Economic information systems: definition, concept and structure

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Modern development of the world is impossible without the widespread use of information technology. They play a significant role in all spheres of human society, including the economic one.

With the help of information technologies, a whole range of tasks is solved. They make it possible to increase the competitiveness of the economy, as well as expand the possibilities of its integration into the world economy. And this is not to mention a thousand enterprises, millions of taxpayers, shareholder registers and stock quotes! All this represents large information flows that need to be processed, evaluated, and conclusions drawn to make the best decision.

Such work is entrusted to the modern economist. That is why such a specialist, in addition to traditional knowledge, such as banking, the basics of management and foreign economic activity, taxation andadministrative management, you must be able to build information systems.

Today, the processing of such data is an independent area with a variety of methods and ideas. Moreover, the individual elements of this process have achieved a high interconnection and a good degree of organization. This makes it possible to combine all information processing tools on a specific economic object, which is called the "economic information system" (EIS).

A bit of history

In the 50s of the twentieth century. The first computers were developed and introduced. They were intended to solve individual economic problems in which there was a need to process an impressive amount of information. This concerned, for example, the preparation of statistical reports, payroll, and so on. In addition, computer operators performed various optimization calculations. An example of this is the solution of transport problems.

A decade later, an idea was born to create complex automation in the field of enterprise management, as well as the integration of obtaining information based on existing databases. The introduction of such systems became possible only in the 70s of the twentieth century, after the creation of the 3rd generation of "smart machines". With these computers, computer systems with a distributed terminal network began to be created. However, such machines had insufficient reliability and speed, which did not allow them to become the main tool that made it possible to increaseefficiency of enterprises.

In the 80s, the process of introduction of personal computers began. Managerial workers began to use them. At the same time, a large number of automated workstations (AWPs) were created. However, this dispersal of the EIS was a local implementation of this tool. That is why the ongoing work also did not allow the integration of management functions to improve the efficiency of the enterprise.

In the 90s of the 20th century. telecommunications began to develop. This process led to the creation of global and flexible local networks that allow solving computational problems. It was with their appearance that the development and further implementation of corporate economic information systems became possible. They combined the capabilities of complex automation of the 70s with its local developments introduced in the 80s.

Today, the use of economic information systems allows you to connect the activities of managerial employees in the enterprise, provides the opportunity for collective work of all employees. At the same time, managers who make management decisions can, based on the available data, revise the basic principles of their work.

Information concept

This term comes from the Latin informatio. Denotes this word "statement", "information" and "clarification". If we consider the concept of information from the point of view of materialistic philosophy, then it is a reflection of the real world obtained with the help of information. They, in theirturn, are a form of providing certain data in the form of images, text, digital tables, graphs, etc.

In its general scientific understanding, the concept of "information" includes the exchange that occurs between people and devices, and only between people, as well as the exchange of signals between objects of inanimate and living nature.

The most common today is the concept of information as a resource similar to money, labor and material, while allowing to improve the processes that are associated with the transformation of energy, matter, and information itself. In addition, by this term we mean new information that has been accepted, understood and appreciated by the end user as useful. In doing so, they expanded his knowledge of the world around him.

Economic information

Under this term we understand one of the varieties of general information. Its hallmark is its connection with the organization and processes designed to manage the team.

Economic information constantly accompanies each of the processes of production and distribution, exchange and further consumption of services and material goods. Most of it has a connection with social production. That is why economic information is also called production information.

What is the definition of this concept? Economic information is understood as information that reflects socio-economic processes and serves to manage them, as well as teams of organizations asmanufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors. At the same time, it must be accurate, which will ensure its unambiguous perception by all consumers, reliable, allowing only a small level of distortion, and operational, that is, relevant for making the best decision under changing conditions.

EIS concept

Economic information systems and economic information are closely related to each other. What is EIS? This is a system whose main task is to collect information, store it, process it and further distribute it. Such data concerns a certain economic object that exists in the real world.

Main purpose

EIS solve the problems of data processing and automation of management work. They search for information and are necessary when solving individual problems. All work of economic information systems is based on the methods of applying artificial intelligence.

Fulfillment of the tasks assigned to the EIS allows people to avoid routine data processing. At the same time, the received figures and information are stored, from where they are issued regularly or upon request to manage the organization.

Economic analysis information systems can be created for various purposes. Among them:

• analysis of one of the economic objects;
• assessment of the work of structural divisions of the enterprise;
• comparative analysis of the activities of units at several business facilities.

Information supporteconomic system represents certain information, including:

• about enterprise data and history;
• indicators of economic activity in the current period;
• about employees;
• about deals and partners;
• about credit history, income, expenses, etc.

Information systems for economic analysis allow you to quickly make optimal decisions in the field of:

• prediction;
• data processing;
• prompt search for the necessary information;
• automate the operations of office workers;
• implementation of techniques designed to work with artificial intelligence.

