Curtis_ppr 1/31/08 1:16 PM Page 1 BUSINESS INFORMATION SYSTEMS PS - any chance of using the spot varnish “Provides extensive and comprehensive coverage of core IS topics, including development and design.” Dr Ray Hackney, BUSINESS also on the lettering on the front cover of the book at reprint, as well as on the strip along the bottom or is that not your department? Manchester Metropolitan University Business Information Systems 5th edition INFORMATION offers today’s BIS students a comprehensive understanding of how information systems can aid the realisation of business objectives. “Well written and SYSTEMS With equal and clear coverage of the stimulating reading.” analysis, design and practice technical systems aspects of BIS and the Thomas W. De Boer, softer, more managerial topics, this book is University of Groningen equally useful to BIS students from Business or Computing backgrounds and for students at an Undergraduate or Masters level. fifth edition Graham Curtis combines lecturing Equipped with a wide variety of long, short and developing courses in information GRAHAM CURTIS and extended case studies from across the systems analysis and design, UK and Europe as well as examples, review database and accounting information DAVID COBHAM questions and exercises throughout the text, systems, with research and students can easily check their under- consultancy and publications in standing and see how their new-found business information systems.
He is knowledge applies to real-world situations. Head of Modular Programmes at the University of East London. The fifth edition includes: ■ Today’s hot topics, such as data David Cobham is an active lecturer, warehousing and data mining, knowledge researcher and consultant in management, ethical issues and respon- Business Information Systems. His sibility, RAD and extreme programming.
current interests are in information ■ A thorough update of coverage of systems development methodologies, distributed systems, the Internet and web e-commerce systems development, support, ERP, UML, and networks and the decision support systems and project fifth organisation. He is a Senior edition ■ Updated references and Case Studies Academic in the Faculty of Applied throughout. Computer Sciences at the University ■ New companion website material of Lincoln. COBHAM CURTIS including a password protected Instructor’s Manual with worked solutions and slides, and free access multiple choice questions, web-links and tips for students at www.
An imprint of Additional student support at www.net/curtis Additional student support at www.net/curtis BIS_A01.qxd 1/28/08 12:55 PM Page i Business Information Systems Analysis, Design and Practice Visit the Business Information Systems, fifth edition Companion Website at www.net/curtis to find valuable student learning material including: n Quizzes to help test your learning n Hints for review questions •• BIS_A01.qxd 1/28/08 12:55 PM Page ii • We work with leading authors to develop the strongest educational materials in business studies, bringing cutting-edge thinking and best learning practice to a global market. Under a range of well-known imprints, including Financial Times Prentice Hall, we craft high-quality print and electronic publications which help readers to understand and apply their content, whether studying or at work. To find out more about the complete range of our publishing please visit us on the World Wide Web at: www.qxd 1/28/08 12:55 PM Page iii Fifth Edition Business Information Systems Analysis, Design and Practice GRAHAM CURTIS University of East London and DAVID COBHAM University of Lincoln •• •• BIS_A01.qxd 1/28/08 12:55 PM Page iv • Pearson Education Limited Edinburgh Gate Harlow Essex CM20 2JE England and Associated Companies throughout the world Visit us on the World Wide Web at: www.uk First published 1989 Second edition 1995 Third edition 1998 Fourth edition 2002 Fifth edition published 2005 © Addison-Wesley Publishers Limited 1989, 1995 © Pearson Education Limited 1998, 2004 The rights of Graham Curtis and David Cobham to be identified as authors of this work have been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without either the prior written permission of the publisher or a licence permitting restricted copying in the United Kingdom issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 4LP. All trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners. The use of any trademark in this text does not vest in the author or publisher any trademark ownership rights in such trademarks, nor does the use of such trademarks imply any affiliation with or endorsement of this book by such owners. ISBN: 978-0-273-68792-4 British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Curtis, Graham.
Business information systems : analysis, design, and practice / Graham Curtis and David Cobham. Includes bibliographical references and index. Business—Data processing. Information storage and retrieval systems— Business.
