Management Information system

Management Information Systems

Management Information System (M.I.S.) is basically concerned with processing data into information. which is then communicated to the various Departments in an organization for appropriate decision-making. . The main purpose of the MIS is to give managers feedback about their own performance; top management can monitor the company as a whole.

Data Information Communication Decisions Data Communication involves the use of Information Technology (IT) comprising: computers and telecommunications networks (E-Mail, Voice Mail, Internet,telephone, etc.). Computers are important for more quantitative, than qualitative, data collection, storage and retrieval; Special features are speed and accuracy, and storage of large amount of data. Telecommunications provide the means for one-way or two-way communication and for the transmission of messages. A combination of IT is used: telephone, computer, processor, printer, etc. A lot of time and money are saved and the security of data and messages is ensured. MIS provides several benefits to the business organization: The means of effective and efficient coordination between Departments; quick and reliable referencing; Access to relevant data and documents; Use of less labour; Improvement in organizational and departmental techniques; Management of day-to-day activities (as accounts, stock control, payroll, etc.); y Day-to-day assistance in a Department and y Closer contact with the rest of the world. y y y y y y It is important to note that whatever IT is installed must be appropriate to the organization, and to each department

ORIGINS AND EVOLUTION

The MIS represents the electronic automation of several different kinds of acounting, tallying, record-keeping, and accounting techniques of which the by far oldest, of course, was the ledger on which the business owner kept track of his or her business. Automation emerged in the 1880s in the form of tabulating cards which could be sorted and counted. These were the punch-cards still remembered by many: they captured elements of information keyed in on punch-card machines; the cards were then processed by other machines some of which could print out results of tallies. Each card was the equivalent of what today would be called a database record, with different areas on the card treated as fields. World-famous IBM had its start in 1911; it was then called Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company. Before IBM there was C-T-R. Punch cards were used to keep time records and to record weights at scales. The U.S. Census used such cards to record and to manipulate its data as well. When the first computers emerged after World War II punch-card systems were used both as their front end (feeding them data and programs) and as their output (computers cut cards and other machines printed from these). Card systems did not entirely disappear until the 1970s. They were ultimately replaced by magnetic storage media (tape and disks). Computers using such storage media speeded up tallying; the computer introduced calculating functions. MIS developed as the most crucial accounting functions became computerized. Waves of innovation spread the fundamental virtues of coherent information systems across all corporate functions and to all sizes of businesses in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. Within companies major functional areas developed their own MIS capabilities; often these were not yet connected: engineering, manufacturing, and inventory systems developed side by side sometimes running on specialized hardware. Personal computers ("micros," PCs) appeared in the 70s and spread widely in the 80s. Some of these were used as free-standing "seeds" of MIS systems serving sales, marketing, and personnel systems, with summarized data from them transferred to the "mainframe." In the 1980s networked PCs appeared and developed into powerful systems in their own right in the 1990s in many companies displacing midsized and small computers. Equipped with powerful database engines, such networks were in turn organized for MIS purposes. Simultaneously, in the 90s, the World Wide Web came of age, morphed into the Internet with a visual interface, connecting all sorts of systems to one another. Midway through the first decade of the 21st century the narrowly conceived idea of the MIS has become somewhat fuzzy. Management information systems, of course, are still doing their jobs, but their function is now one among many others that feed information to people in business to help them manage. Systems are available for computer assisted design and manufacturing (CAD-CAM); computers supervise industrial processes in power, chemicals, petrochemicals, pipelines, transport systems, etc. Systems manage and transfer money worldwide and communicate worldwide. Virtually all major administrative functions are supported by automated system. Many people now file their taxes over the Internet and have their refunds credited (or money owning deducted) from bank accounts automatically. MIS was thus the first major system of the Information Age. At present the initials IT are coming into universal use. "Information Technology" is now the category to designate any and all software-hardwarecommunications structures that today work like a virtual nervous system of society at all levels.

