Lessons 1-2, Management Information Systems-2012

Lessons 1-2

Management Information Systems-2012

Syllabus

Course specification

Management information systems (MIS) is a field devoted to the development, maintenance, management, and study of computer-based information systems in organizations. Management information systems professionals analyze business processes, and then design, develop, implement and manage the information systems that support organizational needs. In contrast to the more technical areas of engineering or computer science, MIS professionals spend less time behind a computer screen, and more time with people helping them integrate information technology solutions and business processes to efficiently and effectively meet the information needs of their businesses.

COURSE OUTLINE

Global competitive pressures and the fast pace of innovations in information technology have made information a critical resource within the panies that have recognized this have achieved a sustained and significant advantage through the effective implementation of information systems. The exploitation of these systems is rapidly becoming a major determinant in the success or failure of a business and few companies can afford to ignore them. Consequently, today's managers must be able to understand the impact of information systems in their respective fields, as they will inevitably not only be involved in using them, but also be required to participate in their planning development and implementation. The course has a managerial rather than technical orientation. It emphasizes the application of information systems in a wide variety of business settings and focuses on the role of managers in ensuring that these systems support and integrate the various business processes within the company.

Part 1 of the course (Information Systems in Organizations) sets the stage by underlining the strategic role of information systems in organizations. It also presents the various types of information systems and their applications in different decision making environments. The positive and negative impacts of information systems are described through several real-world examples.

Part 2 (Information Systems Planning and Development) introduces the methods and tools used for planning and building information systems. It enables students to understand and evaluate the spectrum of approaches for information systems development. The phases in systems planning, building and implementation are discussed in detail using a life-cycle approach.

Part 3 ( Managing Information Systems) stresses the issues involved in managing information systems. It includes a review of quality issues, determinants of system success and failure, and system vulnerability and abuse. Lastly the ethical and social dimensions of information systems are described.

ASSESSMENT AND GRADING:

Students will be evaluated based on one midterm test (20%), case assignments, attendance and participation (20%) , reearch project presentation (30%) and a final exam (30%).

Recommended Text: Laudon, K. C., Laudon, J. P., Management Information Systems: Managing the Digital Firm, 10th Edition, Prentice Hall, 2007.

COURSE SCHEDULE

Week	Topics	Date
1	Lesson 1. Introduction to Information Systems; Data, Information and Knowledge.	15.02.2012
	Lesson 2. Information Systems: Challenges and Opportunities The New Role of Information Systems in Organizations
2	Lesson 3. Key Systems Applications in the Organization	22.02.2012
	Lesson 4. Open System Interconnection reference Model (OSI/ISO) Types of Information Systems. Local area networking
3	Lesson 5. Internetworking. TCP/IP Protocol Suit	29.02.2012
	Lesson 6. Internet application and services. FTP, SMTP, HTTP
4	Lesson 7. Global Information Infrastructure	07.03.2012
	Lesson 8. Multi media networks
5	MID-TERM TEST	14.03.2012
6	Lesson 9. Hyper Text Mark Up Language (HTML) basics	21.03.2012
	Lesson 10. Web page design
7	Lesson 11. Audio/Video Internet applications and conferences	28.03.2012
	Lesson 12. SKYPE on line communication
8	Lesson 13. Enhancing Management Decision Making	04.04.2012
	Lesson 14. Decision Support Systems Executive Support Systems
9	Lesson 15. Research Project paper presentation	11.04.2012
	Lesson 16. Research Project paper presentation
10	FINAL EXAM	20.04.2012
	FINAL EXAM

Related studies in computer technology:
• Computer communications
• Computer science
• Digital technology and culture
• Networks and distributed systems
• Software engineering

Careers in Management Information Systems

As an MIS professional, you can work anywhere in the world for any kind of organization. You can choose from fields such as consulting, public accounting, information technology, aerospace, e-commerce, insurance, energy, and security. Graduates build successful careers as consultants, business analysts, systems analysts, technology and risk assurance auditors, network and systems administrators, project managers, and computer training and support personnel. The U. S. Department of Labor forecasts that employment of information systems managers is expected to increase 36 percent or more through 2012. America’s CareerInfoNet reports that 7 of the 10 fastest growing occupations requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher are computer related, emphasizing the value of the skills provided by the MIS program at WSU. Many of WSU's graduates seek positions in the Northwest, although some accept jobs throughout the world. Employers who have hired graduates from the MIS program include Andersen Consulting, AT&T Wireless, Boeing, Eddie Bauer, Hewlett Packard, IBM, Intel Corp., Itron, Microsoft, Motorola, Principal Financial Group, SAFECO, U. S. Air Force, U. S. Bank, U. S. West, and Weyerhaeuser.

