AMIE -COMPUTING AND INFORMATICS

Decision Support Systems (DSS) are a class of computerized information system that support decision-making activities. DSS are interactive computer-based systems and subsystems intended to help decision makers use communications technologies, data, documents, knowledge and/or models to complete decision process tasks.

A decision support system may present information graphically and may include an expert system or artificial intelligence (AI). It may be aimed at business executives or some other group of knowledge workers.
Typical information that a decision support application might gather and present would be, (a) Accessing all information assets, including legacy and relational data sources; (b) Comparative data figures; (c) Projected figures based on new data or assumptions; (d) Consequences of different decision alternatives, given past experience in a specific context.
There are a number of Decision Support Systems. These can be categorized into five types:

• Communication-driven DSS Most communications-driven DSSs are targetted at internal teams, including partners. Its purpose are to help conduct a meeting, or for users to collaborate. The most common technology used to deploy the DSS is a web or client server. Examples: chats and instant messaging softwares, online collaboration and net-meeting systems.

• Data-driven DSS Most data-driven DSSs are targeted at managers, staff and also product/service suppliers. It is used to query a database or data warehouse to seek specific answers for specific purposes. It is deployed via a main frame system, client/server link, or via the web. Examples: computer-based databases that have a query system to check (including the incorporation of data to add value to existing databases.

• Document-driven DSS Document-driven DSSs are more common, targeted at a broad base of user groups. The purpose of such a DSS is to search web pages and find documents on a specific set of keywords or search terms. The usual technology used to set up such DSSs are via the web or a client/server system.

• Knowledge-driven DSS
  Knowledge-driven DSSs or 'knowledgebase' are they are known, are a catch-all category covering a broad range of systems covering users within the organization seting it up, but may also include others interacting with the organization - for example, consumers of a business. It is essentially used to provide management advice or to choose products/services. The typical deployment technology used to set up such systems could be slient/server systems, the web, or software runnung on stand-alone PCs.

• Model-driven DSS Model-driven DSSs are complex systems that help analyse decisions or choose between different options. These are used by managers and staff members of a business, or people who interact with the organization, for a number of purposes depending on how the model is set up - scheduling, decision analyses etc. These DSSs can be deployed via software/hardware in stand-alone PCs, client/server systems, or the web.

From: http://www.mis.cmich.edu/bis644/dss_01/sld001.htm

Transaction Processing System

Transaction processing

• supported by programs that are called transaction processing systems.
• provide three functional areas:

1.System runtime functions

Transaction processing systems provide an execution environment that ensures the integrity, availability, and security of data. It also ensures fast response time and high transaction throughput.

2.System administration functions

Transaction processing systems provide administrative support that lets users configure, monitor, and manage their transaction systems.

3.Application development functions

Transaction processing systems provide functions for use in custom business applications, including functions to access data, to perform intercomputer communications, and to design and manage the user interface.

The advantages of TPS

We have now seen the reasons why we need transaction processing systems. The advantages of three-tier applications in creating scalable and robust applications are made feasible by transaction processing systems. The ability to distribute the components that make up applications amongst separate servers without explicitly having to develop for that architecture is another advantage of transaction server processing. Transaction processing systems also ensure that transactions are atomic, consistent, isolated, and durable. This alleviates the developer from having to support these characteristics explicitly.

With all of these excellent reasons for developing an application that uses atransaction processing system, we now need a system that provides these features. We will now turn our attention to a transaction processing system that is part of the standard IIS 4.0 installation: Microsoft Transaction Server.

From:http://www.auditmypc.com/acronym/tps.asp

Office Automation System & Knowledge Work System

Knowledge work systems and office automation systems serve the information needs at the knowledge level of the organization. , where as office automation systems primary aid data workers (although they are also used extensively by knowledge workers)


Office Automation Systems

Automation allows Institution to update their activities 'in house'. Technical knowledge or web development experience is not necessary. Anyone who can use Microsoft Windows and can browse the internet will have no problem using this system. Entirely database driven, Automation is incredibly robust - making it suitable for sites ranging from low traffic, small business sites to large corporate sites requiring hundreds of updates daily.
One of the key elements in Office Automation is information management. The increasing volume and complexity of business dealings have forced to rely upon computers to help capture, distribute, store, and manage the information flow required in their day-to-day business operations. By having computers keep track of the details of the information, people are able to concentrate on the higher level duties such as planning and decision making.
Automation can help streamline the administration & Research updates. Make a single update within Automation and the piece of content can be updated throughout the sections and reflects in related processes. Automation is accessible via a password protected secure administration area -
with each user being given their own, username & password.
The customizable content within each site is incredibly easy to edit. The system uses an inbuilt modules that enables users to modify data, and image properties via an interface very similar to the one used within "Microsoft Word". More experienced users have the ability to swap to HTML mode for advanced editing.
Data display can be date/time driven, so the information is displayed from, to or in between particular times submitted by you. Submit information when you want, and have it display on the site at a time that suits you.

