What are 'information systems' (in words of one syllable please)?

[NorbertDentressangle]

I'm sure I know but because its techy jargon I'm not sure I understand and might be over-thinking it IYSWIM.

I need to describe (on a basic level, nothing too techy) different information systems and their main features and problems that might occur with them.

Thanks

They are systems that gather data (usually for business) and allow information to be gathered from them. Eg how much a company has on its order books, how much stock, the accounts, how much raw material it needs, how many employees it has and their wages etc etc.

From this info can be derived so its a 'linked up' system doing what used to be done by several systems. Some places have seperate payroll, ordering, accounts etc.

Thanks JB.

Are they very personal to organisations or are there any recognisable named/branded systems?

"Information Systems" are more than software, it's meant to be the thing that bridges the computing and the business world. So it's about the hardware, the software, the logic, the business process, the business itself and the people who make it all tick.

As such you can't get a "branded" "Information System". Well perhaps if you outsource an entire section of your business, e.g. payroll, to someone. And even then you've still got the technical and people links into your own business.

You've probably already looked but this may also help?

Funnily enough it was the Wiki definition that sent my brain into meltdown and led me to ask on here for it to be explained in words of one syllable

I think I've got it now though.

Thanks all

From a purely technical point of view they are a website or application linked to a data store, for the purpose of gathering and reporting on data.
(As opposed to operational systems that might, say, back up some files on a computer or send out texts).
Main features: Usually the application and the database are on different servers, linked so the system can talk to the database and retrieve information to display or use. Usually have some method of data entry/import (e.g. the census was an information system, we put info into the website and it was stored) and some method of retrieving that data (at the other end someone will be running a load of queries and reports to say e.g. how many families are living in overcrowded accommodation.
Problems: To many concurrent users can make them slow (load testing should be carried out but rarely is). Security issues - often encryption and other security needed. From a techy point of view, there's a need to understand the definition of the data you're storing - it's no good asking the same quesiton of thousands of people and storing the answer unless they all answered exactly the same question, iyswim.

Think that's all I can think of for now :)