ch01 Senn3e

James A. Senn’s
Information Technology, 3rd Edition

Chapter 1

Information Technology:
Principles, Practices, and
Opportunities
Senn, Information Technology, 3rd Edition
© 2004 Pearson Prentice Hall

1

Objectives
• Describe the six characteristics of the
Information Age and discuss the role of information technology as the principal tool of the Information Age.
• Explain the three primary components of information technology.
• Identify the six information-handling functions and the four benefits of information technology.
Senn, Information Technology, 3rd Edition
© 2004 Pearson Prentice Hall

2

Objectives
• Summarize the principles of business reengineering, while emphasizing the potential benefits to people and business.
• Discuss the types of opportunities that information technology offers to people.
• Describe the responsibilities of people who use information technology.
Senn, Information Technology, 3rd Edition
© 2004 Pearson Prentice Hall

3

Welcome to the Information Age
The Evolution of the Information Age
• Agricultural Age: The period up to the 1800s, when the majority of workers were farmers whose lives revolved around agriculture.
• Industrial Age: The period from the 1800s to 1957, when work processes were simplified through mechanization and automation.

Senn, Information Technology, 3rd Edition
© 2004 Pearson Prentice Hall

4

Welcome to the Information Age
The Evolution of the Information Age
(Continued)
• Information Age: The period that began in 1957, in which the majority of workers are involved in the creation, distribution, and application of information. – Knowledge Workers: Workers involved in the creation, distribution, and application of information. Senn, Information Technology, 3rd Edition
© 2004 Pearson Prentice Hall

5

Welcome to the Information Age
The Evolution of the Information Age
(Continued)

Senn, Information Technology, 3rd Edition
© 2004 Pearson Prentice Hall

6

Welcome to the Information Age
The Characteristics