C724 Information Systems Management at Western Governors University surveys the many facets of information systems in business and treats IT as a resource that must be managed to support strategy.
WGU's B.S. IT Management program guide lists the course at three competency units in term four, and it appears in several WGU business degrees. The guide's central idea is that technology only adds value when it supports or enables what the organization is trying to achieve.
The course is broad rather than deep. It touches hardware, software, databases, networks, e-commerce and security, so the challenge is keeping many terms straight and linking each one to a business purpose.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | Western Governors University (WGU) |
| Course code | C724 |
| Level | Undergraduate, competency-based |
| Competency units | 3 (B.S. IT Management guide, term 4) |
| Subject area | Management information systems |
| Typical work | Concept questions, business scenarios, technology comparisons |
What C724 Covers
The program guide lists seven competencies:
| Area | What you should be able to describe |
|---|---|
| Role of information systems | How IS support business functions and the challenges of managing IT |
| Hardware and software | Characteristics, functions and evolution in support of business |
| Databases and data warehouses | Techniques for managing data for business optimization |
| Telecommunications and the internet | Networks, wireless and internet technologies in business |
| Systems development and decision support | Development strategies and decision-support tools |
| E-commerce and social media | Their impact on the business environment |
| Security, privacy and ethics | Managing risk and minimizing negative social effects |
Key Concepts Explained
Types of Information System
Transaction processing systems record day-to-day operations such as sales and payroll. Management information systems summarize that data into routine reports. Decision support systems help managers analyze less structured problems, often with models and what-if analysis. Enterprise systems such as ERP integrate data across departments.
Example: In a supermarket chain, the checkout system (TPS) records each sale; a weekly sales report by store (MIS) shows trends; and a pricing tool that models the effect of a 5% discount on demand (DSS) supports the marketing manager's decision.
Databases and Data Warehouses
An operational database supports current transactions. A data warehouse stores integrated, historical data from many sources for analysis and reporting. Keeping the two separate means heavy analysis does not slow down daily operations.
The CIA Triad
Information security is often framed as confidentiality (only authorized people see data), integrity (data is accurate and unaltered) and availability (systems work when needed). Controls such as encryption, access rights, backups and staff training each protect one or more of these.
Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them
WGU assesses competency through performance assessments or objective assessments; check your course page for the current format. Work in this subject typically includes:
| Task type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Concept questions | IS terminology | Define, then give a business example |
| Technology scenario | Matching IT to needs | Start from the business problem |
| Security case | Risk and controls | Link each threat to a control |
| E-commerce analysis | Digital business models | Cover benefits, costs and risks |
Linking IT to Strategy
The idea running through C724 is alignment: technology should serve the organization's goals. When you discuss any system, ask three questions. What business problem does it solve? How does it create value, by cutting cost, improving decisions or reaching customers? What new risks or costs does it bring?
Porter's competitive strategies help here. A cost leader uses IT to automate and cut expense; a differentiator uses it to personalize products or service. Showing how a technology choice fits the firm's strategy is usually more convincing than describing the technology itself.
Where Students Get Stuck
- Too many terms. Group them by competency rather than memorizing a long list.
- Technology for its own sake. Always connect a system to a business purpose.
- Confusing system types. TPS, MIS and DSS differ in the decisions they support.
- Treating ethics as an afterthought. Privacy and social effects are a listed competency.
Study Tips for C724
- Make a glossary with one business example for each term.
- Pick one company you know and map its systems to the seven competency areas.
- Practice explaining the difference between a database and a data warehouse in two sentences.
- Follow a recent data breach story and identify which part of the CIA triad failed.
How We Help with C724
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Frequently Asked Questions
WGU's B.S. IT Management program guide lists Information Systems Management at three competency units, in term four.
It is a management survey course. You need to understand what technologies do and why they matter to a business, not how to build them.
An MIS produces routine summary reports from operational data. A DSS helps managers analyze less structured decisions, often with models and what-if analysis.
Yes, at an introductory level. One competency covers managing information security and privacy and avoiding ethical problems.
Databases, systems development and security are built on in later IT and business courses at WGU.
No. We are an independent tutoring and writing service, not connected with Western Governors University.