Information System in an Organization?

Management information system, or MIS, is a managerial dec

making tool. A company uses it in all of its business operation
rocesses. As the management is in complete know of everyt
anspiring in the company, it leverages on this advantag
osition. Using it, a company is able to record and document
ertaining to its procedures and methodologies. The basic inte
manage and control all of the companys employees and ma
through MIS.

What is Management Information System

Management Information Systems (MIS), referred to as Information Management

Systems, is the discipline covering the application of people, technologies, and p
collectively called information systems, to solving business problems.

'MIS' is a planned system of collecting, storing and disseminating dat

form of information needed to carry out the functions of management

Academically, the term is commonly used to refer to the group of inform

management methods tied to the automation or support of human decision ma
Decision Support Systems, Expert Systems, and Executive Information Systems

Management : Management is art of getting things done through and with the p
ormally organized groups. The basic functions performed by a manager in an org
are: Planning, controlling, staffing, organizing, and directing.

Information : Information is considered as valuable component of an organiza

Information is data that is processed and is presented in a form which assists d
maker.

ystem : A system is defined as a set of elements which are joined together to a

ommon objective. The elements are interrelated and interdependent. Thus every
said to be composed of subsystems. A system has one or multiple inputs, these
rocessed through a transformation process to convert these input( s) to output.

Objectives of MIS?

Data Capturing : MIS capture data from various internal and external sou
organization. Data capturing may be manual or through computer terminal

Processing of Data : The captured data is processed to convert into requ

information. Processing of data is done by such activities as calculating, so
classifying, and summarizing.

Storage of Information : MIS stores the processed or unprocessed data fo

use. If any information is not immediately required, it is saved as an organiz
record, for later use.

Retrieval of Information : MIS retrieves information from its stores as and

required by various users.

Dissemination of Information : Information, which is a finished product of

disseminated to the users in the organization. It is periodic or online through c
terminal.

Objectives of MIS?

Characteristics of MIS?

Systems Approach : The information system follows a systems approach. Syst

approach means taking a comprehensive view or a complete look at the interlock
systems that operate within an organization.

Management Oriented : Management oriented characteristic of MIS implies th

management actively directs the system development efforts. For planning of M
down approach should be followed. Top down approach suggests that the
development starts from the determination of managements needs and overall
jective. To ensure that the implementation of systems polices meet the specifica
stem, continued review and participation of the manager is necessary.

Need Based : MIS design should be as per the information needs of managers at
evels.

Exception Based : MIS should be developed on the exception based also, which
that in an abnormal situation, there should be immediate reporting about the exc
situation to the decision -makers at the required level.

Characteristics of MIS? (cont.)

uture Oriented : MIS should not merely provide past of historical information;
hould provide information, on the basis of future projections on the actions to be

Integrated : Integration is significant because of its ability to produce more me

information. Integration means taking a comprehensive view or looking at the c
picture of the interlocking subsystems that operate within the company.

Common Data Flow : Common data flow includes avoiding duplication, comb
similar functions and simplifying operations wherever possible. The developme
common data flow is an economically sound and logical concept, but it must be
from a practical angle.

Long Term Planning : MIS is developed over relatively long periods. A heavy e
planning should be involved.

ub System Concept : The MIS should be viewed as a single entity, but it must
own into digestible sub-systems which are more meaningful.

Central database : In the MIS there should be common data base for whole s

Characteristics of Computerized MIS

Ability to process data into information with accuracy and high speed. It involves
computation, analysis, comparisons and summarization.

Organizing and updating of huge amount of raw data of related and unrelated
derived from internal and external sources at different periods of time.

he information processing and computer technology have been so advanced that

re able to obtain real time information about ongoing activities and events witho
waiting period.

The input data in computer can be converted into different output formats for a v
purpose. The system is so organized that managers at different levels and in diff
activity units are in a position to obtain information in whatever form they want ,
that relevant programs or instructions have been designed for the purpo

Super-human memory, tremendous volume of data and information and the se

instructions can be stored in the computer and can be retrieved as and when n
Management can get bit of stored information from the computer in seconds.

System Development Life Cycle

rder to develop a system successfully, it is managed by breaking the tota

elopment process into smaller basic activities or phases. Any system dev
cess, in general, is understood to have the following phases :
1. Preliminary Analysis

The objective of phase 1 is to conduct a preliminary analysis, propose altern

solutions, describe costs and benefits and submit a preliminary plan
recommendations. Conduct the preliminary analysis: in this step, you need
out the organization's objectives and the nature and scope of the problem u
study. Even if a problem refers only to a small segment of the organization
then you need to find out what the objectives of the organization itself are.
need to see how the problem being studied fits in with them.

Propose alternative solutions: In digging into the organization's objectives

specific problems, you may have already covered some solutions. Al
proposals may come from interviewing employees, clients, suppliers, and
consultants. You can also study what competitors are doing. With this data
have three choices: leave the system as is, improve it, or develop a new
Describe the costs and benefits.

System Development Life Cycle

rder to develop a system successfully, it is managed by breaking the tota

elopment process into smaller basic activities or phases. Any system dev
cess, in general, is understood to have the following phases :
2. Systems Analysis

Defines project goals into defined functions and operation of the inten
application. It is the process of gathering and interpreting facts, diagno
problems and recommending improvements to the system. Analyzes end-us
information needs and also removes any inconsistencies and incompletenes
requirements.

A series of steps followed by the developer are.

