Unit 6. information systems analysis and

Design

Text A

Reading. Read the text and try to guess the meaning of the words in bold. Check your variants in the dictionary.

 

Information Systems

 

An information system collects, stores, and processes data to provide useful, accurate, and timely information, typically within the context of an organization. Although an information system does not necessarily have to be computerized, today most information systems rely on computers and communications networks to store, process, and transmit information with far more efficientcy than would be possible with a manual system. In this unit, the term “ information system ” refers to a system that uses computers and usually includes communications networks.

An information system is used by the people in an organization and its customers. You've undoubtedly used many information systems – for example, when registering for classes, getting cash from an ATM, and purchasing merchandise on the Web. You might even work for a business or nonprofit organization where you have access to an information system. Not everyone in an organization uses an information system in the same way. An information system must support the needs of people who engage in many different organizational activities.

An information system can help the people in an organization perform their jobs more quickly and effectively by automating routine tasks, such as reordering inventory, taking customer orders, or sending out renewal notices. Information systems can also help people solve problems. One of the major functions of an information system is to help people make decisions in response to problems.

Because organizations have different missions and face different problems, they require different kinds of information systems. An information system might have one or more of the following components: a transaction processing system, a management information system, a decision support system, or an expert system. Let’s take a closer look at a transaction processing system.

In an information system context, a transaction is an exchange between two parties that is recorded and stored in a computer system. When you order a product at a Web site, buy merchandise in a store, or withdraw cash from an ATM, you are involved in a transaction.

Many organizational activities involve transactions. A transaction processing system (TPS) provides a way to collect, process, store, display, modify, or cancel transactions. Most transaction processing systems allow many transactions to be entered simultaneously. The data collected by a TPS is typically stored in databases, and can be used to produce a regularly scheduled set of reports, such as monthly bills, weekly paychecks, annual inventory summaries, daily manufacturing schedules, or periodic check registers.

Early transaction processing systems, such as banking and payroll applications of the 1970s, used batch processing to collect and hold a group of transactions for processing until the end of a day period. An entire batch was then processed without human intervention, until all transactions were completed or until an error occurred.

In contrast to batch processing, most modern transaction processing systems use online processing —a real-time method in which each transaction is processed as it is entered. Such a system is often referred to as an OLTP system (online transaction processing system ). OLTP uses a “ commit or rollback ” strategy to ensure that each transaction is processed correctly. This strategy is crucial because most transactions require a sequence of steps, and every step must succeed for the transaction to be completed.

If you withdraw cash from an ATM the bank’s computer must make sure your account contains sufficient funds before it deducts the withdrawal from your account and allows the ATM to deliver cash. If the ATM is out of cash, however, the transaction fails, and the withdrawal should not be deducted from your account. A TPS can commit toa transaction and permanently update database records only if every step of the transaction can be successfully processed. If even one step fails, the entire transaction fails anda rollback returns the records to their original state.

Although a TPS excels at maintaining transaction data entered by clerical personnel and online customers, its reporting capabilities are limited. A typical TPS generates detail reports, which provide a basic record of completed transactions. However, managers need more sophisticated reports to help them analyze data.

 

Comprehension check. Mark the following statements as True or False.

1. An information system usually helps people to find solutions to their problems.

2. You aren’t involved in a transaction when you order a product online.

3. All POS systems automatically calculate, change and identify customers who previously wrote bad checks.

4. Everyone in an organization uses an information system in the same way.

5. An information system has to be computerized.

6. A TPS is one of the components of an information system.

 

Vocabulary practice

1. Match the words with their synonyms.

 

accurate exact

generate evolve

deduct subtract

commit perform

crucial essential

sophisticated complicated

2. Fill in the blanks choosing from the variants given.

1. A group of people working together to accomplish a goal is a(n) ….

a) organization b) colleagues c) developers d) corporation

2. An information system must... the needs of people who participate in different organizational activities.

a) protect b) share c) support d) maintain

3. Some POS systems automatically … credit cards.

a) check b) verify c) examine d ) process

4. Many TPS … plenty of transactions to be entered at a time.

a) allow b) permit c) prohibit d) let

5. An information system ability to assist with problem solving and decision making depends on data it collects and makes ….

a) shared b) closed c) accessible d) available

6. A TPS simply … data.

a) stores b) records c) processes d) keeps

 

3. Make two-word combination using the words in columns and then fill in the gaps in the following sentences.

 

A: 1 batch processing

B:

2 online customer

 

3 routine tasks

4 payroll system

5 detail report

6 real-time method

 

 

1. First transaction processing systems used 1….

2. If you buy goods on the Internet you are …2.

3 Online processing is 6… in which each transaction is processed as it is entered.

4. A …5 provides a basic record of completed transactions.

5. Without a 4… we can’t calculate deductions and taxes, track employee hours generate paychecks.

6. Often repeated activities are called 3….

 

4. Fill in the gaps in the text.

___ systems play a key role in helping organizations achieve goals, which are set forth in a ___ statement. Workers use information systems to produce and manipulate ___. Transaction ___ systems provide an organization with a way to collect, modify, display or ___ transactions. These systems encompass activities such as general accounting, inventory ___, and e-commerce. ___ information systems typically build on the data collected by a TPS to produce ___ that managers use to make the business decisions needed to solve routine, structured problems.

 

Speaking. Discuss the following questions.

 

1. What is an information system?

2. Who uses information systems?

3. How do information systems help people in an organization?

4. Do organizations require different kinds of information systems?

5. What is a transaction?

6. What is a transaction processing system?

7. What are the limitations of transaction processing systems?

 

Text B

Pre-reading. Match the meaning of the following English words and their Russian equivalents.

1discrete step	a) внедрение
2 checklist	b) пошаговый режим
3 implementation	c) перечень
4 milestone	d) промежуточный этап разработки

Reading. Read the text and try to guess the meaning of the words in bold. Check your variants in the dictionary.

 

Systems Analysis

 

Whether you are a part of a team that is developing a complex corporate information system, or you are developing a small information system for your own use, you will be more likely to succeed if you analyze the purpose of the information system, carefully design the system, test it thoroughly, and document its features. In this text you’ll learn about the planning and analysis that’s required for an information system.