Business information systems Second Edition September 2013
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9781137265807 September 2013 | Paperback 512pp | £49.99
• Business-focused – concise but comprehensive coverage of the core material for business students • Grounded in theory – provides a strong foundation in the subject • Coherent and integrated – builds concepts systematically, showing the connections between subjects and leading to a more sophisticated understanding of how different areas interrelate • Fully up-to-date – with the latest developments and cutting edge ideas from the field • Practical – demonstrates the application of theory to real-world situations through over 30 specially-written case studies with global appeal • Supported – by a vast array of quality resources online at www.palgrave.com/business/ beynon-daviesbis2e PLUS Business Information Systems links with 15 cases from the Journal of Information Technology and the Journal of Information Technology Teaching Cases with easy online access. Access these journals at www.palgrave-journals.com/jit and www.palgrave-journals.com/jittc.
About the author: Business Information Systems provides a comprehensive and accessible introduction to information systems and their application in organisations.
Paul Beynon-Davies is Professor of Organisational Informatics at the Cardiff Business School at Cardiff University, UK. He spent several years in the ICT industry and is the author of a number of highly successful books including Information Systems, Information Systems Development and Database Systems.
with its activity First,its in terms of efficacy, has world, been able to diversify into a vast ity.isinfrastructure. Programming asAmazon a the role, for instance, only customer involves effectiveness, Amazon able to sell products across meaning that its potential range of products for retail. Since Amazon is primarily a B2C company it is able to run without any base is huge,physical and isretail able to relate to aonlarge range oflower suppliers toFor fulfil each orders customers. outlets and can pass effihigher ciency gains in costs to its customers. Finally, infrom terms of the BCS has involves the levels. role,
the l speci effectiveness, Amazon is able to sell its products across the world, meaning that its potential customer base is huge, and is able to relate rangeas of suppliers fromrange customers. of activities they are lik person totofia large ll it, wellto fulfiasl orders the 338 Services, projects and operations on generic skills, such as an ability to design and build datab 11.3 Informatics careers StuartinMcMillan Careers in Careers related skills such as abilities in the Oracle tool-set. StuartInformatics McMillan professionals work for either informatics providers or informatics consumers, the QR code under picture orStuart’s visitThis ispicture McMillan is the Deputyof Head of eCommercepart for the and have become an increasing of the Scan workforce of developed countries. clearly or visit Scan the code under Stuart McMillanStuart is the Deputy Head eCommerce for the informatics isQR Stuart’s now central www.palgrave.com/business/beynon-daviesbis2e/ to to most organisatio footwear an retailer Schuh. ofBecause indicator growth in the information society (Chapter 3). to footwear retailerStuart Schuh. watchwww.palgrave.com/business/beynon-daviesbis2e/ Stuart talking about Information Systems and careers startedInformatics his working lifeisinaa relatively supermarket,young supervising area of industrial practice,then and one thattheisquestions subjectbelow: to rapid as an IS professional, think about matics staff has remained steady, and in some sectors has fruit and veg department, after leaving University where he watch Stuart talking about Information Stuart started histhe working life inRecruitment a supermarket, supervising change. patterns tend to be driven by requirements for short-term technological Systems and careers studied Chemistry. He then went on to manage a small outdoor ■ What sort of benefits does a company such as Schuh as an IS professional, then think about the questions below: skills, such as the ability to program in the Java language, rather than longer-term transferable the fruit and veg department, after leaving where he from both B2C and B2B eCommerce? retail operation, where he helped startUniversity their eCommerce decade, fuelled byexperience growth in eBusiness and eCommerce s asathe ability to design effective efficient programs. is has made it diffi cult to website asskills wellwent assuch writing back-offi ce system to integrate the and ■ How possiblesort for a company selling physical to ■is itWhat ofThbenefi ts does agoods company such as Schuh studied Chemistry. He then on to manage a small outdoor stock and establish sales information of fourand otherconsistent branches. career patterns coherent across the industry.business differentiate itsthere eCommerce its competitors? public sectors. Because isboth afromB2C shortage of skilled inform experience from