1. Introduction to
Management of Information Systems(MIS)

2. Outline
• Management of Information Technology & Systems
• Data, Information, Knowledge
• Data, Information, Knowledge and Occupations
• Information Technology and Information System
• Putting on Information System Lenses
• Management Topics, Information Systems, and Cases
• Organization-Systems Trajectory at Mead-Westvaco
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3. Information Systems
 Why Do People Need Information?
 Individuals - Entertainment and enlightenment
 Businesses - Decision making, problem solving and control

4. Data, Information,
and Systems
 Data vs. Information
 Data
 A “given,” or fact; a number, a statement, or a picture
 Represents something in the real world
 The raw materials in the production of information
 Information
 Data that have meaning within a context
 Data in relationships
 Data after manipulation

5. Data, Information,
and Systems
 Data Manipulation
 Example: customer survey
 Reading through data collected from a customer survey with
questions in various categories would be time-consuming and not
very helpful.
 When manipulated, the surveys may provide useful information.

6. Data, Information,
and Systems
 Generating Information
 Computer-based ISs take data as raw material,
process it, and produce information as output.
Figure 1.1 Input-process-output

7. Data, Information,
and Systems
 Information in Context
Figure 1.2 Characteristics of useful information

8. Data, Information,
and Systems
 What Is a System?
 System: A set of components that work together to achieve a
common goal
 Subsystem: One part of a system where the products of more
than one system are combined to reach an ultimate goal
 Closed system: Stand-alone system that has no contact with
other systems
 Open system: System that interfaces with other systems

9. Data, Information,
and Systems
Figure 1.3 Several subsystems make up this corporate accounting system.

10. Data, Information,
and Systems
 Information and Managers
 Systems thinking
 Creates a framework for problem solving and decision making.
 Keeps managers focused on overall goals and operations of business.

11. Data, Information,
and Systems
Figure 1.5 Qualities of humans and computers that contribute to synergy

12. Data, Information,
and Systems
 The Benefits of Human-Computer Synergy
 Synergy
 When combined resources produce output that exceeds the sum of
the outputs of the same resources employed separately
 Allows human thought to be translated into efficient
processing of large amounts of data

13. Data, Information,
and Systems
Figure 1.6 Components of an information system

14. Data, Information,
and Systems
 The Four Stages of Data Processing
 Input: Data is collected and entered into computer.
 Data processing: Data is manipulated into information using
mathematical, statistical, and other tools.
 Output: Information is displayed or presented.
 Storage: Data and information are maintained for later use.

15. Why Study IS?
 Information Systems Careers
 Systems analyst, specialist in enterprise resource planning (ERP), database
administrator, telecommunications specialist, consulting, etc.
 Knowledge Workers
 Managers and non-managers
 Employers seek computer-literate professionals who know how to use
information technology.
 Computer Literacy Replacing Traditional
Literacy
 Key to full participation in western society

16. Ethical and Societal Issues
The Not-So-Bright Side
 Consumer Privacy
 Organizations collect (and sometimes sell) huge amounts of
data on individuals.
 Employee Privacy
 IT supports remote monitoring of employees, violating
privacy and creating stress.

17. Ethical and Societal Issues
The Not-So-Bright Side
 Freedom of Speech
 IT increases opportunities for pornography, hate speech, intellectual property
crime, an d other intrusions; prevention may abridge free speech.
 IT Professionalism
 No mandatory or enforced code of ethics for IT professionals--unlike other
professions.
 Social Inequality
 Less than 20% of the world’s population have ever used a PC; less than 3% have
Internet access.

18. 1. Data, • Relationships – simple just in textbooks 
2. Information,
3. Knowledge
Data
Domain of
(Letters, numbers, graphics…
Technology
Representing reality and knowledge)
Knowledge
Information (Complex cognitive entity;
(Data understood, cause-effect theories,
meaning) vocabularies/conceptual maps,
know-how, experience)
Domain of Human Brain
• Knowledge is also embedded in computer software! (e.g., math
operations in Excel, procedures in Accounting IS, decision trees in
Expert Systems)
More…

19. In plain English,
•we often do not differentiate between
data, information and knowledge,
simply calling it all “information”.

20. Data, Information, Knowledge and Occupations
• Where the primary focus of job is.
Clerks
Professionals
Managers

21. _Concept of Information Technology (IT)
• What do we mean by "IT"?
Any tool for manipulating data, information
- electronic: computer software and hardware - our focus
- paper: documents, filing techniques… - still there,
gradually transformed into electronic

22. Concept of Information System (IS, system)
Information Technology (IT)
(Computers, Other) Information
• Data (organized,
System (IS)
Use
meaningful) Procedures
• Representations of Supports
Knowledge
Use
Information,
Users Knowledge
(Organizational members: -----------------
Managers, Professionals, Clerks) Task, Business
Perform on Process
• In plain English, we often do not differentiate between data, information
and knowledge, simply calling it all “information”.
• We often use term “technology” to refer to either IT or IS.
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23. Brainstorm E Putting on Information System Lenses
• What is the frequent (or important) task
or process you work on?
• What information is part of your work?
• How is this information supported by technology?
• Is something missing in your information/technology?
.
First part of
Analytical
Process
addressed
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24. Management of Information Technology & Systems
• Management of information technology (IT) and information systems
(IS, systems) is similar to “Management Information Systems” (MIS):
Utilizing IT/IS and information these support to solve business
problems and support organizational performance.
More…
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25. Management of Information Technology & Systems
• MIS is about managing IT/IS to accomplish
- Strategic goals (organizational effectiveness), and
- Operational objectives (efficiency/productivity in
daily operations)
• Two levels of analysis:
- IT/IS as asset, “strategic weapon”, “nervous system” (strategic level) vs.
tool, commodity (operational level)
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26. Management Topics , Information Systems, and Cases
Mapping into
Our Teaching
Cases: • Electronic Commerce (Buying & selling via Internet), Demand pull;
Sales & manufacturing systems innovation and integration,
Supply chain systems innovation
• Knowledge management, communication, hierarchy “demise”;
Communication and Document management systems innovation
• Efficiency & effectiveness driven organizational change, Teamwork,
internal/external process improvement, any time/space-operations;
groupware, distributed systems, computer networks,
enterprise systems, transaction processing/reporting systems
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27. Putting MIS Themes Together
Professionals,
Clerks, Managers
Adopt, Use
Provide System
Requirements
IT (Computer Software
& Hardware) Task, Productivity?
Process
System
Data ---
Design & Development
(organized, meaningful) Infor- Strategy
Design & mation Accomplishment?
Build
Procedures of
Vendors Handling IT and Data
IS Dept.
• Define strategic and operational targets, and role of technology
• Manage people, work, time and money in system use,
development, and adoption
Managers:
• Evaluate relationships b/w Users--System and
System--Organizational Performance
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28. Warning : Ethical and Societal
Issues
The Not-So-Bright Side
 Consumer Privacy
 Organizations collect (and sometimes sell) huge amounts of
data on individuals.
 Employee Privacy
 IT supports remote monitoring of employees, violating
privacy and creating stress.

29. Ethical and Societal Issues
The Not-So-Bright Side
 Freedom of Speech
 IT increases opportunities for pornography, hate speech, intellectual property
crime, an d other intrusions; prevention may abridge free speech.
 IT Professionalism
 No mandatory or enforced code of ethics for IT professionals--unlike other
professions.
 Social Inequality
 Less than 20% of the world’s population have ever used a PC; less than 3% have
Internet access.

30. Questions ?
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