Components and Purposes of Information Technology - Essay Example

Components of an information system include hardware, software, data, procedures, and people. For instance, each system needs people for its functionalities and maintenance. In most cases, people are not part of the system, but they contribute to either its success or failure. Procedures are the rules and policies that guide the operation of the information system. These procedures are implemented using information technology techniques in form of lines of code. For example, web-based systems’ procedures are implemented using programming languages like PHP and other styling and scripting languages. These languages are the technologies that make up these information systems (Stair, 2011).

            In addition, data is used by programs for processing to produce information used in the systems. This data is stored in disks until needed by the system. The process of storing and the tools used to store are the information technologies while the system that extracts the data from these storage devices is the information system that manipulates the data. The transfer of data from storage devices to systems may be done through technology. For instance, cloud services, which provide remote data storage whereby data is available anytime needed by the system for use. The technique involved in the storage of data remotely and extraction is an information technology (MacKechnie).

Software is another example of an information systems component. Computer programs and manuals supporting these programs are the software in a system. These programs give instructions to the interaction of hardware components of an information system to process data to produce useful information. In an information system, these programs are stored in a disk and installed in a way that the hardware can detect and use them. They control the interaction of hardware parts in the processing of information, for instance, an operating system is software that controls the whole functionalities of the system and coordinates the hardware components for functionalities. The programs are lines of code written using a certain specific technology based on the required functionality of the system. Some technologies include programming language, PHP, C#, visual basic, and many other languages used to write these commands which form software (Reynolds, 2010).

Furthermore, an information system is composed of hardware that is the machinery and the computers. Hardware components include displays, keyboards, storage disks, printers, scanners, chips, and barcode readers among many others, which are the tangible parts of an information system. These hardware tools are made using different technologies and when combined they form an information system with specific functionalities. The execution of data triggered by either a program or people through hardware and processed using both the software and hardware in a system the communication between hardware and software controlled by the operating system (Mahr, 2010).

Information systems have different purposes in a firm, for instance, some are for communication, data management, inventory management, consumer relationship management, and other many functionalities of a system in a firm. In communication, it is the use of information technologies like email, online live chats, videoconferencing, and voice over internet protocol and smartphones that are the high technology ways of communication in an organization. Inventory systems are used to control stocks for sale, for instance, when connected to the point-of-sale systems, which record any sold item and thus eases the tracking of stock through the two systems (Reynolds, 2010).

Information technologies include databases, operating systems, front-end applications, and networks. Data is stored in the database and viewed through the front-end applications by clients or other system users. The network supports the transfer of information and communication between the departments in the organization with the system remotely and connection of people in the firm. These are some of the technologies vital in a firm for effectiveness and efficiency in their operations. There are so many other technologies being used for the support of these information systems and to enhance their functionalities in firms. The organization’s choice of technology to use depends on several factors and the main business of the firm (Kirk, 2009).

Information technology components are combined to form a system and the systems works on data, which may be from outside or stored within the system. The interaction of people and the system makes them a vital component of the system and enhances its operation. Though there are many systems, which are automatic such that they can operate without triggers from people, many systems need people for them to function and achieve the expected goals and objectives of the organization. Information technology is contained in an information system and therefore sometimes used interchangeably to mean the same.