User Centeredness & Information Systems

Cheryl T. Roldan, MLISUser-Centered Information Systems Development

(MALIT 214)August 28, 2010

Learning Outcomes Be able to define a ‘system” Be able to describe the role of information

systems in organizations Be able to state the role of the “user” in an

information system Become familiar with the SLU information

systems

What is an "information system"?

1. An information system combines information technology, people and data to support business requirements. The five key components are hardware, software, data, processes and people.

2. A system, whether automated or manual, that comprises people, machines, and/or methods organized to collect, process, transmit, and disseminate data that represent user information.

3. Any telecommunications and/or computer related equipment or interconnected system or subsystems of equipment that is used in the acquisition, storage, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, switching, interchange, transmission, or reception of voice and/or data, and includes software, firmware, and hardware.

4. The entire infrastructure, organization, personnel, and components for the collection, processing, storage, transmission, display, dissemination, and disposition of information. [INFOSEC-99] [ Available at:http://www.atis.org/tg2k/_information_system.html]

5. The most important part of an information system is the people. The hardware, software, data and processes are all secondary items that together, facilitate the effective manipulation of information.

Watch videos ......

An information system is really about people and information not computers

A computer, a telephone, a fax machine, a television - think of any machine and you will realise that it is pretty useless without people around to use it. That is why we are all referred to in the information systems world as "users".

User-Centredness

productive and happy at work and play If they do what we want them to do

effectively and efficiently User satisfaction Involving users and actively seeking their

requirements is called user-centred design.

What is User-Centredness?User-centredness is a

measure of how well the tool, process, application, device, is suited to its user.

Satisfying the Cat:

(User Centered Design)

Youtube video

What is a "system"?A system is a set of related components that

produces specific results [Shelly, Cashman, Rosenblatt, p5]

Any organized assembly of resources and procedures united and regulated by interaction or interdependence to accomplish a set of specific functions.

A collection of personnel, equipment, and methods organized to accomplish a set of specific functions.

[ Available at: http://www.atis.org/tg2k/_system.html ]

The organization between the parts of a system to reach their common goal is achieved through extensive communication. You could say that it was achieved through a communication system - maybe even an"information system"

Who Develops Information Systems?

In-house applications Software packages Internet-based application services Outsourcing Custom solutions Enterprise-wide software strategies How versus What

Information System Components

A system is a set of related components that produces specific results

A mission-critical system is one that is vital to a company’s operations

Information System Components

Hardware Moore’s Law

Software System software Network operating system Application software Enterprise applications Horizontal system Vertical system

Data Is the raw material that

an information system transforms into useful information

Tables Linking

Information System Components Processes

Define the tasks and business functions that users, managers, and IT staff members perform to achieve specific results

People Users, or end users, are the people who

interact with an information system, both inside and outside the company

Information System Users and Their Needs

A systems analyst must understand the company’s organizational model in order to recognize who is responsible for specific processes and decisions and to be aware of what information is required by whom

modeling, prototyping, and computer-aided systems engineering tools to plan, design, and implement information systems

Systems analysts work with these tools in a team environment

Systems Development Tools and Techniques

Traditionally pictured as a waterfall model, but is also presented as an interactive model depicting real world practice and the constant dialog among users, managers, and systems developers

The Systems Development Life Cycle

Systems Development Guidelines

Planning Involve users throughout the development

process Listening is very important Create a time table with major milestones Identify interim checkpoints Remain flexible Develop accurate cost and benefit information

References:Shelly, B.G., Cashman, T.J., Rosenblatt, H.J., "Systems Analysis And

Design: Sixth Edition", Chapter 1, Thomson Course Technology

Schneider, G.P., Evans, J., "The Internet: 5th Edition - 2005 Update", Thomson Course Technology

Introduction to information systems. http://www.cit.griffith.edu.au/teaching/1004INT/mod1info.html