Management Information Systems Introduction Before discussing about Management Information Systems it is necessary that Information systems should

be understood in proper manner. Information is anything which acts as a base for taking some decisions. Information systems play a significant role in the organization. It is like a blood in the human body. Blood is very important for human being to be alive like information systems are very much essential for the organization to exist in the competitive market. Information system at the management level of an organization that serves the functions of planning, controlling, and decision making by providing routine summary and exception reports. Before making further attempt to understand the importance of information in the modern world, especially to the management we shall try to understand the concept of information in a bit detailed manner. The data which has been converted into useful and meaningful form is called information. The term information is a very common word and it conveys some meaning to the recipient. But it is very difficult to define it comprehensively. Yet, Davis and Olson give a fairly good definition. They define information as the data that has been processed into a form that is meaningful to the recipient and is of real or perceived value in current or prospective actions or decisions. Meaning of MIS: Management Information System is primarily meant for providing information from the data after processing that. The information system does not generate data. The data are generated, collected, recorded, stored, processed and retrieved after it has been generated by business operations in an organization. The information system follows the procedure, designed for processing the data which has been generated within the organization. Information system is facilitated with electronic equipment such as computer. In simple words any computer based information used for taking valuable decisions in the organization by the manager is called as Management Information systems. Manager uses different kinds of computer related information to know the status and to administer the organizational activities in a right direction.

Definition of MIS Davis and Olson defines MIS as An integrated usermachine system, designed for providing information to support organizational control, management control and decision making functions in an organization. The information systems make use of resources such as hardware, software, men, procedures as well as supplies. MIS can also be defined as the formal and informal system that provides past, present and projection information in written or oral form relating to the firms internal operations and its environment. It supports managers, employees and key environmental elements by furnishing information in the proper time frame to assist the decision making. Objectives of MIS: 1. Management Information System has the following objectives: 2. Facilitate the decision makings process by furnishing information in the proper time frame. This helps the decision makers to select the best course of action. 3. Provide requisite information to each level of management to carry out their functions effectively. 4. Help in highlighting the critical factors for taking necessary attention by the management. 5. Support decision making in both structured and unstructured problem environments.

Importance of Information in Decision Making:

In the era of globalization, supported by revolution in the information and technology each business unit is now required to play in a new business environment. Each business unit is required to offer its products and services at utmost efficiency. It means offering market acceptable products and services at the lowest possible price. Again it requires highest efficiency in organizing the business unit. There is continuous pressure on the margin as well. In this scenario each businessman tries to get his pie. It makes competition worse. So, the businessman is required to watch the changes that take place in the business environment on continuous basis and take suitable decisions as a on going process. These things require flow of information from every corner, external and internal, vertical and lateral. Otherwise the effective decisions cannot be taken at right times for effective business solutions.

Conclusion: In this competitive world if you want to survive you need to be updated with current trends. As for as the organizational survival is concerned it is very much necessary that competitive information should be grabbed up to date. In fact to make competition irrelevant, information systems play a significant role. Now days with the help of this information systems manager can take speedy decisions so that he can achieve organizations goals and objectives. And hence there should be a provision of different kinds of information systems in the organizations which would help the managers to take respective decisions. Customers can be delighted by providing a valuable service to them. Todays customers are very knowledgeable in all the areas, whatever information they want they can get immediately within no time, it is just because of the technological revolution in field of communication. Thus Management Information Systems would help the managers in all the areas to take necessary actions and for being updated. References: 1. Ajzen, I. (1984). Attitudes. Wiley Encyclopedia of Psychology. R. J. Corsini. New York, Wiley. 2. Ang, J. and F. Pavri (1994). "A Survey and Critique of the Impacts of Information Technology." International Journal of Information Management 14(2): 122-133. 3. Armenakis, A. A. and A. G. Bedeian (1999). "Organizational Change: A Review of Theory and Research in the 1990s." Journal of Management 25(3): 293-315. 4. Armenakis, A. A., S. G. Harris and K. W. Mossholder (1993). "Creating Readiness for Organizational-Change." Human Relations 46(6): 681-703. 5. Beer, M., R. A. Eisenstat and B. Spector (1990). "Why Change Programs Don't Produce Change." Harvard Business Review 68(6): 158-166. 6. R. Kelly Rainer, Efraim Turban, Richard E. Potter, Casey G. Cegielski February 2011, 2011, E-book Introduction to Information Systems: Enabling and Transforming Business, 3rd Edition International Student Version. Publisher, Wiley India. 7. OBrien, J (1999). Management Information Systems Managing Information Technology in the Internetworked Enterprise. Boston: Irwin McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07112373-3. 8. A.K. Gupta,, Management Information System. Publisher, S. Chand Limited, 2008. ISBN, 8121919932, 9788121919937. 9. Laudon, Kenneth C.; Laudon, Jane P. (2009).Management Information Systems: Managing the Digital Firm (11 ed.). Prentice Hall/CourseSmart. p. 164. 10. Pant, S., Hsu, C., (1995), Strategic Information Systems Planning: A Review, Information Resources Management Association International Conference, May 2124, Atlanta. 11. 2005 - 2012 - www.management-hub.com