Principles of Information Systems: A Managerial Approach [Hardcover]

Ralph M. Stair (Author), George Walter Reynolds (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1997

Intended for the introductory information systems (IS) course required of all business undergraduates this second edition text presents not only what the components of an information systems are, but also how and why information systems should be used.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ralph Stair is currently on the phased retirement program at Florida State University. He received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University, an MBA from Tulane University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Oregon. He has taught at the University of Oregon, the University of Washington, the University of New Orleans, and the Florida State University. On two occasions, he taught several courses through Florida State University's Study Abroad Program in London. Over the years, his teaching and research have been concentrated in information systems. Ralph Stair is a member of several academic organizations, including Decision Sciences Institute. He has published numerous articles and books, including Principles of Information Systems, Fundamentals of Information Systems, Succeeding With Technology, Introduction to Information Systems, Computers in Today's World, Principles of Data Processing, Learning to Live with Computers, Programming in BASIC, Essentials of BASIC Programming, Essentials of FORTRAN Programming, and Essentials of COBOL Programming. Ralph Stair spends time in Florida and Colorado. He enjoys skiing, biking, kayaking, and other outdoor activities. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 672 pages
• Publisher: Course Technology Ptr (Sd); 3 edition (July 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0760049548
• ISBN-13: 978-0760049549
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,230,740 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stair & Reynolds take the middle road, November 29, 2003

By 

swingreen "swingreen" (Brooksville, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Principles of Information Systems, Sixth Edition (MIS) (Hardcover)

Having both studied and taught IS, I'll make two separate sets of comments - one for professors and one for students.

Students first... There is a well-done website that accompanies the book, which includes outlines, sample tests & quizzes, and related study materials. The text is about average in terms of readability in comparison to other texts on the subject (IS texts tend to read a little on the dry side). Unless your professor insists on the latest edition, you may be able to get by with a previous edition, since the chapter structures & content haven't been re-arranged much for the last two editions. You must be advised on the issue of using previous editions, though, since Stair and Reynolds do a fair job of keeping the material up-to-date.

For professors... In my experience, IS texts seem to fall into either a highly technical or highly managerial category. Stair and Reynolds do a fair job of plotting a course between the two, although I have found that the "technical" chapters seem to be a little too much for undergraduate business students in their standard "MIS" course (I've never taught engineering students, but the same may hold true for the "managerial" chapters on the other side of the fence). The text is accompanied with ample instructor resources, including a CD and a website with slideshows, notes, outlines, and various other pedagogical tools. The testbank is easy to use, but can be somewhat challenging for an undergraduate business student, adequate for an undergraduate MIS student, and contains enough "difficult" questions that you should be able to use it for a MBA students as well. I would pick something else for a graduate MS/ MIS curriculum. Stair and Reynolds have also done a fair job of keeping the material up-to-date, which has resulted, after six editions, in a pretty decent proiduct. For me, the instructor resources make Stair and Reynolds a good choice by comparison to other IS texts.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Unless there's something better out there..., March 16, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Principles of Information Systems, Fourth Edition (Hardcover)

mmm... If I didn't have to have this book as a course text, I would have soon discarded it. Maybe I'm missing the point of what PRINCIPLES of Information Systems are all about, but I get the distinct impression from this particular book that Principles of Information Systems is simply an exercise in 'reading someone's watch, then telling them the time'. The authors formalize with great diagrams, case histories and explanations, how Information Systems are structured in business today. However they only lightly touch on what principles (good logic if you wish), should be employed in designing a 'quality' Information System. The closest they really get to this is sometimes posing the issue in the question sections (answers not provided!). I know Information Systems is a lot more than simply knowing how existing ones structured but if you want to know more beyond this, don't expect to find answers in this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Informative...but boring, June 20, 2003

By 

Karen F (Holland, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Principles of Information Systems, Sixth Edition (MIS) (Hardcover)

When I began this course, I felt lucky that I had already had a lot of experience in the world of e-commerce, just because I had problems paying attention to the book when I was reading it. I found myself doing two things at the same time in order to retain any of the information in it. It has a lot of information - but it's presented in an extremely boring manner. I put off reading quite a few chapters until the day before my final exam. The only thing of any interest were the case studies at the beginning of each chapter.