12th (and final) post

I cannot believe how fast the semester has gone by! I literally walked into this class not knowing a thing about information systems and now I feel like I could confidently hold my own in a conversation on the topic. All of the projects in class were interesting but I liked the decision making homework the best. It is really practical for absolutely everyone. And blogging was definitely an interesting experience.

Before class the most experience I had with blogging was for the website "Xanga" when I was in middle school. I pretty much used it to tell stories about my friends and myself. It got boring because let's be honest, the life of an eighth grader isn't very exciting. Blogging for this class has lead me to the conclusion that blogging is best done when focused on a certain topic. Our class blog is a perfect example of this, because all of the blogs had one thing in common: they were about information systems.

Although I'm not sure I'll be checking information system blogs regularly when the class is over, it is definitely helpful to know they are there to answer questions. It is likely that someone on the internet will have the information you're looking for. I think everyone should take their experience with blogging this semester and gear it towards something they're passionate about. For example, I love fashion and could spend hours (and sometimes do) surfing fashion blogs. I encourage everyone to explore because it is a lot of fun!

Last blog

I have never had or been apart of a blog before and I thought it would only be appropriate to blog about my experience. I always looked at blogging as something that the nerdy did when they were bored. Something to do when your sick of playing video games. When you need to know how to get past a level in the latest video game. I never really looked to see the purpose behind blogging. There really are many benefits of blogging besides getting the latest nerd news. I found that blogging got to be more and more interesting and I can see how with a large amount of people that this is an great way to get ideas out there.

I wrote several blogs about what was going in class, but the blogs that I really like are ones that other's did on the same topic. Blogging has been a great way too see how others think about everyday topics. I noticed that RFID chips are blogged about a lot and I thought it was cool to be able to see how many different opinions there were. From those who can't wait too those who would never even consider it. It seems like blogging is the most civilized way to have a discussion with a large group of people. this way you can wright what you think and anyone who wants can comment. This is a lot easier because it lets everyone talk at the same time, but also stay on topic.

The networking possibilities are also good. You can easily see how people would get to know each other. I can also see this being used to talk about your self or even as a way to get to know those your work with. It seem like the more your interested in the topic the better the discussion and the better quality information. This kind of naturally will let you see out of all those your blogging with who is interested in the same things you are. I blogged about some of the worst inventions which was something I really thought was interesting. I saw that there ended up being a lot of comments on it. Blogging has a lot of different uses and I think that if you use it wisely it can really help you succeed in the sharing of ideas.

12 and Final Blog Post

Well were finally here. We've made it to the end of the semester and with that said, I would like to talk briefly about this semester in this class. As a transfer student to EMU, this will be the end of my first full semester here and it has been a good one, a busy semester but none the less, it's been fun.

This is the first class where I have ever had to use blogging and was the first time I've ever written a blog just in general. Some weeks have been more fun than others and some topics have just been plain boring, but I have had some fun in writting some of these blogs. Even researching a bit and writting my own as long as reading all of your blogs, I have learned alot in this area of study with computer systems. Not just blogging, but the class too has opened my eyes to what we have around us in this world. There is so much technology now and to know how quickly we are growing in this area is astounding. To know that just 100 years ago or so, there really wasn't any of this. The lifestyles from then to now have changed drastically and keeps changing as we move forward in our lives. Now, yes, I'll admit some classes have not always been the most exciting but they really do teach you alot and even if you don't think you've learned anything, think back to the beginning of the semester and ask yourselves if you knew everything you know now, back then. There's probably at least 1 thing you have taken out of this class if not anything. Our class discussions were actually pretty fun and when we really got into them and talked about some controversial topics, it just made for more excitement.

I thought coming into this class that it was just a general computers type class and wasn't sure how much fun it would be or what I would honestly learn. Now, here at the end of the semester, I understand what this class is all about and how information systems have affected our lives so much and are continually doing so each and every day. It has been fun and I'm glad I was in this class. Goodluck on the final.

Managment information systems

At the start, in businesses and other organizations, internal reporting was made manually and only periodically, as a by-product of the accounting system and with some additional statistic(s), and gave limited and delayed information on management performance. Previously, data had to be separated individually by the people as per the requirement and necessity of the organization. Later, data was distinguished from information, and instead of the collection of mass of data, important, and to the point data that is needed by the organization was stored.

