A college-level open education resource (CC BY) thanks to the Saylor Foundation and David T. Bourgeois, Ph.D.

This text is used in Saylor’s free course “Management Information Systems”  at  https://learn.saylor.org/course/view.php?id=41

Purchase a print copy (167 pages, b&w) $22.95

Download the PDF (free, 167 pages, 4.3 Mb)

The Saylor Academy also offers several e-book  formats of this open textbook.

ISBN: 978-1-304-94348-4

“This book is written as an introductory text, meant for those with little or no experience with computers or information systems. While sometimes the descriptions can get a little bit technical, every effort has been made to convey the information essential to understanding a topic while not getting bogged down in detailed terminology or esoteric discussions.  . . . At the end of each chapter, there is a set of study questions and exercises (except for chapter 1, which only offers study questions). The study questions can be assigned to help focus students’ reading on the learning objectives. The exercises are meant to be a more in-depth, experiential way for students to learn chapter topics. It is recommended that you review any exercise before assigning it, adding any detail needed (such as length, due date) to complete the assignment.”

Contents
Introduction
Part 1: What Is an Information System?
Chapter 1: What Is an Information System?
Chapter 2: Hardware
Chapter 3: Software
Chapter 4: Data and Databases
Chapter 5: Networking and Communication
Chapter 6: Information Systems Security
Part 2: Information Systems for Strategic Advantage
Chapter 7: Does IT Matter?
Chapter 8: Business Processes
Chapter 9: The People in Information Systems
Chapter 10: Information Systems Development
Part 3: Information Systems Beyond the Organization
Chapter 11: Globalization and the Digital Divide
Chapter 12: The Ethical and Legal Implications of Information Systems
Chapter 13: Future Trends in Information Systems
Answers to Study Questions 150
Bibliography 162