One Minute Paper on Information Systems

By Lukman J. 

The units 1, 2 and 3 on the information systems module was an educative and interesting at the same time, considering the changes in the business environment as a result of information technology. From my understanding it is a combined set of activities such as collecting, storing and processing data. It is vital that data and information are differentiated. Prof. Stefaniu listed a list of features that differentiate data and information. So how is data and information different? Because in the current world, some individuals confuse the two or use them similarly. Data is raw, while information is processed. Information is as a result of processed data, refined to suit the use by the user. With information, there has to be a user who is definitely a person and maybe not a robot, there is also the need of a task, a structure and definitely technology. Information systems have many uses, most of which nowadays are organizational oriented.

All the functions of an organization encompasses information systems, from the supply chains, to the customer relationship management, inventory and order management, payment of salaries, payment of goods and services, sales and marketing and human resource management systems. This brings this to the available types of information systems, one of them as stated in lecture 3 are Transaction Processing Systems, Management Information Systems and the executive information systems. Something caught my eye in the lecture notes, the emergence of a web interface that will know the likes and dislikes of the operator and analyze the information extensively. This would be a major hit in the IS world, especially for busy people. Another hit would be the use of social media for businesses, mostly in terms of product advertising.

Companies have realized the significance of social media in making sales and are taking advantage of it. Humans spent long hours reviewing social media and nowadays most sales are social media led. Personally I have also made purchases on the basis of social media reviews and advertisements. To survive and live up to the standards of the modern world, one needs to understand the important of information and systems. One also needs to know how to handle information properly in order to achieve the intended results. I would say that this lecture on Information Systems is not only important to me but also to the whole wide world.