MIS

A MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (MIS) IS AN

INFORMATION SYSTEMUSED FOR DECISION-MAKING, AND
FOR THE COORDINATION, CONTROL, ANALYSIS, AND
VISUALIZATION OF INFORMATION IN AN ORGANIZATION.
THE STUDY OF THE MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS
INVOLVES PEOPLE, PROCESSES AND TECHNOLOGY IN AN
ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT.
IN A CORPORATE SETTING, THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF THE
USE OF A MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM IS TO
INCREASE THE VALUE AND PROFITS OF THE BUSINESS.
History
• First Era – Mainframe and minicomputer computing
• Second Era – Personal computers
• Third Era – Client/server networks
• Fourth Era – Enterprise computing
• Fifth Era – Cloud computing
• The first era (mainframe and minicomputer computing) was ruled by IBM and their mainframe computers for which
they supplied both the hardware and software. These computers would often take up whole rooms and require
teams to run them. As technology advanced, these computers were able to handle greater capacities and therefore
reduce their cost. Smaller, more affordable minicomputers allowed larger businesses to run their own computing
centers in-house / on-site / on-premises.
• The second era (personal computers) began in 1965 as microprocessors started to compete with mainframes and
minicomputers and accelerated the process of decentralizing computing power from large data centers to smaller
offices. In the late 1970s, minicomputer technology gave way to personal computers and relatively low-cost
computers were becoming mass market commodities, allowing businesses to provide their employees access to
computing power that ten years before would have cost tens of thousands of dollars. This proliferation of computers
created a ready market for interconnecting networks and the popularization of the Internet. (The first
microprocessor—a four-bit device intended for a programmable calculator—was introduced in 1971, and
microprocessor-based systems were not readily available for several years. The MITS Altair 8800 was the first
commonly known microprocessor-based system, followed closely by the Apple I and II. It is arguable that the
microprocessor-based system did not make significant inroads into minicomputer use until 1979, when VisiCalc
prompted record sales of the Apple II on which it ran. The IBM PC introduced in 1981 was more broadly palatable to
business, but its limitations gated its ability to challenge minicomputer systems until perhaps the late 1980s to early
1990s.)
• The third era (client/server networks) arose as technological complexity increased, costs decreased, and the end-
user (now the ordinary employee) required a system to share information with other employees within an
enterprise. Computers on a common network shared information on a server. This lets thousands and even millions
of people access data simultaneously on networks referred to as Intranets.
• The fourth era (enterprise computing) enabled by high speed networks, consolidated the original department
specific software applications into integrated software platforms referred to as enterprise software. This new
platform tied all aspects of the business enterprise together offering rich information access encompassing the
complete management structure.
Technology
• The terms management information system (MIS),
Information management system (IMS), information system (IS),
enterprise resource planning (ERP), computer science,
electrical computer engineering, and information technology management (IT) are
often confused. MIS is a hierarchical subset of information systems. MIS are more
organization-focused narrowing in on leveraging information technology to
increase business value. Computer science is more software-focused dealing with
the applications that may be used in MIS. Electrical computer engineering is
product-focused mainly dealing with the hardware architecture behind computer
systems. ERP software is a subset of MIS and IT management refers to the
technical management of an IT department which may include MIS.
• A career in MIS focuses on understanding and projecting the practical use of
management information systems. It studies the interaction, organization and
processes among technology, people and information to solve problems
Management
• While management information systems can be used by any and every level of management, the
decision of which systems to implement generally falls upon the chief information officers (CIO)
and chief technology officers (CTO). These officers are generally responsible for the overall
technology strategy of an organization including evaluating how new technology can help their
organization. They act as decision-makers in the implementation process of new MIS.
• Once decisions have been made, IT directors, including MIS directors, are in charge of the technical
implementation of the system. They are also in charge of implementing the policies affecting the
MIS (either new specific policies passed down by the CIOs or CTOs or policies that align the new
systems with the organization's overall IT policy). It is also their role to ensure the availability of data
and network services as well as the security of the data involved by coordinating IT activities.
• Upon implementation, the assigned users will have the appropriate access to relevant information.
It is important to note that not everyone inputting data into MIS need necessarily be management
level. It is common practice to have inputs to MIS be inputted by non-managerial employees though
they rarely have access to the reports and decision support platforms offered by these systems.
The following are types of information systems used to create reports, extract data,
and assist in the decision making processes of middle and operational level
managers.

