Distance Learning IS

In this class we used a number of different information systems including moodle, our blogs and the Internet. Moodle was the main tool used in obtaining assignments, posting completed work, communicating with other students and the professor, and viewing the grades on our assignments. One of the most important things I learned from the class is that we use information systems everyday of our lives. Although I did not know many of the terms and concepts in the book it was fairly easy to catch on because we use a number of different technologies in our day-to-day lives.

Our blogs helped us to publish our research in a public forum to be shared with others. Today most of our learning is done through the Internet. Books are becoming used less and less; you can even buy your books through the Internet now and use an electronic version as opposed to print.

This class was a great example of a real life information system for me being that I have never taken an online class or used moodle before. At my school we use Blackboard, which is similar but different at the same time. The Internet has allowed us to be able to take classes in the comfort of our own home and on our own time. This was extremely convenient for me because I go to Rowan University and I am graduating in the spring and needed a few extra credits; it is great that I was able to take this course without having to get acquainted with a new campus.

I think this class will be very helpful to all of us in the future as the Internet continues to grow. Almost every profession can benefit from the growing information the Internet provides us. With Web 2.0 we can share information and exchange data with others in our field. With the mass amount of knowledge and information available to us 24/7 we can do almost anything. 

KMS/DSS

Knowledge management (KM) system is a phrase that is used to describe the creation of knowledge repositories, improvement of knowledge access and sharing as well as communication through collaboration, enhancing the knowledge environment and managing knowledge as an asset for an organization (1). KMS is very important to businesses because it helps them share and reuse knowledge giving them a competitive advantage. In e-business KMS allows organizational response, innovation, competency and efficiency and systematic leverage.  Collaborative technology makes it easier to manage knowledge properly. Among these are information overload, technology advancement, increased professional specialization, competition, workforce mobility and turnover, and capitalization of organizational knowledge (1). The architecture of KMS could be developed by using four layers, including application layer, technology layer, infrastructure layer, and repository layer.

A Decision support system (DSS) is a system that businesses and organizations use in making decisions through a computer based information system. DSS is a way of modeling information in order to make decisions. A properly designed DSS is an interactive software-based system intended to help decision makers compile useful information from raw data, documents, personal knowledge, and/or business models to identify and solve problems and make decisions (2). The key to decision support systems is to collect data, analyze and shape the data that is collected and then try to make sound decisions or construct strategies from analysis (3). There are many kinds of DSS, which include Model Driven DSS, Communications Driven DSS, Data Driven DSS, Document Driven DSS, and Knowledge Driven DSS. DSS can access all current information assets, compare sales figures between one week and the next, project revenue figures based on new product sales assumptions and high level summary reports.

1. http://www.tlainc.com/articl83.htm

2. http://www.informationbuilders.com/decision-support-systems-dss.html

3. http://www.tech-faq.com/decision-support-system.html

Electronic Business

E-business infrastructure is the share of total economic infrastructure used to support electronic business processes and conduct electronic commerce transactions (1). It includes hardware, software, telecommunication networks, support services, and human capital used in electronic business and commerce. Examples of e-business infrastructure are computers, routers and other hardware, satellite, wire, optical communications, network channels, system and application software, support services, electronic payment, and human capital. Electronic business (e-business) can easily be defined as any process that a business organization conducts over a computer-mediated network (1). E-commerce is any transaction completed over a computer-mediated network that involves the transfer of ownership or rights to use goods or services (1). People use e-commerce on a daily basis some of the most common examples include buying books on Amazon or Barnes & Noble, booking a flight and hotel room through Orbitz or simply paying your Macy’s charge card online.

