378 Human Resources Management for Public and Nonprofi t Organizations
Types of Information Systems
There are four main types of information systems, each serving a different
organizational level: operational - level systems, knowledge systems,
management - level systems, and strategic - level systems.Operational - Level Systems
Operational - level systems support operational managers by keeping track
of the elementary activities and transactions of the organization, such
as sales, receipts, cash deposits, payroll, and the fl ow of materials in a
hospital. The principal purpose of systems at this level is to answer routine
questions and track the fl ow of transactions through the organization.
Work-fl ow systems support agency operations. The Florida Depart-
ment of Business and Professional Regulations (DBPR) regulates nearly
one million businesses and professionals in more than two hundred license
categories to protect the health, safety, and welfare of citizens and visitors.
State law authorizes the department to establish uniform application forms
and certifi cates for licensure for use by its divisions. DBPR has expanded
its online access by implementing electronic attestation (certain forms for
license applications require the applicant ’ s signature attesting or swearing
that the information provided is correct) and fi ngerprinting to facilitate
online application submission. Electronic attestation eliminates the need
for applicants to download, print, notarize, and mail a variety of licensing
documents. Electronic fi ngerprinting is a faster and more effi cient sys-
tem for conducting background checks than the paper fi ngerprinting card
method that requires applicants to manually complete a paper fi ngerprint
card and submit it to a law enforcement agency. Whereas the paper sys-
tem required one to two weeks processing time, electronic fi ngerprinting
provides results within twenty - four hours of submission.
To replace paper business processes, the department implemented a
documents management system that captures, manages, stores, delivers,
and preserves documents electronically. By reducing paper and man-
aging license applications and processes electronically, the department
hopes to reduce the time it takes for license approvals, license changes,
and compliance activities. Electronic documents can be processed more
effi ciently because they allow different employees to verify license informa-
tion simultaneously (Offi ce of Program Policy Analysis and Government
Accountability, 2007).