In their infancy, business computers were used for the practical business of computing the payroll and keeping track of accounts payable and accounts receivable. As applications were developed that provided managers with information about sales, inventories, and other data that would help in managing the enterprise, the term "MIS" arose to describe these kinds of applications. Today, the term is used broadly in a number of contexts and includes (but is not limited to): decision support systems, resource and people management applications, ERP, SCM, CRM, project management and database retrieval application.

An 'MIS' is a planned system of the collecting, processing, storing and disseminating data in the form of information needed to carry out the functions of management. In a way it is a documented report of the activities that were planned and executed.

The terms MIS and information systems are often confused. Information systems include systems that are not intended for decision making. The area of study called MIS is sometimes referred to, in a restrictive sense, as information technology managment. That area of study should not be confused with computer science.IT service management is a practitioner-focused discipline. MIS has also some differences with Enterprise recouce planning (ERP) as ERP incorporates elements that are not necessarily focused on decision support.

Why organize information?

Why organize information? What impact does this have in today's society? During class, we were introduced to information systems which can be describes as "a set of people, procedures, and resources that collects, transforms, and disseminates information in an organization." Businesses use this system to keep an organized, well maintained company. Within information systems, the two common terms used are data and information. By branching these two terms, we're already organizing the aspects of information systems.
Have you ever thought of how much you encounter organized things on a daily basis? We use notebooks for our different classes to help keep everything in that subject together. Our phones are organized from contacts, messages, pictures, etc. Our clothes are organized [well mine are ;-)]. our house is organized. You have a certain place to sleep, eat, watch television, etc. All of these everyday organizations helps make things easier.
So why organize information? Organizing information enables easier access at a later date. As a business major, understanding information systems is imperative. I have to have everything organized from my finances to the number of customers received on a monthly basis. So would you rather have organized information to make things easier on yourself, or would you rather spend EXTRA time looking for it? You be the judge.

-Tanai

Introduction Blog

Hello, my name is Ida Lowback and this will be my last semester studying at Eastern. I am a dance (studio management) major and a business minor. I am therefore, heavily involved in the EMU Dance Program and am the President of the EMU Dance Forum (an organization that supports our dance department). I have never blogged before nor followed a blog and am interested in seeing how this will go, but happy that this course is providing me with something new to try. To be quite honest, I am a little worried about this class as I am not very technologically savvy and am struggling to follow along with the lecture topics. I hope that this class will help me understand technology better and hope that I am retaining more than I feel that I am.

In class we have been going over the history of information systems, starting from 6000 BC to today. When I think of information systems, I think of technology, which makes me think about complicated electronic systems, so I thought it was quite interesting to think about technology in its simpler forms and how technology such as information systems, obviously, began as much simple machines. I had never realized that punch cards together with mechanical calculators are what started off IBM’s career and led to computers as we know them today!

If anyone in my family ever mentions a calculator, my dad (who was born and raised in Sweden) always rambles on about his first calculator and how he was the first in his town to get one. I definitely appreciate this story more now that I understand the development of calculators and computers over the years, and now see how exciting this purchase must have been for him. I am looking forward to learning more about information systems and technology so that I can appreciate and understand the technology in my life more.

My first blog post

Hi, I’m Anna and I’m a sophomore at Eastern majoring in marketing. I’m taking this class because I’m required to, but I’m glad I’m learning about something completely new. This is my first time writing a blog so it will be interesting to see how it goes.

This week we focused on the history of information systems. I was interested in the history of Apple because I have a Macbook and an iPod so I know the most about them. The personal computer “Apple I” was developed in 1976 and then soon after followed by the “Apple II” and “Apple II plus.” I had never heard of Steve Jobs before class on Monday and it seems like he is brilliant. He founded Pixar and Apple, which are two hugely successful companies. Then in 1984, Apple worked with Xerox to form the Mac computer. I never knew the two companies worked together; actually, I didn’t know Xerox had anything to do with developing graphic user interface.

I researched Apple’s accomplishments and I found one particularly interesting article. A radiologist opened a private practice but needed to serve hospitals that were not commuting distance. He had to find the best way to do this and he turned to a Mac laptop. The laptop convinced him to use Mac products regularly because he found them efficient. Now it is predicted that Mac-based systems could reduce healthcare costs. I definitely think Apple has revolutionized information systems in the past five years, and I want to learn more about the company. I also hope that by the end of the semester I’m comfortable using computer jargon because right now I know next to nothing about computers.