MIS & E BUSINESS

Basic Concept of Computers, History of MIS and Concepts of

Database
WHAT IS A COMPUTER?
Computer is a device that transforms data into meaningful information. Data
can be anything like marks obtained by you in various subjects. It can also be
name, age, sex, weight, height, etc. of all the students in a class.
Computer can also be defined in terms of functions it can perform. A
computer can i) accept data, ii) store data, iii) process data as desired, iv)
retrieve the stored data as and when required and v) print the result in
desired format.
The major characteristics of a computer are high speed, accuracy,
versatility and storage.
Basic Organizations of a Computer System:
The computer performs basically five major operations of functions
irrespective of their size and make. These are 1) it accepts data or instruction
by way of input, 2) it stores data, 3) it can process data as required by the
user, 4) it gives results in the form of output, and 5) it controls all operations
inside a computer.
We will discuss below each of these operations.
1. Input: this is the process of entering data and programs into the
computer system.

2. Control Unit (CU):

The process of input, output, processing and storage is performed under the
supervision of a unit called 'Control Unit'. It decides when to start receiving
data, when to stop it, where to store data, etc. It takes care of step -by-step
processing of all operations inside the computer.
3. Memory Unit: Computer is used to store data and instructions.
4. Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU):
The major operations performed by the ALU are addition, subtraction,
multiplication, division, logic and comparison.
5. Output:
This is the process of producing results from the data for getting useful
information. The ALU and the CU of a computer system are jointly known as
the central processing unit (CPU). You may call CPU as the brain of any
computer system.

PERIPHERAL DEVICES
Peripheral devices are connected to the computer externally. These devices
are used for performing some specific functions.
Peripheral devices are as follows:
1. Input Devices
2. Output Devices
INPUT DEVICES
Input devices accept data and instructions from the user.
Following are the examples of various input devices, which are connected to
the computer for this purpose.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Keyboard
Mouse
Light Pen
Optical/magnetic Scanner
Touch Screen
Microphone for voice as input
Track Ball

OUTPUT DEVICES
Output devices return processed data that is information, back to the user.
Some of the commonly used output devices are:
1. Monitor (Visual Display Unit)
2. Printers
3. Plotter
4. Speakers
SOFTWARE
Computer cannot do anything on its own. It is the user who instructs
computer; what to do, how to do and when to do. In order to perform any
task, you have to give a set of instructions in a particular sequence to the
computer. These sets of instructions are called Programs. Software refers to
a set of programs that makes the hardware perform a particular set of tasks
in particular order.
There are two types of software: one is system software, another is
application software. System software is 2 types. One is operating system
and the other one is utilities. Application software is 2 types as well. One is
generalized package and the other one is customized package.

System Software:
When you switch on the computer the programs stored in ROM are executed
which activates different units of your computer and makes it ready for you
to work on it. This set of programs can be called system software. System
software is set of programs, responsible for running the computer, controlling
various operations of computer systems and management of computer
resources.
Operating System (OS) falls under this category. An operating system is
system software that provides an interface for a user to communicate with
the computer, manages hardware devices (disk drives, keyboard, monitor,
etc), manages and maintains disk file systems and supports application
programs. Some popular Operating systems are UNIX, Windows and Linux.
Although operating system provides all the features users need to use and
maintain their systems, inevitably, they still do not meet everyones
expectations. This has led to another type of system software called
"Utilities". These are programs that bridge the gap between the functionality
of an OS and the needs of users. Utility programs are a broad category of
software such as compress (zip)/uncompressed (unzip) files software, antivirus software, split and join files software, etc.
Application Software
Application software is a set of programs, which are written to perform
specific tasks, for example: An application package for managing library
known as library information system is used to manage information of library
such as: keeping book details, account holder details, book issue details,
book return details etc. Another application package for managing student
details is called students information system, manages students roll no,
name, parents name, address, class, section , processing of examination
results etc. Application software can be broadly classified into two types:
(a)Generalized packages
(b)Customized packages
Generalized Packages
These are user friendly software written to cater to users very general needs
such as preparing documents, drawing pictures, database to manage
data/information, preparing presentations, play games etc.
It is a group of programs that provide general purpose tools to solve specific
problems. Some of the generalized packages are listed below:
Word Processing Software (for preparing documents): Word
Perfect, MS-Word, OpenOffice.org Writer
Spreadsheets (Data Analysis): Lotus Smart suites, MSExcel, OpenOffice.org , Apple Numbers

Presentations: Presentation Graphics, MS-PowerPoint,

OpenOffice.org Impress
Database Management System: MS-Access, OpenOffice.org Base,
MS-SQL
Server, ORACLE
Graphics Tools: Paint shop pro, Adobe Photoshop
Customized Packages
These are the applications that are customized (or developed) to meet the
specific requirements of an organization/institution. For
Example: Student information details, Payroll packages, inventory control
etc. These packages are developed using high-level computer language

