Global information system

Not to be confused with Geographic information system.

Global information system is an information system which is developed and / or used in a global context. Some examples of GIS are SAP, The Global Learning Objects Brokered Exchange and other systems.

Definition

There are a variety of definitions and understandings of a global information system (GIS, GLIS), such as

• A global information system (GIS) is an information system which is developed and / or used in a global context.^[1]
• A global information system (GIS) is any information system which attempts to deliver the totality of measurable data worldwide within a defined context.

Common to this class of information systems is that the context is a global setting, either for its use or development process. This means that it highly relates to distributed systems / distributed computing where the distribution is global. The term also incorporates aspects of global software development and there outsourcing (when the outsourcing locations are globally distributed) and offshoring aspects. A specific aspect of global information systems is the case (domain) of global software development.^[2] A main research aspect in this field concerns the coordination of and collaboration between virtual teams.^[3][4] Further important aspects are the internationalization and language localization of system components.

Tasks in designing global information systems

Critical tasks in designing global information systems are

• Process and system design: How are the processes between distributed actors organized, how are the systems distributed / integrated.
• Technical architecture: What is the technical infrastructure enabling actors to collaborate?
• Support mechanisms: How are actors in the process of communication, collaboration, and cooperation supported?

A variety of examples can be given. Basically every multi-lingual website can be seen as a global information system. However, mostly the term GLIS is used to refer to a specific system developed or used in a global context.

Examples

Specific examples are

• Systems developed for multinational users, e.g., SAP as a global ERP system
• Global Information Systems for Education: The Global Learning Objects Brokered Exchange
• For the specific case of data integration : http://data.un.org, https://web.archive.org/web/20190825060649/http://www.internettrafficreport.com/, http://www.unhcr.org/statistics.html

More information / courses

• Global Information Systems at the University of Jyväskylä
• Resources on Global Information Technology at AIS World