information overload
An excess of information provided to a person in certain situations, resulting in either a wrong decision or the passing of misinformation It refers to the difficulty a person can have understanding an issue and making decisions that can be caused by the presence of too much information. Stress induced by reception of more information than is necessary to make a decision (or that can be understood and digested in the time available) and by attempts to deal with it with outdated time management practices.

data bank
In telecommunications, a data bank is a repository of information on one or more subjects that is organized in a way that facilitates local or remote information retrieval. A data bank may be either centralized or decentralized. In this sense, data bank is synonymous with database. Data bank may also refer to an organization primarily concerned with the construction and maintenance of a database.

database
A database is an organized collection of data for one or more purposes, usually in digital form. The data are typically organized to model relevant aspects of reality (for example, the availability of rooms in hotels), in a way that supports processes requiring this information (for example, finding a hotel with vacancies). This definition is very general, and is independent of the technology used. The term "database" may be narrowed to specify particular aspects of organized collection of data and may refer to the logical database, to physical database as data content in computer data storage or to many other database sub-definitions. The term database is correctly applied to the data and their supporting data structures, and not to the database management system (referred to by the acronym DBMS). The database data collection with DBMS is called a database system.

A database is a collection of information that is organized so that it can easily be accessed, managed, and updated. In one view, databases can be classified according to types of content: bibliographic, full-text, numeric, and images. In computing, databases are sometimes classified according to their organizational approach. The most prevalent approach is the relational database, a tabular database in which data is defined so that it can be reorganized and accessed in a number of different ways. A distributed database is one that can be dispersed or

replicated among different points in a network. An object-oriented programming database is one that is congruent with the data defined in object classes and subclasses. Computer databases typically contain aggregations of data records or files, such as sales transactions, product catalogs and inventories, and customer profiles. Typically, a database manager provides users the capabilities of controlling read/write access, specifying report generation, and analyzing usage. Databases and database managers are prevalent in largemainframe systems, but are also present in smaller distributed workstation and mid-range systems such as the AS/400 and on personal computers. SQL (Structured Query Language) is a standard language for making interactive queries from and updating a database such as IBM's DB2, Microsoft's SQL Server, and database products from Oracle, Sybase, and Computer Associates.

Information Resource Management

definition
* (IRM) A philosophical and practical approach to managing government information. Information is regarded as a valuable resource which should be managed like other resources, should contribute directly to accomplishing organizational goals and objectives. IRM provides an integrated view for managing the entire lifecycle of information, from generation, to dissemination,to archiving and/or destruction, for maximising the over all usefulness of information, and improving service delivery and program management. IRM views information and InformationTechnology as an integrating factor in the organisation, that is, the various organisational positions that manage information are coordinated and work together toward common ends. management of Information Technology are interrelated, and fosters that interrelationship and organisational integration.

* * * *

* Further, IRM looks for ways in which the management of information and the

* IRM includes the management of

(1) the broad range ofinformation resources, e.g., printed materials, electronicinformation , and microforms, (2) the various technologies & equipment that manipulate these resources, and (3) the people who generate, organise, and disseminate those resources.

Overallthe intent of IRM is to increase the usefulness of government information both to the government and to the public.