MIS & E-Business

Handout -03.1

History of MIS and the Concept of Database (Part

01)
1. The History of MIS:
The history of modern management information systems parallels the evolution of
computer hardware and software. The history also parallels the transfer of
management control from centralization to decentralization. Today, all computerbased systems that collect, process, store and communicate that data as
information are commonly defined as management information systems, or MIS.
Many MIS pundits divide the history of MIS into the five eras, first chronicled by
Kenneth and Jane Laudon, authors of the textbook Management Information
Systems:

First era: Mainframe and minicomputer computing

Second era: Personal computers
Third era: Client/server networks
Fourth era: Enterprise computing
Fifth era: Cloud computing

First Era: The first era, pre-1965, was the period of huge mainframe computers
that were housed in special temperature-controlled rooms and required
computer technicians to operate. IBM was the one-stop supplier of hardware and

software. Computer time-sharing was common due to the enormous cost of

owning and operating mainframes. As computer technology advanced and
computers shrank in size, companies could afford minicomputers, still
enormously expensive by today's standard but sufficiently affordable for large
companies to own and do their own in-house computing.
b

Second Era: The second era of personal computers started in 1965 with the
introduction of the microprocessor. By the1980s, it was in full bloom with the
proliferation of the low-cost Apple I and II and the IBM personal computer, or PC.
The introduction of VisiCalc spreadsheet software empowered ordinary
employees with the ability to do tasks that companies paid huge sums to do 10
years earlier.

Third Era: As computing power and autonomy devolved to ordinary employees

in the 1980s, a simultaneous need arose to share computer information with
other employees within the business enterprise. This need advanced the
transition to the third era MIS client/server networks. Employees at all levels of
the organization could share information in a variety of formats through
computer terminals linked to computer servers over common networks called
intranets.

Fourth Era: The fourth era, enterprise computing, consolidated disparate

single-application software applications used by different departments onto one
integrated enterprise platform that was accessed over high-speed networks.
Enterprise software solutions integrate essential business operations -marketing and sales, accounting, finance, human resources, inventory and
manufacturing -- to harmonize work and facilitate cooperation across the entire
enterprise. Although the application modules used and information accessed
differ by departments and levels of authority, enterprise computing allows a 360degree view of the entire business operation.

Fifth Era: The exponential growth in Internet bandwidth consumption is

ushering in the fifth era of MIS, cloud computing. According to Cisco Systems,
worldwide Internet traffic is expected to reach 2 zettabytes annually by 2019
(one zettabyte equals 1,000 exabytes, and one exabyte equals 1 billion
gigabytes). Cloud computing unchains everybody from office-bound PCs,
allowing access to enterprise MIS from anywhere with mobile devices. The fifth
era is also the time of the knowledge worker's ascendancy. As decision-making
pushes to the lowest levels of organizations, MIS is expected to increasingly
empower workers not only as producers of information but also as consumers of
the same information. In effect, knowledge workers, as producers and
consumers of MIS information, will determine precisely what information MIS
generates.

2. Computerized Database:
A computer database is a huge compilation of electronic files stored at a
single location that is designed and modeled to support processes that
require storage and retrieval of relevant information without a lot of work
to the user. Computer databases are generally run and managed by specially
designed applications known as database management systems software. These
management systems allow users to add, edit, manipulate and store data as
needed.

3. Basic Types of Computerized Databases:

Computerized databases can be broadly classified into three types based on their
accessibility. They are described as follows:
a

Online Database: Online databases are installed in a server/location that is

accessible only by computer terminals which are connected to it by network
systems like LAN (Local Area Network) or WAN (Wide Area Network). The
online databases can be accessible from the networked computer terminals
only. They cannot be accessed from outside. Small and medium size
enterprises use this kind of database where the database is mainly used by
employees when they are in the office.
Offline Database: Offline databases are installed in a devise/server which is
accessible only from one computer terminal where it is located. No other
computers can access the database. These databases are usually installed in
the hard-disks of the computer, or in CD/DVD, Pen-drive or any other portable
memory device.
Internet Database: Internet databases are installed in servers/locations that
can be accessible through the internet protocol from any computer terminal
that is connected to internet. Internet databases can be accessed from
anywhere in the world if internet connection and access information (i.e.
username, password etc.) are available.

4. A Comparison between the Types of Computerized

Databases:
A comparison between the online, offline and internet databases is given below:
Seri
al

Issue

Online

Offline

Internet

Accessibility

Any PC
connected to the
database server.

Only the PC
where the
database is
located

Any PC with
internet
connection

Level of
accessibility

Medium

Low

High

Security risk

Medium

Scope of access

Office

5
6

Program
dependence
Example

Low
Personal
computer

High
Anywhere

Low

High

Very low

AIVUS

Folders in PC

Gmail