System Information Management
Research Question
How can organizations implement system information management coupled with the development of enhanced telecommunication solutions to streamline various aspects of human life and activity such as to increase productivity?
Part A
Advancement in technology has facilitated the development of information systems and techniques that play an essential role in supporting individuals to increase their productivity and decision making. The introduction of systems information management has served as an influential resource in the provision of relevant information that guides organizations through the implementation of decisions that results in inefficiency in the production process. For instance, research by Lapiedra Alcamí, & Devece Carañana (2012) explains how organizations can apply this technology through spreadsheets and executive systems to reduce human error and solve both formal and informal issues that are inherent in the business environment. In the same manner, Smartsheet (2020) explains how IT teams can manage requests that vary from the resource utilization to the deployment of software to ensure easy and quick execution while collecting, analyzing, and deploying tasks effectively. However, while this technology expedites operations, Brancheau, Janz, & Wetherbe (1996) advises that organizations should be wary of issues evidenced in the implementation of this technology to avoid becoming victims to identity thieves and cyber-crime. In order to resolve issues and prevent the occurrence of new problems, organizations should develop various business skills such as leadership and teamwork while ensuring that information systems personnel remain updated with emerging technologies such as distributed networks, communication-based networks, and various multi-media interfaces to streamline human activities.
Part B
Management Information Systems (MIS) refers to an integrated system that provides essential information to support organizational activities including organization, planning, and control of functions. According to Lapiedra Alcamí, & Devece Carañana (2012), MIS entails automated information systems that are often implemented in organizations to increase efficiency and often entail recognized communication and information channels. The application of MIS in organizations helps to avail data that inform organizational decision making in a manner that enables it to increase profits and reduce waste significantly. Additionally, MIS in organizational management helps to provide a broad analysis and representation of organizational performance and often acts as a planning tool in a manner than emphasizes on organizational strengths and weaknesses while improving performance and illuminating on distinct levels of organizational efficiency (Smartsheet, 2020). This technology has been appreciated in modern organization owing to the fact that MIS provides managers, customers, and departments with information that can be employed to generate information through different MIS data such as to inform essential decisions such as buying pricing, recruitment, marketing, reorganizing, and budgeting. Organizations should develop various business skills such as leadership and teamwork while ensuring that information systems personnel remain updated with emerging technologies – such as distributed networks, communication-based networks, and various multi-media interfaces – alongside the implementation of enhanced information management techniques to streamline human activities and increase productivity.
Research Question
How can organizations implement system information management coupled with the development of enhanced telecommunication solutions to streamline various aspects of human life and activity such as to increase productivity?
Information Systems
Information systems entail the collection, processing, use, and dissemination of information in a bid to solve problems and identify answers to organizational issues. It is this software that enables us to analyze and organize data with the aim of turning raw data into essential information that can assist in organizational decision making. There are different sets of information systems which include:
- The transactions processing system (TPS)
- Management Information System (MIS)
- Decision Support System (DSS)
- Strategic Information System (SIS)
- Executive Support Systems (EIS)
- Accounting Information System (AIS)
Although all these types of information play influential roles in the achievement of organization goals and objectives, Berisha-Shaqiri (2014) explains that MIS is the most popular and often entails receiving of internal data the OPS (Operation processing system) which gets summarized in a useful and meaningful manner for use in management reporting and in operations that entail the performance of administrative tasks such as decision making and controlling. As such, the application of this system often assists in the enhancement of presentation needs, and reduction of speculation involved resolving issues at distinct organizational levels.
Application of MIS
Management information systems which are also known as information management systems are often implemented in organizations with the aim of supporting operations, processes, IT, and intelligence due to their ability to manage information and move data effectively. They form a basic component of information management in that they produce data-driven reports that enable organizations to make right and timely decisions. According to Smartsheet (2020), most organizations and individuals often use MIS in their operations without their knowledge. For instance, filtering through an option of choices during a tendering process entails the use of MIS technology. In the same manner, the hiring manager during a recruitment process, salespeople, and the CIO often engage in making of reorganizational shifts among other essential activities in a manner that increases accuracy, profitability, and speed of operation.
