MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM

MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM
• A Management Information System is an integrated system that provides information to support the planning and control functions of managers in an organization.
• A management information system (MIS) provides information which is needed to manage organizations efficiently and effectively.
• Management information systems involve three primary resources: people, technology, and information.
• Management information systems (MIS) produce fixed, regularly scheduled reports.
• Identify and inform structured and semi-structured decision problems.

FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING MIS
• Robert Anthony has described a framework which distinguishes between the different types of planning and control process that typically occur in organizations.
• Anthony suggested that the area of management planning and control be segmented into three categories .
i) Strategic Planning
ii) Management Control
iii) Operational Control
SIMON’S FRAMEWORK
• Simon’s framework examines the process of decision-making, i.e., how does the manager makes decisions.
• Simon breaks down the process of making a decision into three stages.
a) Intelligence: This is the stage in which the decision-maker recognizes that there is a problem or opportunity that requires him or her to make a decision.
b) Design: This stage covers the determination of the alternative actions that he or she could take to resolve the problem or exploit the opportunity.
c) Choice: This stage is concerned with the process by which one of the alternatives generated in stage-2 is singled out to be pursued.
W.S. Zani’s framework
According to Zani, the important determinants of MIS design are:
• Opportunities and risks
• Company strategy
• Company structure
• Management and decision-making processes
• Available technology
• Available information sources

CPM (Critical Path Method)
• The CPM formally identifies tasks which must be completed on time for the whole project to be completed on time.
• Identifies which tasks can be delayed for a while if resource needs to be reallocated to catch up on missed tasks.
• It helps you to identify the minimum length of time needed to complete a project
• The CPM determines both the early start and the late start date for each activity in the schedule.
Forward pass, Backward pass& Float
• Forward pass
The forward pass is the first part of the CPM calculation procedure. The forward pass answers the question "how early can I complete this project?“
• Backward pass
The backward pass is the second part of the CPM calculation procedure. The backward pass answers the question, "How late can I start any activity without delaying the project?“
• Float
Float or Slack typically refers to the CPM value of "Total Float." Total float is the time difference between the earliest possible start of an activity, derived from the forward pass, and the latest possible start of an activity, derived from the backward pass.
PROGRAM EVALUATION AND REVIEW TECHNIQUE (PERT)
Program Evaluation and Review Technique (PERT) is a network model that allows for randomness in activity completion times.
• Identify the specific activities and milestones.
• Determine the proper sequence of the activities.
• Construct a network diagram.
• Estimate the time required for each activity.
• Determine the critical path.
• Update the PERT chart as the project progresses.
BENEFITS OF CPM/PERT
• Useful at many stages of project management
• Mathematically simple
• Give critical path and slack time
• Provide project documentation
• Useful in monitoring costs