Introduction to Business Information Systems

1 The Subject of Business Information Systems.- 1.1 Examples of Business Application Systems.- 1.2 Information as a Factor in Production.- 1.3 Business Information Systems in the Context of Different Subjects.- 1.4 Structure of the Book.- 1.5 Literature for Chapter 1.- 2 Computers and Networks.- 2.1 Hardware.- 2.1.1 Central Processing Unit.- 2.1.1.1 Processor.- 2.1.1.2 Main Memory.- 2.1.2 External Memory.- 2.1.3 Data Paths.- 2.1.4 Data Input and Output Devices.- 2.2 Software.- 2.2.1 System Software.- 2.2.1.1 Operating Systems for Microcomputers.- 2.2.1.2 Programming Languages.- 2.2.1.3 Translation Programs.- 2.2.1.4 Utility Programs, Protocols and Drivers.- 2.2.2 Application Software.- 2.2.2.1 Standard Software.- 2.2.2.1.1 Basic Software.- 2.2.2.1.2 Standard Office Software.- 2.2.2.1.3 Standard Business Software Supporting Functions of Enterprises.- 2.2.2.2 Individual Software.- 2.3 Computer Classification.- 2.3.1 Mainframe Computers.- 2.3.2 Workstations.- 2.3.3 Network Computers and Thin-Clients.- 2.4 Computer Networks and Network Architectures.- 2.4.1 Components of Computer Networks.- 2.4.2 Local Area Networks.- 2.4.3 Wide Area Networks.- 2.4.4 Client-Server Concept as a Model for Cooperation.- 2.5 Worldwide Networking: The Internet.- 2.5.1 The Protocol Family TCP/IP.- 2.5.2 Services and Technologies of Networking.- 2.5.3 Intranets and Extranets.- 2.5.4 Security in Information and Communication Networks.- 2.5.5 Computer and Network Infrastructures.- 2.6 Literature for Chapter 2.- 3 Data and their Integration.- 3.1 Data and Databases.- 3.1.1 Goals and Requirements of Data Integration.- 3.1.2 Classification of Data.- 3.1.3 Basic Terminology and Data Organization.- 3.1.4 Database Organization vs. Data File Organization.- 3.1.5 Components of a Database System.- 3.1.6 Architecture of a Database System.- 3.1.7 Data Structuring.- 3.1.8 Database Models.- 3.1.8.1 Relational Database Models.- 3.1.8.2 Object-oriented Database Models.- 3.1.9 Query Possibilities for Database Systems.- 3.2 Networked Databases.- 3.2.1 Distributed Database Systems.- 3.2.2 Data Warehouse.- 3.2.3 Online Analytical Processing.- 3.2.4 External Databases and Information Retrieval.- 3.2.5 The Internet as a Database.- 3.2.6 Research on the Internet.- 3.3 Literature for Chapter 3.- 4 Goals, Forms and Means of Integrated Data Processing.- 4.1 Goals.- 4.2 Forms.- 4.3 Methodological Aids.- 4.3.1 Systems for Procedural Support.- 4.3.1.1 Transaction Systems.- 4.3.1.2 Workflow Management Systems.- 4.3.1.3 Document Management Systems.- 4.3.1.4 Workgroup Support Systems.- 4.3.1.5 Knowledge Management Systems.- 4.3.2 Planning and Control Systems.- 4.3.2.1 Types of Planning and Control Systems.- 4.3.2.2 Aids for Preparing Management Information.- 4.3.2.2.1 Determination and Representation of Report Objects.- 4.3.2.2.2 Management Support Systems.- 4.3.2.3 Methods of Artificial Intelligence.- 4.3.2.4 Methods of Operation Research and Statistics/Method Databases.- 4.4 Literature to Chapter 4.- 5 Integrated Application Systems.- 5.1 Application Systems in the Industry Sector.- 5.1.1 Research and Product Development.- 5.1.1.1 Product Design (CAD/CAE).- 5.1.1.2 Computer Aided Planning (CAP).- 5.1.2 Marketing and Sales.- 5.1.2.1 Customer Inquiry and Sales Offer Processing.- 5.1.2.2 Quotation Follow-up.- 5.1.2.3 Order Entry and Order Verification.- 5.1.2.4 Customer Relationship Management (CRM).- 5.1.3 Procurement.- 5.1.3.1 Order Scheduling.- 5.1.3.2 Purchasing.- 5.1.3.3 Delivery Monitoring.- 5.1.3.4 Goods Receiving Control.- 5.1.4 Warehousing.- 5.1.4.1 Material Valuation.- 5.1.4.2 Inventory Control.- 5.1.4.3 Inventory.- 5.1.4.4 Support of Processes in the Warehouse.- 5.1.5 Production.- 5.1.5.1 CIM-The Complexity Problem.- 5.1.5.2 Primary Requirements Planning/MRP II.- 5.1.5.3 Material Requirements Planning/MRP I.- 5.1.5.4 Throughput Scheduling.- 5.1.5.5 Capacity Balancing.- 5.1.5.6 Availability Check.- 5.1.5.7 Order Clearance.- 5.1.5.8 Job Shop Scheduling.- 5.1.5.9 Computer Aided Manufacturing.- 5.1.5.10 Computer Aided Quality Assurance (CAQ).- 5.1.5.11 Production Data Entry.- 5.1.5.12 Production Progress Control.- 5.1.6 Shipping.- 5.1.6.1 Assignation.- 5.1.6.2 Delivery Clearance.- 5.1.6.3 Shipping Logistics.- 5.1.6.4 Invoicing.- 5.1.7 Customer Service.