3rd semester subject

Management information system (MIS) Introduction of MIS

MIS (management information systems) is a general term for the computer systems in an enterprise that provide information about its business operations. It's also used to refer to the people who manage these systems. Typically, in a large corporation, "MIS" or the "MIS department" refers to a central or centrally-coordinated system of computer expertise and management, often including mainframe systems but also including by extension the corporation's entire network of computer resources. In the beginning, business computers were used for the practical business of computing the payroll and keeping track of accounts payable and receivable. As applications were developed that provided managers with information about sales, inventories, and other data that would help in managing the enterprise, the term "MIS" arose to describe these kinds of applications. Today, the term is used broadly in a number of contexts and includes (but is not limited to): decision support systems, resource and people management applications, project management, and database retrieval applications.

Components and resources of information systems Information system activities

information system, an integrated set of components for collecting, storing, and processing data and for delivering information, knowledge, and digital products. Business firms and other organizations rely on information systems to carry out and manage their operations, interact with their customers and suppliers, and compete in the marketplace. For instance, corporations use information systems to reach their potential customers with targeted messages over the Web, to process financial accounts, and to manage their human resources. Governments deploy information systems to provide services cost-effectively to citizens. Digital goods, such as electronic books and software, and online services, such as auctions and social networking, are delivered with information systems. Individuals rely on information systems, generally Internetbased, for conducting much of their personal lives: for socializing, study, shopping, banking, and entertainment. As major new technologies for recording and processing information have been invented over the millennia, new capabilities have appeared. The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the mid-15th century and the invention of a mechanical calculator by Blaise Pascal

in the 17th century are but two examples. These inventions led to a profound revolution in the ability to record, process, and disseminate information and knowledge. The first large-scale mechanical information system was Herman Holleriths census tabulator. Invented in time to process the 1890 U.S. census, Holleriths machine represented a major step in automation, as well as an inspiration to develop computerized information systems. One of the first computers used for such information processing was the UNIVAC I, installed at the U.S. Bureau of the Census in 1951 for administrative use and at General Electric in 1954 for commercial use. Beginning in the late 1970s, personal computers brought some of the advantages of information systems to small businesses and to individuals. Early in the same decade the Internet began its expansion as the global network of networks. In 1991 the World Wide Web, invented by Tim Berners-Lee as a means to access the interlinked information stored in the computers connected by the Internet, was installed to become the principal service delivered on the network. The global penetration of the Internet and the Web has enabled access to information and other resources and facilitated the forming of relationships among people and organizations on an unprecedented scale. The progress of electronic commerce over the Internet has resulted in a dramatic growth in digital interpersonal communications (via e-mail and social networks), distribution of products (software, music, e-books, and movies), and business transactions (buying, selling, and advertising on the Web). With the emergence of smartphones, tablets, and other computer-based mobile devices, all of which are connected by wireless communication networks, information systems have been extended to support mobility as the natural human condition. As information systems have enabled more diverse human activities, they have exerted a profound influence over society. These systems have quickened the pace of daily activities, affected the structure and mix of organizations, changed the type of products bought, and influenced the nature of work. Information and knowledge have become vital economic resources. Yet, along with opportunities, the dependence on information systems has brought new threats. Intensive industry innovation and academic research continually develop new opportunities while aiming to contain the threats.

Components of information systems Table Of Contents

The main components of information systems are computer hardware and software, telecommunications, databases and data warehouses, human resources, and procedures. The hardware, software, and telecommunications constitute information technology (IT), which is now ingrained in the operations and management of organizations.

Computer hardware
Today even the smallest firms, as well as many households throughout the world, own or lease computers. These are usually microcomputers, also called personal computers. Individuals may own multiple computers in the form of smartphones and other portable devices. Large

organizations typically employ distributed computer systems, from powerful parallel-processing servers located in data centres to widely dispersed personal computers and mobile devices, integrated into the organizational information systems. Together with the peripheral equipment, such as magnetic or solid-state storage disks, input-output devices, and telecommunications gear, these constitute the hardware of information systems. The cost of hardware has steadily and rapidly decreased, while processing speed and storage capacity have increased vastly. However, hardwares use of electric power and its environmental impact are concerns being addressed by designers.

