Introduction to information systems T. Cornford, M. Shaikh is1 060 2013

Chapter 3: Core concepts: information, 
data and systems
3.1 Introduction
In this chapter we explore the core concepts that underlie the description 
of the use of information and communications technologies (ICT) in terms 
of ‘information systems’. This requires an understanding of the concepts 
of information and data as well as an understanding of what the use of 
the word ‘system’ implies. You should be aware that considering the use 
of technologies (for example, computers and networks and software and 
stored data – what we call ICT) and the concept of an information system 
is different to an approach that looks simply at computers as exclusively 
technical devices or as direct and obvious routes to solving individual and 
isolated information-handling needs. 
Thus we can contrast the ‘information systems’ view with what is often 
called a ‘tool’ view. Tools are devices designed to be used to undertake 
a particular task – they have specific functionalities we could say. Think 
of a hammer, a pair of scissors, a spade or a machine tool in a factory. 
Computers can be seen in this way too. People sometimes say, when trying 
to cut through a complex or difficult situation involving computers, ‘Oh, 
in the end it’s just a useful tool’, implying that the technology is (or should 
be) suitable to some specific task, and subservient to its users – literally 
and metaphorically ‘in their hands’.
The information systems view, sometimes called the ‘ensemble view’, sees 
the technology as part of a package of things including people (users, 
managers, customers) with skills, work practices, beliefs and assumptions, 
and who are organised in various ways. From this perspective, technology 
is not a ‘tool’ in somebody’s hands, but a part of a complex set of 
arrangements of different types of people doing different tasks and using 
(sharing) different technical devices and resources. This shared emphasis 
on people and technology as bound up together (ensemble) is the basis for 
the sociotechnical view which we discuss further below. (When you read 
about sociotechnical ideas you will find the phrase spelled in different 
ways, as sociotechnical, socio-technical and socio technical. To some 
people the implications of these differences are substantial; but not for us 
in this course.)