The Importance of MIS

Chapter 1

Abstract reasoning skills

Systems thinking skills

Collaboration skills

Experimentation skills

This Could Happen to You: “You’re Fired”

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Jennifer lacks skills FlexTime needs

Scenario Video

Q1: Why is Introduction to MIS the most important class in the business school?

Q2: What is an information system?

Q3: What is MIS?Q4: Why is the difference between information

technology and information systems important to you?

Q5: What is your role in IS security?

Study Questions

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How does the knowledge in this chapter help Jennifer and you?

Moore’s Law—cost of data communications and data storage is essentially zero

• Speed of computer chip increases in proportion to density of transistors

• Price/performance ratio of computers falls dramatically

Number of transistors per square inch on an integrated

chip doubles every 18 months

Q1: Why Is Introduction to MIS the Most Important Class in the Business School?

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Moore’s Law (cont’d)

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Moore’s Law: See Thomas Moore Video Podcast

Cost of data communications and data storage is essentially zero

• YouTube• iPhone• Facebook• Second Life• Pandora• Twitter• LinkedIn

Here are some consequences

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http://www.secondlife.com

http://www.pandora.com

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What Are Cost-Effective Business Applications of Facebook and Twitter or Whatever Will Soon Appear?

• Are these applications cost-effective?

• Do they generate revenue worth the time and expense of running them?

• Someone needs to be examining that question, and that person works in marketing ... not in a technical field.

Future business professionals need to be able to assess, evaluate, and apply emerging information technology to business

Knowledge gained in this course will help you attain that skill

Your only job security is a marketable skill and courage to use it

Why MIS Is Most Important Business Class

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Rapid technological change and increased international competition spotlight non-routine cognitive skills and ability to adapt to changing technology and shifting demand

Organizations favor those with strong non-routine cognitive skills

How Can I Attain Job Security?

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Why Jennifer Lost Her Job

Skill Example Jennifer’s ProblemAbstract

ReasoningConstruct a model or representation.

Inability to model the customer life-cycle.

Systems Thinking

Model system components and show how components inputs and outputs relate to one another.

Confusion about when/how customers contact accounts payable.

Collaboration

Develop ideas and plans with others. Provide and receive critical feedback.

Unwilling to work with others with work-in-progress.

Ability to Experiment

Create and test promising new alternatives, consistent with available resources.

Fear of failure prohibited discussion of new ideas.

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It will give you background you need to assess, evaluate, and apply emerging information systems technology to business.

It can give you ultimate in job security—marketable skills—by helping you learn abstraction, systems thinking, collaboration, and experimentation.

Summary: Why Is Introduction to MIS Most Important Business Class?

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A group of components that interact to produce information.

Q2: What Is an Information System?

See video

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•Chemistry•eHarmony•PerfectMatch

Theory of relationships: personality,

compatibility, etc.

•GoodGenes•MillionaireMatch

Common social/economi

c interests•Golfmates•EquestrianCupid•CowboyCowgirl•Single Firefighters•Asexual Pals

Common activity

interests

Experiencing MIS InClass Exercise 1: Information Systems and Online Dating

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Political interests

•ConservativeDates•Liberalhearts

Management Information Systems

• Development and use of information systems

• Achieving business goals and objectives

Q3: What Is MIS?

Goal of MISAligning the IS to achieve

business goals and objectives

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Business professionals need to:

Take an active role in IS to ensure that systems

meet their needsUnderstand how IT

systems are constructed

Consider users’ needs during development

Learn how to use IT systems

Take into account ancillary IT functions (security, backups)

Development and Use of Information Systems

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MIS empowers users to achieve business

objectives

• Information systems exist to assist business people (a.k.a. “users”)

• Information systems exist to achieve business goals and objectives

Achieving Business Goals and Objectives

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Information system (IS) = IT plus procedures, and people that produces information

Q4: Why Is the Difference Between Information Technology and Information Systems Important to You?

Information technology1. Products2. Methods3. Inventions4. Standards

IT =hardware + software + data

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Q5: What Is Your Role in IS Security?

• Security systems have five components, including people.

• Security system ultimately depends on behavior of its users.

• If security procedures are not followed, then hardware, software, and data components of security system are wasted expense.

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Passwords Are Necessary

• Should have a strong password• Protect passwords from others (critical)• Practice proper etiquetteNever write down your passwordDo not share it with othersNever ask others for their password

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Creating a Strong Password

Rules for strong password:• Use ten or more characters• Do not include your user name, real name, or

company name• Do not use complete dictionary word in any

language• Is different from previous passwords you have

used• Contains both upper- and lowercase letters,

numbers, and special characters (such as ~ ! @; # $ % ^; &; * ( ) _ +; – =; { } | [ ] \ : “ ; ’ <; >;? , . /)

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Password Etiquette: Mark of a Business Professional

• Never write down your password, do not share it with others

• Never ask others for their password

• Never give your password to someone else

• “do-si-do” move—one person getting out of way so another person can enter a password—common professional practice

How Does the Knowledge in This Chapter Help Jennifer and You? (cont’d)

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How Can Intro to MIS Help You Learn Non-Routine Skills?

• Abstract Reason• Chapter 1: Model of an information system• Chapter 2: How to use IS model to assess

scope of any new information system project

• Chapter 5: How to create data models• Chapter 7: How to make process models

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How Can Intro to MIS Help You Learn Non-Routine Skills? (cont’d)

• Systems Thinking

• Ability to model system components, connect inputs and outputs among components to reflect structure and dynamics of system observed

• Every chapter, especially Ch. 2–7 and 10

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How Can Intro to MIS Help You Learn Non-Routine Skills? (cont’d)

• Collaboration

• Activity of two or more people working together to achieve a common goal, result, or work product

• Chapter Extensions 2A and 2B discuss collaboration skills and illustrate several sample collaboration information systems

• Group discussions and presentations in this class.

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What is the Bottom Line?

1. Assess, evaluate, and apply emerging information systems technology to business.

2. Learn abstraction, systems thinking, collaboration, and experimentation.

3. There is strong growth in the number of available jobs for those with strong cognitive skills.

4. Read Ethics Guides about ethical dilemmas.

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Chapter Topics to Cover in This Class

• Introduction to MIS (Chapter 1), some current trends

• Business process management and ISs (Chapter 2 and Ext. 17)

• Business strategies, IS strategy, Firm-based value chain analysis (Chapter 3, Ext. 3 and others)

• Closer look at some information systems in organizations, ERP, supply chain mgmt (Chapter 7, Exts. 9, 10)

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Chapter Topics to Cover in This Class

• Database processing (Chapter 5)

• Data communication and the cloud (Chapter 6)

• Social Media and mobile systems (Chapter 8, Ext. 7)

• Information security mgmt (Chapter 12)

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Chapter Topics to Cover in This Class

• IS Mnagement (Chapter 11)

• IS Development (Chapter 10, Ext. 16)

• Business Intelligence (Chapter 9)