Chapter 1
The system as black box
To begin this discussion let’s just consider a “system” as a black box. That has been a traditional view of systems when there was no easy explanation of what was happening. This black box has two unique, identifiable features. It has an opening labeled “input” and an opening labeled “output.” The first step in understanding systems is to understand what are inputs and outputs of a system. I like to think of inputs as the raw material. In information systems terminology we call that raw material data. The outputs of a system are referred to as information. Inside the “black box” some kind of processing takes place that transforms the data into information.
Let’s consider a non-technical example first. In order to make concrete for sidewalks or walls, etc., we need the raw materials. The raw materials are sand, gravel, cement, and water. The raw materials are processed by throwing them into a cement mixer and mixing the ingredients until they are of the proper consistency. Once the mixture reaches the proper consistency, it is removed from the mixer and used to make the sidewalk or wall.
The sand, gravel, cement, and water were the raw materials. Without some kind of processing they were not useful to the builder. After processing, the mixture is now useful to the builder. When we talk of data, it is the raw material. When we talk of information, it is the finished product. Information is the result of some kind of processing of data. Information also has an important additional feature. It is usable. In the cement example the builder could build once the raw materials had been mixed. With systems, the decision makers use information to make decisions and take actions.