Information System Terms

Abbreviations

• CRM      Customer Relationship Management
• DSS        Decision Support Systems
• ERP        Enterprise Resource Planning
• EIS          Enterprise Information Systems
• EIS          Executive Information Systems
• ESS         Executive Support Systems
• GIS         Global Information Systems
• GIS         also be Geographical Information Systems
• HR          Human Resources
• IS            Information System
• MIS        Management Information system
• SCM       Supply Chain Management
• SRM       Supply Relationship Management
• TPS         Transaction Processing Systems

Adaptive Systems

An adaptive system changes its operation in response to a change in its environment. It monitors operations and when there is a need to adapt its behavior it does so accordingly.

Business Environment

The business environment includes the physical location, its position within its market such as the economic, legal and technology situation it is in, and the specific environment regarding its stakeholders both internally such as staff and externally such as suppliers, partners and customers.

Business Information System (BIS)

A business information system is an information system, normally computerized, that assist in the efficient and effective management of an organization.

Control Mechanism

A control mechanism monitors a system to check to see if everything is working and to implement corrections if issues arise, or give notification of any issues.

Coupling

Coupling, or the degree of coupling, is how subsystems are closely linked.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Customer relationship management uses technology to manage interactions with customers and potential customers.

Data Systems

Data systems are any system that assists in the storage, communication and organization of the data in a company.

Decoupled Systems

Decoupled systems are not linked with other systems and therefore have greater freedom to work independently.

Deterministic System

A deterministic system is a system that the outputs can easily be determined by examining the inputs.

E-Commerce

E-commerce is trade taking place over the internet.

 Enterprise Information Systems (EIS, Enterprise IS)

Enterprise information systems are used across the whole organization by multiple departments such as TPS and ERP systems.

Expert System

An expert system stores and uses expertise and knowledge to help decision making.

Feedback

Feedback is data or information provided from analysis which can be used as the basis for improvement.

Formal Information

Formal information is information communicates through official and proper channels. It tends to be organized and structured such as in reports.

Functional information systems

functional information systems are the departmental systems such as the information systems used by for accounting, finance, HR, marketing, sales, and production.

 Global Information system

A global information system attempts to perform the same functions as any other information systems but over different locations across countries, incorporating approaches to issues such as language, culture, currency and transportation.

Globalization

The increasing trade of goods and services by companies across over the world resulting in more people technology and business flowing between organizations in different countries.

Good Information

Good information is accurate, reliable, complete, cost effective, accessible, user-friendly and up-to-date.

Hardware

Hardware is the set of devices used in processing like computers and assisting technology such as input and output devices. This includes network, server and storage devices.

In-house

Inside the company.

Informal Information

Informal information is information that is not communicated through official and proper channels. Examples include spoken conversation outside of meetings such as hearsay and gossip.

Information of Quality

Quality information is information, in the right form, at the right time, given to the right person. It has the correct form, context and meets time requirements.

Information System (IS)

An information system is a set of hardware, software, data, people, and procedures that work together to produce information

Information System Components

The components or parts of an information system are of hardware, software, networks, data systems, people and procedures

Interface

The interface is where a system and environment interact. If it is a user interface it is where the user interacts with the system, such as a computer screen.

Intangible resources

Intangible resources are valuable but not physical benefits to your company such as the experience, motivation, judgement, knowledge, and ideas of the employees.

Inventory Control

Inventory control is maintaining an adequate amount of stock items and managing the control of these items such that customers’ orders can be fulfilled and items do not run out.

Knowledge

Knowledge is the understanding of a subject with skills and awareness of facts and information, such as those gained by experience.

 Knowledge Engineer

A knowledge engineer focuses on getting knowledge from experts so that it can be recorded and shared with others within the organization.

Knowledge Management

The effective handling of the information and resources within an organization.

Knowledge Worker

A knowledge worker is a person whose role is based around creating, using, sharing and applying knowledge.

Management Information System (IS)

A management information system (MIS) is a system that provides information needed by managers to support activities in achieving business objectives.  It is an information system used for decision-making, and for the coordination, control, analysis, and visualization of information in an organization

Networks

Networks are used to transfer data using both hardware and software.

Open System

An open system has a high degree of interaction with the environment, such as other systems, customers, suppliers, partners, etc.

Outsourcing

Obtain services from an outside provider in preference to providing it within the company.

Operations Information Systems

Operations information systems deal with the day to day running of the company such as transaction processing and stock control.

People  

People, in this context, are the people related to the organization that are involved in the use of information.

Probabilistic System

A probabilistic system outputs are predicted rather than known, such as the sales forecast.

Procedures

Procedures are the processes that allow all the other parts of the information system to work together effectively on a regular basis.

Software

Software in information systems is the set of computer programs used by the system that is used by both the hardware and the users.

Supply Chain Management (SCM)

Supply chain management involves the coordination of all supply activities of an organization from its suppliers and partners to its customers.

Supply Relationship Management (SRM)

Supply relationship management refers to all activities related to obtaining items from a supplier

System

A system is a collection of interrelated components that work together towards a collective goal. It transforms inputs into outputs.

System Boundary

The system boundary defines the point between the system inside and the environment outside.

Tangible

Easily recognizable or identified such as something that can be measured. In a business there are tangible valuables such as property, equipment and stock. But company reputation, even if it very valuable, is intangible, it is not easy to measure

Value Chain

A value chain refers to a series of connected activities that adds value to an organization’s products or services.

Wisdom

The ability to use knowledge to make good judgments.