Management Information System

Course Code - 2040401

PART A
Define MIS. Management information system is an organized approach to the study of the information needs of an organization's management at every level in making operational, tactical, and strategic decisions. Its objective is to design and implement procedures, processes, and routines that provide suitably detailed reports in an accurate, consistent, and timely manner. In a management information system, modern, computerized systems continuously gather relevant data, both from inside and outside an organization. This data is then processed, integrated, and stored in a centralized database (or data warehouse) where it is constantly updated and made available to all who have the authority to access it, in a form that suits their purpose. Define Data. Information in raw or unorganized form (such as alphabets, numbers, or symbols) that refer to, or represent, conditions, ideas, or objects. Any form of alphanumeric data, composed of numbers and other character which help to describe and help to know the day today activities in the business organization. Write about DSS. A decision support system (DSS) is a computer-based information system that supports business or organizational decision-making activities. DSSs serve the management, operations, and planning levels of an organization and help to make decisions, which may be rapidly changing and not easily specified in advance. It is based on compiling of full information from different data to identify and solve problems.

What is ERP? Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems integrate internal and external management information across an entire organization, embracing finance/accounting, manufacturing, sales and service, customer relationship management, etc. ERP systems automate this activity with an integrated software application. Their purpose is to facilitate the flow of information between all business functions inside the boundaries of the organization and manage the connections to outside stakeholders. Give the tools for system development? Different tools for system development are as follows:i) Analysis tools a) Data collection tools b) Charting tools c) Dictionary tools Design Tools a) Specification tools b) Layout tools Development Tools a) Software Engineering Tools b) Code generators c) Testing tools

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What are computer crimes? Computer crimes are the commission of illegal acts through the use of a computer or against computer system. Different computer crimes may be:i) ii) iii) iv) Hacking others system Copying other application Opening of illegal sites or unauthorized sites Using others account

What are the types of E-Commerce? Different types of E-commerce are as follows:i) ii) iii) iv) Business to consumer (B to C) Business to business (B to B) Consumer to consumer (C to C) Government to business electronic commerce (G to B)

Define internet? The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to serve billions of users worldwide. It is a network of networks that consists of millions of private, public, academic, business, and government networks, of local to global scope, that are linked by a broad array of electronic, wireless and optical networking technologies. The Internet carries an extensive range of information resources and services, such as the inter-linked hypertext documents of the World Wide Web (WWW) and the infrastructure to support email. What do you mean by database systems? It is a software interface between users and databases. It controls the creation, management and use of the database of an organization.

PART B
Describe the concepts of data and information? Data and information are mostly used synonymously by most of the people but for any technology professionals, there is a distinct and important difference. Data refer to facts. When data are filtered through one or more processors sot that they take on both meaning and value to a person, they become information.

Describe the transaction processing cycle? Transaction processing cycle update organizational databases, and produce a variety of information. It possess of different steps which are listed below:Data entry: it is an initial process where data are supposed to enter for information availability. Transaction processing: Database maintenance: Document and Report generation: Inquiry Processing:

Discuss the characteristics of decision support system? The following is my list of the characteristics of a Decision Support System. 1. Facilitation. DSS facilitate and support specific decision-making activities and decision processes. 2. Interaction. DSS are computer-based systems designed for interactive use by decision makers or staff users who control the sequence of interaction and the operations performed. 3. Repeated Use. DSS are intended for repeated use. A specific DSS may be used routinely or used as needed for ad hoc decision support tasks. 4. Task-oriented. DSS provide specific capabilities that support one or more tasks related to decision-making, including: intelligence and data analysis; identification and design of alternatives; choice among alternatives; and decision implementation. 5. Decision Impact. DSS are intended to improve the accuracy, timeliness, quality and overall effectiveness of a specific decision or a set of related decisions.

What are the approaches to Information System Planning? The multiple approaches to management information system are: i. Operational elements of MIS: Davis and Olson divide the operational elements of MIS into three classes such as:

a) Physical components of MIS Hardware Software Database Procedure People b) Processing function: Processing transactions Maintaining master files Producing reports Processing inquiries Process interactive support application c) Outputs for users: Transactions documents Reports Enquiry responses Output of interactive support application ii) Organizational function and information requirement Production subsystem Marketing subsystem Personal Subsystem Finance Subsystem

Analyze the evolution of ERP? As a business organization grows in size it undergoes structural changes from simple organizations to functional, from functional to divisional or matrix etc. large organizations create many divisions and many functions within each division to facilitate management. Such compartmentalization of organization results in creating organizational sites that are insulated from other parts of the organization. Different types of flows can be identified in a manufacturing organization: i) Flow of materials: the material flow consists of a chain of activities like procurement, production, inventory and sales. The raw materials are converted into useful products and they are moved into ware house from where products are transferred to distribution channels that finally deliver to customers.

ii) iii)

Flow of information form planning and control: production planning prepares schedules of production based on estimated market demand. Flow of costs: finally, a business firm must generate surplus value. For ascertaining efficiency of resource use the firm must accumulate costs. Manufacturing organizations had some common problems in the inventory area, particularly when the production process is complex.

