System analysis and designing is a broad subject in software engineering field. This area is specially practiced by software / system architects. This refers to the process of analyzing of an existing manual or computational system and designing a new system.
So first of all we have to understand what is a system? Systems are all around us. In our body itself there are many systems such as digestive system, reproductive system, etc. System is a collection of inter-related functions that work towards a common goal.
The main thing when you studying IT subjects is that you need to understand special terms in your own way. As an example, you should now able to give a different explanation in your own terms for a system.
In here we are talking about software / IT system. Think about a book seller. In his business, he follows a system to do his business operations correctly. A book seller business is a system. This system could be a mental, manual or computational.
A system is work in an environment. This is called system environment. The environment is divided into two parts.
The border which differentiate the internal and external environment is called the system boundary.
we also need to talk about sub-systems. Sub systems is also systems when isolated from its parent system. Large systems are constructed with a collection of smaller sub-systems and together these forms a bigger system that would look like a one system.
For an example, think about an engine. We could think an engine as a one system which perform a single task. But we know that engine is constructed with many sub-systems such as cooling system, electrical system, gear system, etc. This concept is also true for information systems.
What are the key entities of a system?
When we consider an information system, we can identify few basic entities or things that need to operate the system.
Now, by considering all the facts above, can you define what is an information system in your own terms?
Information system is a collection of functions and procedures that involves people, process, data, hardware and software that is inter-related and working together to execute intended operations to achieve defined goals. There may be many goals of an information system such as decision making, transaction processing, problem solving, etc.
So first of all we have to understand what is a system? Systems are all around us. In our body itself there are many systems such as digestive system, reproductive system, etc. System is a collection of inter-related functions that work towards a common goal.
The main thing when you studying IT subjects is that you need to understand special terms in your own way. As an example, you should now able to give a different explanation in your own terms for a system.
In here we are talking about software / IT system. Think about a book seller. In his business, he follows a system to do his business operations correctly. A book seller business is a system. This system could be a mental, manual or computational.
A system is work in an environment. This is called system environment. The environment is divided into two parts.
- Internal environment
- External environment
The border which differentiate the internal and external environment is called the system boundary.
we also need to talk about sub-systems. Sub systems is also systems when isolated from its parent system. Large systems are constructed with a collection of smaller sub-systems and together these forms a bigger system that would look like a one system.
For an example, think about an engine. We could think an engine as a one system which perform a single task. But we know that engine is constructed with many sub-systems such as cooling system, electrical system, gear system, etc. This concept is also true for information systems.
What are the key entities of a system?
When we consider an information system, we can identify few basic entities or things that need to operate the system.
- People - people are the main entity that need to operate a system. This include system developers to end users. Without people an information system would be useless.
- Process - there should be a process, a way or a theory that how the system should work or execute its functions. These are the instructions telling the system to do the right thing or operate to achieve its goals.
- Data - Data refers to the fragment of information or raw data. An information system is all about processing data to provide information as output. Without data, there is nothing to process or do.
- Database - In modern systems, database is the central element to process data. But database is not always necessary to operate a system. There could be sub-systems operate without databases, just processing data provided though input devices, etc.
- Hardware - This refers to the computer hardware such as processors, input devices, etc.
- Software - This is itself is the system, but sometimes we need to have platform software to run the system. For an example, we need to have an operating system to run an application software.
Now, by considering all the facts above, can you define what is an information system in your own terms?
Information system is a collection of functions and procedures that involves people, process, data, hardware and software that is inter-related and working together to execute intended operations to achieve defined goals. There may be many goals of an information system such as decision making, transaction processing, problem solving, etc.
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