1. Collection of Facts: End user requirements are obtained throu
documentation, client interviews, observation and questionnaires,
2. Scrutiny of the existing system: Identify pros and cons of the current sy
place, so as to carry forward the pros and avoid the cons in the new sys
3. Analyzing the proposed system: Solutions to the shortcomings in step
found and any specific user proposals are used to prepare the specific

System Development Life Cycle

rder to develop a system successfully, it is managed by breaking the tota

elopment process into smaller basic activities or phases. Any system dev
cess, in general, is understood to have the following phases :
3. Systems Design

Describes desired features and operations in detail, including screen lay

business rules, process diagrams, pseudo code and other documentatio

4. Development
The real code is written here.

5. Integration and Testing

Brings all the pieces together into a special testing environment, then che
errors, bugs and interoperability.

6. Acceptance, Installation and Deployment

The final stage of initial development, where the software is put into prod
and runs actual business.

System Development Life Cycle

rder to develop a system successfully, it is managed by breaking the tota

elopment process into smaller basic activities or phases. Any system dev
cess, in general, is understood to have the following phases :
7. Maintenance

During the maintenance stage of the SDLC, the system is assessed to ensu
not become obsolete. This is also where changes are made to initial softwa
involves continuous evaluation of the system in terms of its performance.

System Development Life Cycle

rder to develop a system successfully, it is managed by breaking the tota

elopment process into smaller basic activities or phases. Any system dev
cess, in general, is understood to have the following phases :
8. Evaluation

Some companies do not view this as an official stage of the SDLC, while oth
consider it to be an extension of the maintenance stage, and may be referre
some circles as post-implementation review. This is where the system that w
developed, as well as the entire process, is evaluated. Some of the question
need to be answered include: does the newly implemented system meet th
business requirements and objectives? Is the system reliable and fault-toler
the system function according to the approved functional requirements? In
to evaluating the software that was released, it is important to assess the
effectiveness of the development process. If there are any aspects of the en
process, or certain stages, that management is not satisfied with, this is the
improve. Evaluation and assessment is a difficult issue. However, the comp
reflect on the process and address weaknesses.

Database Management System

A database management system is a collection of interrelated data and a

program to access those data. The collection of data, usually referred to
Database contains information relevant to an enterprise. The primary g
DBMS is to provide a way to store and retrieve database information that
onvenient and efficient.

Database Management System

atabase : An organization must have accurate and reliable data for effe
ecision making. For this, the organization maintains records of various fac
ration by building appropriate models of the diverse classes of objects o
e models capture the essential properties of the objects and records rela
mong them. Such related data is called Database

Objectives :
The users of the database establish their view of the data and its st
without regards to the actual physical storage of the data.
That the database establishes a uniform high level of accurac
consistency.Validation rules are applied by the DBMS.
The data should be available for use by application and by quer
The data item prepared by one application are available to all applica
queries. No data items are owned by an application.
The data base can be evolved according to application usage and
needs.

Database Management System

Elements of DBMS : The elements of database management system

Database : Databases are banks and is an important constituent of
information system. Data bank for computerized information is organize
form of a collection of file stored on secondary storage media. A file is a
collection of records for each entity in the system. The record being a co
of data items representing the attributes of an entity.
People : The people involved with the database system can be divided i
groups: those who use the information system provided by the system a
who design develop and manage the system itself.
atabase Planning and Design Technique : Since the database syste
nvolves people from all parts of organization with variety of information n
he development and operation of database system must be very carefull
nd managed. The data must be carefully designed to provide efficient ex
nformation required by different users.
Computer Hardware and Software : Computer hardware and softw
DBMS are two different important elements of DBMS. They are techno
foundation of DBMS.

Systems Analyst

A systems analyst is an IT professional who specializ

analyzing, designing and implementing information syst
System analysts assess the suitability of information system
terms of their intended outcomes and liaise with end u
software vendors and programmers in order to achieve th
outcomes

Business Analyst

A Business Analyst is someone who analyzes an organizat

business domain(real or hypothetical) and documents i
business or processes or systems, assessing the business
or its integration with technology.

Computer Support Specialist

Computer support specialists provide help and advice to peo

organizations using computer software or equipment. Some,
computer network support specialists, support informatio
technology (IT) employees within their organization. Others,
computer user support specialists, assist non-IT users who
having computer problems.

Database Administrator

Database administrator (DBA) is an IT professional responsi

the installation, configuration, upgrading, administratio
monitoring, maintenance, and security of databases in
organization.

Computer System Administrator

A system administrator, or sysadmin, is a person wh

responsible for the upkeep, configuration, and reliable opera
computer systems; especially multi-user computers, such as
servers.
The system administrator seeks to ensure that the uptim
performance, resources, and security of the computers he o
manages meet the needs of the users, without exceeding t
budget.

Information Security Analyst

Information security analysts plan and carry out security me

to protect an organization's computer networks and systems
responsibilities are continually expanding as the number of c
attacks increase.

Software Application Developer

Develop, create, and modify general computer applicatio

software or specialized utility programs. Analyze user need
develop software solutions. Design software or customize so
for client use with the aim of optimizing operational efficienc
analyze and design databases within an application area, w
individually or coordinating database development as part o
team. May supervise computer programmers.

Information Systems Technology Consultan

Information systems analysts and consultants analyze sys

requirements, develop and implement information syste
development plans, policies and procedures, and provide ad
a wide range of information systems issues. They are emplo
information technology consulting firms and in informati
technology units throughout the private and public sectors,
may be self-employed.

Information Technology Project Manager

Plan, initiate, and manage information technology (IT) proj

Lead and guide the work of technical staff. Serve as liaison b
business and technical aspects of projects. Plan project stage
assess business implications for each stage. Monitor progre
assure deadlines, standards, and cost targets are met