Role of Management Information Systems
Content
Role of Management Information Systems
By Jenny Landis-Steward, eHow Contributor
Role of Management Information Systems Management Information Systems (MIS) provide regular information to managers to allow them to make decisions based on data rather than guesses. Certain data and analysis can play a very useful role in making good decisions about where and when to use human and other resources to achieve the mission of an organization. Managers with quality MIS are able to make decisions from an informed stance rather than a haphazard one. MIS can answer questions such as: Would it be better to add staff at the beginning or end of a manufacturing process? How do we choose the most efficient way to use our space? Do we need more patient exam rooms or a bigger lab? How much inventory should I store and when do I order more stock? What hours have the most customers, so I'll have an adequate staff to serve them? From Essentials: Information Technology for Beginners
•
What Is Information Technology? Information technology, known as IT, refers to the study, design, development, implementation,… More More: See All Articles in this Essentials
•
Health Information Technology Careers Careers in health information technology include medical records clerks and medical records… More More: See All Articles in this Essentials
•
How Does a Knowledge Management System Work? … More More: See All Articles in this Essentials
•
Role of Management Information Systems Management Information Systems (MIS) provide regular information to managers to allow them to… More More: See All Articles in this Essentials
•
Steps in System Development Life Cycle
… More More: See All Articles in this Essentials
•
How to Store Customer Information Learn how to make a database to store customer information with expert training tips in this… More More: See All Articles in this Essentials
•
How Does a Database Work? … More More: See All Articles in this Essentials
•
Principles of Management Information Systems Management information systems (MIS) are a valuable tool that executives uses to gauge the… More More: See All Articles in this Essentials
•
Types of Management Information Systems A management information system (MIS) is a computer-based system that provides the information… More More: See All Articles in this Essentials
•
How to Become a Database Developer A skilled database developer can find work in a wide variety of fields, including health care,… More More: See All Articles in this Essentials
Health and Capacity of the Whole System
1. Microsoft Office Clip Art The world is developing an increasingly global market and economy. Managers know that one tool they need is regular, clear and consistent information to help them in guiding their organization. This does not happen by chance. A system needs to be thoughtfully created with the purpose of providing useful information in the simplest and most elegant way possible. The basic management information system measures inputs and/or outputs,
allowing managers to analyze the relationship between them and make decisions based on the outcomes they desire. We are familiar with these types of systems in our daily life. For instance, a speedometer tracks the speed of a car by being attached to the motion of the tires. It is a speed-measuring system used to make decisions. If I have to be somewhere in half an hour and it's 15 miles away and I'm going 70 miles an hour, by checking the speedometer I realize I can slow down or take a scenic route, or even stop for a cup of java. A Prius has a chart on the dashboard that lets you know second by second the miles per gallon you are using, so you can change your driving pattern to get higher mileage. The graphic is one management information system that helps the driver make decisions about her driving. It also is part of a larger system of vehicles emitting greenhouse gases. Since better mileage equates with fewer emissions, it allows an individual to influence his small contribution to global warming. The body is a living system; someone trying to gain or lose weight measures food intake through calorie counts or points and gets on a scale to track the outcome.
Key Information
2. The amount of information available for analysis is almost infinite, so it is important to choose the critical information that will let managers see their situation clearly. When airlines and hotels developed management information systems that included the revenue lost in not selling empty seats or rooms, they developed ways to get some value from the rooms by offering them to latecomers at deep discounts. The key information for these managers was not the end of the month profit or gross sales, but the occupancy rate by time of year, day of week, routes, and so on. When a McDonalds store manager is setting his employees' schedules for the coming week or month, he needs to know when sales are usually highest, and if there are daily or weekly variations in that data. Do more people come in between 6 and 7:30 a.m. Monday through Friday than on Saturday or Sunday? Maybe the factory down the road quit running a shift and that impacted sales at the time those workers go to or from work. Retail managers need to balance inventory on hand with rate of sales and type of goods sold. Health care managers need to know how many hours a physician or other essential care provider can work safely and provide staffing to allow adequate coverage.
