Resource Guide for

INFORMATION
SYSTEMS
MAJORS
By: Daisy Sjolseth
TR 9:40
 Table of Contents

Introduction………………………………………1

Key Terms and Definitions…………………2

Academic Journals.………………………….....3

IS Organizations…………………………………4

Career Paths………………………………………5

Introduction:

Majoring in information systems may sound like a daunting task to many, but if one is
able to think quantitatively and learn quickly, it shouldn’t be too difficult to begin to understand
the way that information systems function on their own and within an organization. There are a
variety of different resources for those in this major, whether that be in the form of academic
journals or videos and tutorials posted online just to help those in the field begin to understand
the different topics in the major. There is also a wide variety of professional societies and
associations that will allow those in this area to connect with one another and develop
together. One big misconception in this area of study is that when one graduates with a degree
in this major, they can expect to just sit all day at their desk and code different programs. But,
this is far from the truth. Because information systems majors are the meeting point between
computer science and business, there are a variety of uses for this type of knowledge. One can
be an analyst, a designer, a salesperson, an applications developer, and so much more with this
major. It all depends on the interests and talents that the person possesses. Information
systems is such a broad field that really teaches one a way to think and process their thoughts
that will help them in almost any field. In the following pages, there will be key terms with
definitions for those in IS, information about organizations for IS majors, academic journals
specializing in this discipline, and possible careers for those that graduate with this degree.
Key Terms:

All of the following terms and definitions were found in the glossary of the book, Essentials of
Management Information Systems, 6e written by Kenneth Laudon and Jane Laudon.

 Artificial intelligence (AI): The effort to develop computer-based systems that can
behave like humans, with the ability to learn languages, accomplish physical tasks, use a
perceptual apparatus, and emulate human expertise and decision making.

 Business intelligence: Applications and technologies that focus on gathering, storing,

analyzing, and providing access to data from many different sources to help users make
better business decisions

 Electronic business (e-business): The use of the Internet and digital technology to
execute all the business processes in the enterprise. Includes e-commerce as well as
processes for the internal management of the firm and for coordination with suppliers
and other business partners.

 File transfer protocol (FTP): Tool for retrieving and transferring files from a remote
computer

 Information: Data that have been shaped into a form that is meaningful and useful to
human beings

 Knowledge: Concepts, experience, and insight that provide a framework for creating,
evaluating, and using information.

 Network: The linking of two or more computers to share data or resources, such as a
printer

 Scalability: The ability of a computer, product, or system to expand to serve a larger

number of users without breaking down

 Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP): Dominant model for

achieving connectivity among different networks. Provides a universally agree-on
method for breaking up digital messages into packets, routing them to the proper
addresses, and then reassembling them into coherent messages.

 User interface: The part of the information system through which the end user interacts
with the system; type of hardware and the series of on-screen commands and
responses required for a user to work with the system.
Academic Journals:

 The Journal of Computer Information Systems, formerly known as The Journal of Data
Education and The Data Processor for Better Business Education, is a comprehensive
collection of manuscripts published by Elsevier. These texts cover material in analytics,
human-computer interaction, data mining, e-commerce, health informatics, cyber
security, and much more. All of the submitted texts go through a double-blind peer
review process that helps the reader be more confident that the information being
presented is accurate. The journal is issued four times a year, with its first issuing dating
back to 1960. This journal has been highly regarded for over half a century and
continues to be one of the leading collections of texts in the field of computer
information systems.

 The Information Systems Journal is an academic journal, published by Wiley, with texts
specializing in programming languages, data, software, hardware, and algorithms in the
field. All of the texts in their journal are required to demonstrate innovation in proposed
solutions to data management problems. After proposing these solutions, they must
show the wide impact that they would have the information systems discipline. Some of
their most popular articles are focused in the topics of big data in cloud computing,
database management, and healthcare information systems.

 The Journal of Information Technology (JIT) is a collection of texts that specialize in the
innovations that are currently occurring in the information technology field published by
Springer. The texts can be about any topic in the information systems and technology
discipline, allowing a more varied and diverse journal that can be useful to more people.
The audience of this journal includes students, teachers, researchers, and scholars, as
well as those practicing in the field like IT consultants and software developers. The
basic mission of this journal is to advance understanding of different topics and issues in
the IT world and community.
IS Organizations:

 Association for Information Systems (AIS)

o The Association for Information Systems (AIS) is a professional network for those
in the information systems and technology field. AIS provides a community
aspect to their members so that they can build true relationships, both
personally and professionally, with each other. The association also offers their
members access to a members-only library of an incredible amount of texts and
journals concerning the information systems field. In addition, members have
the opportunities to attend professional development conferences and they
receive AIS news which allows them to be knowledgeable of what is currently
occurring in the IS field.

 Alpha Iota Delta: Decision Sciences and Information Systems

o Alpha Iota Delta is a network of front-running students in the world of
technology and information. By being a member of the organization, one will
receive incredible opportunities to for professional development, relationship
building, learning experiences, and career development. Alpha Iota Delta’s
mission is to promote interest in information systems and to bring IT students
and professionals together, especially in the realm of business, to shape the
direction of the industry and bring real change to our world.
Career Paths:

 IT Consultant
o As an IT consultant, one will travel to their customers to determine their needs
in the technology realm and offer them a solution based on what they have
seen. These consultants will also be in charge of creating and maintaining
timelines for this project and testing new systems that they have designed and
installed in their client’s existing system. They are responsible for documenting
the progress in the project and presenting that progress to the client
periodically. IT consultants are there for the entire process and make sure that
their client leaves feeling more confident about their system.

 Data Analyst
o Data analysts examine data from all different arenas and use it to make informed
decisions for their client or employer. Data analysists develop processes to
manage records and they then identify areas in which analyzation would be
beneficial. Once this is identified, the analysts are then responsible for tracking
indicators and monitoring data quality so they can be confident that their data is
accurate. Once they are able to look over this data, they are responsible for
drawing a conclusion and presenting this to their client or employers so that the
necessary steps can be taken to either reduce an issue or expand on something
that is benefiting them. Finally, they are responsible for keeping all of the
information on these progressions documented and providing this to their
superiors at the end of the process.

 Systems Analyst
o A systems analyst role is one in which they are tasked with examining a client’s
systems, whether that be internally or externally, and proposing a solution that
the analyst will most likely be integral in developing. Those in this profession
have to be knowledgeable to multiple programming languages and able to adapt
to the system that the client uses. They have to understand the software
development lifecycle (SDLC) to aid them in offering solutions to their clients.
Finally, they are responsible for documenting the process and presenting it to
their client along with visuals so that anyone may understand the process that
they underwent.