ICT A2 Level - Topic 8: Management Information Systems

Definition of an MIS

- An organised collection of people, procedures and resources which are designed to support the decisions of managers (company)

Example of an MIS being used

- Chief executive of a supermarket chain might extract financial information about each supermarket in the chain in order to identify the ones which are making the least profits so that they can be sold and the money can be used for opening new ones in areas where the profit is likely to be higher

Accurate and Relevant Information

- Accuracy of the information depends on the accuracy of the data input into the system

- Managers have to spend time obtaining the information they need from a big mass of irrelevant information

Give the information when Required

- Timing is critical and it is no good giving good information after the date it is needed for

Accessible to a wide Range of users

- Can be used by managers who have a range of ICT skills and knowledge

Present data in the most Appropriate format

- Managers will need the data presented in the easiest form for them to interpret, some will want it in tabular form and some in graphical

Flexibility of the System

- Managers of different sections have different requirements and the MIS must be able to cope with this

Features of a Good MIS:

- Accuracy of the data, flexibility of data analysis, providing data/information in an appropriate form, accessible to a wide range of users, improves interpersonal communications, allows individual project planning and avoids information overload

Factors which can lead to a Poor MIS:

- Complexity of the system -> All managers must be able to use them

- Lack of formal methods -> Proper systems analysis takes time and effort but resulting MIS is much better than one made by less formal methods

- Inadequate initial analysis -> The system does not do exactly what it should do

- Lack of management involvement in the design -> Means that the system does not meet the requirements of the manager(s)

- Inappropriate hardware and software -> For example, the network may run slowly when processing the information needed when producing MIS reports

- Poor communications between professionals -> May not meet needs of managers which puts them off from using it