Management information systems.4′038′011—dc22 2004053160 10 9 8 7 6 5 09 08 Typeset in 10/12pt Sabon by 35 Printed and bound in Malaysia The publisher’s policy is to use paper manufactured from sustainable forests.qxd 1/28/08 12:55 PM Page v • To Julia, Edmund and James To Christine, Daniel, Matthew and Chloe •• •• BIS_A01.qxd 1/28/08 12:55 PM Page vi • •• •• BIS_A01.qxd 1/28/08 12:55 PM Page vii Brief Contents Preface xv Publisher’s acknowledgements xix Chapter 1 Information systems 1 Chapter 2 Strategy and information systems 45 Chapter 3 Business information technology 79 Chapter 4 Distributed systems, networks and the organization 135 Chapter 5 The Internet and the World Wide Web 174 Chapter 6 Electronic commerce and business 210 Chapter 7 Decision support and end-user computing 242 Chapter 8 File organization and databases for business information systems 283 Chapter 9 Information systems: control and responsibility 339 Chapter 10 Information systems development: an overview 393 Chapter 11 The systems project: early stages 418 Chapter 12 Process analysis and modelling 438 Chapter 13 Data analysis and modelling 475 Chapter 14 Systems design 502 Chapter 15 Detailed design, implementation and review 524 Chapter 16 Systems development: further tools, techniques and alternative approaches 556 Chapter 17 Expert systems and knowledge bases 604 Index 651 vii •• •• BIS_A01.qxd 1/28/08 12:55 PM Page viii • •• •• BIS_A01.qxd 1/28/08 12:55 PM Page ix Contents Preface xv Publisher’s acknowledgements xix Chapter 1 Information systems 1 Learning outcomes 1 Introduction 1 1.3 Value of information 12 1.4 The idea of a system 15 1.5 Management information systems 25 1.6 Informal and formal information 37 Summary 38 Review questions 40 Exercises 40 Case study 41 References 43 Recommended reading 43 Chapter 2 Strategy and information systems 45 Learning outcomes 45 Introduction 45 2.1 The need for a business strategy 46 2.2 Strategic business planning 46 2.3 Business information systems strategy 48 2.4 Information systems strategy today 66 Summary 72 Review questions 74 Exercises 74 Case study 75 References 76 Recommended reading 77 Chapter 3 Business information technology 79 Learning outcomes 79 Introduction 79 3.1 Historical development of computing technology 80 3.3 Software 116 Summary 130 ix •• •• BIS_A01.qxd 1/28/08 12:55 PM Page x Contents Review questions 131 Exercises 131 Case study 132 Recommended reading 134 Chapter 4 Distributed systems, networks and the organization 135 Learning outcomes 135 Introduction 135 4.1 Networks and distributed systems 136 4.2 The idea of a distributed system 138 4.3 Organizational benefits of distributed systems 139 4.4 Organizational levels and distributed systems 142 4.5 The extent of distribution 143 4.6 The distribution of data 145 4.7 Networks and communications 147 4.9 Electronic data interchange 164 4.10 The effects of the Internet on business 168 Summary 168 Review questions 170 Exercises 170 Case study 171 Recommended reading 172 Chapter 5 The Internet and the World Wide Web 174 Learning outcomes 174 Introduction 174 5.1 The evolution of the Internet 174 5.2 How the Internet works 177 5.3 What the Internet offers 185 5.4 The World Wide Web 191 5.5 The Internet and copyright 200 5.6 The Internet and financial transactions 201 5.7 Intranets and extranets 203 Summary 205 Review questions 206 Exercises 207 Case study 207 Recommended reading 208 Chapter 6 Electronic commerce and business 210 Learning outcomes 210 Introduction 210 6.1 A brief introduction to e-commerce 211 6.2 E-commerce – key features 212 6.3 Conducting business over the Internet 214 6.4 Trade cycles and e-commerce 216 x •• •• BIS_A01.qxd 1/28/08 12:55 PM Page xi Contents 6.5 E-commerce business models 220 6.6 The development and management of a business website 231 6.7 Trends in e-commerce 234 Summary 236 Review questions 237 