Analysis and Design of Information Systems

Taxonomies of Information Systems

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Researchers often try to suggest that information systems can be categorized into
different categories. The categories they often offer are- Transaction Processing
Systems (TP Systems which are formerly known as Data Processing Systems),
Management Information Systems (MIS), Decision Support Systems (DSS),
Knowledge-Based Systems (KB Systems), etc. A more recent approach is enterprise
level Resource Planning Systems, Office Automation Systems or Strategic
Information Systems.

The original idea of a system was that it has components that interact with each other
to maintain the whole system. Each of these parts is itself a system (generally they
were called sub-systems). This was formed from the function of human body. It
consists of many organs and parts that are individual but interact with each other to
maintain the whole human body.

TP systems include taking orders from buyers, arrange goods according to order,
prepare delivery of those goods and seek the bill for overall works. MIS involves in
some managerial decisions made on statistical analysis on data (e.g. Which region of
country is best for their product selling, launch another branch there for more profit).
DSS includes the facility to examine and explain decisions before they are taken
place.

But it is difficult to categorize them in this way. TP systems may also include the
facility to check the status of their buyers. They may check if the buyer is in debt or
bankrupt. If they are bankrupt then that system will not accept orders from them. So,
that TP system is now evolving to MIS! The system might wish to calculate the
amounts of debts among their debtor buyers as well. So, they may sell goods to the
buyers who have less debt. In this case TP system is evolving to DSS!

Feedback loops are techniques to document system. It detects the condition of the
system and its environment. So, it may have a comparator through which it compares
the current system and the change in environment. The comparison is made based on
some past experiences (cough syrups are not sold that much in those months except
the month too hot or the month too cold) and then try to modify the system
accordingly (So, produce more cough syrups during too cold and too hot).

Using computer in organizations does not mean it is a KB system. Programs just

manipulate on numerical data, logic and mathematical formulae. These organizations
face one common problem- they require huge time to process huge volume of data.

Use of spreadsheets can be seen in many organizations. Advantage of it is obvious-

execution is quick and the user can see all the data that are involved. Graphical
representation is present- another aspect of advantage for such system. But the
problem is data is needed to be re-keyed from other systems. This is very much error
prone. Moreover, spreadsheets often are not tested.

Rushdi Shams, Dept of CSE, KUET

Some real world application or business requires the integration of types of systems
(e.g. TP system with DSS). Vehicle scheduling can be perfect example. It is difficult
for computers to run a program that will schedule 10 thousand vehicles on 20 million
lanes and bi lanes which in deed may be congested/ blocked, etc. Computer may
reduce clerical works but for tasks that are small cannot be replaced by computer all
the time. Cost of developing a solution and savings for deploying computers over the
system- you need to take a look at these trade offs. Moreover, invoking computer in a
frequently changing environment is a self trap sometimes.

Two major causes that change the environment are-

1. Government legislation changes time to time

2. Taking up another company and restructure it

KB systems are different than other computer involved systems. The functionality of
KB systems is it has known facts poured by the programmers that will answer you the
questions “Why”. This is totally absent in those systems who involve only computer
to analyze data.

Automation can be of several types.

• Full automation
• Computer will generate recommendations but it requires human interventions
• Computer will generate recommendations but it requires human confirmations
• Computer will detect only required data and human will analyze it

Reading Materials

Taxonomies of Information Systems by Jim Williamson: You need to understand

the basics- why it is very difficult to have taxonomies of information systems.

Various Information Systems: Only to know the definition and job of various
information systems. You don’t have to go thoroughly through the document.

Rushdi Shams, Dept of CSE, KUET