MIS: A Deeper Look

Team #2

Vince Barna

Carol Guenther

Bryan Mason

Nicole Preiss

Jennifer Wilson

Where Are We Headed?

• Information Technology = tools• Information Systems = how tools are used• Objective: MIS degree career path options• Methodology

– Literature search– Interviews

Cal State San Marcos-COBAMIS Option

“The Management Information System option trains business-oriented, technically proficient professionals for managing and building management information systems. Students will learn how to define organizational information requirements and use information technologies to meet them. They will also learn how to lead and manage projects, especially those related to internet application. This option also addresses subjects such as networking and telecommunications. These topics provide students with not only the knowledge and skills essential for management information systems development but also a variety of career opportunities in areas such as consulting, financial services, high technology, manufacturing, retail, and entrepreneurial ventures.” (www.csusm.edu)

What can we do with a degree in MIS?

Operations Manager• Administers and maintains information technology

systems (including PC and LAN equipment). • Provide IT/IS operations functions to offices for the

organization’s standard hardware, software and voice/data network solutions.

• Often responsible for the purchase, installation, and life-cycle maintenance of PCs, servers and LAN network connectivity equipment.

• Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of companies, including daily operations.

Operations ManagerExperience:• Most Operations Management positions require at least a

Bachelor’s degree and 3 to 5 years related experience or equivalent combination. Experience is necessary because of the hands-on nature of the position.

Salary:• As of November 2008, - States with 1-4 years experience is

$44,957. The average goes as high as $75,441 for those with 20 years or more experience (payscale.com). Though these salaries range from city to city, for example, Los Angeles average salary for an operations manager is $72,121

Chief Information Officer(CIO)

•Strategic Planning

•Budgeting

•Hiring

•Supervising

Median Salary by Years Experience - Job: Chief Information Officer (CIO) (United States)

Median Salary by Employer Type - Job: Chief Information Officer (CIO) (United States)

Job Outlook • Top executive positions

expect little to no change

• IT and IS industry is expected to grow faster than average through 2016

• Best opportunities for those with education and certifications

IS Director• Establishes

Information Security Architecture

• Leads and directs the day-to-day technical and personnel operations for the Sever Platforms team

• Create Budgets

Job Outlook

• National Average: $86,897 per year• IS Industry expected to grow faster than

average• Best opportunities: MBA focusing on

technology and product-specific certifications

Specialty Skills

• Background in business management and consulting• Strong leadership and communication skills• Deep understanding of management business processes

• Previous work within the IS industry• Be able to explain processes in technical and non-

technical terms• Team skills

Stress on the Job

In the USA, studies found that:• 72% of workers often experience

stress-related illness• 34% have thought of resigning

because of stress • 27% say that their job is the single

greatest cause of stress in their lives

Management Analyst Example:A small but rapidly growing company might employ a consultant/analyst who is an expert in just-in-time inventory management to help improve its inventory-control system

Work Environment: most of the time is spent indoors in clean, well-lit offices

Work Schedule: Analysts and consultants generally work at least 40 hours a week

Education: CSUSM Management Information System is a sufficient educational background

Employment: Management analysts held about 678,000 jobs in 2006

Demand: Management analysts are expected to grow 22 percent over the 2006-16 decade

Responsibilities: collect, review, and analyze information

Earnings: Median annual earnings were $68,050

Advancement: May become partners with the firm or start their own

Stress: May experience considerable stress when trying to meet deadlines

Management Analyst

Systems Manager

Example: They do everything from helping to construct a business plan to overseeing network security to directing Internet operations.

Work Environment: most of the time is spent indoors in clean, well-lit offices

Work Schedule: System Managers generally work at least 40 hours a week

Education: CSUSM Management Information System is a sufficient educational background

Employment: System Managers held about 264,000 jobs in 2006

Demand: expected to grow 16 percent over the 2006-16 decade

Responsibilities: plan, coordinate, and direct research and facilitate computer-related activities

Earnings: Median annual earnings were $101,580

Advancement: May advance to progressively higher leadership positions in I.T. Department

Stress: May experience considerable stress when trying to meet deadlines

Systems Manager

Management Analysts

Expected to grow 22 percent CSUSM M. I. S. Option = Suitable educational background

Responsibilities are mainly to collect, review, and analyze information

Median annual earnings were $68,050

California State University San Marcos

Management Information Systems

Provides a broad and very suitable educational background Over 60% accept offers with consulting firms

System Managers

Expected to grow 22 percent

CSUSM M. I. S. Option = Suitable educational background

Responsibilities are mainly to plan, direct, and coordinate

Median annual earnings were $101,580

INTERNET MARKETING• Also know as internet marketing, e-Marketing, and

online marketing

• Ties in fields of advertising, marketing, and sales into one field

• Instantaneous need = instantaneous response

• Also known as Electronic customer relationship management (ECRM)

#1 question: “How do I promote a product in the most efficient way possible?”

Answer = effective advertising!

• More visibility in the right places amounts to more revenue

• Facebook, MySpace, etc.

Target audience• Geographic advertising• Demographic advertising

Skills and Education:• Good people skills- need to deliver the right product in the

right place• Database and software knowledge- the more the better

Software Applications for Effective Placement:• Data mining• Bulk e-mail monitoring and mailing database (includes spam)• Frequency and statistical counters• Search engine ranking and popularity software

Future Trends:Geo-targeting with through IP addresses

New challenges: Internet Explorer 8- User generated content (UGC)

New Google algorithmsIncrease in globalization = new audiences to cater to

5 Main Stress Factors:• Reaching the target audience• Working within a budget• Defining the target audience• How quickly can I reach the

audience?• How quickly can I expect results?

• Expected Income– Miserable

• Disparity between the pay, education, and headaches

• 1-5 years, median is $36,548• 10-19 years, median is $46,119

NETWORK SYSTEMS ANALYST

Overview:Analysts are a key component to EVERY business network Design, test, maintain, teach, etc.Broad working knowledge of the field- jack of tradesPersonal communication is key

Skills and Education:Dependent on position soughtSome jobs will train, others prefer an MBABroad working knowledge of software and peripheralsA little ingenuity and smarts goes a LONG way

Software Applications:– Huge variety- situational dependant– ERP & ERPII are more specialized

Human resourcesManufacturingSpecialty purpose I.E., NASASupply chain management

Tasks:Backing up data in the event of a systems crash

Designing and implementing entire system architecturesTesting the security of a systemMaintaining peripherals and software upgradesSetting up user accounts and file accessEnsuring the network is being used properly

Future Trends:• Increasing and evolving technology will require more specialization• 37% growth need by 2016• There will be a deficit in competent analysts• Specialization + deficit = $$

Stress Factors: • Whining, nagging individuals who want their equipment to work

instantly and always think they’re right• The glitch factor: sometimes things just don’t work the way they’re

supposed to.

$$ Salary:• Median salary of 2007 was $95,340

– Worth the headaches?

Business/System Analyst• Many different titles for similar roles• No standardized job description, skills, or

requirements

• Role will include some of the following:– Defining project scope– Interpreting business needs– Translating technical issues to the business– Identifying and documenting requirements– Testing and validation– Dealing with organizational politics

• Need to understand technology, communicate

Business Partner

• The next evolution of the analyst role• Shift from tactical focus (deploying

technology) to strategic focus (process-based systems)

• Advocate for the business • Skills needed

– Understand business objectives– Demonstrate process improvement abilities of

new technologies

For More Information

• MIS Society• Websites

– CIO magazine– Modern Analyst

• Professional organizations– AIS– AITP– IIBA