- 5.1.7.1 Maintenance/Repair.- 5.1.7.2 Customer Queries.- 5.1.8 Finance.- 5.1.9 Accounting.- 5.1.9.1 Cost and Result Accounting.- 5.1.9.1.1 Cost Center Accounting.- 5.1.9.1.2 Product Cost Accounting.- 5.1.9.2 Supplier Accounts Auditing.- 5.1.9.3 General Accounting.- 5.1.9.4 Sub-Ledger Accounting.- 5.1.9.4.1 Accounts Receivable.- 5.1.9.4.2 Accounts Payable.- 5.1.10 Human Resources.- 5.1.10.1 Work Schedule Management.- 5.1.10.2 Payroll Accounting.- 5.1.10.3 Reporting Programs.- 5.1.10.4 Special Action Programs.- 5.1.10.5 Employees-Tasks-Assignments.- 5.1.11 Facility Management.- 5.1.12 An Example of a Computer-supported Planning System.- 5.1.13 Example of a Computer-supported Control System.- 5.2 Application Systems in the Services Sector.- 5.2.1 Particularities of the Services Sector.- 5.2.2 Information Systems Support of Service Processes.- 5.2.3 Marketing in the Service Process.- 5.2.3.1 Special Considerations.- 5.2.3.2 Use of the Internet.- 5.2.3.3 Micro-geographic Systems in Insurance Marketing.- 5.2.3.4 Sales Force Support in Insurance Sales.- 5.2.4 Performance Provision in the Service Process.- 5.2.4.1 Special Considerations.- 5.2.4.2 Yield-Management Systems in the Tourism Industry.- 5.2.5 Information and Advising in the Service Process.- 5.2.5.1 Special Considerations.- 5.2.5.2 Enquiry Systems in Passenger Traffic.- 5.2.5.3 Advisory Systems in Retail Sales.- 5.2.5.4 Advisory Systems in the Bank Investments Area.- 5.2.6 Agreement in the Service Process.- 5.2.6.1 Special Considerations.- 5.2.6.2 Individualized Magazine Offers.- 5.2.6.3 Securities Trading at the Electronic Stock Exchange.- 5.2.7 Settlement in the Service Process.- 5.2.7.1 Special Considerations.- 5.2.7.2 Services in the Health Care Sector.- 5.2.7.3 Awarding Bank Credit.- 5.2.7.4 Freight Forwarding.- 5.2.7.5 Services in the Hotel Business.- 5.2.8 Billing and Payment in the Service Process.- 5.2.8.1 Special Considerations.- 5.2.8.2 Point-of-Sale Billing and Payment.- 5.2.8.3 Payment with a Pre-paid Card.- 5.2.8.4 Payment with a Debit Card.- 5.2.8.5 Cashless Transaction Systems of Banks.- 5.3 Electronic Commerce.- 5.3.1 Overview.- 5.3.2 Flow of an E-Commerce Business Transaction.- 5.4 Integration of Enterprises through Supply Chain Management.- 5.5 Literature for Chapter 5.- 6 Planning, Implementation and Deployment of Application Systems.- 6.1 Fundamental Decision: Software Packages versus Individual Software.- 6.2 Structuring of Projects.- 6.2.1 System Development Life Cycle for Custom Software.- 6.2.1.1 Planning Step.- 6.2.1.2 Definition Step.- 6.2.1.3 Design Step.- 6.2.1.4 Implementation Step.- 6.2.1.5 Acceptance and Introduction Step.- 6.2.1.6 Maintenance Step.- 6.2.1.7 Life-cycle-spanning Characteristics.- 6.2.2 Prototyping for Individual Software.- 6.2.3 Phase Model for Software Packages.- 6.2.3.1 Selection and Installation.- 6.2.3.2 Adaptation and Initialization.- 6.2.3.3 Maintenance.- 6.3 Project Management.- 6.3.1 Project Organization.- 6.3.2 Project Planning and Control.- 6.4 Tools for Project Implementation.- 6.4.1 Modeling Techniques.- 6.4.1.1 Process Modeling.- 6.4.1.2 Data Modeling.- 6.4.1.3 Modeling of Functions.- 6.4.1.4 Object Modeling.- 6.4.2 Tools.- 6.4.3 Libraries.- 6.5 Literature for Chapter 6.- 7 Management Information Systems.- 7.1 Strategic Planning of Information Systems.- 7.1.1 Defining an Information Systems Strategy.- 7.1.1.1 Deriving the Information Systems Strategy from the Enterprise Strategy.- 7.1.1.2 Organizational Change through the Information Systems Strategy.- 7.1.2 Determining the Information Systems Architecture.- 7.1.3 The Selection of Information Systems Projects.- 7.1.3.1 Information Systems Project Portfolios.- 7.1.3.2 Analyses of the Profitability of Information Systems.- 7.2 Organization of Information Systems.- 7.2.1 Internal Production or External Procurement of Information Systems Performances.- 7.2.2 Placement of Information Systems in the Business Organization.- 7.2.3 Internal Organization of the Information System Area.- 7.3 Additional Management Aspects.- 7.3.1 Legal Aspects of Information Systems.- 7.3.1.1 Data Protection and Data Privacy.- 7.3.1.2 Authentication.- 7.3.1.3 Additional Legal Considerations.- 7.3.2 Professional Career Roles in Information Systems.- 7.4 Literature for Chapter 7.- Further Readings.