Management Information Systems

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Management Information Systems

• MBA (II) Final Semester
• Lectures 4,5,6
• Course Lecturer Farhan Mir

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Lecture 4,5,6

• Systems Models
• (Concepts Case Studies)

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Lecture Administration

• Review from first week
• Questions regarding task 1
• Systems
• Definitions
• Examples
• Models
• Need for Models
• Types
• Case Studies
• Caulfield Outback Tours
• Terrorism Information System

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Review from Week 1

• Information Systems
• An organized combination of people, hardware,
  software, networks and data resources that
  collect, transforms, and disseminates information
  in the organization. James
  OBrien (1998).
• Management Information Systems
• Above definition plus..Systems that provide
  people with information relating to
  organizational operation, to support their
  Decision-Making activities
• Two Crucial Activities
• Information Management
• Management Reporting

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Understanding the nature of information

unstructured, uninformed facts
To conceive of knowledge as a collection of
information seems to rob the concept of all of
its life... Knowledge resides in the user and not
in the collection. It is how the user reacts to a
collection of information that matters (Experience
)
Information is a difference that makes a
difference
Data
Information
Knowledge
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Various Information Systems

• TPS (Transaction Processing Systems)
• MIS (Management Information Systems)
• MRS (Management Reporting Systems)
• DSS (Decision Support Systems)
• EIS (Executive Information Systems)
• SIS (Strategic Information Systems)
• KMS (Knowledge Management Systems)
• OIS (Office Information Systems)

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IS in Organizations
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IS Perspectives Goals

• IS Perspectives
• Operational activities
• Management support
• KM
• Networking and e-activities
• Objectives Goals
• Operational Efficiency
• Functional Effectiveness
• Customer Service
• Product Creation Enhancement
• Competitive Advantage
• Communication and Networking
• Control Feedback

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Contemporary Issues

• IS Theory seems to be still in evolution
• People/Management a trouble area
• Keeping yourself updated (choice of technologies)
• Investment Analysis for IS
• Interaction between IT and other functional areas
• Career Development
• For us as Academic participants (Teachers
  Students)
• Controversial area of study (Hype another factor)
• Still the most demanded course in field of IT
• Have a look at some debates
• http//www.csc.com/features/2001/21.shtml
• http//www.csc.com/features/2002/22.shtml

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Other Challenges

• The challenge of IS planning
• The challenge of time required for successful
  organizational learning about IT limits the
  practical speed of change
• The challenge of managing disruptive technologies
  (e.g. the Internet)
• The challenge of developing competencies for
  harnessing IT
• The challenge of remaining ethical
• The challenge of information security

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Counter Strategies

• ??????????? (More Questions than answers)
• Circumstances might change from situation to
  situation and organization to organization
• Continuous search for better IS options
• Knowledge about IS issues/strategies is more
  crucial than having the latest technology
• Recommendations
• Analysis of the IS decisions will require same
  care and deep thinking as done for other business
  and functional problems/situations
• Project Management

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Systems

• A system is made up of a number of parts combined
  in a particular way to do something useful. We
  think of the combined parts as a single thing and
  we give it a name.
• Wheels, axles, pedals, gears, chain, seat and
• handlebars are combined to form a single whole
• we call a bicycle. A bike is a system when all
  the
• parts are connected correctly because it allows
  the rider to move from one place to another more
  easily.

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Systems

• Systematic
• Words like Arrangements, Coordination
• Objectives of Systems (clear definition,
  optimization)
• What is a System?
• Interrelated Elements that collectively work to
  achieve a common goal
• Physical Elements
• Logical constitution
• System Environment (internal Vs. external
  influences)
• Types
• Open Vs. Closed
• For a look at a simple system, go through the
  link
• http//www.geog.ouc.bc.ca/physgeog/contents/4b.htm
  l

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Systems..

• Examples
• Universities
• Departments
• Staff
• Courses
• Hostels etc.
• Environment
• Logical Arrangements
• Class Room
• Whiteboard
• Chairs, Tables
• Technologies (projectors)
• Teachers
• Students
• Non-physical Things (Guess what could be?)

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System Models

• What is a Model?
• Presentation of real world elements and the
  relationship among them
• Porters five forces Model, Management levels
  Model etc.
• Why we need Models
• Types (General Vs Specific)
• Graphical
• Mathematical
• Narrative
• Physical
• Examples
• Organizations general model
• Strategic Planning Models
• DSS (utilizing models modeling techniques)

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Case Study 1

• Caulfield Outback Tours
• Australian Company that arranges tours throughout
  Australian Outback
• Started as a small company with restricted assets
  and few Location Options.
• Gradually expanded its operations and now
  arranging tours for multiple locations with
  expended facilities
• The target customers are basically Students from
  Universities (especially Monash Uni. Caulfield
  Campus)

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Case Study 2

• Terrorism Information System
• Program to detect, classify and identify Foreign
  terrorism in US
• Eventually support timely action in case of
  terrorism attacks
• In case of an event, Analysis support to detect
  past patterns for a similar attach
• Policy Making for Future course of action
• Have a look at Web for further details
  http//www.darpa.mil/iao/TIASystems.htm

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Conclusion Recommendations

• Organization need to develop Systematic Approach
• To Clearly identify related components and
  influences
• Rearrange components and their relationship to
  achieve maximum optimization
• Models are useful way to
• Express complex systems
• Both qualitative and quantitative modeling tools
  help in better understanding about general and
  specific situations
• System Models often utilized to represent the
  complete picture (the whole situation)
• System Development one clear example
• Decision systems often requires modeling support

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Another Case

• Systems interact with each other and work in
  collaboration to achieve overall effectiveness,
  have a look at an Airport system and supporting
  subsystems

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References

• Charles Parker, Thomas Case. (2000). Management
  Information Systems Action Strategy. (2nd
  Ed). Chapter 3
• Geographical Systems Systems and the dynamics of
  their components. Web http//www.geog.ouc.bc.ca/p
  hysgeog/contents/4b.html
• Terrorism Information System Terrorism
  Information Awareness Program Web
  http//www.darpa.mil/iao/TIASystems.htm