The use of EIS allows you to replicate the professional experience of information processing. At the same time, complex intellectual and production economic tasks are quickly solved. These include, for example, data analysis and storage. Such information is important for business management. The economic information management system provides for the following operations of office workers:

• Creating a database.
• Creating a file cabinet.
• Building reports, graphs and analytical tables.
• Working with presentations and graphics.
• Processing data received by e-mail.
• Establishing channels of communication.

The creation of an economic information system makes it easy to find the necessary data in it. This helps to solve the integral task facing the employee. But the use of artificialintelligence helps in managerial issues of long-term planning. They are the key when making decisions regarding the operation of the enterprise.

Classification

In general, there are two types of economic information systems, each of which is nothing more than a set of channels, resources and tools designed to collect, store, further process and further disseminate data. Their main purpose is to perform functions related to the economic management of the enterprise.

One of the varieties of EIS is a system that has an independent purpose and scope. The second is a man-machine complex with an automated technology for obtaining information. It is called AIS. This is an automated information system that includes economic and mathematical models and methods, technical, software and technological tools. It also includes specialists who process the received data and make management decisions.

There are other classifications of types of economic information systems. So, they are distinguished by the main goals that are pursued during their creation.

1. According to the scope. In this case, the information system of an economic object can be accounting and banking, insurance, tax, etc.
2. According to the degree of automation. EIS for this purpose are manual, automatic, and automated.
3. By the nature of the tasks performed. There are systems for solving structured, unstructured, and semi-structured problems.
4. According to processing modes. The economic information system of an enterprise can work using both batch and interactive technology.
5. According to the type of programs used. These can be mini-accounting departments designed for small businesses, accounting designers customizable for the specifics of the calculations necessary for performing calculations, accounting workstation complexes, as well as centralized systems, decentralized and intended for collective use.
6. According to scope. In this case, EIS are commercial and government, managerial, industrial, etc.
7. According to the mode of operation. Based on this direction, information systems in economic activity are continuous and discrete.

There is also a classification of AIS. So, an automated economic information system, based on management processes, can be of the following types:

1. AIS designed for process control. It is a human-machine system that ensures the smooth operation of machine tools and automatic lines.
2. AIS, created to manage processes of an organizational and technological nature. Such systems are multilevel. They are a combination of enterprise and process management.

There are also sectoral and territorial, intersectoral AIS. The first of them operate within the boundariesagro-industrial and industrial complexes, transport and construction. Such systems are being created to provide information services to the management personnel of the relevant departments. Territorial AIS are one step lower in the hierarchical ladder. With their help, reports are generated, operational information is issued for local economic and government agencies.

Specialized systems are interbranch AIS. They function in the work of statistical, procurement, financial and banking bodies that manage the national economy. With the help of such AIS, economic and economic forecasts, the state budget are developed, the work of all enterprises is regulated, and the availability and distribution of resources is controlled.

Design

To create or further develop an economic information system, it is necessary to go through the process of developing technical documentation. The creation of the project will allow organizing the EIS with the receipt and transformation of the initial data into effective ones. The purpose of such work is the selection of technical, as well as the formation of organizational, legal, software, mathematical and information support. What should these elements be?

First of all, when designing economic information systems, technical devices are selected. According to their characteristics, they should be such that they can be used to make timely and uninterrupted collection, as well as registration and transfer, storage and processingdata.

The next stage in the design of economic information systems includes the choice of information support. It is necessary that it provide for the creation of a single base and its reliable functioning. It is also desirable that this element be represented by a large number of arrays, sets and databases.

The economic efficiency of information systems is ensured by the optimal formation of mathematical software. In this case, you will need to decide on a set of algorithms and methods for solving existing functional problems.

The organization of economic information systems will also require the formation of software. When considering this issue, special attention should be paid to the creation and selection of the most effective products.

EIS design pursues the following goals:

• providing a direct impact on improving the organization of planning, accounting, and analytical work at the enterprise;
• selection of the necessary equipment with the simultaneous development of information technologies of economic systems that allow rationally solving tasks and obtaining result data;
• the ability to plot indicators both within and between functional and production units;
• creation of a database related to planning, accounting and analysis of economic activities and capable of ensuring their optimal use;
• develop informationreference character.

Work on the creation of an automated information processing system should be carried out in the order established by the technical project. First of all, the tasks of accounting and analysis, as well as operational management and planning of those decisions that are most amenable to processing by EIS are considered. When developing further stages, the existing complex is built up. It will require the expansion of mathematical and information support with its simultaneous integration. Simultaneously with these works, there is a need to modernize the technical means. Thus, the tasks of economic information systems will be solved more efficiently.

EIS equipment

Organization of information economic systems is impossible without installation at the enterprise:

• computers of any models;
• devices designed to collect and accumulate, process and transmit, as well as display information;
• devices of communication lines and data transmission;
• office equipment, as well as devices for automatic data collection.

For the operation of this complex, a variety of operational materials will also be needed.

Organization of EIS can be done using:

• freestanding computers;
• computing systems or networks of various scales.

