Management Information Systems: Classic Models New Approaches

Management
Information Systems:
Classic Models
and
New Approaches
Chapter 17
Objectives
• List and describe the classic functions of
managers – planning, organizing, staffing,
directing, and controlling
• Describe the purpose and components of a
management information system (MIS)
• Explain how computer networking and related
software have flattened the classic
management pyramid
Objectives
• Describe how many companies use
employees in task-oriented teams
• Describe the purpose and function of
sophisticated software for top managers
• Explain the problems and solutions related to
managing personal computers
• Explain the concept of total cost of personal
computer ownership
Contents
• Management Functions
• Management Levels
• Information Systems
• Personal Computer Management
• MIS Leads into the Future
Management Functions
Planning
• Get the job
done
• On time
• Within budget
Devise short-range and long-range
plans and set goals to help achieve
the plans
Organizing
How to use resources
• Satisfactorily
Staffing
• Using
available
resources
Directing
Guiding employees to perform their
work
Controlling
Monitoring progress towards goals
Management Levels
• High level (strategic)
– Long-range view
– Planning
• Middle level (tactical)
– Carry out the plan
• Assemble the material
• Hire the resources
– Organize and staff
• Low level (operational)
– Supervisor
– Directing and controlling
Management Levels
• Job titles
– Chief information officer (CIO)
– Director of information services
– Information resource manager
– MIS manager
• Comfortable with
– Computer technology
– Organization’s business
Management Levels
Interaction Among Employees
Traditional hierarchy
• High level manager issues directives to a
group of middle level managers
• Each middle level manager issues directives
to a group of low level managers
• Each low level manager supervises other
employees to see that the work is completed
Management Levels
Interaction Among Employees
Modern Hierarchy
• Dispersion of information via network
– E-mail
– Groupware
• Authority and work of managers has been altered
• Promotes sharing of information
• Decisions that were once management are now open
for comment and change
• Supports team-based and information-driven
organization
Management Levels
Interaction Among Employees
Need new ways to monitor employees
• Selection and training of employees
• Set clear expectations
• Use customer satisfaction to determine
performance
Management Levels
Flattening the pyramid
Information Systems
MIS
Management Information System
DSS Decision Support Systems
EIS
Executive Information Systems
MIS
Management Information System
• Data + Organization
• Set of formal business systems
designed to provide information for an
organization
• Computers are typical components
DSS
Decision Support Systems
• Supplements an MIS
• Pulls information from variety of databases
• Interactive
• Nonroutine decision-making
• Model – mathematical representation of reallife system
• Simulation – using a computer model to
reach a decision about a real-life situation
MIS vs. DSS
• MIS
– Planned reporting
– Standard, scheduled, structured, and
routine
– Constrained by the organizational system
• DSS
– Decision making
– Unstructured and by request
– Immediate and friendly
EIS
Executive Information Systems
• DSS for top-level managers
• How decisions effect entire organization
–
–
–
–
–
–
Overall vision; company goals
Long-term objectives
Organizational structure
Staffing and labor relations
Crisis management
Control of overall operations
• Access to information from external sources
Personal Computers
Management
• Benefits
– Increased productivity
– Independence from MIS department
• Problems
–
–
–
–
–
–
No one in charge of overall purchase of PCs
Incompatibility
Network related issues
Needed data from MIS
Training
Inventory
Personal Computers
Management
Solutions
• Staffing
– Personal Computer Manager
– Network Manager
•
•
•
•
•
Acquisitions policies
Information centers for assistance and training
Use software to control inventory of PCs
Remote access
Consider total cost of ownership (TCO)
Personal Computers
Management
• Personal Computer Manager
– Technology overload – provide guidance to users for purchase
and use
– Data security and integrity – addresses the issues of who has
access to what
– Computer junkies – set guidelines for PC use
• Network Manager
–
–
–
–
–
Operational
Provide methods for sharing
Install software
Backup
Network security
Personal Computers
Management
Manager Characteristics
• MIS background
• Technical knowledge
• Benefits and limitations of computers
Personal Computers
Acquisition
• Standards
– Hardware
– Software
– Data communications
• Limit the number of vendors
Personal Computers
Information Center
• Services
– Software and hardware
selection
– Data access
– Network access
– Training
– Technical assistance
• Easily accessible location
• “User comes first”
Personal Computers
Training
Traditional approach
– Sporadic participation
– Minimal results for
extended training
Better approach
–
–
–
–
–
Initial training
Home-grown gurus
Follow-up support
Involve the workers
Web and CD based
training
Personal Computers
Inventory
• Budgets
• Software
– Count computers
– Determines components
– Determine installed software
Personal Computers
Remote Access
• Equipment needs
• Security concern
• Training
TCO
Total Cost of Ownership
• Initial hardware and software
• Training
• Support
• Upgrading
• Maintenance
• Hardware
• Software extras
• Communications networks
TCO
estimated at
four times
the hardware
costs!
TCO
Reduce the TCO
• Limited Options – standardize the ordering
process including hardware, software, and
options
• Helpful software – counts computers and
determines their components and installed
software in a networked environment
• Hardware and software upgrades – insure
there is justification for an upgrade
Management Information
Systems
Leading Business into the Future