What exactly is MIS and why do people use MIS? Does MIS relate to what you do? Or do you, in some way, use an MIS? These are just a few questions many people may wonder that will be answered in more detail in this essay. I feel its important to understand MIS and what MIS does especially since the world is moving to a more computer based society.
MIS stands for Management Information System, which means exactly what says, it's an Information System used by Management. Now, the definition of an Information System is a set of interrelated components that collect, process, store, and distribute information to support decision making and control in an organization. It also helps managers and workers analyze problems, visualize complex subjects, and create new products. .
There are 6 major types of Information Systems that are in an organization: Executive Support Systems, Management Support Systems, Decision Support Systems, Knowledge Work Systems, Office Automation Systems, and Transaction Processing Systems. These 6 types of Information Systems serve the different levels of functionality of an organization. .
Organizations and Environments have a reciprocal relationship between each other. Therefore, Information Systems plays a critical role in helping organizations act on their environment. For example, if something changes in the environment the Information System can act upon that change and let the organization know how to react and what they should do next. .
Information Systems plays a strategic role in the life of an organization. For example the entire cash flow of most of the Fortune 500 companies is linked to information systems. The relationship IS and the organization becomes critical when management starts to plan for the future. Since computer technology costs have been declining, the power of Information Systems has begun to play a larger role in an organization. While Internet is growing and becoming very popular, organizations can store, collect, and send Information all around the world.
