JAFAR MUZEYIN

❖ Overview of ICT and Computer Science

❖ Knowledge Hierarchy (Data, Information,

Knowledge and wisdom)

❖ What is an Information System?

❖ Components of Information Systems

❖ Applications of IS/ICT
◇ Computer Technology: A Computer is a
programmable, multiuse machine that accepts
data, raw facts, and figures, and processes or
manipulates it into information we can use, such
as summaries, totals, or reports.

◇ Its purpose is to speed up problem solving

and increase productivity.
◇ Communications Technology: Communication
or Telecommunications technologies consist of
electromagnetic devices and systems for
communicating information over long distances.
◇ Examples:
￮ Telephone,
￮ Radio,
￮ Broadcast television,
￮ Cable TV, and other telecom technologies.
◇ Information Technology (IT) is a technology
that merges computing with high speed
communication links carrying data, sound, video,
and other forms of multimedia.
◇ Information Communications Technology (ICT) is a
generic name used to describe a range of technologies for
creating, finding, storing, gathering, retrieving, processing,
analyzing, sharing, and transmitting information
◇ The two technologies were developing independently,
before they gradually fused together.
◇ Technological Convergence also known as digital convergence, is
the technological merger of several industries through various devices
that exchange information in the electronic, or digital format used by
computers. The industries used Computers, Communications,
Consumer Electronics, Entertainment, and Mass media.
◇ CS is designing computing devices and programming them
◇ Computer science is the study of algorithms and much more than that

◇ A lot of computer science is about improving technology-- making it faster,

smaller, cheaper or able to do new things through developing new
theories
 Computer science Vs Information Technology

◇ Computer science is programming ◇ Information Technology is associated to

intensive organization related applications
◇ Involves ⚫ business related

⚫ system architecture ⚫ organizational automation

⚫ software engineering ⚫ ICT is a Change Agent

(Enabler)
⚫ application programming
⚫ hardware engineering
⚫ theory
❖ The term data is used to refer raw facts and
figures
❖ This data is input into a system in order to
process and create meaningful information
❖ Data consists of numbers, words , sounds and
images.
❖ Data does not have a particular meaning and
cannot use to make decisions
❖ Documents which contain numbers (0…9),
letters (a…z) punctuation marks and special
symbols
❖ Audio
❖ Video
❖ Images
❖ Quantitative
❖ Quantitative data is numerical and
acquired through counting or measuring
❖ It can be presented with the numbers and
which can be arranged in numerical
order or can be subjected to arithmetic
process
❖ Qualitative Data
❖ Qualitative data is not measurable but
can be identified their properties
❖ Example – Goodwill of an organization
➢ Information: collection of facts organized in such a way that they have value
beyond the facts themselves
⚫ It is data that has been refined and organized by processing and purposeful
intelligence;
⚫ It is a resource created from a data to serve the management
◇ decision making needs of a business.
⚫ Sets of Data + meaning (Semantics)
⚫ (Sets of data) + (relational connection among data sets)
⚫ A red light is a form of data. But when we attach road traffic
context to it, it becomes (i.e., STOP) information : Data + Context + Experience
⚫ “What we collectively know”
⚫ Cognitive state of awareness
 Data Vs Information
❖ Data = raw facts that represent the characteristics of an
event
❖ Example 1:
❖ Event: Air temperature
❖ Data: 22° C
❖ Example 2:
❖ Event: Sale
❖ Data: Sale’s date, item number, item description, etc.
❖ Information = facts within a given context
❖ Information results from transforming data by adding context
to make it more useful.
❖ The temperature today at noon in Addis was 22° C
Data Vs Information

I P O
 Transforma
Data Information
tion process
❖ Once you spend some time interpreting and understanding a body of information,
then you have knowledge
❖ Information + understanding pattern
❖ “What we individually know”
❖ There is information in a telephone book. The knowledge is understanding:
Name - referring to a person (telephone
subscriber), Number - referring to code
enabling to operate the machine, How to use a
telephone, How telephone circuit operates, etc.
 Cont…
❖ The process of creating knowledge is time taking. Technology has
greatly reduced the cost involved in assembling and storing data,
and in transferring and storing information. Creating knowledge
still takes human brain, human thoughts and time - especially today
when there is too much information available

"You don't just learn knowledge; you have to create it. Get in the driver's
seat, don't just be a passenger. You have to contribute to it or you don't
understand it." (Dr. W. Edwards Deming)
 Cont…
❖ Wisdom
⚫ The state of being wise: Acting based on
broader perspective, From self-interest towards
social contribution, to create a better future
grounded on the past experience;
⚫ Informed by multiple forms of intelligence : Reason,
Intuition, Spirit, Values
⚫ Knowledge + Principles (ethics, Values)
⚫ What do we mean by Ethics?
⚫ Is there any possible knowledge hierarchy beyond
wisdom?
 Knowledge on Knowledge;
The Knowledge How, when, and where to apply knowledge
Hierarchy
Wisdom
or
Meta-Knowledge

Knowledge: Understanding
of a domain can be applied to
solve problems (Pragmatics)

Information: Lower volume, higher

value, with context and associated
meanings

Data: Large volume, low value, usually no meaning

or context

Noise: May contain irrelevant items which obscure data

 Reading Assignment

➢ Read about tacit and explicit knowledge.

➢ Read about knowledge management.
 What is a system?

