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Lecture 4People Aspects in IS2To be covered:

More types of IS

Roles of people (Stakeholders ) using, developing, and managing information system:There are other types of IS such asData warehousesEnterprise resource planningEnterprise systemsSearch enginesGeographic information systemGlobal information systemExecutive information systems

Executive information systems Provide critical information from MIS, DSS, and other sources tailored to the information needs of executives. Examples: systems for easy access to analyses of business performance, actions of competitors, and economic developments to support strategic planning. Stakeholders in information systemA stakeholder is any person who has an interest in an existing or new information system. Stakeholders can be technical or nontechnical workers.It is sometimes useful to identify individuals who might play the various roles in a typical information system.

5Stakeholders ClassificationFor information systems, the stakeholders can be classified as:Management.IS mangerSystems analysts in systems developmentProgrammers in systems development End user in systems developmentOther IS mangers/Technicians in system developmentNotes:single individual can play multiple roles in a project. For example:A person could be both a system owner and system user.Many systems analysts are also system designers and builders.

Role of people in Information system : 1- Management (Business managers )7A group that has effort in system development is business managers such as functional department heads and corporate executives.

These managers are important because they have the power to fund development projects and to allocate resources necessary for projects success.

Role of people in Information system : 1- Management (Business managers )8Role of managersPerceive business challengesSet organizational strategyAllocate human and financial resourcesCreative work: New products, servicesMake Decisions about:Which computer system to be developed?Allocation of IS resources to current projectsMust be made by general management with advise from IS department

Role of people in Information system : 2- IS MangerThe manager of an IS department may have a direct role in the systems development process.

IS mangers are more involved in allocating resources to and overseeing approved system development projects rather than in the actual project development process.

Role of people in Information system : 2- IS Manger (continued)10There are several IS mangers in any medium to large IS department.

The manger of an entire IS department may have the title Chief Information Officer and may report to the president or chairman of the firm.

Chief information officer (CIO):Employs the IS departments equipment and personnel to help the organization attain its goals and communicate with top management and advise on strategic opportunities.

Role of people in Information system : 2- IS Manger (continued)11Each division of the IS department will also have a manger for example:Director of IS development, IS operation manger, IS programmer director, etc.

Role of people in Information system : 3- Analysts12System AnalysisIs the process of understanding in detail what a system should accomplish.The person who works in system analysis field is called an analyst.Role of people in Information system : 3- Analysts13System Analysts: is an Intermediary between Users, Programmers, Technicians who are playing role information system. That is why an analyst is characterized as a facilitator of the other stakeholders participation in systems development

The Systems Analyst as a Facilitator

14No additional notesRole of people in Information system : 3- AnalystsSystems analysts are the key individuals in the systems development process.Develop user requirements & detailed design specificationsA systems analyst studies the problems and needs of an organization to determine how people, data, processes, communications, and information technology can best accomplish improvements for the business.1516Examples of typical problems system analysts Typically solveCustomers want to order product anytime of the day.Marketing want to know customer needs better.Management want to analyze financial information more efficiently.Role of people in Information system : 3- AnalystsRole of people in Information system : 3- Analysts17The Analysts role in an Organization

Skills of a Successful Systems AnalystAnalytical skillsProblem solving skills

1.19Research and understand the problemVerify benefits of solving problem outweigh the costsDefine the requirements for solving the problemDevelop a set of possible solutions (alternatives)Decide which solution is best and recommendDefine the details of the chosen solutionImplement the solutionMonitor to ensure desired results

Analysts Approach to Problem SolvingSkills of a Successful Systems Analyst20Technical skillsUnderstanding of potential and limitations of technology.Computer programming experience and expertise.Computers / peripheral devices (hardware)Communication networks and connectivityDatabase and database management systems (DBMS)Operating systems

Systems analyst tools in the technical aspect21Software productivity packagesIntegrated development environments (IDEs) for programming languagesCASE tools, testing, documentation support, reverse engineering, configuration management

Skills of a Successful Systems Analyst Managerial skills Ability to manage projects, resources, risk and change.Understand Business functions performed by organizationKnow Strategies, plans, traditions, and values of the organizationUnderstand organizational structureUnderstand organization management techniques

Interpersonal skills Effective written and oral communication skills (technical & non-technical audiences)Help you work with end user as well as other system analysts and programmersSystems analysts need to understand how people Think ,Learn , React to change ,Communicate and Work (in a variety of jobs and levels)

1.22Skills of a Successful Systems AnalystSkills of a Successful Systems Analyst23Integrity and Ethics skills: Analyst has access to confidential information, such as salary, an organizations planned projects, security systems, and so on. Therefore, he/she has to Must keep information privateplans security in systems to protect confidential informationAny impropriety can ruin an analysts career

Role of people in Information system : 4- ProgrammersProgrammers convert the specifications given to them by the analysts into instructions the computer can understand.Coding and testing: writing a computer program Code generators have been developed to generate code from specifications, saving an organization time and money.The aim of CASE tools (Computer-Aided Software Engineering) is to provide a variety of code generators that can automatically produce 90% or more from the system specifications normally given a programmer.

Role of people in Information system : 5- Technicians(individual technical roles)25will provide support for development project in design and implementation stagese.g. Database Admin. Expertise in design & construction of DB .e.g. Network specialist:Assists In design & implementation of WAN or LAN Communication.e.g. Web Admin.Responsible for development, delivery and integration of web sources.Internal Auditors is needed to review the control of the system

Role of people in Information system : 6- End-users26Users must have sufficient control over the design process to ensure that the system reflects their business priorities and information needs.

Working on design increases users understanding and acceptance of the system

The role of end users: Role of people in Information system : 6- End-usersManagement issuesManagerial issues involved with controlling the use of information systems by end-users include:Providing a suitable support function to assist end-users in their use of computers.Ensuring the appropriate skill levels for end-users through staff development and training.Controlling the cost of end-user activities and support. Role of people in Information system : 6- End-users28The development of information systems by end users with little or no formal assistance from technical specialists. End-User Development: Software tools that enable end users to create reports or develop software applications with minimal or no technical assistance. Fourth-Generation Languages:Role of people in Information system : 7- End-users DevelopmentAllow rapid development but testing and documentation may be inadequate

Seven categories of fourth-generation languages: PC software tools, query languages, report generator, graphics language, application generator, application software package, very high-level programming language Fourth-Generation Languages:(Continued)

Role of people in Information system : 7- End-users DevelopmentReasons for growth of EUDApplications backlog: The demand for new applications by users exceeds the capacity of the IS department or IS outsourcing company to develop them. Improved tool sets such as Visual Basic for ApplicationsThe desire by users to query and analyze data and generate reports from information stored on databases available across the corporate networkA trend to decentralization of computing to user departments for systems to support departmental activitiesReduced expense of application development when conducted by end-users (from departmental rather than information systems budget)Better fit between end-user-developed software and their requirements (since no requirements translation is needed between the users and third-party developers). End-users are also less likely to over-engineer a solution to a basic problem than an IS professional who will want to treat every problem with rigour. Role of people in Information system : 7- End-users Development31Outside Vendors32More of Roles, Functions, and Careers in IS 33Primary responsibilities in information systemOperations:System operators primarily run and maintain IS equipmentSystems development:Focuses on specific development projects and ongoing maintenance and reviewLAN administrators:Set up and manage the network hardware, software, and security processes Support:Provides user assistance in hardware and software acquisition and use, data administration, user training and assistance, and Web administrationInformation service units:A miniature IS department attached and directly reporting to a functional area in a large organization