Ebook: Information Systems Engineering: An Introduction

This book presents a selection of subjects which the authors deem to be important for information systems engineers. The book is intended for introductory teaching. We have tried to write the book in such a way that students with only fragmented knowledge of computers are able to read the book without too many difficulties. Students who have had only an intro­ ductory course in computer programming should be able to read most of the book. We have tried to achieve simplicity without compromising on depth in our discussions of the various aspects of information systems engineering. So it is our hope that also those who have deeper knowledge in computing may find pleasure in reading parts of the book. The writing of a textbook is a major undertaking for its authors. One is quite often forced to reexamine truisms in the subject area, and must be prepared to reevaluate one's opinions and priorities as one learns more. In particular this is so in new fields, where formalisms have been scarcely used, and where consensus has not yet emerged either on what constitutes the subject area or on how practical problems within the field shall be approached. Contemporary practice in computer applications is confronted with an increasingly complex world, both in a technical sense and in the complexity of problems that are solved by computer.

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This book deals with the development and evolution of computer-based information systems. It is an introductory text and presupposes only an elementary knowledge of programming. The purpose of the book is to explain in a simple way the main components of information systems, how they arerelated to each other, and how one develops and maintains such systems. The emphasis is on relating informal approaches to systems design with formal mathematical models of information systems. The book advocates a top-down approach to information systems design, and brings together such topics as structured systems analysis, software design, user interface design, database design, object oriented approaches, performance evaluation, CASE tools, common systems, project management, and formal systems specification models. The book covers most of the relevant aspects of information systems development. It aims to provide a basis for understanding how various approaches to information systems engineering fit together, rather than to advocate one particular development technique. Whenever new and untested techniques are mentioned, they are solidly based on well known and tested approaches such as dataflow analysis and entity-relationship modelling. Most of the book can be understood without much knowledge of mathematics.

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This book deals with the development and evolution of computer-based information systems. It is an introductory text and presupposes only an elementary knowledge of programming. The purpose of the book is to explain in a simple way the main components of information systems, how they arerelated to each other, and how one develops and maintains such systems. The emphasis is on relating informal approaches to systems design with formal mathematical models of information systems. The book advocates a top-down approach to information systems design, and brings together such topics as structured systems analysis, software design, user interface design, database design, object oriented approaches, performance evaluation, CASE tools, common systems, project management, and formal systems specification models. The book covers most of the relevant aspects of information systems development. It aims to provide a basis for understanding how various approaches to information systems engineering fit together, rather than to advocate one particular development technique. Whenever new and untested techniques are mentioned, they are solidly based on well known and tested approaches such as dataflow analysis and entity-relationship modelling. Most of the book can be understood without much knowledge of mathematics.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-XV
Introduction....Pages 1-27
Structured Analysis and Design....Pages 29-80
Software Design....Pages 81-143
Database Design....Pages 145-199
Rule Modeling....Pages 201-249
Information Systems Evolution: The Software Aspect....Pages 251-284
Managing Information Systems Development Projects....Pages 285-303
Information System Support for Information System Development....Pages 305-330
Engineering Design Principles for Unsurveyable Systems....Pages 331-363
Information and Information Systems....Pages 365-395
Three Domains of Information Systems Modeling — and the Object-Oriented Approach....Pages 397-423
Model Integration with Executable Specifications....Pages 425-456
An Example of Comparing Information Systems Analysis Approaches....Pages 457-473
Formal Modeling Approaches....Pages 475-526
Back Matter....Pages 527-541

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This book deals with the development and evolution of computer-based information systems. It is an introductory text and presupposes only an elementary knowledge of programming. The purpose of the book is to explain in a simple way the main components of information systems, how they arerelated to each other, and how one develops and maintains such systems. The emphasis is on relating informal approaches to systems design with formal mathematical models of information systems. The book advocates a top-down approach to information systems design, and brings together such topics as structured systems analysis, software design, user interface design, database design, object oriented approaches, performance evaluation, CASE tools, common systems, project management, and formal systems specification models. The book covers most of the relevant aspects of information systems development. It aims to provide a basis for understanding how various approaches to information systems engineering fit together, rather than to advocate one particular development technique. Whenever new and untested techniques are mentioned, they are solidly based on well known and tested approaches such as dataflow analysis and entity-relationship modelling. Most of the book can be understood without much knowledge of mathematics.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-XV
Introduction....Pages 1-27
Structured Analysis and Design....Pages 29-80
Software Design....Pages 81-143
Database Design....Pages 145-199
Rule Modeling....Pages 201-249
Information Systems Evolution: The Software Aspect....Pages 251-284
Managing Information Systems Development Projects....Pages 285-303
Information System Support for Information System Development....Pages 305-330
Engineering Design Principles for Unsurveyable Systems....Pages 331-363
Information and Information Systems....Pages 365-395
Three Domains of Information Systems Modeling — and the Object-Oriented Approach....Pages 397-423
Model Integration with Executable Specifications....Pages 425-456
An Example of Comparing Information Systems Analysis Approaches....Pages 457-473
Formal Modeling Approaches....Pages 475-526
Back Matter....Pages 527-541
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