Information Systems (IS) is historically defined as a 'bridge' between the business world and computer science, but this discipline is slowly evolving towards a well-defined science. Typically IS include colleagues, procedures, data, software, and hardware (by degree) that are used to gather and analyze information. Specifically computer-based information systems are complementary networks of hardware/software that people and organizations use to collect, filter, process, create, & distribute data.[ Today, Computer Information System(s) or CIS is often a minor track within the computer science field pursuing the study of computers and algorithmic processes, including their principles, their software & hardware designs, their applications, and their impact on society. Overall, an IS discipline emphasizes functionality over design.

In a broad sense, the term Information Systems refers to the interaction between algorithmic processes and technology. This interaction can occur within or across organizational boundaries. An information system is not only the technology an organization uses, but also the way in which the organizations interact with the technology and the way in which the technology works with the organization’s business processes. Information systems are distinct from information technology (IT) in that an information system has an information technology component that interacts with the processes components.

An Information System consists of four parts which include: procedures, software, hardware, and information or data, which are essentially the same. There are various types of information systems, for example: transaction processing systems, office systems, decision support systems, knowledge management systems, database management systems, and office information systems. Critical to most information systems are information technologies, which are typically designed to enable humans to perform tasks for which the human brain is not well suited, such as: handling large amounts of information, performing complex calculations, and controlling many simultaneous processes.

Information technologies are a very important and malleable resource available to executives. Many companies have created a position of Chief Information Officer (CIO) that sits on the executive board with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Technical Officer (CTO).The CTO may also serve as CIO, and vice versa. The Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), who focuses on information security within an organization, normally reports to the CIO.

In this regard, information system professionals and their associates have strong analytical and critical thinking skills to implement large-scale business models within any organization. Although solving problems within an organization is a common practice, IS professionals have the ability to automate these solutions via programmable technologies without violating ethical principles. As an end-result, IS professionals must have a broad business and real world perspective to implement technology solutions that enhance organizational performance.

In computer security, an information system is described by the following components :

·  Repositories, which hold data permanently or temporarily, such as buffers, RAM, hard disks, cache, etc. Often data stored in repositories is managed through a database management system.

·  Interfaces, which support the interaction between humans and computers, such as keyboards, speakers, scanners, printers, etc.

·  Channels, which connect repositories, such as routers, cables, etc..

Types of information systems

The 'classic' view of Information systems found in the textbooks of the 1980s was of a pyramid of systems that reflected the hierarchy of the organization, usually Transaction processing systems at the bottom of the pyramid, followed by Management information systems, Decision support systems and ending with Executive information systems at the top. However, as new information technologies have been developed, new categories of information systems have emerged, some of which no longer fit easily into the original pyramid model. Some examples of such systems are:

· Data warehouses

· Enterprise resource planning

· Enterprise systems

· Expert systems

· Global information system

· Office Automation

· Geographic information system

Information systems career pathways:

· Information systems strategy

· Information systems management

· Information systems development

· Information systems security

· Information systems iteration

There are a wide variety of career paths in the information systems discipline. "Workers with specialized technical knowledge and strong communications skills will have the best prospects. Workers with management skills and an understanding of business practices and principles will have excellent opportunities, as companies are increasingly looking to technology to drive their revenue."

Information systems development

Information technology departments in larger organizations tend to strongly influence information technology development, use, and application in the organizations, which may be a business or corporation. A series of methodologies and processes can be used in order to develop and use an information system. Many developers have turned and used a more engineering approach such as the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) which is a systematic procedure of developing an information system through stages that occur in sequence. An Information system can be developed in house (within the organization) or outsourced. This can be accomplished by outsourcing certain components or the entire system. A specific case is the geographical distribution of the development team (Offshoring, Global Information System).

System development is done in stages which include:

Problem recognition and specification Information gathering Requirements specification for the new system System design System construction System implementation Review and maintenance

Information systems development methodology

Information systems development methodology or ISDM is a tool kit of ideas, approaches, techniques and tools which system analysts use to help them translate organisational needs into appropriate Information Systems; An ISDM is “recommended collection of philosophies, phases, procedures, rules, techniques, tools, documentation, management, and training for developers of Information Systems”. (Avison and Fitzgerald, 1988)

Information systems research

Information systems research is generally concerned with the study of the effects of information systems on the behavior of individuals, groups, and organizations. Notable publication outlets for information systems research are the journals Management Information Systems Quarterly, Information Systems Research, Journal of the Association for Information Systems, and Communications of the Association for Information Systems.

Since information systems is an applied field, industry practitioners expect information systems research to generate findings that are immediately applicable in practice. However, that is not always the case. Often information systems researchers explore behavioral issues in much more depth than practitioners would expect them to do. This may render information systems research results difficult to understand, and has led to criticism.[

Home task:

1.  Make a glossary of lessons key words definitions) – 1 page on the blank form.

2.  Make the summary of lessons 1-2 – 1 page on the blank form.

3.  Create a list of 10 related fields for MIS discipline.