An appropriate information system
An appropriate information system should consist of two subsystems- a social sub-system and a technical subsystem. The social subsystem entails the structure and people components while the technical subsystem entails the process and technology components (Stair, & Reynolds, 2017). Ideally, a critical insight is that all the four components must be present and able to work together for a system to perform its intended objectives. In this essay, the four essential components of an information system and their significance in system design and installation have been described.
The first component: Information Technology
The first component of an information system is information technology. Information technology includes software, hardware, and telecommunication facilities used to capture, store, and process and transmit information (Stair, & Reynolds, 2017). Hardware refers to the physical equipment like a laptop, a personal computer a modern cell phone or a portable computing device used in information processing. Besides, software is a combination of coded instructions that direct the system hardware to execute the desired tasks. Designers should consider the compatibility of a software or hardware to the desired operating system when developing the system architecture (Petter, DeLone, & McLean, 2013). Software compatibility may vary as the design of the operating system and the software changes. For instance, a program designed for Windows 2000 or NT may experience a compatibility issue when running under Windows XP.
The second component: Process
The second component is the process. A process may be defined as a set of steps established to perform a specific organizational activity. There are multiple feasible processes that a firm may adopt to accomplish a task. However, the critical idea is that the architecture or interface of the system should be compatible and fit with other system’s components being developed (Petter, DeLone, & McLean, 2013). Also, an appropriate process should allow for adjustments when changes occur. Therefore, when designing a system, system designers should establish clear steps, which are easy to follow to ensure that the system users can quickly adapt to them.
The third component: People
Another primary component that forms an information system is people. The people component encompasses all the individuals who are involved in the system (Lockerbie, 2013). When developing the system architecture, the system designers should consider the managers and the users of the system. Ideally, the managers should be consulted as they are responsible for defining the goals of the system. For example, when implementing a payroll system, the users should be trained on how to deposit employee salaries in every account, enter the account information and correct wrong entries.
The fourth component: System Structure
The last component is the system structure. Structure refers to the hierarchical and reporting models in an organization Lockerbie (2013), explains that the structure forms an integral part of an information system especially in the design and installation stage as most systems fail when the intended users resist them. Resistance to a system occurs especially when people feel threatened by a new system. Furthermore, the organization should be cognizant of the future and current rewards of a system, during the system design to develop incentives to enhance its successful installation.
Conclusion
An information system consists of a techno-subsystem and a social-subsystem, which presents four components- people, process, structure, and technology. When developing an information system architecture, system designers should ensure that the software and the operating systems are compatible and formulate proper steps to ensure that the intended users understand the system. Besides, the managers should be consulted to describe the desired functions of the system and the users trained on how to handle the system.
References
Lockerbie, S. (2013). Developing a business information system: case: Work practice placement management tool for Oulu Vocational College, Department of Social and Health Care, Kontinkangas Unit.
Petter, S., DeLone, W., & McLean, E. R. (2013). Information systems success: The quest for the independent variables. Journal of Management Information Systems, 29(4), 7-62.
Stair, R., & Reynolds, G. (2017). Fundamentals of information systems. Cengage Learning.
