Introduction to Information Systems, 5th edition
Title overview
For courses in Information Systems
A contemporary introduction to information systems that focuses on human elements
Introduction to Information Systems teaches students what information systems are all about and why they are fundamental to business and society. While rigorously discussing business strategies, technology trends, innovations and more, the text enriches those topics by probing the roles people play in building, shaping, implementing and obstructing IS.
The 5th Edition offers new coverage of emerging technology and trends. The new Thinking Globally feature highlights IS in global commerce and cooperation, and new case studies and Quick Check questions reinforce learning throughout.
Hallmark features of this title
- Productivity Tips throughout help students apply learning to improve their productivity.
- Balanced coverage serves a diverse audience, including those pursuing nonprofits or roles beyond traditional IS management.
- Career-focused examples illustrate leveraging IS to transform or build organizations (with job descriptions, growth rates and projected salaries).
- An Ethical Factors feature explores issues like corporate responsibility in extended supply chains, surveillance and big data collection.
- IS's role in globalization is illustrated with examples (e.g., the global supply chain Pfizer-BioNTech used to gather 300+ vaccine components from 19 different countries).
- Competitive business strategies and IS are integrated to explore the nature of competition.
New and updated features of this title
- NEW: Thinking Globally sidebars in every chapter highlight how information systems play key roles in global commerce and cooperation.
- NEW: 1 Quick Check multiple choice question follows every chapter section so students can self-check and work toward mastery before proceeding.
- UPDATED: Examples and case studies featuring recent sources represent a wide variety of organizations and introduce students to a broad range of IS employment opportunities.
- UPDATED: 4 updated comprehensive case studies feature recent challenges facing real-world organizations: Facebook (Meta's privacy challenges); Uber (UberEats and other new strategies), Apple (AirTags and stalker-prevention), and the federal government (IT dashboard updates to improve data quality).
- NEW: Expanded coverage includes web decentralization, satellite internet systems; 6G research; browser fingerprinting; metaverse; crowdsourcing; ransomware threats; and the impact of the pandemic on business strategies, contactless ordering, mobile payments and remote learning.
- UPDATED: Revised or expanded topics include cloud computing; blocklchain and distributed databases; HTML and the World Wide Web Consortium; computer vision; MOOCs leading to professional certificates; botnets and int. cooperation; the black swan and unpredictable events.
Key features
Highlights of the DIGITAL UPDATE for MyLab MIS (available for Fall 2026 classes)
Instructors, contact your sales rep to ensure you have the most recent version of the course.
- NEW: AI Literacy Modules teach skills for using AI, applying AI responsibly and critiquing AI-generated content. Students can earn a Credly® badge, recognized by colleges and employers, for each module they complete.
- NEW: Using AI Projects provide ready-to-assign activities that teach students how to use generative AI effectively for school and at work.
- NEW: Interactive Reading Assignments blend author content and media into a seamless learning path. These let you create assignments easily with a simple added step in your MyLab course setup.
- NEW: MIS in the News videos help tie what students are learning to current events. Accompanying questions ensure that students understand how the topic applies to chapter content. The Digital Update includes 1 additional new video per chapter.
- NEW: MIS Simulations place students in real-world business scenarios to teach critical-thinking and career-readiness skills. The Digital Update offers 1 additional new simulation appears in each chapter.
- NEW: Case Studies and Case Study Assignments are now available as auto-graded assignments.
- UPDATED: The Pearson+ eTextbook offers thoroughly updated content, including new examples, images and data.
Table of contents
- Information Systems and People
- Information Systems and Strategy
- Information and Communications Technologies: The Enterprise Architecture
- Databases and Data Warehouses
- Information Systems for the Enterprise
- Developing a Digital Presence: Websites, Social Media, and Mobile Apps
- Business Intelligence and Analytics
- Collaborating with Technology
- Knowledge Management and E-Learning
- Ethics, Privacy and Security
- Systems Development and Procurement
- Information Systems Project Management and Strategic Planning
Case Studies
Glossary
Index
Author bios
About our author
Patricia Wallace's career spans the fields of information technology, business and management, and psychology, and she has held varied positions, including head of information technology, faculty member, academic administrator, and consultant. She recently retired from Johns Hopkins University, where she was Senior Director, IT and Online Programs, at the Center for Talented Youth for 14 years. Before joining Hopkins, Dr. Wallace served as Chief Information Strategist, at the Robert H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland, College Park. She currently teaches in the Graduate School of the University of Maryland University College, where she also served as the Associate Vice President and Chief Information Officer for 10 years. She earned her Ph.D. in psychology at the University of Texas at Austin and holds an M.S. in Computer Systems Management. Dr. Wallace has published 15 books, including The Internet in the Workplace: How New Technologies Transform Work (2004) and The Psychology of the Internet (2016), several educational software programs, and numerous scholarly articles