An organization that has improved business applications has increased the chances of making improved decisions. According to Lapiedra Alcamí, & Devece Carañana (2012), organizations should begin by examining the aspects of the organization that works perfectly in order to improve the efficiency of MIS in decision making. For instance, the management should adjust the supply chain management systems when the MIS reports show increasing sales. In the same manner, if the reports show low productivity for human resources with increased profit, the management should consider eliminating particular parameters from the HRM system.
Business growth and development are dependent on the decisions made by managers and consequent actions taken. With MIS, managers can make decisions in a manner that provides relevant and timely information with regard to the execution of activities at distinct levels of operation. Rapid development in telecommunication technology and information technology has streamlined most aspects of human activity and life. Through the efficient organization of such technology, it is possible to achieve the accuracy of decision making at different levels of management. MIS can be employed to organize an optimal database in a manner that provides high opportunities for qualitative and quick manipulation. According to Lapiedra Alcamí, & Devece Carañana (2012), the use of computer systems and particularly MIS helps decision-makers by providing accurate and necessary information. Additionally, the system can make decisions independently in continuously repeated situations and where there are no changes in the deployment process. The use of this system facilitates the creation of information about normal business activities that facilitates staffing, organizing, planning, controlling, and leading. Since managers have the sole responsibility to set goals and ensure their consequent achievement, they should make decisions that provide relevant and timely information with regard to the performance of activities in every level of management.
The implementation of modern technologies provides organizations with new and improved solutions for companies and businesses that create work surroundings that are based on enhanced communication between people and the computer, an aspect that results in improved execution of tasks and operations. With improve relationships, an organization benefits from greater creativity, enhanced interpersonal cooperation, improved decision making on problems, and greater flexibility. Solutions that are well-presented often impacts the destiny of workers and their ability to perform both intellectual and physical works. The use of MIS enables managers to make decisions that are followed by cost-benefit analysis thus enabling them to maximize profits while minimizing consequent costs. Research by Smartsheet (2020), shows that MIS also provides managers with stable support to make decisions based on systematic analysis and methods. With MIS comes decision support systems (DSS) which are a computer program application with the ability to analyze and present business data in a manner that enables users to make their decisions with higher precision and accuracy. This system is often characterized by a database with flexible implementation, output formats, and a collection of different deployment models. As such, the use of MIS helps to eliminate an array of shortcomings evidenced in management information systems.
MIS provides computer supports that expedites the decision-making process especially when an individual is handling structural problems through an effective connection of data decisions and models. Understanding of MIS creates a stable foundation to increase competitiveness and efficiency of operation
In addition to enhanced decision making, efficient application of MIS often results in improved productivity, competitive advantage, and enhanced organizational efficacy.
Productivity Improvement
Improved productivity often results when work is executed with fewer resources and improved efficiency. According to organization, Janz, & Wetherbe (1996), productivity often increases when there is an occurrence of improved work processes. For instance, the use of an information system can replace a few workers while expediting the work process and reduces the resources used in production.
Effectiveness
MIS often results in improved effectiveness due to improved ability to execute operations in an improved manner in terms of resolving inherent issues, expediting the process, and the total resources used. With MIS, an organization can detect problematic issues and make the necessary corrections before they cause further problems. With information systems, an organization can evaluate inherent situations and choose the most profitable solution that can enhance operational efficiency.
Competitive Advantage
Organizations that have improved operational efficiency and productivity are likely to benefit from higher competing ability due to the availability of resources. MIS enables organizations to benefit from competitive advantage by employing different strategies including product, cost, service, and differentiation strategies. An organization with the ability to utilize its skilled workforce, acquire cheap materials, and efficient operations to increase value to the consumers, an aspect that creates high preference compared to other organizations. According to Berisha-Shaqiri (2014), an organization that has enhanced the effectiveness and efficiency of using MIS have a higher bargaining power due to increased productivity and operational efficiency.