Computer software
Computer software falls into two broad classes: system software and application software. The principal system software is the operating system. It manages the hardware, data and program files, and other system resources and provides means for the user to control the computer, generally via a graphical user interface (GUI). Application software is programs designed to handle specific tasks for users. Examples include general-purpose application suites with their spreadsheet and word-processing programs, as well as vertical applications that serve a specific industry segmentfor instance, an application that schedules, routes, and tracks package deliveries for an overnight carrier. Larger firms use licensed applications, customizing them to meet their specific needs, and develop other applications in-house or on an outsourced basis. Companies may also use applications delivered as software-as-a-service (SaaS) over the Web. Proprietary software, available from and supported by its vendors, is being challenged by opensource software available on the Web for free use and modification under a license that protects its future availability.

Telecommunications
Telecommunications are used to connect, or network, computer systems and transmit information. Connections are established via wired or wireless media. Wired technologies include coaxial cable and fibre optics. Wireless technologies, predominantly based on the transmission of microwaves and radio waves, support mobile computing. Pervasive information systems have arisen with the computing devices embedded in many different physical objects. For example, sensors such as radio frequency identification devices (RFIDs) can be attached to products moving through the supply chain to enable the tracking of their location and the monitoring of their condition. Wireless sensor networks that are integrated into the Internet can produce massive amounts of data that can be used in seeking higher productivity or in monitoring the environment. Various computer network configurations are possible, depending on the needs of an organization. Local area networks (LANs) join computers at a particular site, such as an office building or an academic campus. Metropolitan area networks (MANs) cover a limited densely populated area. Wide area networks (WANs) connect widely distributed data centres, frequently run by different organizations. The Internet is a network of networks, connecting billions of computers located on every continent. Through networking, users gain access to information resources, such as large databases, and to other individuals, such as coworkers, clients, or people who share their professional or private interests. Internet-type services can be provided within an

organization and for its exclusive use by various intranets that are accessible through a browser; for example, an intranet may be deployed as an access portal to a shared corporate document base. To connect with business partners over the Internet in a private and secure manner, extranets are established as so-called virtual private networks (VPNs) by encrypting the messages.

Databases and data warehouses

Many information systems are primarily delivery vehicles for data stored in databases. A database is a collection of interrelated data (records) organized so that individual records or groups of records can be retrieved to satisfy various criteria. Typical examples of databases include employee records and product catalogs. Databases support the operations and management functions of an enterprise. Data warehouses contain the archival data, collected over time, that can be mined for information in order to develop and market new products, serve the existing customers better, or reach out to potential new customers. Anyone who has ever purchased something with a credit cardin person, by mail order, or over the Webis included within such data collections.

Human resources and procedures

Qualified people are a vital component of any information system. Technical personnel include development and operations managers, business analysts, systems analysts and designers, database administrators, computer programmers, computer security specialists, and computer operators. In addition, all workers in an organization must be trained to utilize the capabilities of information systems. Billions of people around the world are learning about information systems as they use the Web. Procedures for using, operating, and maintaining an information system are part of its documentation. For example, procedures need to be established to run a payroll program, including when to run it, who is authorized to run it, and who has access to the output.

Different Types of Information Systems

As can be seen in the pyramid there are a lot of different information systems. A lot of information systems combine different types. They all have different purposes and because they can be confusing, knowledge of information science is essential to make an information system succesful.

Executive Information System An Executive Information System (EIS) is a type of management information system intended to facilitate and support the information and decision-making needs of senior executives by providing easy access to both internal and external information relevant to meeting the strategic goals of the organization. It is commonly considered as a specialized form of a Decision Support System (DSS). Decision Support Systems Decision Support Systems (DSS) are a specific class of computerized information systems that supports business and organizational decision-making activities. A properly-designed DSS is an interactive software-based system intended to help decision makers compile useful information from raw data, documents, personal knowledge, and/or business models to identify and solve problems and make decisions. Management Reporting Systems Management Reporting Systems are intended to provide aggregated data about the performance of the organization. Usually these are created from data generated by the knowledge or operational layers of information systems Business Intelligence Systems Business Intelligence (BI) refers to skills, technologies, applications and practices used to help a business acquire a better understanding of its commercial context. Business intelligence may also refer to the collected information itself. BI technologies provide historical, current, and predictive views of business operations. Common functions of business intelligence technologies are reporting, OLAP, analytics, data mining, business performance management, benchmarks, text mining, and predictive analytics. Popular closed source (e.g. Business Objects (SAP) or Cognos) and open source (e.g. JasperSoft or Pentaho) software often have the functionality that can provide information for the different types of information systems that are shown in the pyramid. Office Information Systems Office Information Systems provide information to the organization that is not directly available from operational support systems. Often this is textual data(e.g. Office-documents or E-mail), but it can also be a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system. Intranet and wiki's are very popular applications of these. Knowledge Management Systems