Public Sector
3. Legislators want to know that if they invest a large amount of taxpayer money in streetcars, they won't be reviled for having it placed in low-demand routes,
or that the streetcar manufacturer used poor materials that wear out way too quickly. Legislators have staff and public servants who provide them with information. Lobbyists are also very glad to provide the information that will support the role of their special interest. Soup kitchen managers need to know now much food to prepare, so they don't have hungry people on the one hand or an excess of food that goes to waste on the other. They need to know the clientele they serve and if there are some special needs that need attention. One of the current uses of management information in the public sector is to notice that there is disparity between the number of people in certain groups and their over- or underrepresentation in other populations--for instance, that a higher percentage of low-income children drop out of school, or that there are more Native American youth in foster care than their percentage of the population would indicate.
MIS and the Organization's Purpose
4. Organizations exist for reasons. Legislators review the needs and demands of the citizens to decide how to allocate tax revenues to promote the sometimes competing economic and social goals of the state. Perhaps the reason for the legislature is to seek the greatest good for the greatest number, Some others operate from the position that the goal is to assure that the needs of the most vulnerable in the population are not ignored. Airlines exist to get people to distant locations efficiently and safely and make a profit for the shareholders. The balancing of those three goals is critical. For example, in the desire for higher profits, or even fiscal solvency, the airlines have created closer seating arrangements and annoyingly cheap snacks. It is essential that the information system designed for management helps them support the organization's purpose. Toyota is legendary for its management system in which any employee can stop the assembly line to make an improvement to the process.
Putting It All Together
5. Management steers the organization to achieve the organization's purpose. To have the information necessary to make changes in resource allocation or personnel use, management needs key indicators as to how the process is working. A management information system provides regular information about the health and function of the organization. The MIS needs to provide timely, accurate, clear and consistent information that gives managers a view of the entire organization.
Physical Structure of Management Information System
By Alfred Sarkissian, eHow Contributor updated: December 1, 2009
A management information system (MIS) is an organized combination of people, hardware, communication networks and data sources that collects, transforms and distributes information in an organization. An MIS helps decision making by providing timely, relevant and accurate information to managers. The physical components of an MIS include hardware, software, database, personnel and procedures.
Hardware
1. All physical components of a computer system compose the computer hardware. Important components include the central processing unit, input/output devices, storage units and communication devices. Communication can be over fiber-optic cables or wireless networks.
Software
2.Software provides the interface between users and the information system. Software can be divided into two generic types: system software and applications. The system software comprises of the operating system, utility programs and special purpose programs. Applications are developed to accomplish a specific task. For users of MIS it is much more important to understand the software than the hardware. Software maintenance can take 50 to 70 percent of all personnel activity in the MIS function. When the organization moves to implement an advanced information system the hardware and software environment becomes more complex.
Database
3.A database is a centrally controlled collection of organized data. Central control reduces redundancy and duplication of data. Data is stored in an organized and structured way to facilitate sharing and improve availability to those who need it. The database improves efficiency of storage by elimination of redundant files and improves efficiency of processing by providing all required data in a single file rather than separate files. This also improves efficiency of information retrieval.
Procedures
4.Three types of procedures are required for an MIS to operate effectively: user instructions, instructions for input preparation and operating instructions for MIS personnel who maintain the MIS.
Personnel
5.The personnel in the MIS function include computer operators, programmers, systems analysts and managers. Human resource requirements should be assessed by considering both the present system needs and the future system growth. The quality of MIS personnel is a key factor in its effectiveness. An MIS manager needs a combination of both managerial and technical skills.
Read more: Best Way - Physical Structure of Management Information System | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/way_5183698_physical-structuremanagement-information-system.html#ixzz0z1Y8aAmw
The Importance of a Human Resource Information System
By an eHow Contributor
The Human Resources Information System provides details on administration, payroll, recruitment, and training. This system is expected to deliver valuable results to your human resources division and your organization as a whole. It is an essential tool that aids management in making strategic decisions.
History
1. From 1960 to 1970, major companies were in search of a centralized personnel management system. Software programs were then created in large computers to facilitate storage of data mainly for payroll purposes. The Human Resource Information System, also known as Human Resource Management System, emerged as the preferred main system for managing human resource data, using the new client server technology instead of the old mainframe system. By the 1980s, HRIS was equipped with new tools and capabilities that assisted the compensation scheme and helped manage manpower. The system became more sophisticated by 2000 when it became a tool for performance learning management.