and B2B eCommerce? retail operation, where heperiod helped start eCommerce Professional bodies such as thean British Computer Society (BCS) have attempted to address After a brief working for atheir biotech firm writing ■ In what way are mobile access devices important to the system, Stuart joined a digital agency as a senior website as well asintranet writing a back-offi ce system to integrate the some of these difficulties. For instance, the BCS hasHow developed an industry model eCommerce strategy Schuh? ■ is it atpossible for astructure company selling physical goods to tries, many economies have looked to other countries wo developer,which where hetries worked on the websites of several specify career paths for informatics professionals. classifiescustomer some service 200 roles ■ What are the advantages It stock and sales information of fourtoother branches. diff erentiateofitsproviding eCommerce business from its competitors? prominent fashion brands. One of these brands, AllSaints, hired in the informatics domain into nine broad functional areas: (1) management, (2) policy, (3) electronically? companies, for instance, have outsourced informatics ac him to help set up and run their own After a brief period working for aUS biotech fiweb rmdevelopment writing anteam. planning and research, (4) systems development and maintenance, (5) service delivery, (6) ■ How ICTmobile infrastructure to facilitate ■does In Schuh whatmanage wayitsare access devices important to the While he had a proven technical background, Stuart always eCommerce innovation? technical advice and consultancy, (7) quality, (8) customer relations, education and training, particularly the intranet system, Stuart a digital agency as atosenior maintenance, subcontinent, aspired tojoined be a leader within business, helping shape the to the Indian eCommerce strategy at Schuh? (9)busy support administration. ■ How important is data security to successful eCommerce? of eCommerce websites. He the team at developer, wheredirection he worked on theand websites ofjoined several Ten levels ofthe autonomy, accountability and responsibility are defi ned acrossthan nine ■ What are themore advantages ofthese providing customer serviceworkers Schuh as a fantastic opportunity to do just that. ■ Is successful eCommerce of a business a purely United Kingdom have included informatics prominent fashionStuart brands. One ofas these brands, AllSaints, hired ICTthrough issue? functional areas, inranging from unskilled entry, experienced practitioner, to senior is also a keen participant eCommerce conferences electronically? him to help set upandand run their blog own development team. writes a regular on web the subject. manager/director/consultant. Not all functions are performed across all levelsbehaviour? of responsibil■ How has eCommerce changed consumer tions, so that those who off er these skills get priority in imm ■ How managemanagement its ICT infrastructure to facilitate ity. Programming as a role, for instance, only involves the does lower Schuh levels, whereas
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While he had a proven technical background, Stuart always involves the higher levels. For each role, the BCS has specified theinnovation? ideal background for the eCommerce aspired to be a leader within helping personbusiness, to fill it, as well as to theshape range the of activities they are likely to undertake. The emphasis is How important is than dataspecifi security to successful eCommerce? direction of busy eCommerce websites. He joined the team at and■ on generic skills, such as an ability to design build databases, rather c vendorrelated skills as abilities Schuh as a fantastic opportunity tosuch do just that. in the Oracle tool-set. ■ Is successful eCommerce more of a business than a purely 9781137265807_09_cha08.indd 247 6/24/2013 7:44:29 PM Because informatics is now central to most organisations, the demand for skilled inforICT issue? Stuart is also a keen participant in eCommerce matics staff has remainedconferences steady, and in some sectors has grown significantly over the last by growth in eBusiness and eCommerce strategies in bothchanged the private and and writes a regular blogdecade, on thefuelled subject. ■ How has eCommerce consumer behaviour?
Careers in
Katherine Coombs
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Katherine Coombs
exploitingscience new revenue streams reducing costs before Coombs holds a degree in computer andornumerous being appointed as CIO of the Savings division when Lloyds TSB acquired HBOS, forming the UK’s largest bank, Lloyds technical certifications.
Katherine Coombs is the global Chief Information Officer (CIO) for Proxima, a leading pure-play outsourcer and provider of procurement services. Coombs is a Board-level executive with dual responsibility for both client-facing ICT solutions and internal ICT operations, spanning Europe and the US.
Communication infrastructure
exploiting new reven being appointed as C TSB acquired HBOS, Banking Group.
