Information Systems :- Information system, an integrated set of components for collecting, storing, and processing data and for providing information, knowledge, and digital products. Business firms and other organizations rely on information systems to carry out and manage their operations, interact with their customers and suppliers, and compete in the marketplace. Information systems are used to run interorganizational supply chains and electronic markets.

Information systems and professionals with advanced degrees in information systems can help businesses and other organizations improve their efficiency, maximize revenue and streamline their operations.

There are different types of information systems that can serve a variety of purposes depending on an organization’s needs. Examples include -

• Data warehouses - Data warehouses are data management systems that support analytics and other business intelligence activities. They consolidate and analyze data from a large variety of sources. Data warehouses can provide insight into businesses to help improve decision-making.

• Enterprise systems - Enterprise systems, also known as enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, are integrated systems that combine all the hardware and software a business uses for different functions in its operations. These organization-wide systems help information flow between departments and allow processes from different parts of the business to be integrated across a company.

• Expert systems - Expert systems use artificial intelligence to mimic human decision-making. The software uses human knowledge to solve problems that would typically require a person’s expertise. Expert systems can be applied in areas such as medical diagnoses, accounting and coding.

• Geographic information systems - Geographic information systems (GIS) are tools that gather, organize, map and analyze data with a spatial component. GIS can improve analysis and decision-making by allowing users to visualize data on a map. Global information systems are a type of GIS that synthesize worldwide data.

• Office automation systems - Office automation systems combine communication technology, people and computers to help perform office activities, such as preparing written communication, printing, scheduling or creating reports.

Components of Information Systems : -

• Hardware - Computer-based information systems use computer hardware, such as processors, monitors, keyboard and printers.

• Software - These are the programs used to organize, process and analyze data.

• Databases - Information systems work with data, organized into tables and files.

• Network - Different elements need to be connected to each other, especially if many different people in an organization use the same information system.

• Procedures - These describes how the specific data are processed and analyzed in order to get the answers for which the information system is designed.