In order to operate the EIS, installation of both universal and specialized computers can be provided. In the latter case, it may be a machine for receiving databases, whichimplements relational math functions.

Communication equipment included in the EIS complex is necessary to ensure interaction between various components of distributed systems. An example of this is the exchange of data within a computer network or remote access to available resources. The process of automated information processing is possible both in dialog and network mode.

Receiving and registering text and tabular data can be done:

• when measuring (observing) facts that are available in the real world, with their subsequent entry into the system using manipulators or keyboard;
• semi-automatically, when information is entered from certain media;
• automatically when using different sensors or communicating with other AIS.

Maximum economic efficiency of information systems can only be achieved by creating a network. It is a combination of communication, software and hardware and provides the most rational distribution of all computing resources. The network is a product and at the same time a powerful stimulus for the development of human intelligence. With its help it becomes possible:

• create distributed databases (information stores);
• expand the list of tasks that need to be solved in the process of processing information;
• increase the degree of reliability of the information system by duplicating the work of the PC;
• reduce the financial costs of information processing;
• set up the enterprise with the latest types of communication (an example of this is e-mail).

Technological support of workstations

PC users often face the need to prepare articles and letters, reports and memos, promotional materials and other documents. To perform such work, the necessary text is displayed on the screen by a specialist. This allows you to make changes to the document using the dialog mode. All corrections will be immediately fixed by the machine. After printing the document, the user will see the already formatted text.

Besides this, specialists of enterprises are called upon to solve in their work many tasks of an accounting and analytical nature that require the preparation of data in tabular form. This requires summarizing the results in various sections and groups of data. This applies, for example, to the preparation of balance sheets, tax returns, financial reports, etc. In this case, for the purpose of storing and subsequent processing of information, spreadsheets are used. They allow you to perform a wide variety of accounting and economic, as well as engineering calculations. When using ET, it becomes possible to build various diagrams, conduct complex data analysis, optimize and model decisions in various business situations, etc.

For office work, an integrated package of interacting software products is offered. In addition to a text editor and a spreadsheet, it is based on otherdevelopment. But at the same time, all programs included in the integrated package have a common user interface, which allows specialists to apply similar techniques while working with different applications. This nuance allows you to reduce the time spent on training employees.

One of the software products used in EIS are DBMS. These are systems that allow database management. They are intended for data entry, accumulation, deletion if necessary, filtering and efficient search.

In economic information systems, a fairly wide range of DBMS is used. They are used for applications of various scales. There is also an international standard, the application of which made it possible to create a universal query language interface, which greatly facilitates the work of specialists.

In the work of the EIS, an expert system (ES) is also used. It is a software package that accumulates the knowledge of specialists in a particular subject area, while performing the functions of an expert. The expediency of using ES is caused by:

• narrow specialization of tasks and small spatial framework of possible solutions;
• the need to get the most optimal answers that do not depend on universal knowledge, as well as common sense considerations.

An important role for the technological support of AIS is assigned to integrated and neural network technologies. The first of these are programs:

• "client-server";
• allowing jointuse resources on the scale of global networks;
• universal user communication (e-mail).

The concept of "neural networks" includes groups of algorithms endowed with the ability to learn from examples and extract hidden patterns from the incoming data stream. Such computer technologies allow solving a wide range of problems. Working on the principles of neurons functioning in the human brain, they recognize people's speech and abstract images, classify the state of complex systems, manage financial flows and technological processes, solve analytical, research and forecasting tasks that involve extensive information flows.

Neural network technologies are today quite a powerful technological tool. With their help, it becomes much easier for a specialist to make important and non-obvious decisions in the face of time pressure, uncertainty and limited data.

EIS Security

Information systems must be protected from intentional or accidental interference with their operation. The destruction of its components and theft of data are also unacceptable.

Information security of economic systems is created using various methods and means. All of them allow you to protect data, including those available in banking institutions.

Information security of economic systems is created when:

• physical blocking of the path to protected data;
• access control informationin the form of user identification, verification of his authority, registration of requests to resource bases, system response when an attempt is made to perform an unauthorized action;
• using the encryption mechanism;
• regulation, that is, the creation of conditions under which the norm of the protection standard is fully present;
• forcing the user and EIS personnel to comply with the rules for processing information and its transmission under the threat of liability;
• Using ethical and ethical data protection measures that incorporate company code of conduct.

Evaluation of EIS efficiency

When implementing a software product, it is necessary to adhere to the concept of system balance. It is desirable to lay out the minimum amount of funds for its organization of the company, while receiving the maximum benefit.

The economic evaluation of information systems is carried out using certain methods, which are conventionally divided into three groups:

1. Traditional. These are financial methods that determine economic attractiveness, net present value, total cost of ownership, etc.
2. Quality. Among such evaluation methods, one can distinguish the information economy, the balanced scorecard, asset portfolio management, etc.
3. Probabilistic. These valuation methods are fair option pricing, applied information technology, etc.

Each of the above groups hasits own field of application, the share of constructiveness and the possibility of integrating into the enterprise development strategy.