Management Information & Decision Support Systems

Introduction

Anil Gupte

Topic Areas
Concepts of MIS Conceptual & Physical view of MIS Definition, Role & Impact Management as a Control System MIS Support to Management Effectiveness Goals, Objectives & Targets

The Products of MIS

Traditionally the products of MIS have been reports Reports are becoming more customized and have become more like dynamic views of data Reports can be customized by recipient, context or purpose Reports produced by MIS provoke a decision, action or (further) investigation

The Conceptual View

Blend of various principles, theories and practices giving rise to a single domain: MIS Helps achieve Business goals and mission Application of pure and social sciences Application of principles and practice of management Appropriate use of database and knowledge base, information technology and enterprise software

The Conceptual View

Support Structure to MIS

MIS
Use of Databases & Knowledge Bases Business Goals & Mission

Information Technology
& Enterprise Software Application of Pure Sciences

Application of
Principles & Practices of Management Application of Social Sciences

The Physical View of MIS

Assembly of various subsystems based on the databases in the organization Subsystems involved: data collection, transaction processing and validating, processing, analysing and storing information into databases Subsystems could be at functional and/or at corporate level Information is routed through them for a functional or a departmental management and it provides the information for the management of business at the corporate level

The Physical View of MIS

Four definitions

...a system which provides information support for decision-making in the organisation ...an integrated system of man and machine for providing the information to support the operations, management and decision-making function in an organisation ...a system based on the database of the organisation evolved for the purpose of providing information to its people ...a computer-based information system

Definition, as per US Law

A management information system (MIS) is a computerized database of financial information organized and programmed in such a way that it produces regular reports on operations for every level of management in a company. It is usually also possible to obtain special reports from the system easily. The main purpose of the MIS is to give managers feedback about their own performance; top management can monitor the company as a whole. Information displayed by the MIS typically shows "actual" data over against "planned" results and results from a year before; thus it measures progress against goals.
http://definitions.uslegal.com/m/management-informationsystems/

How does MIS work?

The MIS receives data from company units and functions. Some of the data are collected automatically from computer-linked check-out counters; others are keyed in at periodic intervals. Routine reports are preprogrammed and run at intervals or on demand while others are obtained using built-in query languages Display functions built into the system are used by managers to check on status at desk-side computers connected to the MIS by networks. Many sophisticated systems also monitor and display the performance of the company's stock.

MIS should ...

Handle voluminous data Confirm validity of data and transactions Carry out complex processing and multidimensional analysis Do quick search and retrieval Capable of mass storage Communicate relevant information to user on time Fulfill changing needs of information

Control Process flow

Features of MIS as a control system

Provides early warning mechanism Establishes performance standards Recognizes and provides for strategic controls Gives continuous feedback Is accurate and timely Is realistic Aligns information flow with the organization structure and decision makers Implements 'exclusion principle' in a practical manner

Goals, Objectives, Targets

Management process begins with setting of Goals, Objectives, Targets Goals are long term aims to be achieved by the organization Objectives are relatively short-term goals to be accomplished Targets are physical achievements within the organization's business All three should be consistent with each other and help to achieve each other All three should be achieved within the time frames that were planned for them

Organisation as a system