 Enterprise 2.0 is the term for the technologies and business practices that liberate the workforce from the constraints of legacy communication and productivity tools like email (2). It provides business managers accurate information at any time through a web of inter-connected applications, services and devices. It makes collective intelligence accessible at any time, which gives a business a huge competitive advantage in the form of increased innovation, productivity and agility (2). Enterprise 2.0 is the use of web 2.0 technologies within an organization to provide communication and sharing throughout other networks. Enterprise 2.0 aims to help employees, customers and suppliers collaborate, share, and organize information. Andrew McAfee describes Enterprise 2.0 as "the use of emergent social software platforms within companies, or between companies and their partners or customers" (3). In a way e-business, enterprise 2.0 and web 2.0 are all connected and use one another to share information.

1. http://www.census.gov/epcd/www/ebusines.htm

2. http://www.e2conf.com/about/what-is-enterprise2.0.php

3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enterprise_2.0

Web 2.0

Web 2.0 is a fairly new concept to the world wide web. Whereas before companies would hire people to publish information for them in order for the public to view now people can publish their own materials. Web 2.0 is dynamic in the way that it allows users to connect and share information  it is more organized and is based on serving web applications to users (1). Web 2.0 has brought about the creation of application programming interface (API) which gives other websites or software developers access to its capabilities and allows them to exchange data. APIs provide the capability for website designers to incorporate Google and Yahoo maps and driving directions directly into their existing website. When your favorite restaurant embeds driving directions on their homepage, you may have an API to thank (2).

APIs and other data feeds such as Real Simple Syndication (RSS), have created what is referred to as a “mash-up,” in which many data sources are put together to create entirely new services. A great example is Zillow.com, which pulls property tax data, housing sales reports, and overlays it atop street maps and satellite images to show home values and to visualize real estate trends (2). APIs make the contents of other sites more accessible to users which in turn helps expand the market for existing products and services. Another example of some of the services available through web 2.0 include   Meebo. It uses one interface from all the major IM services and allows you to send and receive instant messages from all the major IM services. All you have to do is give Meebo your usernames and passwords for all your accounts and let them be the intermediary for all your online interactions thereafter (2).

1.   http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/W/Web_2_point_0.html           

2.   http://www.esecurityplanet.com/views/article.php/3638076/The-Dangers-of-Web-20.htm

3.    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2.0

Hardware and Software

In order to save space, power and money Intel is working on cloud-based architectures that enable federated, automated, and client-aware cloud services that are built with an open approach. Intel is driving an Open Data Center initiative in order to allow more secure, efficient and simplified cloud data centers. Intel is driving an Open Data Center initiative to enable more secure, efficient, and simplified cloud data centers that preserve IT flexibility and choice (1). Cloud computing will permit businesses more space to store information and make the system easier to use. In a public cloud, and in some private clouds, your data is on a server controlled by someone else, increasing the need for security of information (1). The cloud makes it safer for businesses to protect their data “by enabling increased isolation and safer migration of virtual machines, faster data encryption/decryption, and hardware-assisted protection against launch-time attacks, making the cloud work for you” (1).

The iPad offers many business apps that help people get things done on the go. The iPad is a great device because it is small and easy to travel with. One useful app is GoodReader, which is a note-taking app. It lets you view and annotate all major document types: Doc, PDF, iWork, Txt and HTML. It allows you to add notes, drawings, arrows etc., so your colleagues can be informed when changes are made (2). This is a useful app for anyone who needs to view and edit documents on the go. Print and Share is another convenient app that allows you to print documents from your iPad on almost any wifi enable printer. This is very convenient because you can print remotely to your home or office printer over 3G. If you need to stay home from work one day you can work from home and still print your documents in the office.

Similar to the iPad is the first Android-based tablet the Galaxy Tab. It is a convenient tablet that is ultra portable. It is smaller than the iPad with a 7-inch diagonal screen compared to the iPad's 9.7 inches (3). The size makes it easier to carry than the iPad and it can fit in a bag or jacket pocket easily. The android marketplace offers great apps, many of which you cannot find through the apple app store. It has a camera unlike the iPad, which can be very useful to businesses. It also has a removable microSD card slot. Tablets offer portability and simplicity and they are becoming more popular than laptops. They are great for travel and the many apps allow you to get things done that you wouldn’t be able to do on a laptop.