What are the approaches to information system planning? It is useful to have a framework or methodology to develop a firms information system infrastructure. Some of the important approaches are: i) Stages of growth model: the stages of growth model are explained in more detail to analyze the progress of systems development and use in organization. In initiation state, computers are introduced into the organization and people experiment with them. Critical success factors: this framework looks at individual managers and their information needs. This analysis helps in identifying information needs and designing systems to meet information needs effectively. Business systems planning (BPS): this approach is based on the philosophy that information resource is a corporate resource. Hence, it should be managed in such a way that it maximizes the value creation. Investment strategy analysis: this framework is based on traditional techniques of portfolio planning and investment strategies.

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Explain the legal aspects of system analysis tools and techniques? Systems analysis employs a number of tools and techniques for carrying out systems analysis. They are: Interviewing the people in the organization. Flow charring of the system and processes. Organizations charts to study organizational relationships and information flows. Questionnaires to elicit views of key persons on system requirements and problems Document walk through to know the processing of files at various workstations. Direct observation of the system in operation

System analysts: These are professional systems personnel who work with the users to analyze existing systems and design new ones. The systems analysts are programs often with experience and training in specialized areas like accounting, finance, engineering and marketing. Some of the common sets of responsibilities of system analysts are:i) System analysis only: system analysts are not involved in system design. They are asked to study the system to gather relevant facts about the system and analyze the study facts to suggest possible design approaches. ii) System analysis and design: analysis is given an additional responsibility of designing systems in addition to system study. iii) Systems analysis, design and programming: they conduct systems investigations; develop design specification and software to implement the design.

PART C
Write about dimensions of information? Information has many facets and some of these facets or dimensions of interest to information system people are: i) The economic dimension: the economic dimension includes both the cost of information and its benefits from use. The cost of information consists of the cost to acquire data, the cost to maintain data, and the cost for generating and communicating information. ii) The business dimension: the characteristics of information required by managers at different level of hierarchy are different the characteristics of information for top management are in striking contrast with those of operation level management. The characteristics of information for middle management lie somewhere between the two. The top level management requires information that is: a) b) c) d) e) Future oriented External Unstructured Non programmable Inexact

Whereas the operating management needs information i.e. a) b) c) d) e) Historical Internal Structural Programmable and Exact

The top management is concerned with strategic planning and giving direction to the organization, it requires environmental information the information that the top management needs cannot be foreseen and planned or some of its needs may be too infrequent to justify designing and putting in place a system to generate such information. Top level managers do not require very high accuracy of such information as they are looking for some clues into the shape of things to come in future. Operation management requires information about operations just finished or just to be started. 3) The technical dimension: the technical dimension of information depends on the quality and reliability of technology used for data processing and information communication. It is also concerned with the data base that is vital for any information system. The database is an orderly collection of centrally controlled data that minimizes data redundancy, facilitates storage of massive data, quick retrieval of data and ensures data security. The technical considerations of information are: a) Capacity b) Security and c) Validity

Describe the functionalities of SAP R/3 and ERP implementation? SAP R/3 supports many functions in an organization. Some of these functionalities of this package and the modules under them are mentioned below:1. Financial accounting Accounts receivable Accounts payable Legal consolidation

General ledger Special purpose ledger

2. Controlling Product cost controlling Activity based costing Overhead cost control Sales and profitability analysis 3. Project system Basis data Operational structure Project planning Approval 4. Industry solutions Public sector Telecom Banks Oil Hospital 5. Material management Material requirements planning Purchasing Invoice verification Inventory management Warehouse management Electronic data interchange information system 6. Sales and distribution Master data Basic functions Sales Shipping Billing Sales support ERP implementation introduces major changes in the organization in the way it transacts business, capture data, processes and shares information. A typical ERP implementation project involves the following:

a) ERP readiness assessment b) ERP feasibility study c) Process modeling and documenting the as is processes and to be processes along with BPR d) Detailed plan for ERP implementation e) Selection of ERP implementation consultant. ERP consultants are experts are developing techniques and methodologies for implementing ERP package. f) ERP package evaluation and selection g) Implementation methodology h) Detailed implementation including development, quality assurance, and production systems. i) Testing j) Preparing to go live including data migration k) End- user training l) Going live with the ERP system m) Performance audit and documentation Identification

Many tasks in the business environment involve the use of computers. Employees input data in software applications and programs that allow other individuals to view the information. Owners and managers rely on computers to access the information from the management information systems.

Features

Computers can process certain types of business data quicker and more accurately than employees. Accounting and finance departments, for example, typically input data and allow the computer and software application to generate reports based on the financial numbers.

Benefits

Using computers can restrict employee access to business or financial information in the management information systems. Most computers or software applications require usernames and passwords to access data. This prevents individuals from filtering or altering information prior to review by owners and managers.