MGS351: Test # 1I. Chapter 1 – Part A“To err is human, but to really foul things up requires a computer”- Reliance on technology is risky- Manage technology, don’t let technology manage youA. What is MIS?- Management information system- (1) field of study- (2) specific type of information system that managers useo e.g. spreadsheet - Identify the information needed for effective decision makingo Developing Information Systems to satisfy those needs**Using technology to create business value****Bridges the gap between business and technical minds**- Information System (IS)o A set of components that collect, process, store, and distribute information to support decision making and control in an organizationo Different for every level of managementActivities in a IS(KNOW DIFFERENCE) :- TechnologyoHardware, software, database, networks, etc…o Computers and other technologies are used to build information systemso What technology should be used?- Areas of business IS can serveo Sales/marketingo Manufacturing/serviceo Finance/accountingFeedbackProcessInput Output4 functional areas of businesso Human resource Vs.o Cross-sectional- GOAL! Hardest best information systems, which works across the functions of business. MULTIMILLION EXPENSIVE Ties together elements of business. B. Data vs. Information- Data: a collection of unorganized facts- Information: data PROCESSED into a useful from for decision making- GIGO – garbage in, garbage outo Information must be accurate- Information Processing Cycle (KNOW DIFFERENCE)- INPUT-PROCESS-OUTPUT-STORAGE- Characteristics of good information:o Subject valueo Relevanto Timelyo Accurateo Meaningful formato Completeo AccessibleC. What does it take to succeed in MIS?- Soft skills: most important because they cannot be taught they are innateo E.g. communication and teamworko Better to have if choosing between soft and technical- Technical skills: acquired technical curiosityo E.g. programming and networking - Business skillsD. IS opportunities vs. challenges- Opportunitieso Increase worker productivityo Enhance decision makingo Rapidly changing technology (entrepreneur-minded)- Challengeso Investment in obsolete technologyo Technology is changing to quicklyo We can only guess where it is going nexto Workforce downsizingo Information overload o Mistrust/fraud/security breacheso Difficult to build (large percent fail)II. Chapter 1 – Part BA. Database- Collection of data organized in a manner that allows access, retrieval, and use of that data - Hierarchy1. Database2. Table (spreadsheet)3. Records (rows)4. Fields (columns)- Tableso Stores data in a database o Similar to a spreadsheet but more organizedo Contains records (rows) and fields (columns)- all fields have a table of propertieso Datasheet view = sheet of data and records (Can enter/edit) but NOT CHANGE FORMo Design view = changes to properties and data types can be madeo Field properties Input mask (set format like date/ time, form controls such as textboxes) , validation rules (limits what you can enter), data type (10 types and set qualities and rules) ex.(attachment, YES/NO), format (display of data), primary key, etc…o Primary Key: value is unique for every record -a field or set of fields with a unique value for each record stored in the table- Querieso Allow you to ask questions about data in the database to extract informationo E.g. when have customers placed orders?o Finds the most updated data- Formso Used for entering data, displaying data, and building menu systemso Basic form, split forms, multiple items forms, subformso Form = what we see as an end usero Layout view = shows data but changes cannot be made Best of both worldso Design view = changes to properties and data types can be made- Reportso Used to format and present the data in a professional, logical, and useful manner o Often intended from printing and distributiono Can be built from tables and queries Often the starting point – work backwards from hereo Dictate what data must be stored o Report = what we actually see as end userso Layout view = shows data but changes cannot be made Best of both worldso Design view = changes to properties and data types can be madeo Print Preview = shows page breaks - Macroso Small programs that can perform advanced operations, making the database more powerful and user-friendlyo Creates efficiency – “every click counts”o Often used to open forms and reports or to automate portions of the databaseo Autoexec: runs automatically when the data base is opened Opens menus for example- Wizardso Use as a starting point for building form and reporto Does 75% of the work and then allows for customization - Evolution of the Databaseo Lacked organization, huge fileso Hierarchal modelso Relational model Multiple tables with multiple fields “The real power of access is derived from multiple tables and the relationships between them”Possible Test Questions:(1) Which view is used to add, edit, and delete records in the table?A. datasheet view(2) Which represents the hierarchy of terms from largest to smallest?A. datasheet  table  records  fields (3) A __________ provides a convenient and attractive way to enter, and/or print out data in a table?A. form (4) Which form and report view allows you to immediately see the design changes you are making?A. layout view III. Chapter 2 – Part AA. Digital Communication- The language of computers- Computers can only understand 1’s and 0’s- Bito Represents the smallest unit of data in the form of either 1 or 0- Byteo Strings of bits, usually 8o Stores one number of character E.g. 01000101 = A- CPU (processor)o Actual chipo Interprets and carries out basic instructions that operate a computero Controls other parts of the computero Rated based on speed: Gigahertz (3) Megahertzo Rated based on cores Up to 4 Up to 16- Computer Hardwareo Physical electronic components that do actual computing worko Tangible features of a computer- Computer softwareo Electronic instructions that tell the computer what to do**Wife (software) directs her husband (hardware) to move furniture around thehouse****Hardware and software are useless without one another**- Memory (Primary Storage)o Temporarily stores software programs being executed, data used by the programs, and other instructionso RAM (random access memory) Beyond 4