The underlying philosophy behind Information Resource Management (IRM) is to design, inventory and control all of the resources required to produce information. When standardized and controlled, these resources can be shared and re-used throughout the corporation, not just by a single user or application. There are three classes of information resources:   BUSINESS RESOURCES - Enterprises, Business Functions, Positions (Jobs), Human/Machine Resources, Skills, Business Objectives, Projects, and Information Requirements. SYSTEM RESOURCES - Systems, Sub-Systems (business processes), Administrative Procedures (manual procedures and office automation related), Computer Procedures, Programs, Operational Steps, Modules, and Subroutines. DATA RESOURCES - Data Elements, Storage Records, Files (computer and manual), Views, Objects, Inputs, Outputs, Panels, Maps, Call Parameters, and Data Bases. These three classes of information resources provides the rationale as to why there are three complementary methodologies within "PRIDE".   ENTERPRISE ENGINEERING METHODOLOGY (EEM) - for defining the mission and goals of the business and the development of an Enterprise Information Strategy synchronized with the business. INFORMATION SYSTEMS ENGINEERING METHODOLOGY (ISEM) - for designing and building enterprisewide information systems (business processes crossing organizational boundaries). Software Engineering is considered a subset of ISEM. DATA BASE ENGINEERING METHODOLOGY (DBEM) - to design and develop the corporate data base, both logically and physically. Each methodology consists of a series of defined phases, activities and operations. Laced throughout the methodologies are defined deliverables and review points to substantiate completeness and to provide an effective dialog between management and developers. The methodologies promote design correctness and the production of a quality product. IRM/MRP ANALOGY The concept of Information Resource Management is actually no different in intent than "Materials Resource Planning" (MRP) as used in manufacturing. Both are concerned with the efficient and cost effective use of resources. The classification and control of resources are the main objectives. Resources are classified to prove their uniqueness so that redundancy is not introduced and to promote sharing. Control is required to collect, inventory and retrieve resources as required by the business.

Whereas MRP is concerned with managing products and the parts required to produce them, IRM is concerned with managing information and the resources required to produce it. One of the important by-products of cataloging and cross-referencing information resources is a model of the enterprise, including how it is organized and how it operates. Other benefits include:     All information resources are controllable, permitting the ability to design integrated systems and perform an "impact analysis" of a proposed resource change. Simplified search of information resources for reuse. Redundancy of resource definition is eliminated. Complete and current documentation of all information resources, in an organized and meaningful way. Communications within the organization is improved since developers and users would use standard and common definitions for information resources, all of which would be in standard business terminology.

Definition
Techniques of managing information as a shared organizational resource. IRM includes (1) identification of information sources, (2) type and value of information they provide, and (3) ways of classification, valuation, processing, and storage of that information.

Information Resource Management - (IRM) A philosophical and practical approach to managing government information. Information is regarded as a valuable resource which should be managed like other resources, and should contribute directly to accomplishing organisational goals and objectives. IRM provides an integrated view for managing the entire life-cycle of information, from generation, to dissemination, to archiving and/or destruction, for maximising the overall usefulness of information, and improving service delivery and program management. IRM views information and Information Technology as an integrating factor in the organisation, that is, the various organisational positions that manage information are coordinated and work together toward common ends. Further, IRM looks for ways in which the management of information and the management of Information Technology are interrelated, and fosters that interrelationship and organisational integration. IRM includes the management of (1) the broad range of information resources, e.g., printed materials, electronic information, and microforms, (2) the various technologies and equipment that manipulate these resources, and (3) the people who generate, organise, and disseminate those resources. Overall the intent of IRM is to increase the usefulness of government information both to the government and to the public

Characteristics of Computers
Speed: A computer is a very fast and accurate device. It can process thousands of instructions within a few seconds for which a human being can take several days or months. Accuracy: Degree of accuracy of the computer is very high. Errors can occur in computerized system also but most of them occur due to human mistakes rather than technical problems in the computer. Versatility: We can perform many different tasks on the computer. One moment it might be busy in calculating the statistical data of a business organization for annual performance evaluation and at next moment it is capable of working on inventory control. Permanent Memory: We can store very large amount of information in the secondary storage devices. This information stays with the computer for further use where as humans tend to forget things. Diligence: Computer is free from problems like exhaustion, lack of concentration, confusion, etc., unlike human beings.

All computers are designed to perform the same basic functions and these characteristics are mainly technical rather than aesthetic. Computers may differ in design but in order to legally be placed into the computing market, must reach certain consumer expectations or will not be acceptable.

Most consumers are looking for a computer that is reliable, yet if the product is on the market then it is bound to have undergone and passed the numerous technological tests before release. Therefore, all computers and reliable and meet these characteristics but it just depends upon the efficiency of the users' computer skills as to whether they remain satisfied with their purchase.

