Question

Q12. Read the case study below and answer the questions that follow:

A local property manager only deals with landlords and tenants in the residential and commercial sector. In the commercial sector, the only landlords & tenants accepted are those connected to office spaces. Thus, the property manager prefers to avoid retail spaces and other types of leases that involve high amounts of risk and frequent maintenance and/or repairs.

Q12.b. Explain how a government-approved Municipal Information System would help all stakeholders. Your answer should include:

i. A brief description of Municipal Information Systems.

ii. An explanation of two (2) new services that would be impossible without the

proposed system.

iii. An opinion about how governments can use Municipal Information Systems to

improve the productivity of businesses in the future especially keeping recent situations in mind.

Answer 1

( i)Municipal Information Systems.
The project was started  in the midst of scathing  debate regarding mainframe hold up , the rapid increase of independent computing systems, organizational problems in the delivery of management information systems services, and rapidly changing science and technology.
A strategic planning process tailored to this complex environment was developed and executed, engaging individuals at all levels to effective  needs for information, identify problems with existing systems, suggest organizational changes, and define potential management information systems projects.
In most governments, organizational issues and managerial processes proved more formidable  than technical issues.
The adoption  of technical recommendations proved much easier than changing the organizational culture to take full benefit of new technologies.

(iii)Following are the ways governments can use Municipal Information Systems to improve the productivity of businesses-

-MIS system helps to achieve a higher level of efficiency .

-MIS system improves the quality of decisions.

-MIS system helps to promotes better communications between departments in a workplace.

-MIS system provides a platform to explore different scenarios for various alternatives and economic -environments

-MIS system improves employee productivity

-MIS system strengthens a company's competitive advantage.

-MIS system reveals more data about customers

(ii) The two new services that would be impossible without the proposed system are -

( a)IN SEWERAGE SYSTEM
In order to make an effective MIS for sewerage, it is necessary to identify the potential sources of data in every functional area and create reports needed by all users irrespective of their proficiency in data processing. The following are the main/sub systems of a sewerage organisation from which the reports for MIS can be generated.
Financial Management Information System
The system may include information related to financial accounting such as payroll , revenue management
general ledger ,accounting and funds
Project Management Information System-
This system may include information relevant to engineering planning and design such as: a. construction contracts and monitoring
Human Resources Management Information System
Manpower planning and recruitment , personnel development and training
Material Management Information System
It involves purchasing Inventory control
Operation and Maintenance Management Information System includes  
Renewal and Repair Alerts System of  Sewers , Pumping stations and Sewage treatment plants Management

( b)Urban development and planning
Information Technology sector has forced Municipal Corporations throughout the world to improve their day-to-day functions and services. Best usages are often in the areas of town planning, utility management, socio-economic planning and property taxation. Mostly their planning and functioning are common and similar. Therefore, the potential of introducing Internet and Intranet based IT solutions are huge and repetitive in nature which seems to be very beneficial .