1. http://www.intel.com/itcenter/index.htm

2. http://www.businessinsider.com/ipad-apps-business-2010-12#print-n-share-lets-you-print-anything-from-anywhere-10

3.http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/gaming.gadgets/12/31/ten.gadgets.wired/index.html

Systems theory

Systems theory is the transdisciplinary study of systems in general, with the goal of elucidating principles that can be applied to all types of systems in all fields of research (1). Systems theory studies a variety of different systems in order to more clearly explain how other systems from all fields work. Thus, all systems are interconnected and applied to one another to help better understand how they work. This is similar to the idea of systems investigation and analysis in chapter 1. Systems investigation involves determining a clear understanding of the problem and deciding whether or not it is worth solving. There are many steps involved that are all interconnected that help improve systems by studying the impact of the problem and solution. Also it is similar to value chains which is a series of activities that helps organizations add value to their services. Systems theory can be applied to a plethora of fields since many ideas in different fields are interconnected with one another.

“Cybernetics focuses on how anything (digital, mechanical or biological) processes information, reacts to information, and changes or can be changed to better accomplish the first two tasks” (1). It is similar to systems theory and also systems investigation and analysis. The goal of cybernetics is to explain complex systems that are all linked to one another in order to understand their interactions. Cybernetics is very similar to systems theory and the terms are often used as synonyms.

Biologist Ludwig von Bertalanffy developed systems theory in the 1940’s in order to restore the unity of science. “He emphasized that real systems are open to, and interact with, their environments, and that they can acquire qualitatively new properties through emergence, resulting in continual evolution” (2). Rather than separating an entity into individual parts systems theory focuses on how the organization and relationship between the parts are holistically connected. Systems theory combines mathematical theories, philosophy, engineering, ecology, management, family psychotherapy and other various fields to aid in understanding all systems as a whole. Different parts of information from different systems allows systems theory to explore all possible explanations to the problems that occur in various systems.


Systems theory helps businesses understand the organization of systems better by looking at organizations from a broader perspective. Managers are better able to recognize the various parts of the organization and how they are connected to one another. This makes solving problems easier and more efficiently. They can determine what causes the problems and work towards a solution rather than just reacting to the problems as done in the past. This provides them with a better understanding of the interconnectedness of the organizations. Systems theory allows businesses to manage their departments to their advantage once organizations are understood (3).

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systems_theory

2. http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/systheor.html

3. http://www.managementhelp.org/org_thry/org_sytm.htm

Student Info

Do you work anywhere now (where if yes, and what do you do there)?
I babysit 2 children in Swedesboro, NJ everday after school.

Your desirable occupation
High school English teacher or writer

When do you graduate?
Spring 2011

What benefits do you see for yourself in a distance learning format?
It allows me the time I need to get tasks done and is flexible with my schedule. Also, I will be graduating from Rowan University in the spring and I needed a few more credits however Rowan does not offer online winter courses. It is very convenient that Ramapo had a course I could take online although I live right down the street in Oakland.

What are your hobbies or what do you like to do outside of school and work activities?
I like to go hiking at the Ramapo Reservation, I play tennis, I like playing video games and I love to read. Also I just went skydiving for the first time this summer, which was awesome and I plan on doing it again.

1. What is your major?
English

2. What operating system do you have on your computer?
Mac

3. Do you have a right to upgrade the software on your computer?
Yes

4. What Internet and computer related courses have you already taken and what are your usual activities on the Internet (Facebook, email, chats, etc.)?
This is my first online course. I regularly use e-mail and facebook.

5. Have you taken online courses before?
No.

6. Do you have MS Office on your computer? If yes, which version?
Ye, 2004.

7. Add anything you want about your computer-related interests, skills, job projects, etc. that might help the instructor and students understand your computer/Internet skills and interests better.

I am pretty good with the computer, mostly I use Microsoft word to write papers. I know how to use powerpoint but I am not too familiar with excel. I am hoping to learn more about it.