Description
2.HRIS is usually fused with information technology to focus on human resource management. Human resource refers to the company's employees. This system consolidates computerized employee data into one data bank. It also updates prior and future decisions according to the company's human resource management plan. HRIS also makes it possible for online users to view an employee's history with the company, personal profile and benefits.
Types
3.There are two ways of implementing HRIS. The first is the administrative use. This refers to the storing and consolidating of employee records that is used for daily operation. Administrative HRIS is always integrated with information technology. The second implementation is called Strategic HRIS which mainly aids the decisionmaking process. It involves using the administrative information to analyze an employee's value to the company. This is then important to those involved in the recruitment and retention of people.
Components
4. HRIS is an umbrella network that covers the crucial components of human resource. These components are payroll, time and labor management, benefits for the employees and HR management. HRIS automates the entire payroll process. It records employees' attendance. It also automatically generates pay checks and tax reports and deductions. It does the calculation for you in terms of deductions and taxes. HRIS also tracks the employees' progress. It stores information with regard to the employee's time and work efficiency. HRIS traces the benefits availed by these employees and ensures that such benefits are timely and effective.
Importance
5.HRIS as a whole mainly improves information sharing and communication between the company and the employees. HRIS made it easy for the human resources department to smoothly operate all components. With the accurate and objective tracking of compensation and benefits, employees' morale and motivation increases. The Human Resource Information System reduces cost and time spent on manual data consolidation. It allows the HR management managers to focus more on making decisions and projects rather than paperwork. The system hopes to give the HR management division a more strategic role in the company, as the information taken from HRIS can be the basis for employee training schemes and work efficiency projects.
Read more: The Importance of a Human Resource Information System | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_6576069_importance-humanresource-information-system.html#ixzz0z1YUXZyp
How to Plan for Management Information System
By JannS, eHow Contributor updated: October 13, 2009
A management information system is a robust series of programs and databases that can run on a variety of computer platforms. System applications are typically financial in nature, and include accounting, human resource and payroll applications among others. In their book, "Management Information Systems: A Contemporary Perspective "by Kenneth C. Lauden and Jane Price Lauden, they state it is "a set of procedures that collects (or retrieves), processes, stores, and disseminates information to support decision making and control" (see References 3). If you are planning to install a new management information system for a small or large business, the complexity of planning is significantly different between the two, but at a high level the steps are similar.
Difficulty: Challenging
Instructions
1.1 Determine the budget. If it's for a small business, this is a simpler process than for a large corporation, where strategic planning and budget committees are typically involved, and budgets are based on prior-year expenses and budgets. Smaller companies may rely more on trade journals, user reviews and initial phone calls to possible vendors for a ballpark estimate. 2.2 Identify the business needs. For small businesses, this may be as simple as purchasing off-the-shelf software that produces reports. Do you need to produce an income statement each month, or a regular report of expenditures for tax purposes? Determine if you want to interface to the Internet, or have other interfaces in mind, such as to a business checking account or to a spreadsheet. In all cases, the business needs are defined
by required data input (manual or automated); processes to add, change or delete data; outputs such as reports or data files that are then exported to another system; and interfaces to other systems, so the data include critical data from those systems. 3.3 Evaluate hardware and software requirements. Install this new system on a computer that has the correct configuration. Understand the specifications beforehand to ensure that the destination computer has enough disk space and memory. The new system needs to be compatible with your operating system. If you are running on a network, ensure the version you are getting is compatible with the type of network you have. In many cases, small and large companies are now moving to web-based solutions where these considerations become secondary. 4.4 Evaluate additional expenditures for support, maintenance, and training. New systems will not be useful for decision-making if the vendor does not provide reliable support when needed, or if the support is too expensive.There might be regular updates required to keep the tax tables current for instance, or extra expenses for training .When you do proper planning before making a decision on a management information system, the end result is more likely to be one that best helps you solve your business needs
