This document provides an overview of information organization as a system. It defines key concepts like information, systems, and information systems. An information system is described as a complete system designed for the generation, organization, storage, retrieval, and dissemination of information within an organization. The objectives, components, characteristics, categories, and evolution of information systems are summarized. Normative principles for information systems are also outlined based on Ranganathan's five laws of library science.

1. INFORMATION ORGANISATION
AS A SYSTEM
Presented by:
Anupama Saini
M-03
MLISc
Department of Library and Information Science
University of Delhi

2. CONTENTS
Sr. Title Slide No.
1 What is Information? 4
2 Role of Information 5
3 What is a System? 6
4 Information System 7
5 Objectives of Information System 8
6 Model of Comprehensive Information Delivery System 9
7 Characteristics of Information System 10
8 Various Categories of Information Systems 11-12
9 Normative Principles of Information Systems 13
10 Components of Information Systems 14-15
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3. CONTENTS
Sr. Title Slide No.
11 Types of Information Systems 16
12 Channels for Dissemination of Information 17
13 Evolution of Information system 18
14 Example of organisational Links for a National Information System 19
15 Network System and Information Network 20
16 Suggested Responsibilities in Information Systems and Networks 21
17 User View of Information System 22
18 References 23
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4. WHAT IS INFORMATION?
 In the simplest form, processed data is called
information.
 Information is a product of human mind in action. It
may be abstract or concrete.
 It may be a message, signal or stimulus.
 It is meant for communication and is capable of
bringing a change in the recipient.
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5. ROLE OF INFORMATION
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6. WHAT IS A SYSTEM?
 A system is an arrangement of parts/elements
working together to perform a set of
operations in the accomplishment of the
purpose as a whole.
 Properties of a ‘System’ :-
i. The properties and behaviour of a system are
affected by those of its components.
ii. Each component has an impact on its system
but none can have an independenteffect.
iii. Every possible sub-group of components has
these two essential properties of its system.
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7. INFORMATION SYSTEM
Acc. to ALA Glossary, an information system is “a complete system designed for the generation,
organisation, storage, retrieval, and dissemination of information within an institution, organisation, or
other defined area of society.”
Information system refers to the methods, media, producers, and recipients involved in an organised
way to effect information transfer within a specific field, activity or organisation.
 An information system consists of a complex collection of
i. information messages,
ii. persons who produce and use them,
iii. institutions which process them, and
iv. a set of behaviour patterns, customs, and traditions by which these persons and institutions interrelate.
 An information system or information grid is a network of information centre at different levels
working in perfect harmony and close co-operation with each other with the objectives of storing and
dissemination of information usually of a specific type or a specific community.
 An information system is a method or a combination of methods for acquiring, classifying, recording
and disseminating
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8. OBJECTIVES OF INFORMATION SYSTEM
1. To acquire the resources, equipment, and
information,
2. To record and store information,
3. Generation of primary information,
4. Process and retrieve information,
5. Communication of primary information,
6. Dissemination of information in an organised
manner, and
7. Promotion of the use of primary information
through secondary and associated information
services.
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9. MODEL OF A COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION
DELIVERY SYSTEM
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10. CHARACTERISTICS OF INFORMATION SYSTEM
1. Capacity – Capacity involves the relationship between the size of the system and the user demands on it.
The system needs to be able to collect, store, and process all of the data necessary to develop the
information required by its users, as well as have the capability to meet expansion requirements in the
amount of the data base, in the information product, and in the number of users.
2. Quality – Quality has several dimensions. It is related to each of the properties as well as to the subsystems
as a whole. The accuracy and validity of each has a bearing on the utility of the system for the user.
3. Compatibility – Compatibility is related to the appropriateness of the data and information of the system
for its users.
4. Timeliness – Timeliness is the temporal relationship between user needs and the system’s response time.
Another critical factor relates to the time for which the information is valid.
5. Coherence – Coherence is a property related to efficiency. Te organisation of the information system should
be consistent and logical; the subsystems should be well-integrated to serve the user requirements.
6. Flexibility – Flexibility permits coherent adjustments as user needs or other aspects of the various subsystems
change. Inherent in this property is the capacity to anticipate change.
7. Dependability – It allows the information system to perform at given levels of accuracy and within given
time constraints.
8. Economy – It refers to the cost effectiveness property of an information system and is the most difficult
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11. VARIOUS CATEGORIES OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS
The objectives mentioned earlier lead to the categorisation of information systems in
the following manner :-
Generation of primary information
Communication of primary
information
Promotion of the use of primary
information through secondary and
associated information services
Secondary Information
Service System
Primary Information
Communication System
Primary Information
Generation System
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12. VARIOUS CATEGORIES OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS
To promote the generation of
new information in
anticipation of its use
Primary Information
Generation System
Primary Information
Communication System
Secondary Information
Service System
To promote use of primary
information through effective
communication to its prospective
users
To promote use of information
through secondary info. Services
and provision of access to
information
Research
Literary Activities
Artistic Activities
Publications
Verbal/ Non-Verbal
Communication
Formal and Informal Education
Library Services, Indexing
Services, Abstracting Services,
Translation Services,
Reprographic Services, etc.