DECISION SUPPORT SYS EXECUTIVE INFORMATIO

TEMS N SYSTEM
• (DSSS)
Decision support systems • (EIS)
Executive information system
(DSSs) are computer program (EIS) is a reporting tool that
applications used by middle and provides quick access to
higher management to compile summarized reports coming from
information from a wide range of all company levels and
sources to support problem departments such as accounting,
solving and decision making. A human resources and
DSS is used mostly for semi- operations.
structured and unstructured
decision problems.
MARKETING INFORMATION S ACCOUNTING INFORMATION
YSTEMS SYSTEMS
• Marketing information syst • Accounting information sys
ems tems
are management are focused accounting
Information Systems functions.
designed specifically for
managing the marketing
aspects of the business.
 OFFICE AUTOMATION SYSTE
HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGE MS
MENT SYSTEMS (OAS)
• Human resource man • Office automation systems
(OAS) support communication
agement systems and productivity in the
are used for enterprise by automating
personnel aspects. workflow and eliminating
bottlenecks. OAS may be
implemented at any and all
levels of management.
SCHOOL INFORMATION MAN ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLAN
AGEMENT SYSTEMS NING
(SIMS) (ERP)
• School Information Man • Enterprise resource planning
agement Systems (ERP) software facilitates the
flow of information between
(SIMS) cover school all business functions inside
administration, often the boundaries of the
including teaching and organization and manage the
learning materials. connections to outside
stakeholders
SCHOOL INFORMATION MAN ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLAN
AGEMENT SYSTEMS NING
(SIMS) (ERP)
• Enterprise resource planning
• School Information Man (ERP) software facilitates the
agement Systems flow of information between
(SIMS) cover school all business functions inside
administration, often the boundaries of the
organization and manage the
including teaching and connections to outside
learning materials. stakeholders

•Local databases, can be small, simplified

tools for managers and are considered to
be a primal or base level version of a MIS.
 Advantages and disadvantages
The following are some of the benefits that can be attained using MIS:

•Improve an organization's operational efficiency, add value to existing products, engender

innovation and new product development, and help managers make better decisions.
•Companies are able to identify their strengths and weaknesses due to the presence of
revenue reports, employee performance records etc. Identifying these aspects can help a
company improve its business processes and operations.

•The availability of customer data and feedback can help the company to align its
business processes according to the needs of its customers. The effective management of
customer data can help the company to perform direct marketing and promotion activities.
•MIS can help a company gain a competitive advantage.
•MIS reports can help with decision-making as well as reduce downtime for actionable
items.
 Some of the disadvantages of MIS systems:
Retrieval and dissemination are dependent on technology
hardware and software.
Potential for inaccurate information.
 Enterprise applications

 Enterprise systems—also known as enterprise resource planning (ERP)

systems—provide integrated software modules and a unified database
that personnel use to plan, manage, and control core business
processes across multiple locations. Modules of ERP systems may
include finance, accounting, marketing, human resources, production,
inventory management, and distribution.
 Supply chain management (SCM) systems enable more efficient
management of the supply chain by integrating the links in a supply
chain. This may include suppliers, manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers,
and final customers.
 Customer relationship management (CRM) systems help businesses
manage relationships with potential and current customers and
business partners across marketing, sales, and service.
 Knowledge management system (KMS) helps organizations facilitate the
collection, recording, organization, retrieval, and dissemination of
knowledge. This may include documents, accounting records,
unrecorded procedures, practices, and skills. Knowledge management
(KM) as a system covers the process of knowledge creation and
acquisition from internal processes and the external world. The
collected knowledge is incorporated in organizational policies and
procedures, and then disseminated to the stakeholders.