Elements Of An Information System

"To be valuable, information must be accurate, orgnization, timely, accessible, useful, and cost-to produce. Generating information From a computer requires the following five elements
• Hardware
• Software
• Data
• People
• Procedures
logether, these elements (hardware, software, data, people, and procedures) comprise an information  system. Figure shows how each of the elements of an information system in a large business might interact.
The hardware must be reliable and capable of handling the expected workload. The software must be developed carefully and tested thoroughly. The data entered into the com¬puter must be accurate.
Most companies with mid-sized and large computers have an IT (information technol-ogy) department. Staff in the IT department should be skilled and up-to-date on the latest technology. IT staff also should train users so that they understand how to use the com-puter properly. Today's users also work closely with IT staff in the development of computer applications that relate to their areas of work.
Finally, all the IT applications should have readily available documented procedures that address operating the computer and using its applications.