MODULE 3 - CASE

Module 3 - Case



Module 3 - Case

Introduction

Early concepts of a management information system incorporated support for analysis and decision making, applications called decision support systems. Such support was originally intended for individual decision making but was later extended to decision making by groups. Communications applications were developed to improve collaborative work of all types. Personal computers and workstations (q.v.) have provided significant processing and communications capabilities for every worker. These developments may be described as the use of information technology in support of “knowledge work.” As defined in Davis and Naumann (1997), “knowledge work is human mental work performed to generate useful information. In doing it, knowledge workers access data, use knowledge, employ mental models, and apply significant concentration and attention.” (Laudon, 1998, 30)

Examples of knowledge workers include financial analysts, systems analysts (q.v.), managers, accountants, and designers. Valued for their knowledge and expertise, they either have the knowledge required for their work or know where to find it. The activities of knowledge workers receive significant benefits from information technology. Some examples of knowledge work are scanning and monitoring information sources, searching for information, formulating plans and making decisions, assigning responsibilities, organizing events, scheduling activities and resource use, authoring, performing evaluations, decision making, persuading others to adopt a plan or decision, and motivating behavioral changes.

One of the well developed areas of information system support for knowledge work is decision making. In planning and designing decision support applications, MIS developers have applied the Simon framework for decision making. This consists of three phases: intelligence, design, and choice.

Discussion and Analysis

The intelligence phase is discovering problems and opportunities. The MIS support for this phase requires access to external data in order to scan the external environment plus database access to search internal data. The search processes can be both structured using predefined search and analysis processes or unstructured scanning and unique analyses. Adaptive analysis through use of neural networks (q.v.) may aid in identifying shifts in demands and other key factors affecting an organization. The decision design phase—for generation of alternatives—involves inventing, developing, and analyzing possible courses of action. The MIS support for decision design consists of statistical, analytical, and model-building software. The final step in the Simon model is choice. The MIS support for choice consists of various decision models, sensitivity analysis, and choice procedures.

The management information systems or information management function is a specialized organization function with responsibility to plan, design, build, maintain, operate, and manage the information infrastructure and applications. This includes acquisition and management of both internal staff and external resources. It also includes technical, advisory, and educational support to aid users in applying appropriate technology to their tasks.

The major activities of the MIS function are:

Provide input to development of organizational strategy and plans for use of information technology to achieve competitive goals and to support organization objectives.

Development and maintenance of the MIS plan and budget for the organization.

Design, development, operation, and maintenance of infrastructures and support systems that enable organizational use of information ...