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Management Information Systems

Notes It has been described as, “MIS ‘lives’ in the space that intersects technology and business. MIS
combines tech with business to get people the information they need to do their jobs better/
faster/smarter. Information is the lifeblood of all organizations - now more than ever. MIS
professionals work as systems analysts, project managers, systems administrators, etc.,
communicating directly with staff and management across the organization.”
An ‘MIS’ is a planned system of the collecting, processing, storing and disseminating data in the
form of information needed to carry out the functions of management. In a way it is a documented
report of the activities those were planned and executed. According to Philip Kotler “A marketing
information system consists of people, equipment, and procedures to gather, sort, analyze, evaluate, and
distribute needed, timely, and accurate information to marketing decision makers.”
The terms MIS and information system are often confused. Information systems include systems
that are not intended for decision making. That area of study should not be confused with
computer science. IT service management is a practitioner-focused discipline. MIS has also some
differences with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) as ERP incorporates elements that are not
necessarily focused on decision support.
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.

Figure 2.1: Management Information System

Data collection 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.); day-to-day
assistance in a Department and closer contact with the rest of the world.

Did u know? The area of study called MIS is sometimes referred to, in a restrictive sense, as
information technology management.
2.2.4 Executive Support System (ESS)

Executive Support Systems (ESS) supply the necessary tools to senior management. The decisions
at this level of the company are usually never structured and could be described as “educated
guesses.” Executives rely as much, if not more so, on external data than they do on data internal
to their organization. Decisions must be made in the context of the world outside the organization.
The problems and situations senior executives face are very fluid, always changing, so the
system must be flexible and easy to manipulate.

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