Page 29 - Information Management 3rd Edition

corrected or refined based on the feedback. The amount of feedback required is determined by the importance of the system for the survival of the business. The more important the system or the desired output, the more important it is to have proper feedback. Feedback is necessary to determine whether or not the desired input is received, the proper processes are executed and the required output is available. Feedback is received as a controlling measure to make sure that the system remains effective and efficient.
• Control involves monitoring and evaluating feedback to determine whether a system is doing what it should be doing. The control function initiates adjustments to direct the activities towards reaching the objectives.
Chapter 2 – Information systems
Some businesses also include the environment and communication channels as elements of information systems. The business has to interact with the environment and this interaction needs to be identified and assessed. Communication channels need to be recognised and the most appropriate channels need to be selected in terms of volume and quality of data transmitted.
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The elements listed above will probably be found in most systems. Although the information manager will have to manage different systems in a business, the information system will be used as an example throughout the rest of this chapter.
Potential available data
Collect data
copy
Store information
Distribute information
Users of information
Process data
Figure 2.1
2.6 The basic resources found in a system
Information systems consist mostly of the following basic resources that work together in producing an output, such as information.
• Data – This is the information part of the information system, for example, statistical data, sets of instructions or lists of names. These form the input in
Model of an information system
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