From Transaction Processing to Expert Systems

Through this study we explore the literature discussing the innovations which have progressed management information systems (IS) from the beginnings of transaction processing through to expert systems in an attempt to clarify existing IS taxonomies into a holistic discourse. The concepts are defined and discussed, the path of innovation in the systems delineation are traced and discussed and each IS taxonomy is then framed with regard to the whole. In this work we offer a diagram tracing the systemic elements which are core to the definition of what each of these systems are. This diagram is useful in explaining where an information system fits into the IS taxonomies found in IS literature. Through this we have described the path of information systems innovation from the processing of electronic transaction data through to expert systems. In particular we have focussed on the elements of management information systems and decision support systems and their place within the available taxonomies.