Define management information systems
Management information systems are organised collections of people, procedures and resources designed to support the decisions of managers
What are the features of an effective MIS?
- Include data that is relevant and accurate
- Give information when required
- Be accessible to wide range of users
- Present data in the most appropriate format
- Be flexible
Features of a good MIS
- Accuracy of data
- Flexibility of data analysis
- Providing data in an appropriate form
- Accessible to a wide range of users and support a wide range of skills and knowledge
- Improve interpersonal communications amongst management and employees
- Allow individual project planning
- Avoid information overload
Factors that can lead to a poor MIS
- Complexity of the system
- Inadequate initial analysis
- Lack of management involvement in initial design
- Inappropriate hardware and software
- Lack of management knowledge about computer systems and their capabilities
- Poor communications between professionals
- Lack of professional standards
What are the three main types of decision making?
- Strategic
- Tactical
- Operational
Example of strategic decision?
Long term planning
The marketing manager of the company ,iChat want to forecast sales trends over the next few years and is looking to open new branches in different areas or employ more staff
Example of tactical decision making
The regional manager might want a weekly or monthly report showing sales figures in each region to find out how they meet their targets - make decisions about sales or special offers
Example of operational decision making?
Day to day running
A shop manager might need a daily list of all shoes sold so that they can order more to make sure they not run out of stock
School example of strategic decision making?
Long term planning
Head teacher looks at number of pupils coming into school In next 5 years. Plan staffing requirements and building development. Budget decisions using information from local authority
Example of school tactical example
Head of year use data about ability of pupils for setting groups and creating timetables
School example of operational decision
Day to day running
Teachers registration, reports or test marks, record bad behaviour of pupils
Example of how a MIS could be used
Looking at pupil attendance figures to try and see if there are patterns and to ensure that less pupils truant.
Looking at exam results to try and find strategies to improve their target figures
Describe four factors of a good MIS with examples
- Accuracy of data. The accuracy of information produced usually dependent on the accuracy of the data input.
- Flexibility of data analysis - ability to allow managers to set up their own queries flexibly.
- Providing data in an appropriate form - presents data in an appropriate form e.g a graph to make it easy to understand.
- Accessible to a wide range of users and support a wide range of skills and knowledge - can be used by managers who have differing experience and skills in the use of ICT.
Describe four factors which lead to a poor MIS with examples
- Inadequate initial analysis - the system does not do exactly what it should do.
- Lack of management involvement in initial design - inadequate consultation with managers during the analysis of the system to find out what their requirements from the system are.
- Lack if management knowledge about computer systems and their capabilities - lack if training for managers means many managers do kit use the system as they should.
- Inappropriate hardware and software - being used e.g the network may run slowly when processing the information needed when producing MIS reports.
