Understanding Information Retrieval Systems: Management

Book Preface

Information retrieval systems, especially those accessed over the Internet, are ubiquitous in our globalizing world. Many are wonderfully easy to use, and it is therefore easy to assume that the design and implementation of information systems is a simple and straightforward process. However, systems need to be designed specifically for their intended functions in order to provide optimal support for the people who use them. It turns out that it is not always obvious what needs to be done to produce a really well-functioning information system. In addition, information systems are almost always part of a much larger infrastructure that is designed to support business, government, and other activities. All parts of that infrastructure need to mesh into a single well-functioning social and technical system, containing and optimizing the information systems within. Consequently, information systems are seldom stand-alone. They need to be made interoperable with other systems of many types, and at many levels of functionality.