Read more: How to Plan for Management Information System | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5523300_plan-management-informationsystem.html#ixzz0z1aOFx18
By Jenny Landis-Steward, eHow Contributor
Role of Management Information Systems Management Information Systems (MIS) provide regular information to managers to allow them to make decisions based on data rather than guesses. Certain data and analysis can play a very useful role in making good decisions about where and when to use human and other resources to achieve the mission of an organization. Managers with quality MIS are able to make decisions from an informed stance rather than a haphazard one. MIS can answer questions such as: Would it be better to add staff at the beginning or end of a manufacturing process? How do we choose the most efficient way to use our space? Do we need more patient exam rooms or a bigger lab? How much inventory should I store and when do I order more stock? What hours have the most customers, so I'll have an adequate staff to serve them? From Essentials: Information Technology for Beginners
•
What Is Information Technology? Information technology, known as IT, refers to the study, design, development, implementation,… More More: See All Articles in this Essentials
•
Health Information Technology Careers Careers in health information technology include medical records clerks and medical records… More More: See All Articles in this Essentials
•
How Does a Knowledge Management System Work? … More More: See All Articles in this Essentials
•
Role of Management Information Systems Management Information Systems (MIS) provide regular information to managers to allow them to… More More: See All Articles in this Essentials
•
Steps in System Development Life Cycle
… More More: See All Articles in this Essentials
•
How to Store Customer Information Learn how to make a database to store customer information with expert training tips in this… More More: See All Articles in this Essentials
•
How Does a Database Work? … More More: See All Articles in this Essentials
•
Principles of Management Information Systems Management information systems (MIS) are a valuable tool that executives uses to gauge the… More More: See All Articles in this Essentials
•
Types of Management Information Systems A management information system (MIS) is a computer-based system that provides the information… More More: See All Articles in this Essentials
•
How to Become a Database Developer A skilled database developer can find work in a wide variety of fields, including health care,… More More: See All Articles in this Essentials
Health and Capacity of the Whole System
1. Microsoft Office Clip Art The world is developing an increasingly global market and economy. Managers know that one tool they need is regular, clear and consistent information to help them in guiding their organization. This does not happen by chance. A system needs to be thoughtfully created with the purpose of providing useful information in the simplest and most elegant way possible. The basic management information system measures inputs and/or outputs,
allowing managers to analyze the relationship between them and make decisions based on the outcomes they desire. We are familiar with these types of systems in our daily life. For instance, a speedometer tracks the speed of a car by being attached to the motion of the tires. It is a speed-measuring system used to make decisions. If I have to be somewhere in half an hour and it's 15 miles away and I'm going 70 miles an hour, by checking the speedometer I realize I can slow down or take a scenic route, or even stop for a cup of java. A Prius has a chart on the dashboard that lets you know second by second the miles per gallon you are using, so you can change your driving pattern to get higher mileage. The graphic is one management information system that helps the driver make decisions about her driving. It also is part of a larger system of vehicles emitting greenhouse gases. Since better mileage equates with fewer emissions, it allows an individual to influence his small contribution to global warming. The body is a living system; someone trying to gain or lose weight measures food intake through calorie counts or points and gets on a scale to track the outcome.
Key Information
2. The amount of information available for analysis is almost infinite, so it is important to choose the critical information that will let managers see their situation clearly. When airlines and hotels developed management information systems that included the revenue lost in not selling empty seats or rooms, they developed ways to get some value from the rooms by offering them to latecomers at deep discounts. The key information for these managers was not the end of the month profit or gross sales, but the occupancy rate by time of year, day of week, routes, and so on. When a McDonalds store manager is setting his employees' schedules for the coming week or month, he needs to know when sales are usually highest, and if there are daily or weekly variations in that data. Do more people come in between 6 and 7:30 a.m. Monday through Friday than on Saturday or Sunday? Maybe the factory down the road quit running a shift and that impacted sales at the time those workers go to or from work. Retail managers need to balance inventory on hand with rate of sales and type of goods sold. Health care managers need to know how many hours a physician or other essential care provider can work safely and provide staffing to allow adequate coverage.