Exercises 237 Case study 238 References and recommended reading 240 Chapter 7 Decision support and end-user computing 242 Learning outcomes 242 Introduction 242 7.1 Features of decision support systems 243 7.2 Types of decision support system 245 7.3 The development of decision support systems 247 7.4 Group decision support 257 7.5 End-user computing 259 7.6 Human–computer interaction 272 Summary 277 Review questions 278 Exercises 278 Case study 279 References 281 Recommended reading 281 Chapter 8 File organization and databases for business information systems 283 Learning outcomes 283 Introduction 283 8.1 Files and file structures 283 8.2 Records and record structure 286 8.3 Physical and logical views of data 287 8.4 Data storage – files, records and lists 289 8.5 File-based and database approaches to data storage 290 8.6 A three-level architecture for databases 298 8.7 Models and schemas 300 8.11 Object-oriented databases 320 8.13 Data warehouses 322 Summary 330 Review questions 331 Exercises 332 Case study 335 Recommended reading 337 xi •• •• BIS_A01.qxd 1/28/08 12:55 PM Page xii Contents Chapter 9 Information systems: control and responsibility 339 Learning outcomes 339 Introduction 339 9.2 Controls over computerized information systems 347 9.3 Ethics, social responsibility and corporate governance 370 9.4 Data protection legislation 380 9.5 Risk identification and controls 383 Summary 387 Review questions 388 Exercises 388 Case study 390 References and recommended reading 392 Chapter 10 Information systems development: an overview 393 Learning outcomes 393 Introduction 393 10.1 The need for systems analysis and design 393 10.2 The need for a structured approach to analysis and design 399 10.3 The life cycle of a system 404 10.4 The structured approach and the life cycle 411 10.5 Alternative approaches to information systems development 412 Summary 413 Review questions 413 Exercises 414 Case study 414 Recommended reading 416 Chapter 11 The systems project: early stages 418 Learning outcomes 418 Introduction 418 11.2 Statement of scope and objectives 421 11.4 The feasibility study and report 430 Summary 436 Review questions 437 Exercises 437 Recommended reading 437 Chapter 12 Process analysis and modelling 438 Learning outcomes 438 Introduction 438 12.2 Manual systems flowcharts 439 12.3 Data flow diagrams 444 12.4 Data dictionaries 455 xii •• •• BIS_A01.qxd 1/28/08 12:55 PM Page xiii Contents 12.7 Structured English 465 Summary 469 Review questions 469 Exercises 470 Case study 473 Recommended reading 474 Chapter 13 Data analysis and modelling 475 Learning outcomes 475 Introduction 475 13.1 Top-down versus bottom-up approaches to data modelling 475 13.2 Entity–relationship modelling 477 13.3 Data analysis and modelling – an overview of the method 480 13.4 Process modelling and data modelling – the links 495 Summary 497 Review questions 498 Exercises 498 Case study 499 Recommended reading 500 Chapter 14 Systems design 502 Learning outcomes 502 Introduction 502 14.1 The transition from analysis to design 502 14.2 Suggesting alternative designs 508 14.4 Walkthroughs and formal reviews 519 Summary 521 Review questions 521 Exercises 522 Case study 522 Recommended reading 522 Chapter 15 Detailed design, implementation and review 524 Learning outcomes 524 Introduction 524 15.5 Evaluation and maintenance 551 Summary 553 Review questions 553 Exercises 554 Case study 555 Recommended reading 555 xiii •• •• BIS_A01.qxd 1/28/08 12:55 PM Page xiv Contents Chapter 16 Systems development: further tools, techniques and alternative approaches 556 Learning outcomes 556 Introduction 556 16.1 Computer-aided software engineering 557 16.2 Rapid applications development 562 16.3 Object-oriented analysis and design 564 16.4 An evaluation of ‘hard’ approaches to systems analysis and design 574 16.5 ‘Soft’ approaches to systems analysis and design 580 16.