In addition to the above-named benefits, most organizations often implement MIS in a bid to acquire a broad overview of its operations. With this system, managers have the ability to get feedback on performance and maximize their benefits by identifying the beneficial and non-beneficial aspects of the operation. With this information, managers have the ability to undertake a comparison of results on performance through the identification of weaknesses and strengths in performance and plan (Navaz, 2013). As such, companies can drive improved workflow in a manner that results in an enhanced alignment of the operational processes to customer needs through the improved decision making and operational efficiency. Promoting operational efficiency in the upper levels of management creates a tricking effect to the employees, an aspect that encourages them to provide additional inputs to foster organizational success.
Developments in Management Information Systems
In order to remain competitive and productive, an organization should endeavor to understand the past and future trends of development in MIS. Organizations that plan to implement management information systems should understand that the trend of management information systems including past developments and future trends in order to make the necessary investments. This is important since MIS involves software and computers that are constantly changing; failure to understand these changes can cause the loss of resources owing to inherent human errors and losses associated with obsoleteness.
The industry has been characterized by an array of trends such as issues related to cybersecurity, management service providers, and access to the software. Unlike in the past, recent advancement in technology have provided powerful software that is now being used in MISs and were available previously to developed organizations only. Application service providers have evolved such that it has become possible to rent software packages as well as systems management services, which expand with changes in demands. The growth in technology has posed significant security issues owing to advancements in cyber threats, malware, data theft, and unanticipated attacks.
Future changes in technology such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and blockchain will affect the operational efficiency of MIS.
Artificial Intelligence:
The introduction of artificial intelligence improved machine efficiency in that machines become smarter due to improved ability to learn and solve problems. Advancement in deep learning and machine learning have make narrow AI or AI for particular tasks valuable for businesses (Moreira Nascimento et al., 2018). In order to increase efficiency in the businesses, MIS departments should consider the implementation of artificial intelligence such as narrow AI to improve operational efficiency.
Internet of Things (IoT)
The ability of organizations to place sensors on both animate and inanimate objects has created an environment that allows for sense and respond. Taking this technology into consideration would help to increase operational efficiency. The use of IoT will enable physical objects to receive and send data such that business models can be tuned in a manner that enables them to make use of such behavior.
Blockchain
This is another technology that has increased productivity in businesses and should be implemented in MIS departments to expedite its operations through the provision of proof for data integrity and will allow the creation of multiple signatures and distribution of information in different systems.
Data Mining Tools
Data mining tools in MIS will assist in the collection of information regarding economic trends and consumer purchases. This aspect will enable the management to translate such information to directions and goals for use in future business operations (Moreira Nascimento et al., 2018). MIS software has forecasting models that will enable an organization to identify consumer markets and project them for profitable operations.
Conclusion
References
Berisha-Shaqiri, A. (2014). Management of Information System and Decision-Making. Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 3(2), 19. doi:10.5901/ajis.2014.v3n2p19
Brancheau, J. C., Janz, B. D., & Wetherbe, J. C. (1996). Key issues in information systems management: 1994-95 SIM Delphi results. MIS quarterly, 225-242. https://www.jstor.org/stable/249479
Lapiedra Alcamí, R., & Devece Carañana, C. A. (2012). Introduction to management information systems.
Smartsheet (2020). Management Information Systems: In Business, in Academia, and in The Future. Retrieved from https://www.smartsheet.com/management-information-systems
Navaz, V. M. (2013). Concepts and Applications of Management Information Systems. Oman Chapter of Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review, 34(975), 1-10. https://platform.almanhal.com/Files/2/41942
Moreira Nascimento, A., V Cortez da Cunha, M. A., de Souza Meirelles, F., Scornavacca, E., & V de Melo, V. (2018). A Literature Analysis of Research on Artificial Intelligence in Management Information System (MIS). https://aisel.aisnet.org/amcis2018/MetaResearch/Presentations/5/