Seminar Paper on Management Information Systems

Chapters areChapter-1: Introduction to information systems in business

Chapter-2: Data and Information
Chapter-3: Fundamentals of Information Systems
Chapter-4: Developing Information Systems
Chapter-5: Telecommunications and Networks
Chapter-6: Internet and E-Business
Chapter-7: Database Design and Management
Chapter-8: Management Support Systems
Chapter-9: Enterprise Business System
Chapter-8: Information System for Strategic Advantage
Chapter-9: Information Systems Security and Controls

Introduction to Information Systems in Business

This chapter will cover following topics :

What is an information system?

Why study information systems?
What managerial end users need to know?
Roles of information systems in business.
Benefits of use network computer.

What is an information system?

An information system (IS) can be any organized combination of people, hardware,
software, communications networks, data resources, and policies and procedures that
collects, stores, retrieves, transforms, and disseminates information in an organization.
People rely on modern information systems to communicate with each other using a
variety of physical devices (hardware), information processing instructions and
procedures (software), communications channels (networks), and stored data (data
management).

Today end users rely on many types of information systems (IS). They might include
simple manual (paper-and-pencil) hardware devices and informal (word-of-mouth)
communications channels. However, in this course, we will concentrate oncomputerbased information systems that use computer hardware and software,
telecommunications networks, computer-based data management techniques, and
other forms of information technology to transform data resources into a variety of
information products.

Why Study information Systems and Information Technology?

We can discuss importance of information systems in two perspectives :

An end user perspective, and
An enterprise perspective

Why Study information Systems and Information Technology?

An end user perspective
Anyone who uses an information system or the information it produces is an end
users. This usually applies to most people in an organization, as distinguished from the
smaller number of people who are information systems specialists, such as systems
analysts or professional computer programmers. A managerial end useris a manager,
entrepreneur, or managerial-level professional who personally uses information
systems. So, most managers are managerial end users.
An enterprise perspective
Information systems play a vital role in the business success of an enterprise.
Information technology can provide the information a business needs for efficient
operations, effective management, and competitive advantage. However, if information
systems do not properly support the strategic objectives, business operations, or
management needs of an enterprise, they can seriously damage its prospects for
survival and success. So, the proper management of information systems is a major
challenge for managers.

Thus, the information systems function represents:

A major functional area of business that is as important to business success.
A major part of the resources of an enterprise and its cost of doing business.

An important factor affecting operational efficiency, employee productivity and morale,

and customer service and satisfaction.
A major source of information and support needed to promote effective decision making
by managers.
An important ingredient in developing competitive products and services that give an
organization a strategic advantage in the global marketplace.
A vital, dynamic, and challenging career opportunity for millions of men and women.

What managerial end users need to know?

Foundation Concepts:
What are information systems, and why are they important to end users and their
organizations? In order to answer this question, you need to understand what the basic
components and types of information systems are. You should learn some fundamental
behavioral and technical concepts that will help you understand how information
systems can support the business operations, managerial decision-making, and
strategic advantage of business firms and other organizations.
Technology:
What should end users know about the technologies used in computer-based
information systems? The answer to this question is that they should have an
understanding of major concepts, developments, and management issues in
information technology that is, hardware, software, telecommunications, database
management, and other information processing technologies.
Applications:
In what ways can information systems assist end users and organizations in
accomplishing their work activities and meeting their strategic objectives? Answer this
question requires a knowledge of the major applications of information systems for end
user activities and the operations, management, and competitive advantage of business
firms and other organizations. You should gain a basic understanding of information
systems concepts and applications in areas such as end-user computing, office
automation, transaction processing, the functional areas of business, management
reporting, decision support, executive support, competitive advantage, and artificial
intelligence.
Development:

How should end users or information specialists develop information systems solutions
to business problems? To answer this question, you should learn some fundamental
problem-solving and development concepts. You should understand how methodologies
such as the system approach, the system development life cycle, and prototyping can
used by end users and IS specialists to construct information systems applications that
successfully meet end user and organizational needs.
Management:
How should business end users meet the major challenges they face in managing
information technology in their organization? Answering this question requires
understanding what methods you can use to manage the resources, technologies, and
activities of information systems.

Roles of information systems and information technology in business

Information systems perform three vital roles in any type of organization :

Support of business operations.
Support of managerial decision making.
Support of strategic competitive advantage.
Benefits of use network computers
Industry or Function Application
Marketing
Track status of promotions
Identify purchase influences and
timing of decisions
Prepare reports on site
Distribution
Bill of leading data and calculations
Delivery and field sales data
collection
Enter and track parcel data
Field Service
Remote access to parts catalog and
availability
Troubleshooting support
Repair handbooks
Scheduling and dispatching
Service records
Payment and receipt records

Benefits
Better information on sales
activities
Reports get done more
quickly
More timely information on
field operations
Better customer service
Better service to customer
More efficient scheduling

Transportation

Financial Services
Wholesale Sales

Retail Sales

Insurance

Airline and train schedules

Reservations
Rental car check-in and receipt
generation
Monitor on time performance
Stock exchange floor trader support

Convenience to customers
Replace paper forms and
records
More timely information

More accurate records

Reduces risk of fraud
Record sales results
More accurate and timely
Send results to corporate mainframe information
Receive updates on product prices Eliminate unnecessary phone
and availability
contracts
Cuts paperwork
Capture sales and demographic data Assesses promotional results
Update inventory data
Tighter control over field
operations
Access corporate data for quotes
Quicker quotations to
Perform complex rate calculations. customers.