Types of Information Systems

An information system can be defined as an information-technology based system designed to gather, manage, and distribute information throughout an organization. An information system supports the daily operations and decision-making functions of an organization. The components of an information system are:

• Purpose — the reason for having the system
• People — includes the developers, managers, and users of the system
• Information Technology — the hardware, software, and network components
• Procedures (documentation and rules) — how people interact with the system
• Data — including text, images, sounds, and video

Information systems are integral to all aspects of business:

• Operations
• Transaction Process Control
• Enterprise (Group) Collaboration
• Tactical Management
• Strategic Management

In addition, there are different types of information systems:

• Decision Support Systems
• Enterprise Resource Planning Systems
• Expert Systems
• Knowledge Management Systems

The terms Management Information System (MIS) and Information System (IS) are often used interchangeably.