6/24/2013 7:44:2 Scan the QR code un www.palgrave.com watch Katherine talk careers as an IS prof questions below:
■ There is a gender in informatics. M secondary, tertia component. Why of the executive board of the company? Why? 2007. Coombs delivered a £50M IT-led innovation pipeline web of life, he is merely begin to address Describe the concept ICT CoombsModern relies on as ICT infrastructure consisting of Relocating to the UK in of2005, joinedbusiness Lloyds TSB a strand in it. Whatever infrastructure and explain its effects access devices, communication channels, front-end ICT, ■Such Do infrastructure you think that its ICT innovation and research in management. he does to the web, hesenior manager on modern of business. back-end ICT andteam core data supports connectivity to data on the part of information systems b does to himself.’ of the executive 2007. Coombs delivered a £50M IT-led innovation pipeline 7:46:52 PM used by both internal and external6/24/2013 stakeholders.
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Chief Seattle (1786–1866) c
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Modern communication infrastructure relies on two critical Distinguish between the Internet technologies: the Internet and the Web. The Internet consists and the World Wide Web, identify of a set of technologies which facilitate the inter-connection some of the critical components of between data communication networks globally. The Web is an the Internet and explain some of the technologies underlying the Web and application which runs on the Internet and consists of standards Communication infrastructurefor the transmission of hypermedia documents. their relevance for business.
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Data communication infrastructure connects business Discuss the importance of organisations in flows of transactions. Since these transactions transactional data to business to are typically in various forms of documentation the standards business interaction and describe Learning outcomes Principles for electronic transmission of such documentation are critically some approaches to handling this Describe the concept of ICT business relies on ICT infrastructure consisting of important for commerce. issue. and explain its effects Modern infrastructure access devices, communication channels, front-end ICT,
‘Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.’ Chief Seattle (1786–1866)
• Content aligned with IS2010 model curricula and capability outcomes and AACSB and AMBA requirements
on modern business.
back-end ICT and core data management. Such infrastructure supports connectivity to data on the part of information systems used by both internal and external stakeholders.
Distinguish between the Internet and the World Wide Web, identify some of the critical components of the Internet and explain some of the technologies underlying the Web and their relevance for business.
Modern communication infrastructure relies on two critical technologies: the Internet and the Web. The Internet consists of a set of technologies which facilitate the inter-connection between data communication networks globally. The Web is an application which runs on the Internet and consists of standards for the transmission of hypermedia documents.
Discuss the importance of transactional data to business to business interaction and describe some approaches to handling this issue.
Data communication infrastructure connects business organisations in flows of transactions. Since these transactions are typically in various forms of documentation the standards for electronic transmission of such documentation are critically important for commerce.
Chapter outline
INFORMATICS PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT
AACSB learning objectives: Use of IT
INFORMATICS PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT
AACSB learning objectives: Use of IT
ANALYSIS
EXTERNAL ACTOR ICT SYSTEM 9781137265807_06_cha05.indd 137
VALUE
VALUE
VALUE
VALUE
CONCEPTION
CONSTRUCTION
ACTIVITY SYSTEM
DESIGNDESIGN
5.1. 5.2. 5.3. 5.4. INFORMATION 5.5. DECISIONS SYSTEMINFORMATION 5.6. DECISIONS SYSTEM INFORMATION INFORMATION 5.7. ICT SYSTEM ICT SYSTEM DATA 5.8. DATA OPER ATION 5.9. OPER ATION 5.10. 5.11. EXTERNAL 5.12. ACTOR 5.13. ICT SYSTEM 5.14.
