1. Prokay Plane services recognises it will need information systems for all levels of employee.

Compare and contrast the characteristic of MIS, TPS and DSS. [15] (2012 ZB Q6a)

TPS-----1m MIS------1m DSS-----1m

SIMILARITY

- TPS vs MIS vs DSS-------2m

- TPS vs MIS vs DSS-------2m
- MIS vs DSS----------------2m

DIFFERENCE

- Timeframe----------------2m
- Users-----------------------2m
- Level of Analysis---------2m

Transaction Processing System (TPS) perform and record daily routine transactions required to
conduct a business such as sales, deposits and payroll. Management Information System (MIS)
provides current and historical performance information to aid in planning, controlling and decision
making at the management level. Decision Support System (DSS) helps with non-routine decisions
that are unique, rapidly changing and not easily specified in advance.

Similarities

TPS, MIS and DSS are similar to each other as they do not provide long term planning for the
organisation. TPS answers to routine day-to-day questions and track the flow of daily transactions
and MIS and DSS provides answers to mid-term planning such as mid-term budgets analysis and
performance analysis respectively.

Moreover, TPS, MIS and DSS are similar as they provides information for Executive Support System
(ESS) as inputs. ESS will extract summarised information from TPS, MIS and DSS to generate output
that allows for sales forecasting. TPS provides information on daily transactions, MIS provides
performance information and DSS will help with non-routine decisions.

In addition, MIS is similar to DSS in terms of their inputs. MIS and DSS draws input from TPS. The
information of daily transactions such as sales and flow of materials that TPS outputs will be used by
middle management as inputs for MIS and DSS on top of other internal information.

Differences

TPS, MIS and DSS are different from each other as they serve their users in different timeframe. TPS
provides daily transaction information and thus is used on a day-to-day basis. MIS provides
performance information and are used on a periodic basis such as weekly, monthly or quarterly. DSS
helps with non-routine decision making that are not easily specified in advance and thus is used as
and when there is a situation to make decision. Hence, all three information systems are used on a
different time frame.

Moreover, TPS differs from both MIS and DSS as they serve different users. TPS are used by the
operational managers as it provides information on daily transactions required to conduct business.
However, MIS and DSS serve the middle managers. MIS and DSS provides reports that can aid the
middle managers in decision making.
Lastly, TPS, MIS and DSS all differs in term of their level of analysis. DSS is the most analytic
followed by MIS then TPS. DSS condenses large amount of data for analysis and this provides a more
detailed report than MIS and TPS. TPS only provides reports on daily transactions that are not as
analytical as compared to MIS and DSS. MIS provides reports that are less analytic than DSS but
more detailed than TPS. Hence, DSS provides more detailed reports followed by MIS then TPS.