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13. NORMATIVE PRINCIPLES OF INFORMATION SYSTEM
 The normative principles of library services were formulated by Dr. S.R. Ranganathan in 1928
and published in 1931 a ‘Five laws of Library Science’.
 Later on, they were found to be equally applicable in the context of documentation services
and documentation sciences. So, Ranganathan himself changed the term ‘book’ into ‘document’.
 Similarly, these principles were found to be readily amenable to transformation in terms of
information and hence, the interpretative basis version of Ranganathan’s Five Laws of Library
Science resulted in the following normative principles of information system:
i. Information for use.
ii. Every information-user, his/her information.
iii. Every piece of information, its user.
iv. Spare the time of the information-user.
v. The universe of information is ever-growing in many dimensions.
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14. COMPONENTS OF INFORMATION SYSTEM
INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
• Computers, internet and
related equipment
• Processing, storage and
retrieval of information
INFORMATION ORGANISATIONS
• Libraries, Documentation Centres,
Information Centres, Data Centres,
Info. Analysis Centres, referral
Centres, Clearing Houses, Archives,
Translation Pools
• Collection, processing, storage,
communication and systematic
dissemination of information
COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
• Data transmission media, models, networks,
components, platforms
• Communication and dissemination of
information
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15. TYPICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENTS
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16. TYPES OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS
On the basis of the nature of Information and the user communities served,
information systems can be categorised into following types:
1. Discipline – Oriented
• Discipline-oriented information systems concentrate on satisfying the information needs of users
belonging to a specific discipline of knowledge like mathematics, biology, etc.
• The primary function of such systems is to support education, research and development in the
concerned discipline.
• Information is generally disseminated through primary journals, monographs, seminars and meetings
usually associated with academic and research institutions, learned societies, professional bodies and
the like.
• Normally, the user communities are students, academicians, scholars, research workers and others.
• Example – International Nuclear Information System (INIS) caters to the information needs of users
engaged in nuclear science and allied fields.
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17. CONT…
2. Mission – Oriented
• Mission-oriented information systems provide information support to mission-oriented agencies like
ISRO, DRDO, NASA and such others.
• Such information systems coordinate and use knowledge simultaneously from a variety of disciplines,
as in the case of NASA mission, where input of information from diverse fields such as electronics,
biology, medicine, aeronautics, chemistry, physics, etc. .
• Information is disseminated through primary publications like technical reports, besides journals and
other conventional publications as well as through secondary services.
• Such information systems usually form part of the agency and get their budgetary allocation from the
concerned agency.
• The user community of such systems include scientists, engineers, technologists and other managers
belonging to the agency entrusted with the mission.
• Example – DESIDOC is a mission-oriented information system of DRDO.
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18. TYPES OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS
• It is also known as global information system. An International Information System is a network of information centres that covers
the whole world or parts of the whole world. They are a group of regional and national information system working in perfect
harmony and close co-operation. Eg. ENVIS
International Information System
• A Regional Information System is a network of information centre within a region or area. The area cover includes two or more
nation, whose components of information system work in perfect harmony and thus enable specific categories of user to receive
the information relevant to their needs and abilities. Eg. SAARC.
Regional Information System
• A National Information System is a network of existing information resources within a nation together with new services,
coordinated to reinforce and enhance the activities of the individual units and thus enable specific categories of user to receive
the information relevant to their needs. The national information system exists at national level but accessibility is international.
Eg. NISCAIR.
National Information System
• Sectoral Information System is based on subject specialization. It maintains a rich collection of materials in the specialized areas
only to which it is intended but with international scope. Eg. Agricultural Information System (AGRIS).
Sectoral Information System
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19. CHANNELS FOR DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION –
UNITS OF INFORMATION SYSTEM
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20. EVOLUTION OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS
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21. EXAMPLE OF ORGANISATIONAL LINKS FOR A
NATIONAL INFORMATION SYSTEM
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22. INFORMATION SYSTEM AND INFORMATION
NETWORK
Information System : It refers t a set of devices, procedures, operating systems, and
organisations, designed around user-based criteria to produce information and
communicating to users.
Information Network : It is a set of interrelated information systems associated with
communication facilities, which are operating through more or less formal agreements
and institutional arrangements, in order to jointly implement information handling
operation with a view to pool their resources and to offer better services to users.
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23. SUGGESTED RESPONSIBILITIES IN INFORMATION
SYSTEMS AND NETWORKS
23
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24. USER VIEW OF AN INFORMATION SYSTEM
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25. REFERENCES
Atherton, Pauline. Handbook for Information System and Services. Paris: UNESCO,
1997. Print.
Weisman, Herman M. Information systems, Services, and Centers. New York: Becker
and Hayes, 1972. Print.
Baman, Parida. Studies on Information Systems, Services and Programs in India and
Abroad. Delhi: Ajanta Press, 1993. Print.
Barman, Badan. “Information System.” netugc . n.p. , n.d. Web. 18 September 2015.
< http://www.netugc.com/>.
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