❖ Is a set of interrelated components interacting

together to achieve a common goal.
❖ Is a whole containing two or more interacting
parts that each of which can affect the properties or
behavior of the whole
 Systems Thinking
❖ A system is bigger than the sum of its
components;
❖ It’s a mind set or way of thinking to view the world
(everything in the world) as a system.
❖ It emphasizes on interaction that keeps the system alive.
❖ Before changing the part, you have to demonstrate it
improves the whole (Systemic thinking or systemic
principle).
❖ Today’s problems are the results of yesterday’s solutions.
❖ Every solution creates new problems.
 Information systems

❖ Are arrangement of people, data, process, interface,

communication and IT that interact
❖ to support and improve day-to-day operations in
business
❖ support the problem solving and decision making
needs of management and users
❖ Can exist with or without computers
❖ Transform data in to useful information
 Cont…
❖ Information technology can help all kinds of businesses
improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their business
processes, managerial decision making, and workgroup
collaboration, which strengthens their competitive positions in
rapidly changing marketplaces.
Simplified Information Systems diagram
Components of Computer Based Information
Systems
❖ Considera system for email exchange and list the
components participating in the process!
❖ Computer Based Information Systems (CBIS) consist of
the following components:
• Hardware
• Software
31 • Databases (data / information)
• Human resources (people )
• Procedures (Process)
• Telecommunications
 Components of a CBIS

32
Procedures: Strategies, policies, methods, and
rules for using a CBIS.

Telecommunications: Electronic transmission of

signals for communication
Hardware: Computer Equipment
Software: Computer Programs
Databases: An organized collections of facts
People: Users, system analysts, programmers,
CIO, etc.
 General Information Systems Diagram
Management
(Environment) Decisions

Database

Information
Data Input Process Output Used

Monitoring
& Control

Feedback
 Information Systems
❖ The objectives of a system are realized in its outputs.
❖ Outputs meet requirements of its stakeholders;
❖ The components collect, process or transform, and disseminate data
and information

➢ Examples
Banking Systems, ERP, Airline Reservation Systems;
Student Management Systems, HRM, Library
Systems, Scheduler, SCM, TPS, Expert Systems, POS
in groceries, GIS…
 Information systems
➢ Information systems use data stored in computer databases to
provide needed information.

➢ A database is an organized collection of interrelated data

reflecting a major aspect of a firm's activities.
❖ Information systems capture data from the organization
(internal data) and its environment (external data).
❖ Store the database items over an extensive period of time.
❖ When specific information is needed, the appropriate data items
are manipulated as necessary, and the user receives the
resulting information.
❖ Depending on the type of information system, the information
output may take the form of a query response, decision
outcome, expert-system advice, transaction document, or a
report.
 Cont…
❖ Data captured by information systems relates to
⚫ The operations of the organization internal
information.
⚫ In a competitive market place, firms need to access
more and more external information.

❖ Environment (external data)

⚫ the stakeholders of a firm, which includes
extended partners and external stakeholders.
⚫ Who are the stakeholders of a school?
 Cont…
❖ Effectiveness and Efficiency
❖ The quality of the system may be evaluated in
terms of its effectiveness and efficiency
❖ Effectiveness measures the extent to which a
system meets its objectives.
❖ Efficiency is a measure of resources consumed to
produce given outputs. The fewer resources a
system consumes in producing given outputs, the
more efficient it is.
 Information Systems in Business
IS supports Businesses (Organizations)

❖ Business functions (horizontal)

❖ Buy, Make, Sale, Keep track, support, financial matters,
❖ people matters, etc.
❖ Business processes
❖ A series of interrelated activities through which work is organized
and focused to produce a product or service
❖ Business levels (vertical)
❖ Strategic (lead people, long term planning)
❖ Tactical (coordinate , short to medium term planning)
❖ Operational (supervise, monitor, and customer services)
Six departments and Three management levels to which
information must flow in an Organization
 Information Systems Applications in an Organization
Decisions Management Levels Types of Information
Systems
Unstructured
Senior ESS, EIS
Strategic Management
DSS
Knowledge and
GIS, CAD/CAM
Semi-structured

Data Workers
Tactical
Middle
Management MIS
OAS
Lower
TPS
Management
Technical
(Operational)
Buy Make Sell Keep
Functions
Structured Track
Non management Employees
 Administrative Information Systems
❖ Transaction Processing Systems (TPS)
❖ Basic business system that serves the operational level in an organization
❖ Office Automation Systems (OAS) also OIS
❖ Systems designed to help office workers in doing their job (fax, voicemail, email,
document processing, etc.)
❖ Decision Support Systems (DSS)
❖ Systems designed to support middle managers and business professionals
during decision-making process
❖ Executive Information Systems (EIS) or Executive Support
Systems (ESS)
❖ Specialized DSS that help senior level executives make decisions.
 DSS structure
User
❖ Systems designed to help middle Interface
managers make decisions
❖ Major components
❖ Data management subsystem Analysis
- Sensitivity Analysis
❖ Internal and external data sources -> What-if Analysis
❖ Analysis subsystem -> Goal-seeking Analysis
-Data-driven tools
❖ Typically mathematical in nature -> Data mining
-> OLAP*
❖ User interface
❖ How the people interact with the DSS
❖ Data visualization is the key
❖Text Data Management
❖Graphs - Transactional Data
❖Charts - Data warehouse
* OLAP: OnLine Analytical Processing - Business partners data
- Economic data
 DSS’ Model Management Tools
❖ Simulation is used to examine
proposed solutions and their impact
❖ Sensitivity analysis
❖ Determine how changes in one part of the
model influence other parts of the model
❖What-if analysis
❖ Manipulate variables to see what
would happen in given scenarios
❖Goal-seeking analysis
❖ Work backward from desired
outcome

Determine monthly payment given various interest

rates.

45
Why Learn Computer Science and Information
Systems?
❖ Advance in your career
❖ Solve problems
❖ Realize opportunities and change
❖ Meet your career goals
❖ Information systems and technologies are vital
components of successful businesses and
organizations -- some would say they are
business imperatives.