The ultimate idea is to achieve the goal for CRRI was …
• User Friendly interfaces for data entry and is easy to navigate
• Efficient tracking, monitoring, routing and auditing of various files
• Reliable reporting system that should not affect system performance
• Be easy to maintain and configure
• Be flexible for future enhancements
• Have role/group based security
• Automatic alerts to the user based on events and dead lines
• Fasten decision making process
• Efficient Master data maintenance
• Better control in Inventory Management
• Centralized Controlling System for Authorities

Results
• Paperless Office
o As most of the processes are online, the need of Papers and signature would be
drastically reduced. The system is designed in such a ways that if in any case it is
required to take a approval through papers, it can be generated from the system
and get approved form the concerned officer. This concept will definite save time
and money of the organization.
• Productivity
o Most of the calculation and business logic are intact with the system, so when any
application is sent from a particular officer, the system automatically send the
application to corresponding authority. Also the system gives alert messages when
there is a need t take action immediately. This saves the time of the officers and
also their productivity increases.
• Traceability
o In manual process it is very difficult to trace a particular file and its status. This
system tracks the file movement and the status at each level. This helps the
decision maker to take proper decision in time. Also the application can check
his/her application status any time s/he wants.
• Accountability
o The system makes each and every officer accountable for their job and
responsibility. The reminder message system embedded in the system will send
reminders to the concern officer if s/he is not taking decision in time. Also it make
not of the delay time in making decision/taking action which in turn becomes the
basis of assessing any officer's productivity and decision taking capabilities.
• Interrelated modules
o In the system all the modules share a common data source which helps any officer
to see the related information while taking decision. With single sign-on facility
once can access data from different modules without wondering where to get
proper data.

Knowledge Work System

The Knowledge Worker System (KWS) is a computer application designed to help "knowledge workers" (professionals who use information as their primary input and whose major products are distillations of that information) to capture and organize work activity information, and to learn, prioritize, and execute their tasks more efficiently and effectively. KWS integrates methods and technologies from the disciplines of information management, workflow, work scheduling, software agent, and work measurement into a "Performance Support Environment." KWS enhances productivity by delivering task-specific information as needed, and by associating all automated tools, software agents, and multimedia document references needed to complete a specific task.
KWS is "groupware" designed for use by collaborative workgroups. Processes can be assigned across organizations to support matrixed management. Knowledge workers can assign tasks to themselves, to other knowledge workers, or to a group of knowledge workers. KWS improves workgroup coordination by allowing knowledge workers to retrieve and update milestones, task completion, and priority status information.




Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Office_Automation_Systems#ixzz1GfDyHwEK

http://www.erdc.usace.army.mil/pls/erdcpub/www_welcome.navigation_page?tmp_next_page=39811
Read more:http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_an_office_automation_system_and_a_knowledge_work_system#ixzz1GfDV6dDh

Read more:http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_an_office_automation_system_and_a_knowledge_work_system#ixzz1GfDMdCtH

Information Flow in Organisation

An information flow diagram (IFD) is an illustration of information flowthroughout an organisation. An IFD shows the relationship between external and internal information flows between an organisation. It also shows the relationship between the internal departments and sub-systems.

An Information Flow Diagram is information about a system laid out in diagramatic form. Usually using "blobs" to explain in more details the system and sub-systems to elemental parts. Following on from this you can add in lines of how the information travels from one system to another. This is used in businesses, Government agencies, television and cinematic processes.

There are two ways of flow of information in the organization:

1. from top to bottom

2. from bottom to top, both of these:

• play a significant role in the communication process in an organization.

If the information flow is clear and flawless, most of the objectives will become easy to achieve because of proper understanding and actions towards them. On the other hand, if flow of information is not flawless, several major troubles, conflicts, irregular updates, failure in target achievements will take place in the organization.

Information Systems

Information is the lifeblood of any organization. Damaged or lost data can cause disruptions in normal business activities leading to financial losses, law suits, etc. Information systems, which comprise hardware, software, data, applications, communication and people, help an organization to better manage and secure its critical corporate, customer and employee data. Information systems also improve integration and work processes...the benefits go on and on.

An information system is also a system but differs from other kinds of systems because its objective is to monitor and document the operations of other systems, which we can call target systems. An information system owes its existence to the target system. For example, production activities would be the target system for a production scheduling information system, human resources would be the target system of a human resource information system, and so on. We could say that every reactive system may have a subsystem that can be considered as an information system whose objective is to monitor and control such a system. The main functions of an information system may be input, processing, output, storage and control at work place.

from:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_flow_diagram


Read more:http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_do_organizations_need_information_systems#ixzz1Gf98Uf00

Read more:http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_merits_of_information_flows_in_organisations#ixzz1Gf8njlby

Monday, March 14, 2011

Functions of An Organization

An information system is a collection of people, procedures, software, hardware and data. All of them are combined together to provide information essential to running an organization. Computerized information systems nowaday had already support the vertical and horizontal flow of information within the organization. There are several different basic funtional areas in a organization. Most organizations have departments that specialize in one of five basic functions. These 5 basic functions are Accounting, Marketing, Human resourse, Production and Research.

Accounting: records all financial activity from billing customers to paying employees. It also produces the financial condition report of company.

Marketing: plans, prices, promotes and sells the organization's goods and services.

Human Resourse: relates to people in each of the functional areas. It focuses on people that including hiring. training, promoting and any number of other human-centered activities in the organization.

Production: produces goods and services.

Research: identifies, investigates and develops new goods and services.