Chapter 1
Computer Technology:
Your Need to Know
Technology and Knowledge
Acquiring and Configuring Technological Devices
Information Systems Development
Managing Computer Resources
Roles and Job Titles
Computer Technology Information Systems
Chapter Goals
Describe the activities of information systems professionals
Describe the technical knowledge of computer hardware and system software needed to
develop and manage information systems
Identify additional sources of information for continuing education in computer hardware
and system software
Technology and Knowledge
Computers
- Increasingly complex and powerful
- Easier to use
- Why is technological knowledge important?
Acquiring and Configuring Technological Devices
Requires more knowledge than
using devices effectively
Challenges of an IS
professional
Computer acquisition
Upgrading
Configuration choices
Information
System
Development
Systems development life cycle
(SDLC)
Unified Process (UP)
Iterations
Series of repeated steps
Produce testable models or
working software
Disciplines
Groups of related activities
Business Modeling
and Requirements
Disciplines
Purpose
To understand the system
environment and tasks the
system must perform
Technical knowledge required
to:
Assess degree to which
users’ needs are being met
Estimate resources required
to address unmet needs
Design Discipline
Purpose
To determine structure of a
specific information system
that fulfills system
requirements (information
architecture)
Technical knowledge required
to:
Select hardware and
network components
Evaluate compatibility
Sets of Design
Activities
Architectural design
Select and describe exact
configuration
Detailed design
Narrower in scope
Constrained by information
architecture
Specific Systems
Design Tasks
Selection of… Examples
Computer Processing, storage,
hardware I/O, and network
components
Network Transmission lines,
hardware routers, firewalls
Software OS, database
management
system, network
services, network
protocols, security
protocols and
software
Application Programming
program languages,
development component
tools libraries, integrated
development
environments
Implementation and
Testing Disciplines
Purpose of implementation
To build, acquire, and
integrate application software
components
Purpose of testing
To verify correct functioning
of infrastructure and
application software
components and ensure they
satisfy system requirements
Require specific knowledge of
hardware, networks, and system
software
Deployment
Discipline
Purpose
To install and configure
infrastructure and application
software components and
bring them into operation
Technical knowledge required
to:
Format storage devices
Set up system security
Install and configure
network services
Establish accounting and
auditing controls
Systems Evaluation
and Maintenance
Accounts for much of long
range system cost
Technical knowledge required
to:
Address maintenance
changes
Classify a proposed change
as major or minor
Modify an existing system
Managing
Computer
Resources
Requires attention to
compatibility and future trends
Technical knowledge required
to:
Ensure that each new
system operates correctly by
itself and operates smoothly
with other systems in the
organization
Ensure that
software/hardware acquisitions
provide a good foundation for
current and future systems
Roles and Job
Titles
Classification of computer
professionals
Application developers
Systems programmers
Hardware personnel
Systems managers
Computer hardware and
software knowledge
requirements of each group
Application
Developers
Contribute to different part of
SDLC
Systems analyst (business
modeling and requirements)
Systems designer (design
discipline, sometimes
deployment)
Application programmer
(builds and tests software)
Need in-depth hardware and
system software knowledge
Types of
Applications
Type Role Education
needed
Informati Process College or
on business technical
processin transactiodegree in
g ns or managemen
provide t or
informatiobusiness
n to with
managers specializati
on in
information
processing
Scientific Meet data Degree in
processing computer
and science or a
numerical branch of
modeling engineering
needs
Technical Control or Degree in
directly computer
interact science or a
with branch of
hardware engineering
devices
Systems
Programmers
Develop system software
Perform hardware
troubleshooting and software
installation and configuration
Require a degree in computer
science or computer engineering
Need in-depth knowledge of
system software, computer
hardware, and networks
System software often
directly controls computer
hardware or interacts with
networks
Hardware
Personnel
Design, install, and maintain
hardware
Education
Technical degree and/or
vendor-specific training (lower
level)
Degree in computer science
or computer engineering
(higher level)
Require extensive knowledge
of computer hardware
(processing, data storage,
input/output, and networking
devices)
Systems
Managers
Common job titles
Computer operations
manager
Network administrator
Database administrator
Chief information officer
Computer
Operations
Manager
Oversees operation of a large
information–processing facility
(scheduling, staffing, security,
system backups, maintenance,
upgrades)
Knowledge requirements
Broad base of technical
knowledge to understand
organization’s information
systems and infrastructure
Capability of understanding
advice of technical staff
Network
Administrator Roles
Responsible for network
infrastructure
Requires technical expertise
in computer hardware,
telecommunications, and
system software
Emphasis on network and
data communication
technology
Responsible for local area
network
One of the most demanding
positions
Network
Administrator
Responsible for
LAN
Operates and maintains
network
Installs and maintains end-user
software
Installs and configures
hardware
Trains users
Assists management in
selecting and acquiring software
and hardware
Database
Administrator
Responsible for management
of large collections of data
Requires technical expertise
and ability to help the
organization exploit its data
resources
Responsibilities of
a Chief
Information
Officer
Organization’s computers,
networks, software, and data
Strategic planning
Effective use of information
and computing technology
Requirements of a
Chief Information
Officer
Broad base of technical
knowledge to interact effectively
with all technical specialists
Vision of how technology is
changing and how best to
respond to changes to support
organizational objectives
Computer
Technology
Information
Sources
Periodical literature (most
important)
Web sites
Training courses offered by
hardware and software vendors
Periodical
Literature
Examples of available
literature
ACM Computing Surveys
Computerworld
Communications of the ACM
Computer
Web-based periodicals
Provide content from back
issues, additional content, a
search engine, other links
Technology-
Oriented Web Sites
Provide a common interface to
publication families
Enable publisher to provide
additional content and services
Can generate revenue in
several ways
May have biased content
(expect to pay for completely
unbiased information)
Vendor and
Manufacturer
Web Sites
Primarily marketing and
customer support tools
Provide current detailed
technical product information
Often biased in favor of
vendor’s products
Professional
Societies
AITP
Association for Information
Technology Professionals
ACM
Association for Computing
Machinery
IEEE Computer Society
Institute for Electrical and
Electronics Engineers
Computer Society
Summary
Technical knowledge of
computers
Required to develop
information systems
Required to manage an
organization’s information
systems and infrastructure
(compatibility, future trends)
Must be constantly updated
Self-study and training
Information available on
Web
Chapter Goals
Describe the activities of
information systems
professionals
Describe the technical
knowledge of computer
hardware and system software
needed to develop and manage
information systems
Identify additional sources of
information for continuing
education in computer hardware
and system software