Information system

An information system (IS) is a formal, sociotechnical, organizational system designed to collect, process, store, and distribute information.^[1] From a sociotechnical perspective, information systems comprise four components: task, people, structure (or roles), and technology.^[2] Information systems can be defined as an integration of components for collection, storage and processing of data, comprising digital products that process data to facilitate decision making^[3] and the data being used to provide information and contribute to knowledge.

A computer information system is a system, which consists of people and computers that process or interpret information.^[4][5][6][7] The term is also sometimes used to simply refer to a computer system with software installed.

"Information systems" is also an academic field of study about systems with a specific reference to information and the complementary networks of computer hardware and software that people and organizations use to collect, filter, process, create and also distribute data.^[8] An emphasis is placed on an information system having a definitive boundary, users, processors, storage, inputs, outputs and the aforementioned communication networks.^[9]

In many organizations, the department or unit responsible for information systems and data processing is known as "information services".^{[10][11][12][13]}

Any specific information system aims to support operations, management and decision-making.^[14][15] An information system is the information and communication technology (ICT) that an organization uses, and also the way in which people interact with this technology in support of business processes.^[16]

Some authors 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 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.^[17]

Alter^[18][19] argues that viewing an information system as a special type of work system has its advantages. A work system is a system in which humans or machines perform processes and activities using resources to produce specific products or services for customers. An information system is a work system in which activities are devoted to capturing, transmitting, storing, retrieving, manipulating and displaying information.^[20]

As such, information systems inter-relate with data systems on the one hand and activity systems on the other.^[21] 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 organizational informatics.^[22]