Systems
Can be defined as interelated component working together in harmony to carraing out a purpose or work, i.e the human body system.
Information system (IS)

It can be defined as any combination of information technology and people's activities that support operations, management and decision making. In a very broad sense, the term information system is frequently used to refer to the interaction between people, processes, data and technology. In this sense, the term is used to refer not only to the information and communication technology (ICT) that an organization uses, but also to the way in which people interact with this technology in support of business processes.

Some make a clear distinction between information systems, computer systems, and business processes. Information systems typically include an ICT component but are not purely concerned with ICT, focusing in instead, on the end use of information technology. Information systems are also different from business processes. Information systems help to control the performance of business processes.

Alter argues for an information system as a special type of work system. A work system is a system in which humans and/or machines perform work using resources to produce specific products and/or services for customers. An information system is a work system whose activities are devoted to processing (capturing, transmitting, storing, retrieving, manipulating and displaying) information.

As such, information systems inter-relate with data systems on the one hand and activity systems on the other. An information system is a form of communication system in which data represent and are processed as a form of social memory. An information system can also be considered a semi-formal language which supports human decision making and action.

Information systems are the primary focus of study for the information systems discipline and for organizational informatics.

Information systems (IS) is the study of complementary networks of hardware and software that people and organizations use to collect, filter, process, create, and distribute data.[1][2][3][4] The study bridges business and computer science using the theoretical foundations of information and computation to study various business models and related algorithmic processes within a computer science discipline. Computer Information System(s) (CIS) is a field studying computers and algorithmic processes, including their principles, their software and hardware designs, their applications, and their impact on societywhile IS emphasizes functionality over design.

The history of information systems coincides with the history of computer science that began long before the modern discipline of computer science emerged in the twentieth century.[18] Regarding the circulation of information and ideas, numerous legacy information systems still exist today that are continuously updated to promote ethnographic approaches, to ensure data integrity, and to improve the social effectiveness & efficiency of the whole process.[19] In general, information systems are focused upon processing information within organizations, especially within business enterprises, and sharing the benefits with modern society.


Component of Information systems

An Information System (IS) consists of five basic resources, namely:

1. People, which consists of IT specialists (such as a Database Administrator or Network Engineer) and end-users (such as Data Capture Clerks).
2. Hardware, which consists of all the physical aspects of an information system, ranging from peripherals to computer parts and servers.
3. Software, which consists of System Software, Application Software and Utility Software.
4. Data, which consists of all the knowledge and databases in the IS.
5. Networks, which consists of communication media and network support.



References

1. "Definition of Application Landscape". Software Engineering for Business Information Systems (sebis). Jan 21, 2009. http://wwwmatthes.in.tum.de/wikis/system-cartography/application-landscape. Retrieved January 14, 2011.
2. SEI Report, "Glossary"
3. Kroenke, D M. (2008). Experiencing MIS. Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ
4. O'Brien, J A. (2003). Introduction to information systems: essentials for the e-business enterprise. McGraw-Hill, Boston, MA
5. Alter, S. The Work System Method: Connecting People, Processes, and IT for Business Results. Works System Press, CA
6. Beynon-Davies P. (2009). Business Information Systems. Palgrave, Basingstoke
7. a b c d e f O'Brien,James.;Marakas,George,Introduction to Information Systems 15th Edition. McGraw-Hill, 2010, p.31