Management Information Systems

MBA (II) Final Semester

Course Lecturer: Farhan Mir

Course Lecturer
Farhan Azmat Mir
MIMS [Monash University Melbourne] MBA (MIS) [B.Z.U] Gold Medal Consultation Method Best through e-mail address (farhanmir_99@hotmail.com)
OR

After/before lectures on lecture day OR Announced Timings in case of Assignments or Reports

Lecture 1, 2, 3
Introduction & Overview

Lecture 1,2 Administration

Course Introduction Introduction of the Class Few Words on Lecture Notes Introduction to Lecture Methodology Management Information Systems Overview

Course Administration
New Assessment Criteria
20 Prim 25 Mid 45 Final 10 Sess

Lectures Notes
Available from Photostat shop before lectures Basically about lectures contents and discussion topics

Course Administration
Sessionals
May be written assignments (details in coming lectures Attendance, Presentations, Quiz & Class Discussion & Participation

Requirements
Overall Class Attitude Things to Avoid (Referencing, cut-copy-paste Culture) Things to do (Innovation, Confidence, Work Attitude) Critical Evaluation the key

Course Orientation
Basically Theoretical focus
Introduction of Concepts and Issues in the field of IS

But
The practical orientation will also be a major focus of the course Perhaps Demo from a local company by MIS Manager highlighting the practical issues and difficulties in the area of IS (Approx. in lectures close to MID in the week after MID) Case Studies

Examination
Questions will be formulated in a way to examine both bookish as well as conceptual thinking The Answers will be evaluated on the key requirement of critical thinking
Other details will be given close to Prim

Text & References

Focus will be on topics rather Chapters of any text Many Text/books are available in market
Charles Parker, Thomas Case. (2000). Management Information Systems: Action & Strategy. (2nd Ed). McGraw Hill Book Company Kenneth C. Laudon & Jane P. Laudon (2001). Management Information Systems: Managing a Digital Firm.(7th Ed). Prentice Hall Company.

But
Not necessarily every thing is taught from the Text, Students need to broaden their view and consult as many additional references as possible (Preferably available in local market and from the Internet)

Expected Topics
Introduction to IS Systems and Models Management & Decision Making IT Fundamentals Transaction Processing and Reports System DSS Knowledge-Based Systems System Development MIS in the Fundamental Areas of Business Contemporary Issues

Introduction to IS
The Background What are these systems? Why IS/MIS? (Goals & Objectives) The scope of MIS The current International status The new trends The challenges and issues Counter Strategies

Background
Operational Efficiency
Computers replacing manual activities Speed, accuracy, efficiency, capacity

Information a Key Business Asset

Information initially as a by-product Data Vs Information The realization about information potential and the need to manage it for competitive advantage

The Early IS
Slow computing Time consuming system development and information management Failure Stories

What are these Systems?

An organized combination of people, hardware, software, networks and data resources that collect, transforms, and disseminates information in the organization. James OBrien (1998). IS theory is however extremely vast and various classification & definitions are available on MIS IS Perspectives
Operational activities Management support KM Networking and e-activities

Goals & Objectives

Operational Efficiency Functional Effectiveness Customer Service Product Creation & Enhancement Competitive Advantage Communication and Networking Control & Feedback

Role & Scope of IS

Pervasiveness of IS
Distribution, Payroll, MkIS, Library Systems, Student Enrollment, Inventory

Functional Areas
Finance, Marketing, Communication, Sales, Customer Support & Service, Manufacturing

Management Support
MIS Decision Support

Knowledge Management Networking

EDI E-Business

Current International Environment

Last Decade (Heavy Investment in IT/IS) Success & Failure Stories
Australian Govt. IT Outsourcing Initiative (

IS a normal life necessity

Banks Communication & Entertainment Government Essentials (Registration, civil administration)

Continuous improvement & research

The hottest area of academic interest Ongoing Debates ( IT Bubble burst)

New Trends
Media popularity (Hype Factors) IS-related topics in debate
KM DSS Tele-working/Virtual Organizations

Online Services Information Based Products New Coming Lot of Professionals IS-Business Relationship
IS based businesses

Contemporary Issues
IS Theory seems to be still in evolution People/Management a trouble area Keeping yourself updated (choice of technologies) Investment Analysis for IS Interaction between IT and other functional areas Career Development For us as Academic participants (Teachers & Students)
Controversial area of study (Hype another factor) Still the most demanded course in field of IT

Have a look at some debates:

http://www.csc.com/features/2001/21.shtml http://www.csc.com/features/2002/22.shtml

Counter Strategies
??????????? (More Questions than answers) Circumstances might change from situation to situation and organization to organization Continuous search for better IS options Knowledge about IS issues is more crucial than having the latest technology Recommendations
Analysis of the IS decisions will require same care and deep thinking as done for other business and functional problems/situations Project Management

References

Charles Parker, Thomas Case. (2000). Management Information Systems: Action & Strategy. (2nd Ed). Kenneth C. Laudon & Jane P. Laudon (2001). Management Information Systems: Managing a Digital Firm.(7th Ed) James OBrien. (1998). Introduction to Information Systems: A Networked Enterprise Perspective. (2nd Ed). Chris Woodward (2001), CSC Research Services. Creating Information Systems Harmony
(http://www.csc.com/features/2001/21.shtml) CSC Research Services. CEOs are from Mars, CIOs are from Pluto (http://www.csc.com/features/2002/22.shtml)

Grover S. Kearns (1997). Alignment of Information Systems Plans with Business Plans:
(http://hsb.baylor.edu/ramsower/ais.ac.97/papers/kearns.htm)