Business Information Systems

• BIS 1
  Business Systems: organisation - objectives, structure and management. Functions common to businesses - administration, production, marketing and sales. The flow of information within an organisation. Levels of reporting and decision making.
• BIS 2
  Information Processing Requirements: the use of computers. The automated office; word processing, desk-top publishing, accounts and payroll. Stock control, order processing, invoicing, spreadsheet and simple database applications. The wide availability of computer systems based on standard hardware and software.
• BIS 3
  Hardware: the choices available in terms of floppy and hard discs, memory capacity, screens and printers. Communications equipment; supplementary interfaces (‘add-in cards') to support bar-code readers, mice, scanners and fax facilities. Single and multi-user systems; local and wide area networks.
• BIS 4
  Software: the sources - comparison of bespoke and packaged solutions. The distinction between application packages and application generators. The features in common word-processing, spreadsheet and database packages. Compatibility considerations and the use of integrated software packages.
• BIS 5
  Selection: inviting proposals from suppliers. Comparison of responses. Shortlisting techniques. Selection criteria and the final choice of supplier. Negotiating the purchase and post-sales support. Contents of the contract with the supplier.
• BIS 6
  Selection: inviting proposals from suppliers. Comparison of responses. Shortlisting techniques. Selection criteria and the final choice of supplier. Negotiating the purchase and post-sales support. Contents of the contract with the supplier.
• BIS 7
  Implementation: the practical steps of integrating a computer system within a small business. Installation of equipment in the office. Loading software and data files. Staff training and establishing new working practices. Live running and monitoring progress.
• BIS 8
  Management Aspects: budgetary considerations - initial purchase and long-term costs. The responsibilities of staff. Practical methods of audit; data security. Hardware and software maintenance. System development.
• BIS 9
  Common Applications: details of outputs, inputs, file organisation and processes of accounts packages (nominal, sales and purchase), payroll package and stock control.
• BIS 10
  Spreadsheet Operation: detailed working knowledge of a common spreadsheet package. Creating, loading, saving and erasing a worksheet. The entry and editing of labels, names, values and formulae. Cursor control. Working with ranges. Re-calculation of results. Sorting, copying and printing operations.
• BIS 11
  Case Studies: examples of small business systems to highlight the potential benefits, limitations, disadvantages, problems and pitfalls.
• BIS 12
  Introduction to electronic commerce: the uses of the Internet and the world wide web for electronic mail, advertising and commercial transactions. The practical steps in setting-up simple e-mail facilities and web pages, both passive and active. Advantages, risks and problems presented by e-commerce. Intranets and Extranets.