an information system.

Describe four building blocks of the PROCESS goal for an information system.

Describe four building blocks of the COMMUNICATIONS goal for an information system.

Describe the role of network technologies as it relates to KNOWLEDGE, PROCESSES, and COMMUNICATIONS building blocks.







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