Public Sector
3. Legislators want to know that if they invest a large amount of taxpayer money in streetcars, they won't be reviled for having it placed in low-demand routes,
or that the streetcar manufacturer used poor materials that wear out way too quickly. Legislators have staff and public servants who provide them with information. Lobbyists are also very glad to provide the information that will support the role of their special interest. Soup kitchen managers need to know now much food to prepare, so they don't have hungry people on the one hand or an excess of food that goes to waste on the other. They need to know the clientele they serve and if there are some special needs that need attention. One of the current uses of management information in the public sector is to notice that there is disparity between the number of people in certain groups and their over- or underrepresentation in other populations--for instance, that a higher percentage of low-income children drop out of school, or that there are more Native American youth in foster care than their percentage of the population would indicate.
MIS and the Organization's Purpose
4. Organizations exist for reasons. Legislators review the needs and demands of the citizens to decide how to allocate tax revenues to promote the sometimes competing economic and social goals of the state. Perhaps the reason for the legislature is to seek the greatest good for the greatest number, Some others operate from the position that the goal is to assure that the needs of the most vulnerable in the population are not ignored. Airlines exist to get people to distant locations efficiently and safely and make a profit for the shareholders. The balancing of those three goals is critical. For example, in the desire for higher profits, or even fiscal solvency, the airlines have created closer seating arrangements and annoyingly cheap snacks. It is essential that the information system designed for management helps them support the organization's purpose. Toyota is legendary for its management system in which any employee can stop the assembly line to make an improvement to the process.
Putting It All Together
5. Management steers the organization to achieve the organization's purpose. To have the information necessary to make changes in resource allocation or personnel use, management needs key indicators as to how the process is working. A management information system provides regular information about the health and function of the organization. The MIS needs to provide timely, accurate, clear and consistent information that gives managers a view of the entire organization.
Physical Structure of Management Information System
By Alfred Sarkissian, eHow Contributor updated: December 1, 2009
A management information system (MIS) is an organized combination of people, hardware, communication networks and data sources that collects, transforms and distributes information in an organization. An MIS helps decision making by providing timely, relevant and accurate information to managers. The physical components of an MIS include hardware, software, database, personnel and procedures.
Hardware
1. All physical components of a computer system compose the computer hardware. Important components include the central processing unit, input/output devices, storage units and communication devices. Communication can be over fiber-optic cables or wireless networks.
Software
2.Software provides the interface between users and the information system. Software can be divided into two generic types: system software and applications. The system software comprises of the operating system, utility programs and special purpose programs. Applications are developed to accomplish a specific task. For users of MIS it is much more important to understand the software than the hardware. Software maintenance can take 50 to 70 percent of all personnel activity in the MIS function. When the organization moves to implement an advanced information system the hardware and software environment becomes more complex.
Database
3.A database is a centrally controlled collection of organized data. Central control reduces redundancy and duplication of data. Data is stored in an organized and structured way to facilitate sharing and improve availability to those who need it. The database improves efficiency of storage by elimination of redundant files and improves efficiency of processing by providing all required data in a single file rather than separate files. This also improves efficiency of information retrieval.
Procedures
4.Three types of procedures are required for an MIS to operate effectively: user instructions, instructions for input preparation and operating instructions for MIS personnel who maintain the MIS.
Personnel
5.The personnel in the MIS function include computer operators, programmers, systems analysts and managers. Human resource requirements should be assessed by considering both the present system needs and the future system growth. The quality of MIS personnel is a key factor in its effectiveness. An MIS manager needs a combination of both managerial and technical skills.
Read more: Best Way - Physical Structure of Management Information System | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/way_5183698_physical-structuremanagement-information-system.html#ixzz0z1Y8aAmw
The Importance of a Human Resource Information System
By an eHow Contributor
The Human Resources Information System provides details on administration, payroll, recruitment, and training. This system is expected to deliver valuable results to your human resources division and your organization as a whole. It is an essential tool that aids management in making strategic decisions.
History
1. From 1960 to 1970, major companies were in search of a centralized personnel management system. Software programs were then created in large computers to facilitate storage of data mainly for payroll purposes. The Human Resource Information System, also known as Human Resource Management System, emerged as the preferred main system for managing human resource data, using the new client server technology instead of the old mainframe system. By the 1980s, HRIS was equipped with new tools and capabilities that assisted the compensation scheme and helped manage manpower. The system became more sophisticated by 2000 when it became a tool for performance learning management.
