An information system is an interconnected set of means,
methods, and personnel used to store, process, and issue information to achieve
management objectives. In modern conditions, the main technical means of
information processing is a personal computer. Most modern information systems
do not transform information, but data. Therefore, they are often called data
processing systems.
Regarding the degree of mechanization of information
conversion procedures, data processing systems are divided into manual
processing systems, mechanized, automated and automatic data processing
systems.
Information systems construction principles
The most important principles of building effective
information systems are as follows:
• The principle of integration is that the processed data,
once entered into the system, is used repeatedly to solve a large number of
problems.
• The principle of consistency , which consists of
processing data in various fields in order to obtain the information necessary
for decision-making at all levels of management.
• The principle of complexity , which consists in the
mechanization and automation of data conversion procedures in all stages of the
information system's operation.
Information systems classification
Information systems are also classified:
• By functional designation : production, commercial,
financial, marketing, etc;
• By control objects : computer-aided design information
systems, technological process management, business management (office,
company, corporation, organization), etc;
• Due to the nature of the use of the results information :
information search, destined to gather, store and deliver the information at
the request of the user; information advisers who provide the user with certain
recommendations for decision-making (decision support systems); information
managers, whose information on results participates directly in the formation
of management actions.
Information subsystems
The structure of information systems makes their separate
parts called subsystems .
Functional subsystems implement and support models, methods,
and algorithms to obtain control information. The composition of the functional
subsystems is very diverse and depends on the thematic area of the use of the
information system, the specific economic activity of the object and the
management.
subsystem structure
The structure of the supporting subsystems usually includes:
• Information support: methods and tools for building a
system information base, including information classification and coding
systems, unified document systems, information flow schemes, principles and
methods of creating databases.
• Technical support is a complex of technical means that
participate in the technological process of transformation of the information
in the system. It is mainly about computers, peripheral equipment, equipment
and data transmission channels.
• The software consists of a set of programs for regular
use, necessary to solve functional tasks, and programs that allow the most
effective use of computer technology, providing users with the greatest comfort
at work.
• The Mathematical Software, is a set of mathematical models
and algorithms used in information processing system methods.
• The language support is a set of linguistic means used in
the system to improve the quality of human development and facilitate
communication with the machine.
Organizational subsystems
Organizational subsystems, in fact, also refer to the
provision of subsystems, but they are primarily aimed at maintaining the
effective work of the staff and can therefore be assigned separately. These
include:
• The composition of the specialists involved in the creation
and operation of the system, the staff and functional responsibilities.
• Ergonomic support, is a set of methods and means used in
the development and operation of the information system, creating optimal
conditions for the activity of the personnel for the fastest mastery of the
system.
• Legal support is a set of legal norms that regulate the
creation and operation of an information system, the procedure for receiving,
transforming and using information.
• Organizational support is a set of decisions that regulate
the processes of creation and operation of both the system as a whole and its
personnel.