Computer speed

It is necessary that a computer completes certain tasks within a certain period of time. If the software is faulty or out of date then the user will become frustrated at the lengthy amounts of time it may take to complete simple functions. Work processing must be efficient and response time relatively short. Data package download must have a combination of a short transmission time and high bandwidth ability.

Storage capacity

As computer technology has progressed, databases have grown in size but have physically become smaller. This allows relatively small laptops and net books to hold a large amount of downloaded data such as films and computer programs without hindering the overall speed of the product.

Productivity

This refers to the number of functions a computer can perform. A basic hard drive cannot cope with complex plug in and additional features and this may frustrate many users as modern consumers have high expectations of computing technology. It is interesting to point out that as the basic characteristics of computers are all the same, technological problems with computers originate from human error and not faults within the hardware. 1. Speed 2. Accuracy 3. Storage 4. Versatility

5. Automation 6. Diligence 7. Reliability 8. Convenience 9. Flexibility 1) Speed: A computer is a very fast device. It can perform in few seconds, the amount of work that a human being can do in an entire year. The speed of a computer measure in microseconds(10-6), nanoseconds(10-9) and picoseconds(10-12). A powerful computer is capable of performing several billion arithmetic operation per second. 2) Accuracy: Computer is very accurate device. The accuracy of a computer is principle high. The degree of accuracy of a particular computer depends upon its design. Computer done very calculation with same accuracy. Errors can occur in a computer, However, these problem are mainly due to human rather than technological weaknesses. 3) Automatic(Automation): A machine is no sooner than done to be automatic if it, works by itself without human intervention. Computer are automatic machines, because one started on a job, they carry on, until the job is finished, without any human assistance. However, computer being machines can not start them selves. They cannot go out find their own problems and solutions. They have to be instructed. 4) Diligence: Computer has unlike human beings. A computer is free from dullness and lack of concentration. It can continuously work for hours without creating any error human beings in doing regular types of jobs, which requires great accuracy. Computer can perform the number of calculation with exactly the same accuracy and speed as the first one. 5) Versatility: Versatility is a most important characteristic of computer. It means the capacity to perform completely different type of work. You may use your computer to prepare payroll slips. Next moment you may use it for inventory management or to prepare electric bills. A computer is capable of performing almost any task, if the task can be reduced to series of logical steps. 6) Memory(Power of Remembering): Computer has a brain, but unlike human (Man) beings. A computer can store data and information. And recalled as long as you require it, for any numbers of years. Because of its secondary storage capability. A data and information can be retrieved as long as desired by the user and can be recalled, as when required. The information recalled would be as accurate as on the day when it was fed to the computer. 7) No. I.Q.(Intelligence Quotient) : A computer is not a magical device. It is no intelligence of its own. User can determine, what tasks will the computer perform. So a computer cannot take its own decision as you can. (A computer can not take it own decision in this regard.). 8) No Feelings: Computer has no feelings. They have no emotions, because they are machine. Computer is not like human heart and soul. Computer cannot make such judgments on their own. Their judgment is based on the instructions given to them in the from of programs, that are written by us.

Speed: Computers work at very high speed and are much faster than humans. A second is very large time period time for computer. A computer can perform billions of calculations in a second. The time used by a computer to

