Question

How would you classify the MIS departments of comparative companies? Do these classifications have a significant meaning or impact that is relevant to company performance? How and why? Based on your experience, how do organizational structure and strategy relate to MIS needs? What do you foresee is the difference between IT and MIS? Are both of these terms relevant and necessary? How would you measure the effectiveness of your company’s IT and MIS investment? If you are currently not employed, what measures would you expect to use and why?

Answer 1

I would classify Management Information Systems (MIS) as a company’s information HUB. It is the coalition of computer systems, hardware, people, and procedures that come together to process and store information. It takes all the information gathered by departments, reports, and observations and puts it together in a way that can be sourced and used. This information can be used to find trends and make prompt accurate decisions. The information can be classified in many different ways based on what a company is looking at or for. Examples of this are an Office Automation System that helps track general and specific office tasks. Or a Transaction Processing System that helps collect data and produce reports.

                Structure and strategy in business are separate but related elements. One often feeds off of the other. Most often strategy is the driving force which then dictated the structure used. The structure often dictates roles and responsibilities within a company. Strategies often change based on the direction a business wants to go. IT and MIS are separate and vital components of a company. IT is a much-used aspect of MIS in that without the resources available through IT MIS would have a harder job providing needed information.

                Measuring the effectiveness of an investment, be itIT, MIS, or any other product or services is the same. A company would look at the original investment and compare it to the output being generated. Was the information used effectively and did the cost saved outweigh the cost incurred.