Page 292 - Using MIS

260 Chapter 7 Processes, Organizations, and Information Systems

Scope Example Example Information Silo Enabling Technology

Workgroup Doctor's Physicians and hospitals store Functional applications.
Office/ separated data about patients.
Medical Unnecessarily duplicate tests
Practice and procedures.

Enterprise applications (CRM,
ERP, EAI) on enterprise networks.

Enterprise Hospital Hospital and local drug store
pharmacy have different
prescription data for the same
patient.

Distributed systems using
Web service technologies in
the cloud.
Inter- Inter-agency No silo: Doctors, hospitals,
enterprise prescription pharmacies share patients’
Figure 7-6 application prescription and other data.
Information Silos as Drivers

Prior to the enterprise system, the hospital had developed procedures for using a paper-
based system and informal messaging via the telephone. Each department kept its own re-
cords. When the new enterprise information system was implemented, not only was the data
integrated into a database, but new computer-based forms and reports were created. The staff
needed to transition from the paper-based system to the computer-based system. They also
Eliminating information silos
is not without security risk; needed to stop making phone calls and let the new information system make notifications
for more information, see the across departments. These measures involved substantial change, and most organizations ex-
Security Guide on pages 280–281. perience considerable anguish when undergoing such transitions.

Doctors Nurses Pharmacy Kitchen Housekeeping Family Enterprise
Information
System

Issue Enterprise
Discharge Stop Food Applications
Patient
Order Prepare Schedule
Discharge Prepare Take- Pickup
home Meds
Deliver Meds Enterprise
Discharge Arrive Database
Patient Hospital
Prepare Room

“OK, you’re ready
Figure 7-7 to go home!”
Example Enterprise Process
and Information System