perform an operation is called the processing speed. Computer speed is measured in Mega Hertz (MHz). Storage: A computer can store a large amount of data permanently. User can use this data at any time. We can store any type of data in a computer. Text, graphic, pictures, audio and video files can be stored easily. The storage capacity of the computer is increasing rapidly. Processing: A computer can process the given instructions. It can perform different types of processing like addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. It can also perform logical functions like comparing two numbers to decide which one is the bigger etc. Accuracy: Accuracy means to provide results without any error. Computers can process large amount of data and generate error-free results. A modern computer performs millions of operations in one second without any error. Communication: Most computers today have the capability of communicating with other computers. We can connect two or more computers by a communication device such as modem. These computers can share data, instructions, and information. The connected computer are called network. Anonymous
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Was this answer helpful? Yes | No | Edit this These are the characteristic of computers which are A programmable machine. The two principal characteristics of a computer are: It responds to a specific set of instructions in a well-defined manner. It can execute a pre-recorded list of instructions (a program). Modern computers are electronic and digital. The actual machinery -- wires, transistors, and circuits -- is called hardware; the instructions and data are called software. All general-purpose computers require the following hardware components: memory : Enables a computer to store, at least temporarily, data and programs. mass storage device : Allows a computer to permanently retain large amounts of data. Common mass storage devices include disk drives and tape drives. input device : Usually a keyboard and mouse, the input device is the conduit through which data and instructions enter a computer. output device : A display screen, printer, or other device that lets you see what the computer has accomplished. central processing unit (CPU): The heart of the computer, this is the component that actually executes instructions. In addition to these components, many others make it possible for the basic components to work together efficiently. For example, every computer requires a bus that transmits data from one part of the computer to another.

Application software, also known as an application or an "app", is computer software designed to help the user to perform specific tasks. Examples include enterprise software, accounting software, office suites, graphics software and media players. Many application programs deal principally with documents. Apps may be bundled with the computer and its system software, or may be published separately. Some users are satisfied with the bundled apps and need never install one. Application software is contrasted with system software and middleware, which manage and integrate a computer's capabilities, but typically do not directly apply them in the performance of tasks that benefit the user. The system software serves the application, which in turn serves the user. Similar relationships apply in other fields. For example, a shopping mall does not provide the merchandise a shopper is seeking, but provides space and services for retailers that serve the shopper. A bridge may similarly support rail tracks which support trains, allowing the trains to transport passengers. Application software applies the power of a particular computing platform or system software to a particular purpose. Some apps such as Microsoft Office are available in versions for several different platforms; others have narrower requirements and are thus called, for example, a Geography application for Windows or an Android application for education or Linux gaming. Sometimes a new and popular application arises which only runs on one platform, increasing the desirability of that platform. This is called a killer application. General purpose application software packages are generally tools that provide specific capabilities, but not in support of a specific purpose. For example, a spreadsheet program is a general purpose application. It does spreadsheets, but those could be spreadsheets that you use to balance your checkbook, or manage your fantasy football league. Special purpose application software is more limited in what it will do, but it usually goes that one thing much better than a general purpose program. For example, TurboTax (a tab preparation package) is a special purpose application. Sure, it adds and subtracts numbers like a spreadsheet, but you can't use it to track your fantasy football league. It does one thing - prepare tax returns. Yes, you could do the same thing using a spreadsheet (general purpose) program, but it would take a lot more work on your part.

Information Technology A Definition: We use the term information technology or IT to refer to an entire industry. In actuality, information technology is the use of computers and software to manage information. In some companies, this is referred to as Management Information Services (or MIS) or simply as Information Services (or IS). The information technology department of a large company would be responsible for storing information, protecting information, processing the information, transmitting the information as necessary, and later retrieving information as necessary.

multiplexer
In telecommunications and computer networks, multiplexing (also known as muxing) is a method by which multiple analog message signals or digital data streams are combined into one signal over a shared medium. The aim is to share an expensive resource. For example, in telecommunications, several telephone calls may be carried using one wire. Multiplexing originated in telegraphy, and is now widely applied in communications.

The multiplexed signal is transmitted over a communication channel, which may be a physical transmission medium. The multiplexing divides the capacity of the high-level communication channel into several low-level logical channels, one for each message signal or data stream to be transferred. A reverse process, known as demultiplexing, can extract the original channels on the receiver side. A device that performs the multiplexing is called a multiplexer (MUX), and a device that performs the reverse process is called a demultiplexer(DEMUX). Inverse multiplexing (IMUX) has the opposite aim as multiplexing, namely to break one data stream into several streams, transfer them simultaneously over several communication channels, and recreate the original data stream.

General multiplex scheme: the input lines-channels are multiplexed into a single fast line. The demultiplexer receives the multiplexed data stream and extracts the original channels to be transferred.