MIS Cover       Managing Information Technology
in the Networked Enterprise
Third Edition
ISBN: 0-256-17354-0

James A. O'Brien

Module II: Information Technology: A Managerial Overview

Contains chapters on computer hardware (Chapter 4), software (Chapter 5), telecommunications (Chapter 6), and database manageement (Chapter 7). Its purpose is to give students an overview of the technology used in modern computer-based information systems and its implications for end user management. This material is consolidated in an independent module since students may have already covered some of these topics in an earlier course. Thus, instructors can selectively use the chapters and sections of this module, depending on the preparation of their students. This is especially useful in the case of the important topics of telecommunications and database management, in which many students. typically, have had only a brief exposure. Students need an adequate background in such topics in order to propose realistic information system solutions to business problems.

SAMPLE FIGURES FROM THIS MODULE

Figure 4.2: The computer system concept. A computer is a system of hardware components and functions.

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Figure 5.1: An overview of computer software. Note the major types and examples of system and application software.

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Figure 6.2: Applications of telecommunications. Note the major categories and types of applications supported by telecommunications networks.

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Figure 7.4: An example of a database management approach in a banking information system. Note how the savings, checking, and installment loan programs use a database management system to share a customer database. Note also that the DBMS allows a user to make a direct, ad hoc interrogation of the database without using applicaiton programs.

Real World Case: Telecom reform fails to pay off for users

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