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Introduction to information systems
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This 100 course provides an introduction to the study of information
systems.
You might be expecting the phrase ‘information systems’ in the title
to be just a synonym for a course about computers and their direct
uses. However ‘information systems’, as you will discover, includes a
rather broader set of topics and issues. The concerns we address here
go beyond a narrow focus on this type of technology – that is a subject
that might be better studied under the heading of computer science or
computer engineering. Rather, this course investigates what we do with
this particular technology in the world, why we choose to use it, who is
affected or interested in its uses and how we organise ourselves to be
able to get the best from it. We even go a bit further, beyond questions of
what information and communication technologies (ICTs) are used for, to
questions about the consequences that follow – what are often spoken of
as the impacts or the ‘so what?’ questions.
Quite often you will return to these five basic questions – first what?,
who? and why? and then how?; and finally, the consequences that
follow (the so what?). These might include consequences for people (for
example, at work or at home); for organisations (for example, firms and
businesses, not-for-profit organisations and government bodies); and for
wider society (for example, for social and economic development or for
international patterns of trade).
When we do talk about computers and associated technologies we will
generally use the phrase ‘information and communication technology’
(ICT). You will find that ICT is a common abbreviation in the academic
world, and particularly in Europe. The other and older abbreviation is ‘IT’
standing for information technology. One of the earliest uses of this phrase
is in a 1958 article by Harold J. Leavitt and Thomas L. Whistler listed
under Background reading below. Despite this article being over 50 years
old, it is well worth your while to read it and consider how many of their
predictions have, or have not, come true.
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Introduction to information systems
Information Technology
English
University of London
2013
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