Knowledge Management Systems are meant to facilitate knowledge management in an organization. As described in our approach and in the knowledge creation cycle they are only part (although very important) of a knowledge management strategy. It is not an Office Information System as is often thought and should be smaller in size than Office Information System. If implemented and used properly they can be considered as force multipliers for an organization. Transaction Processing Systems A Transaction Processing System is a set of information which process the data transaction in database system that monitors transaction programs (a special kind of program). The essence of a transaction program is that it manages data that must be left in a consistent state. These are usually databases.

operational support system (OSS)

An operational support system (OSS) is a set of programs that help a communications service provider monitor, control, analyze and manage a telephone or computer network. As the traditional voice telephone systems converges with packet-oriented Internet traffic (including VoIP), broadband applications such as teleconferencing and DSL, more sophisticated systems like OSS are needed activities like ordering and tracking network components (including IP addresses), usage and traffic patterns, billing and reporting. OSS stands for Operations Support Systems,, i.e. an IT system for a telecommunications network. OSS software are dedicated specifically to providers of telecommunications services. The processes supported by OSS systems include service management and maintenance of the network inventory (modules: Service Inventory Management and Network Inventory Management), configuration of particular network components as well as fault management. The term OSS is often associated with BSS (Business Support System), i.e. business systems which focus on handling customer-related processes such as billing, payments etc. Sometimes one can come across the two terms joined as B/OSS. From the historical point of view, OSS comprises BSS, since initially OSS referred to all systems for the management of operations and processes, including business systems.

Management support systems

Subset of management information system (MIS), it extends the information retrieval capabilities of the end-users with 'query and analysis functions' for searching a database, generating 'what if' scenarios, and other such purposes.

The Management Support System (MSS) is an interfacing database with the Customs Handling

of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) system. It contains archive data for all cleared customs declarations for import and export, offering importers and exporters opportunity to purchase a subscription or one-off report to keep accurate records of their consignments. A purchased MSS subscription or report provides proof of sending the data to customs. This is useful for audits, and also cuts down on administration - for example, the system contains the total amount of duty paid against the value of goods entered for imports.

role and impact of MIS,

Information Technology provides several advantages to the organization; one such advantage is the ability of IT to link and enable employees (Dewett & Jones, 2001). Electronic communication increases the overall amount of communication within a firm. The most important aspect is that people from the various units of a corporation can interact with each other and thus horizontal communication is promoted. All the obvious advantages of quicker information availability is the outcome of this function of IT but it must also be remembered that too much electronic communication leads to increased alienation of employees due to increased impersonality. Relating to this, IT also increases boundary spanning. An individual can access any information in any part of the organization with the aid of the appropriate technology. This eliminates the need for the repetition of information and thus promotes non-redundancy. IT's ability to store information means that the organization does not have to rely solely on the fallibility of human error, which is subject to error and erosion (Dewett & Jones, 2001). Information can be stored, retrieved and communicated far more easily and effectively. However, IT can often lead to information overload, meaning that managers have to sift through an insurmountable amount of stored data and thus hindering timely decision-making. This problem is not as serious as first thought, though. Information overload is not an IT problem but more of a documentation problem. Furthermore, management tend to adapt to IT problems once it gets used to the idea of the new technologies.

Role of MIS in Management:

The role of the MIS in an organization can be compared to the role of heart in the body. The information is the blood and MIS is the heart. In the body the heart plays the role of supplying pure blood to all the elements of the body including the brain. The MIS plays exactly the same role in the organization. The system ensures that an appropriate data is collected from the various sources, processed, and sent further to all the needy destinations. The system is expected to fulfill the information needs of an individual, a group of individuals, the management functionaries: the managers and the top management. The MIS helps the clerical personnel in the transaction processing and answers their queries on the data pertaining to the transaction, the status of a particular record and references on a variety of documents. The MIS helps the middle management in short them planning,target setting and controlling the business functions. It is supported by the use of the management tools of planning and control. The MIS plays the role of information generation, communication, problem identification and helps in the process of decision making. The MIS, therefore, plays a vita role in the management, administration and operations of an organization.

Uses of MIS in Management: 1. It deals with transaction processing such as answering the questions, ststus of a particular record and variety of documents. 2. It gives operational data for planning,scheduling and control. 3. It helps in decision making and to correct an out of control situvation. 4. It helps middle management in short term planning, target setting and control the business finctions. 5. It helps top management in goal setting, planning business planes and its implementations. 6. It helps in generating information, communicating of the generated information, problem idetification and helps in the process of decision making. 7.