Management Information Systems and it's importance in today's world.

I have been to two Sessions in a (MIS) class and my concept of Management Information System has totally been expanded. My fiirst impression of MIS were computer programs and using the computer. Although it is, I have learnt that it entails skills which are non routine and which will make you more marketable in a technological world. These skills include abstract reasoning, systems thinking, collaboration, and experimentation. Abstract reasoning for example is the the ablility to give deep thought about something such as tends and statistics, for example there is a sensor that is placed on a busy roadway which is connected to computer recorder to check the frequency of cars during particular days of the week. This instrument is placed on the roadway to record trend of vehicle movement during days of the week and weekends to do a study. This study can determine and justify a project of constructing an overpass or a mass rail system in a country. After the evaluation it can show how inputs and outputs have a connection for example, with the installation of the overpass how it will reduce trafic congestion and increase productivity, this is called systems thinking. Then collaboration is reqiuire with different stake holders to receive feedback. Then there is experimentation with alternatives for example instead of an overpass an experient with a roundabout for elemination of traffic lights can be another alternative.

I have also learnt that MIS is the use and development of information systems which will assist businesses to acheive their goals.

According to Kroenke author of the book "Using MIS" information system (IS) is a group of componets comprising hardare, software, data, procedures and people that interact to produce inforamtion. There is the computer side comprising the hardware and the software and there is the human side comprising procedures and people using the data or raw facts to produce information.

Also, it is important that the information being used is accurate, timely, relevant, sufficent, and worth its cost. For example, from the study mentioned early of the number of vehicles passing through a street at a particular time, the information needs to be accurate because it is essential to make a correct decision on the type and size of overpass or roundabout to help reduce trafic congestion. The information also needs to be timely which does not necessarly means fast, for example covering a sufficent period of time to capture an accurate picture of the volume of vehicles moving through the streets. Relevant and sufficent information is also important because information can be very broad which may not be important to what is needed. FInally, the information must be worth its cost, for example, a study as metioned above might be very costly but the benefits in increase productivity and increase income for a country may be worth its while.

MIS is indeed very interesting and intriguing and I am looking forward for futher insights into how it is important and necessary in the business and managerial world.