ACTIVITY ORGANISATION SYSTEM
5.1. Introduction 5.2. Electronic delivery of goods and services 5.3. Access channels IS2010 Introduction 5.4. networks IS2010 Electronic delivery of goods andCommunication services Access channels IS2010 5.5. The Internet IS2010 Communication networks IS2010 The Internet IS2010 5.6. The World Wide Web IS2010 The World Wide Web IS2010 5.7. Transactional data IS2010 Transactional data IS2010 Conclusion and key themes 5.8. Conclusion and key themes Review test Exercises 5.9. Review test Projects Critical reflection 5.10. Exercises Further reading 5.11. Projects References 5.12. Critical reflection 137 5.13. Further reading 5.14. References
Chapter outline
IMPACT
ENVIRONMENT
INFORMATION SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT IMPLEMENTATION CONSTRUCTION
ORGANISATION
EVALUATION
ANALYSIS
CONCEPTION
INFORMATION SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT
ENVIRONMENT
IMPLEMENTATION
• Nine new UK and international cases including ‘The Arab Spring and Social Media’, ‘Off-shoring in Bangalore’ and ‘The Indian Identity Number’
Banking Group.
QR code underneath Katherine’s a picture or visit Her ICT career spans more thanScan 10theyears and covers diverse www.palgrave.com/business/beynon-daviesbis2e/ to watchgovernment Katherine talking about Information Systems andand range of sectors, from finance and to services careers as an IS professional, and then think about the Her ICT career spans more than 10 years and covers a diverse questions below: retail. An national, worked internationally range of sectors, fromAustralian finance and government to services and Coombs ■ There is a gender imbalance in people opting for a career retail. An Australian national, Coombs worked internationally ICTspecialising consultant specialising in large-scale infrastructure in informatics. More male than female students take as as an ICTan consultant in large-scale infrastructure secondary, tertiary and higher-level courses with an ICT programmes for clients such as Virgin Atlantic, HMRC, and programmes Atlantic, HMRC, and component. Why do you think this is, and how would you Standard Chartered Bank. for clients such as Virgin begin to address this imbalance? to the UK in 2005, Coombs joined Lloyds TSB as Learning outcomes Principles ‘Man did not weave Relocating the Standard Chartered Bank. ■ Do you think that it is important for a CIO to be a member senior manager of its ICT innovation and research team in Coombs holds a degree in computer science and numerous technical certifications.
USE
• New sections throughout including cloud computing, mobile eCommerce, eGovernment and green ICT
Careers in p
EVALUATION
• Online ‘Careers in IS’ videos with integrated exercises in the book, easily accessible via a QR code, and featuring leading practitioners in the public and private sectors. These include the CTO of the BBC and the Deputy Head of e-Commerce at Schuh.co.uk talking about why technology is central to business operations, and providing valuable career guidance
ha
IMPACT
Take a look at some of the brand new key features for this second edition…
c
USE
What’s New:
public sectors. Because there is a shortage of skilled informatics professionals in many coun-
tries, many economies is have looked to other countries worldwide to supply workers. Many Katherine Coombs the global Chief Information Officer (CIO) US companies, for instance, have outsourced informatics activities, such as development and for Proxima, outsourcer and provider of such maintenance, atoleading the Indian pure-play subcontinent, particularly the Bangalore region. Countries as the United Kingdom have included informatics workers in their list of preferred occupaprocurement services. ispriority a Board-level executive tions, so that those who offerCoombs these skills get in immigration procedures. with dual responsibility for both client-facing ICT solutions and internal ICT operations, spanning Europe and the US.
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Table of contents
Message to Students Message to Lecturers About the Book Guided Tour of the Book
PART III: APPLYING INFORMATION SYSTEMS TO BUSINESS 7. The Business Environment 8. Electronic Business, Electronic Commerce and Electronic Government
1. Introduction: The Domain of Business Information Systems
PART I: KEY CONCEPTS 2. Organisations and Systems 3. Data, Information and Knowledge 4. Information Systems and Organisational Infrastructure
PART II: UNDERSTANDING ICT 5. Communication Infrastructure
6. ICT Systems Infrastructure
9. Assessing the Use and Impact of Information Systems
PART IV: MANAGING INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN BUSINESS 10. Planning, Strategy and Management 11. Services, Projects and Operations 12. Information Systems Development 13. Conclusion: Successful Informatics Practice
Case Studies Bibliography Glossary Index
9781137265807 September 2013 | Paperback 512pp | £49.99 If Beynon-Davies isn’t right for your course, take a look at Whiteley - An Introduction to Information Systems 9780230370500 May 2013 Paperback £42.99 A concise, lowerlevel introduction to information systems
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