Information Systems: A Construct of Transformations

The paper provides a classification and typology of various configurations which make up the definition of an Information System (IS). It is based on five basic building blocks: source, data, prediction, value, and action. Using those building blocks, it is possible to formally outline many configurations including data base management systems (DBMS), decision support systems (DSS), expert systems (ES), and autonomous intelligent machines (AIM). This paper formally defines the building blocks, functions and operators of systems that fall into the class of information system. The result is a cohesive construct of transformations for IS through which a variety of new configurations and systems are enumerated and explained. Such model, may make it possible to assemble an information system from “of the shelf” components rather than constructing it as done today.