Define an information system and list its major components.

An Information Systems is a set of people, procedures and resources that collects, transforms, and disseminates information in an organization. Today’s organizations rely on many types of Information systems (IS). They include simple manual (paper-and-pencil) information systems and informal (word-of mouth) information systems.

Management Information System:

Many people use this term as a synonym for information system. Others use it to describe an information system that provides information in the form of standardized reports and displays to managers. Management Information System (MIS) is used to describe a broad class of information systems that are designed to provide information needed for effective decision-making by managers.

The various components of information system are:

Information: is data for example, raw facts or observations) that have been put into a meaningful and useful context, This gives the information value for specific persons and meets their particular information needs. This information is a basic resource that individuals and organizations must have to survive and succeed in today’s society.

End User: Anyone who uses an information system of the information it produces. This usually applies to most people in an organization, as distinguished from the smaller number of people who are information system specialists, such as system analysts or professional computer programmers.

Managerial end user: A manager, entrepreneur, or managerial level professional who personally uses information systems. Also, the manager of a department or other organizational unit that relies on information systems. This book is written for potential managerial end users like you and other students of business administration and management.