Description
2.HRIS is usually fused with information technology to focus on human resource management. Human resource refers to the company's employees. This system consolidates computerized employee data into one data bank. It also updates prior and future decisions according to the company's human resource management plan. HRIS also makes it possible for online users to view an employee's history with the company, personal profile and benefits.
Types
3.There are two ways of implementing HRIS. The first is the administrative use. This refers to the storing and consolidating of employee records that is used for daily operation. Administrative HRIS is always integrated with information technology. The second implementation is called Strategic HRIS which mainly aids the decisionmaking process. It involves using the administrative information to analyze an employee's value to the company. This is then important to those involved in the recruitment and retention of people.
Components
4. HRIS is an umbrella network that covers the crucial components of human resource. These components are payroll, time and labor management, benefits for the employees and HR management. HRIS automates the entire payroll process. It records employees' attendance. It also automatically generates pay checks and tax reports and deductions. It does the calculation for you in terms of deductions and taxes. HRIS also tracks the employees' progress. It stores information with regard to the employee's time and work efficiency. HRIS traces the benefits availed by these employees and ensures that such benefits are timely and effective.
Importance
5.HRIS as a whole mainly improves information sharing and communication between the company and the employees. HRIS made it easy for the human resources department to smoothly operate all components. With the accurate and objective tracking of compensation and benefits, employees' morale and motivation increases. The Human Resource Information System reduces cost and time spent on manual data consolidation. It allows the HR management managers to focus more on making decisions and projects rather than paperwork. The system hopes to give the HR management division a more strategic role in the company, as the information taken from HRIS can be the basis for employee training schemes and work efficiency projects.
Read more: The Importance of a Human Resource Information System | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_6576069_importance-humanresource-information-system.html#ixzz0z1YUXZyp
How to Plan for Management Information System
By JannS, eHow Contributor updated: October 13, 2009
A management information system is a robust series of programs and databases that can run on a variety of computer platforms. System applications are typically financial in nature, and include accounting, human resource and payroll applications among others. In their book, "Management Information Systems: A Contemporary Perspective "by Kenneth C. Lauden and Jane Price Lauden, they state it is "a set of procedures that collects (or retrieves), processes, stores, and disseminates information to support decision making and control" (see References 3). If you are planning to install a new management information system for a small or large business, the complexity of planning is significantly different between the two, but at a high level the steps are similar.
Difficulty: Challenging
Instructions
1.1 Determine the budget. If it's for a small business, this is a simpler process than for a large corporation, where strategic planning and budget committees are typically involved, and budgets are based on prior-year expenses and budgets. Smaller companies may rely more on trade journals, user reviews and initial phone calls to possible vendors for a ballpark estimate. 2.2 Identify the business needs. For small businesses, this may be as simple as purchasing off-the-shelf software that produces reports. Do you need to produce an income statement each month, or a regular report of expenditures for tax purposes? Determine if you want to interface to the Internet, or have other interfaces in mind, such as to a business checking account or to a spreadsheet. In all cases, the business needs are defined
by required data input (manual or automated); processes to add, change or delete data; outputs such as reports or data files that are then exported to another system; and interfaces to other systems, so the data include critical data from those systems. 3.3 Evaluate hardware and software requirements. Install this new system on a computer that has the correct configuration. Understand the specifications beforehand to ensure that the destination computer has enough disk space and memory. The new system needs to be compatible with your operating system. If you are running on a network, ensure the version you are getting is compatible with the type of network you have. In many cases, small and large companies are now moving to web-based solutions where these considerations become secondary. 4.4 Evaluate additional expenditures for support, maintenance, and training. New systems will not be useful for decision-making if the vendor does not provide reliable support when needed, or if the support is too expensive.There might be regular updates required to keep the tax tables current for instance, or extra expenses for training .When you do proper planning before making a decision on a management information system, the end result is more likely to be one that best helps you solve your business needs
Read more: How to Plan for Management Information System | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5523300_plan-management-informationsystem.html#ixzz0z1aOFx18
