Understanding Information Systems: What They Do and Why We Need Them

All forms of human endeavour or decision making require some form of data or information, and information systems help provide structure and access to information for decision makers. The goal of Understanding Information Systems: What They Do and Why We Need Them is to assist readers in better understanding the role of information systems, and thereby improve their decision‐making capability. The author, Lee Ratzan, is an information expert, a systems analyst and experienced professor at Rutgers University's School of Communication, Information and Library Studies.

The book offers an innovative approach to information studies, but it does not focus on any specific application, time or technology. It presents a broad overview of the paradigm of information and provides good examples of key information topics, both qualitative and quantitative. The content of the text is organised logically to give readers an appreciation of both the simplicity and complexity of information as well as a perspective on relevant methods, assumptions and limitations. The book is derived from a highly successful course that the author has taught for many years and is used to supplement conventional texts and graduate‐level courses on information systems. It provides numerous tables, figures, examples and exercises to assist readers' understanding of both the theoretical and practical issues of information systems and how they work. The text is also designed to be used as course reference material, supplementary reading and for class discussion.

This book comprises 16 chapters, three appendices and answers to selected exercises. Each independent chapter provides a description of the topic, examples, exercises and research questions. Answers to selected exercises are provided at the back of the book for students and readers to check their answers or measure understanding. The author uses a mathematical perspective to describe and discuss the following aspects of information in this book:

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  description and definition;

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  representation;

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  organisation;

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  retrieval;

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  networking;

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  security;

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  concealment;

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  measurement; and

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  management of information.

This book is valuable for library and information studies instructors, library and information science students, humanities students, computer science students, and the general public.