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**INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (Telecommunications…
**INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Databases
A collection or file of data. Each data item should be held only once
Database management systems (DBMS)
Allows for different functions to access the same data
Various programs can interpret and make use of the data held in a DBMS
Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERP)
Used by many large org's
A central database lies at the heart of an ERP that feeds data into applications relating to the function which needs it
Allows direct linkage, such as the receipt of a customer order and their credit status, the planning and scheduling productions of goods concerned, stock levels of materials required, purchase orders for needed items
Facilitates planning and budgeting by enabling various scenarios to be explored
Data warehousing & Data mining
Data warehouses:
Used by large org's
Contain high volumes of data
Utilise data from transaction systems
Driven by information needs
Data mining is simply when a computer searches for, and analyses data on the users behalf
Advantages of database systems
Avoids unnecessary duplication of data
Possibility of different apps holding conflicting data is eliminated
Data stored is independent of individual apps that use it allowing greater flexibility in the way the data can be used
Additional programs can be introduced to use the data differently
Disadvantages of database systems
Possibility of unauthorised access to data, meaning data security is needed
Due to data being stored only once but used by many apps, impact of systems failure is increased
Impact of inaccurate data is increased
Costs of set up can be very high
System Security
Security controls
Protects data from unauthorised modification, disclosure or destruction
Protects from non-availability of services to users
Integrity controls
Maintains correctness and completeness of data
Contingency controls
Deals with unchedulled interuptions for IT system processing
AKA Disaster recovery plans
Information Markets & the Internet
The term info market reflects the view that info can is a commodity that can be bought and sold
The Internet
"dead pages" are not often viewed, meaning that where info is made available, it should also be kept up to date
Interactive flexibility - videos, gifs, images, interactive graphics
Marketing and the Internet
Speedy and impersonal way of providing basics
Cost advantage over enquiry desks and mail shots
Available 24/7
No guaranteed return on investment
Sales and the Internet
Electronic purchasing is now very common
There is still resistance - people are wary of using their card details online
Customers must be reassured of web/site safety
Distribution
Anything that can be converted into a digital format can be uploaded onto the sellers site and downloaded by the buyer. Many computer programs are delivered this way
Intranet: A small scale version of the global internet, used primarily by networked computers in an organisation
Telecommunications Dangers
Corruption (viruses) can spread through networks
Staff can inadvertently damage files (duplication/overwriting)
When linked to an outside network, there is a risk of hackers
Downloading of inaccurate, imperfect or infected files and software
Interception (encryption protects against this)
Communications link may break down, fail or distort data
Technology and Decision Making
Programmed and Non-programmed decisions
Programmed
Decisions that can be pre-specified by a set of rules and are suitable for computers to handle
Non-programmed
Have no pre-defined rules. No general model can be developed as a basis for programming them
Decision support systems are suitable here
Expert Systems
Used for tasks that require expert knowledge but tasks are performed infrequently
Expert system allows non-experts to perform the task
Tried to emulate an expert when solving a specific problem
VAT registration and Accounting standards are 2 areas that use expert systems
Problems include:
Costly to develop (10-15 years of human xp + £m)
eliciting knowledge from an expert can be costly and difficult
Methods are not always programmable
May not be effective past their intended use
Must be user friendly
Users may not accept results if they are not explicit enough
Benefits include:
Provision of cost savings
lack of emotion (facts only)
Better
memory capability
than humans
Can discover rules
Can capture knowledge of retiring experts
Potentially available 24/7/365
Consistent