This is a listing of a PowerPoint-based talk I usually use to cover this area.

Issues in information management

¨              Consistency with business priorities

¨              Centralisation vs. decentralisation

¨              Different user needs

¨              Hardware and software choices

Consistency with business priorities

The critical success factors (CSF) method

¨              Identify the company’s primary goals

¨              Identify measures of performance for each of these CSFs

¨              Set up information systems to collect and use this information

Centralisation vs. decentralisation

‘Information Systems Department’ responsible for

¨              planning and control of processing,

¨              maintenance of hardware and software

¨              development of new computerised information systems

Advantages of centralised system

¨              provides a centralised pool of expertise

¨              better control over hardware / software purchasing

Advantages of distributed system

¨              allows users in individual departments to develop their own applications

¨              lessens dependence on the central resource

Different user needs

¨              Transaction processing systems Users: Clerical workers, salespeople, data entry clerks and customers

¨              Knowledge work systems Users: Middle managers, professional people such as accountants, engineers and graphic designers

¨              Management support systems Users: Senior managers.

End-users require

¨              software that is

¨              easy to use

¨              has enough features to do the job efficiently

¨              hardware that is

¨              sufficiently powerful to run the software without frustrating delays.

Hardware and software choices

Advantages of centralised control include:

¨              All hardware within company will be compatible and can be linked in company-wide network;

¨              Purchasing power increased if high volume;

¨              Better deals on maintenance contracts;

¨              Employees will not have to learn new systems if they move to another department;

¨              Training simplified for people using the same software from many departments;

¨              Site licences can be purchased for software;

¨              Better control over unlicensed software;

¨              Data can be exchanged more easily between similar types of computer.

Using different types of computer (PC, Mac) creates problems since most software not cross-platform.

Upgrading hardware and software

Legacy systems

¨              Old

¨              often technically obsolete (e.g. COBOL)

¨              difficult to maintain

But

¨              essential

¨              expensive to replace

 

New information systems

¨              new versions coming out regularly

¨              may need faster processor, extra memory

¨              may not be backward compatible

¨              Should company upgrade everyone?  no-one? selected departments only?

Future proofing

¨              Not possible

¨              best to buy hardware with extra capability

¨              One solution is ‘emulation software’