1.1 Background to the Study
In this modern age, where information technology is changing the lives of people constantly across the globe, the computer system has become something of great importance to even the commonest of man. The number of application which computer have been put can be said to be virtually unlimited. This is no surprise, as there are no limits to the number of problems that old arise from all fields of human endeavor. In fact, any problem can be solved with a computer as long as its solution can be expressed as a logical sequence of executable steps.
Odogbo (2018) said that with the growth and popularity computer technology has received in the past few years, the only important file that computers have filed to change dramatically is education “computers have taken a major position in the world because they can execute many tasks more effectively than human. It has formed a coalition with virtually every other technology including – industrial, communication, medical office etc. computers are also applied in accounting, education, finance, health administration and military etc. the use of computers is also expensive that it would be almost impossible to form an exhaustive list.
Information systems have become the backbone of most organizations. Banks could not process payments, governments could not collect taxes, hospitals could not treat patients, and supermarkets could not stock their shelves without the support of information systems. In almost every sector- education, finance, government, health care, manufacturing, and businesses large and small information systems play a prominent role. Every day work, communication, information gathering, and decision making all rely on information technology (IT). When we visit a travel agency to book a trip, a collection of interconnected information systems is used for checking the availability of flights and hotels and for booking them. When we make an electronic payment, we interact with the bank’s information system rather than with personnel of the bank.
Modern supermarkets use IT to track the stock based on incoming shipments and the sales that are recorded at cash registers. Most companies and rely heavily on their information systems. Organizations such as banks, online travel agencies, authorities, and electronic can be seen as IT companies given the central role of their information systems.
Information Management System (IMS) is a general term for software designed to facilitate the storage, organization and retrieval of information.
IMS is also the name of IBM’s mammoth software program developed in the 1960s to support NASA’s Apollo space program. This IMS version was the precursor to IBM’s premier hierarchical database management system (DBMS).
Electronic document and records management system (EDRMS) is a type of content management system and refers to the combined technologies of document management and records management systems as an integrated system.
Unlike DB2 (IBM’s relational database software), an IMS database uses segments, or data blocks, as building blocks of the hierarchical model. Within each segment are multiple data pieces, which are known as fields. At the top of the hierarchy, the segment is known as the root segment. Segments of a specific segment are known as child segments. The child segment order represents the order in which each entry is entered in a database.
Hierarchical IMS Databases generally comes in three forms:
Information Management System is a database and transaction management system that was first introduced by IBM (International Business Machines Corporation) in 1968. Since then, IMS has gone through many changes in adapting to new programming tools and environments. IMS is one of two major legacy database management subsystems from IBM that run on mainframe MVS (now z/OS) systems. The other is CICS (Customer Information Control System). It is claimed that, historically, application programs that use either (or both) IMS or CICS services have handled and continue to handle most of the world’s banking, insurance, and order entry transactions.
Paper-based Information management system are rapidly becoming outdated. They are easily lost, are subject to wear and tear, are costly to handle, cannot be transferred electronically, may be difficult to interpret, and are inefficient. These fundamental drawbacks are driving a transition across the globe Electronic Health Records (EHRs).
This research work offers a practical solution using cryptography to protect these sensitive electronic records of students in Computer science weekend program, Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State and gives them privacy control over who views their records, details and every other sensitive information in other units of the school.
What motivated the researcher to write this project is because of some reasons that was observed in the existing system. Some of the challenges are; time wastage: a lot of times are usually wasted using manual means to document student and staff information, duplication of effort: using manual means, some activities are carried out repeatedly which is a waste of time and effort, it is very cumbersome to manually reconcile all registered student and staff from different files sources into their worksheet, it is stressful for staff to manually document all student and staff information without the aid of computer, lack of data integrity: due to the manual mode of keeping record, intruders enjoys ease access to the record – altering the sensitive information. Because of the problems observed in the existing system, the used of an online management information system for Computer science weekend program was introduced to safeguard, prevent information system from the threats associated to them. An online management information system for Computer science weekend program was introduced so that unauthorized access or abuse of important information will be eliminated.
The manual means of management information system is associated with so many in-efficiencies. The bottleneck encountered includes:
1.3 Aim and Objectives of the Study
The main aim of this project is to design and implement an online management information system for Computer science weekend program, National Diploma (ND) Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State.
The specific objectives to achieve the aim are as follows:
The use of an online management information system will go a long way to solve the problems of encountered in the existing system of information management as used in the departments of Computer science. However, the computerization of the information management process will provide advantages such as easy documentation of student and staff profiles, proper management of student and staff information, and it helps in preventing data loss as documentation will be computerized and not manual, it will help in a good number of ways to ease the process of retrieving data and records in the system. This study will serve as a useful reference material to other researchers seeking related information. Afterwards, further development can be made on the project work in accordance to the rapid development in information technology in the near future.
1.5 Scope of the Study
The scope of this study is limited to designing an online management information system for Computer science weekend program, National Diploma Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State, which will serve as a central repository for the institution.
1.6 Limitations of Study
In the course of carrying out this research work a number of problems were encountered.
1.7 Definition of Terms
Automation: It is the replacement of human workers by technology; a system in which a workplace or processes has been converted to one that replaced or ministries human labor with electronic or mechanical equipment.
Data Entry: This is the standard input device through which the system gets more of the instructions and commands.
Data processing: It is defined as the entire process of converting or manipulating data into definite meaningful information (Adigwe, & Okoye, 2015).
Data Security: Data security prevents unauthorized users from viewing or updating the database by the use of passwords.
Data: This is the collections of vital information that meant to be processed.
Database Management System (DBMS): It is software which controls the flow of data and checks and checks on how data are stored.
Database: This is an organized /unique collection of related files. It is a collection of schemas, tables, queries, reports, views and other object.
Design: This is the art or process of designing how something will look, work.
Documentation: material that provides official information or evidence that serves as record; written specifications and information that describes the product.
Information Management System (IMS): It is a data base and transaction/record management system that was first introduced by IBM in 1968. Since then.
Information system: A computer Information System (IS) is a system composed of people and computers that processes or interprets information. The term is also sometimes used in more restricted senses to refer to only the software used to run a computerized database or to refer to only a computer system.
Information: Information (shortened as info or info.) is that which informs, i.e. an answer to a question, as well as that from which knowledge and data can be derived (as data represents values attributed to parameters, and knowledge signifies understanding of real things or abstract concepts).
Management: It is an act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively. It includes planning, organizing, staffing, leading or directing, and controlling an organization or a system to accomplish a goal.
Password: This is a secret code that a user must type into a computer to enable him access it or its applications. This is made up of numbers, letter, special character or a combination of any of the above categories.
Record System: The act of using a computer system to store and update information/data sequentially in order to keep file security.
Research: A careful study of something, especially to discover new facts or information about it.
Security: It is protection from allowing an unauthorized users from accessing certain data within the database, it protects your data/ files.
Software: It is a program or a set of programs written to carry out some task in the computer, it also perform logical related programs that works together to control the hardware.
System: It is the collection of hardware and software, data information procedure and people.