MGS 351 Test 1MIS: Management Information Systems. Identifying the information that is needed for effective decisionmaking in organizations. - Developing information systems to satisfy those needs. - How do we create systems to help employees make good decisions?- MIS is using technology to create business value. - How do we pick technologies and implement them so our company becomes profitable. - Goal of business: profit- Makes business more efficient - MIS bridges the gap between business and technical minds. - MIS professionals see where the technology fits in the organization and where it does not.Information Systems (IS): a set of interrelated components that collect (or retrieve), process, store, and distribute information to support decision making and control in an organization. - Quality control, monitor things. Make sure things are running as they should. - Activities in an ISInput: DataProcessOutput: Information^---------------Feedback--------------^Managerial Levels: Executive Managers: long- range strategic decisions about procedures and services. Middle Managers: carry out the programs and plans of executive management. Operational Managers: monitor the firm’s daily activityNon-management employees: make on the job decisions. * need to build different IS for different levels in management. (they have different needs) Data: collection of unorganized facts. - Accurate data must be transformed into information to make good decisions. Information: data that has been processed into a useful form for decision-making. Information Processing Cycle: input (data) process  output (information)  storage Ex: Data- survey for class. Pile of responses in the front of the room. Process- find an average for responses Information- the averages. Use them to figure out how to better run the class. Problem: bad data  bad information  bad decisionsCharacteristics of Good Data: - Subjective value- Relevant- Timely- Accurate- Meaningful format: must be in good context for the decision maker. - Complete- Accessible*Good data is very important. Functional Areas of Business: areas in a business that are required to function. If you are out one of those areas, you wont have the business.- Sales and marketing- Manufacturing/services- Finance/accounting- Human resourceCross Functional: system that allows you to see how areas of one aspect of business effects the other. Allentities of a business must work together to be successful. Expensive, but valuable. See the broad picture. Show the results of entire business. *MIS has changed over time…From what it was  very strategic. 3 Key skills to succeed in MIS: - Soft skills: communication, teamwork, patience, creativity, decision making. - Technical skills: technical curiosity, problem solving, analytical, programming, synthesis. - Business skills*hire the person with the soft skills. Soft skills cannot be taught, technical skills can. MIS opportunities MIS Challenges- Increase worker productivity- Enhance decision making- Improve team collaboration- Create business partnerships and alliances- Enhance global competitiveness- Support corporate strategy- Improve quality of goods and services- Rapidly changing technology- Workforce downsizing- Information overload- Employee mistrust- Difficult to build - Security breaches- Rapidly changing technologyRapidly changing technology: is both an opportunity and challenge- It can be a distraction for many people and it is hard to predict where technology is going- It leaves room for opportunity and constant learningDatabase: a collection of data organized in a manner that allows access, retrieval and use of that data. (ex: file cabinet, daily planner, phonebook)Database Hierarchy: Largest Database (DBMS) Table (spreadsheet that is linked to one another) Records (rows- horizontal)Smallest: Fields (columns- vertical)*Databases are made up of tables. Tables are made up of records. Records have rows. Each record has a field. Examples of Databases: oracle, ingres, Informix, access, SQL server. *Access 2007 databases end with .accdbTable: store the data in a database. (foundation for building the remainder of the database)- Similar to a spreadsheet, but more organized. - Contains records (rows) and fields (columns) - Datasheet view: where you see the sheet of data (looks like a spreadsheet) you can add edit or delete records- Design view: behind the scenes where you set things up. Build structure of the table- Field properties: used to ensure that only good data is entered. o Input masks, validation rules, data type, format, primary keyQueries: allow you to ask questions (queries) about data in the database to extract information. Forms: used for entering data, displaying data or for building a menu system. Based on tables or queries.- Basic forms, split forms, multiple item forms, sub forms- Form, layout( allows you to make changing while viewing the form so you are able to see the direct effect of your changes as you do it) and design view. Reports: used to format and present the data in a profession, logical and useful manner. - Often intended for printing and distribution - Provide you with the ability to summarize, sort, group, and display the data in many different ways suited to the needs of the end user. - Can be built from tables or queries. - Reports (output) in a system dictate what data must be stored in the database. - Report, Layout and Design view and Print Preview( the purpose of a report is to provide a printed output of some data in our database)Form and Report Wizards: useful as a starting point for building reports and forms. - Provides a framework that you can customize and build upon. Macros: small programs that can perform advanced operations, making the database more powerful anduser-friendly- Often used to open forms and reports or to automate portions of the database.- Little programs that do automated things. - Special macro named Autoexec will run automatically when the database is opened. Evolution of Databases: 1960’s (traditional giant fillies)  1970’s (hierarchal and network- organize data bases)  1980’s (relational- fields that link together)  1990’s (object oriented)  2000+ ?Relational Databases: multiple tables and the relationships between those tables. - Model of database we use now- Databases need a solid foundation (critically important for database to be done right) o House: needs a