The Computer Revolution/MIS/MIS

definition

The managment information system was designed to provide timely and effective information to support planning and control of managment. The MIS system is used to make decisions, solve problems, supervise activities, and track progress. Information requirements are predefined for structured decisions. This system generates three different types of information:

   1. Detailed information 
      Confirms transaction processing activities
   2. Summary information
      Consolidates data into a format that an individual can review quickly and easily
   3. Exception information
      Filters data to report information that is outside of a normal condition

Benefits of MIS

• easy record keeping
• rapid report generation
• simple integration
• information management
• Sophisticated Security
• expanded E-commerce
• Maximize consistent information retrieval and reporting
• Increase workforce productivity
• Improve system response times and availability
• Enhance system maintainability
• help managers make better decisions
• improve project management, risk management, estimation, requirements management, supplier agreement management, measurement and analysis, quality assurance, configuration management, process definition, peer reviews and testing.

These benefits above are achievable with the right tools and personnel that has in-depth knowledge of human and organizational issues surrounding computer use such as:

• Designing computer systems for maximum usability and human productivity
• Interpersonal communication using computers
• Conducting and tracking business transactions with computers
• Supporting teamwork via computers
• Using computers to improve decisions
• Managing organizational knowledge

Background

Management information systems do not have to be computerized, but with today's large, multinational corporations, computerization is a must for a business to be successful. However, management information systems began with simple manual systems such as customer databases on index cards. As early as 1642, the French mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal invented the first mechanical adding machine so that figures could be added to provide information. Almost two hundred years later, Charles Babbage, a professor of mathematics at Cambridge University in England, wanted to make a machine that would compute mathematical tables. He attempted to build a computing machine during the 1880s. He failed because his ideas were beyond his technical capabilities, not because the idea was flawed. Babbage is often called the father of the computer. With the advent of the computer, management information systems became automated.

In the late 1890s, because of the efforts of Herman Hollerith, who created a punch-card system to tabulate the data for the 1890 census, it was possible to begin to provide data-processing equipment. The punch card developed by Hollerith was later used to form a company to provide data-processing equipment. This company evolved into International Business Machines (IBM). Mainframe computers were used for management information systems from the 1940s, 50s, 60s, and up until the 1970s. In the 1970s, personal computers were first built by hobbyists. Then Apple computer developed one of the first practical personal computers. In the early 1980s, IBM developed its PC, and since then, the personal computer industry has mush roomed. Almost every management information system revolves around some kind of computer hardware and software.

Management information systems are be coming more important, and MIS personnel are more visible than in the 1960s and 1970s, when they were hidden away from the rest of the company and performed tasks behind closed doors. So remote were some MIS personnel from the operations of the business that they did not even know what products their companies made. This has changed because the need for an effective management information system is of primary concern to the business organization. Managers use MIS operations for all phases of management, including planning, organizing, directing, and controlling.

retrieved from http://www.answers.com/topic/management-information-system on March 13, 2007

Type of MIS System

One type of MIS System to help track transactions and detailed reports is Sage 300 Trade Specialty. This system provides accounting, service management, procurement, estimating, and detailed reporting of all departments to analyze entire business activity. A company can monitor their financial status based on Sage’s ability to track with a purchase order system that integrates with the accounting function to bill and pay invoices. This system even allows an estimating module that can allow the company to monitor their profitability of a given project, again which integrates with the accounting function of the software to provide detailed summaries of a company’s profitability and revenue. http://na.sage.com/sage-300-trade-specialty