| Management Information System is a general | | | | functional areas (e.g., manufacturing, human |
| name for the academic discipline covering the | | | | resources, accounting, finance and |
| application of information technology to | | | | marketing). MIS professionals must possess a |
| support the major functions and activities of | | | | combination of business and technical |
| either a private sector business or public | | | | knowledge to develop information systems that |
| sector institution. In business, information | | | | address the needs of the organization. They |
| systems support the process of collection, | | | | must comprehend organizational structures, |
| manipulation, storage, distribution and | | | | objectives, operations including processes |
| utilization of an organization's information | | | | and the flows of data between processes and |
| resources, business processes and operations. | | | | the financial connotations related to these |
| | | | factors. An MIS professional should |
| As an area of study it is also referred to as | | | | interrelate effectively with users and design |
| information technology management. The study | | | | systems that would support their needs. |
| of information systems is usually a commerce | | | | |
| and business administration discipline, and | | | | MIS managers and professionals should keep |
| frequently involves software engineering, but | | | | themselves updated with evolving information |
| also distinguishes itself by concentrating on | | | | technologies. They should have a solid |
| the integration of computer systems with the | | | | foundation of technical skills to select |
| aims of the organization. | | | | appropriate technologies and to implement |
| | | | computer-based information systems. Thus, MIS |
| The area of study should not be confused with | | | | people must be well versed in topics such as |
| computer science which is more theoretical in | | | | systems development tools and techniques, |
| nature and deals mainly with software | | | | information architecture, network |
| creation, and not with computer engineering, | | | | configurations, databases, and systems |
| which focuses more on the design of computer | | | | integration. |
| hardware. IT service management is a | | | | |
| practitioner-focused discipline centering on | | | | Administrators, supervisors and managers need |
| the same general domain. | | | | information, but they are often overloaded |
| | | | with data. Information management systems |
| Management Information Systems are not just | | | | sustain these piles of data into |
| statistics and data analysis, but also | | | | comprehensible and concise descriptions and |
| assessment of human capabilities. They have | | | | patterns of performance. Information systems |
| to be used as an MBO-Management by | | | | are not just technological facilities - such |
| Objectives--tool. They help to establish | | | | as databases. They include methods of |
| relevant and measurable objectives; monitor | | | | pondering about your organization that will |
| results and performances (reach ratios) and | | | | aid in approaching issues more effectively |
| send alerts to managers at each level of the | | | | and efficiently. Management information |
| organization, on all deviations between | | | | systems make use of resources that would |
| results and pre-established objectives and | | | | assist in understanding and making better |
| budgets. | | | | decisions about the mechanical and personal |
| | | | sides of information systems. |
| The majority of information systems are | | | | |
| created for, and operated by, people in | | | | Copyright 2007 Ismael D. |