The information we have is not what we want, The information we want is not the information we need,

The information we need is not available.

It is scarce It has a cost It has alternative uses There is an opportunity cost factor involved if one does not process information

To ensure effective and efficient decision making leading to prosperity of the Organisation.

Short for Management Information System

MIS refers broadly to a computer-based system that provides managers with the tools for organizing, evaluating and efficiently running their departments.

Right Information To the right person At the right place At the right time In the right form At the right cost

The three sub-components Management, Information and System

together bring out the focus clearly & effectively.

Management focusing on the ultimate use of information systems for managerial decision making.
Information stressing on processed data in the context in which it is used by end users; System emphasizing a fair degree of integration and a holistic view;

Increased Business & Management Complexities

Technological Revolution Research & Development

Explosion of Information
Management Science Technologies

Decision-making
Onset of Computers

Enhance :

Quality of our operations Quality of our services

We achieve :

Efficiency Transparency Speedy Decision making

Precise development of strategies, planning, forecasting and monitoring Problem solving Decision-making Separate work from location

The concept of MIS has changed substantially over the years. In the 50s and 60s, the management saw the potential of computers to process large amounts of data speedily and accurately. The departments that were involved with such activities were known as Electronic Data Processing (EDP) departments. The focus of EDP was Record Keeping e.g. accounting data Payroll data.

In the 70s, there was a discernible shift from data to information. The focus was not on data but on the analysis of Organisation data. There was a shift in the philosophy. Such a concept came to be widely known as Management Information System. right information in right time to right people

In order to make decisions, managers need the right information to serve a wider range of needs. A systems approach to managing this demand can be met through management information systems (MIS).

Definitions of MIS
We live in an information age The original definitions of information were associated with knowledge. Now, instead of thinking about the information itself, knowing that we have got so much of it, we have to become much more aware of what we are going to do with it.

As the organization grows, the management function is performed by people who are more specialized and may be removed from day-to-day activities. It is usually at this time that management information systems (MIS) are required.

The emergence of MIS goes back to the 1950s.

The first electronic computer developed for business purposes in 1951 must have posed many interesting questions as to what to do with it. In fact, early business applications centered on routine clerical and accounting operations such as payroll and billing.
These were mainly transaction applications, named simply because they involved processing accounting transactions. The machines were prone to failure, difficult to operate and painstakingly slow

Definitions of MIS
The more recent role for information technologies is to think about them as a strategic weapon. For example, information technology (IT) has the power to:

change industry structures and alter the rules of competition

create opportunities for competitive advantage with the provision of new ways to outperform rivals spawn new businesses and opportunities, often from within an organization's existing operations.

Definitions of MIS
There are a number of definitions of MIS, each with a slightly different emphasis or focus. Lucey (1995) emphasizes the decision focus of his definition: 'a system to convert data from internal and external sources into information and to communicate that information, in an appropriate form, to managers at all levels in all functions to enable them to make timely and effective decisions for planning, directing and controlling the activities for which they are responsible.'

Definitions of MIS
MIS are different from data-processing systems because the key element is management involvement, so the emphasis is upon the use of information through user processes and not how it is provided through MIS processes

Though data may be gathered from various sources, it is the process of customizing them for the needs of various users that transforms them into information

Internal

External

Management reports Information services Examples of formal data might include: Management audits Trade publications Meetings Forecasts Industry consultants Forums

Examples of informal data might include: Internal Conversations Grapevine Observation External Networking Trade shows Personal contacts

USE OF INFORMATION

Undisputed leader in the Overnight Package Delivery Business (approximately 45% market share) Significantly ahead of its main competitors UPS and DHL It set the industry pace for rapid growth in the fastemerging industries of e-commerce and SCM Operates in more than 212 countries Transports everything from flowers, medicines and lobsters to computers and electronics

Fedex routinely transacts its business using a Web based interface.

Even though the software was widely criticized, it brought repeat customers- a rarity on the web. In addition to creating the overnight delivery business, Fedex also provided world class logistics services

Using its expertise in Information Technology Fedex began offering services like inventory systems, scheduling and routing, and warehousing Fedex - The Airline of Internet thanks to its logistics, transportation and e:commerce muscle

Virtual warehousing, e-commerce and integrated SCM were embraced as the future revenue sources of Fedex. Companies like Fedex are very strong on IT and thus helped other companies out-source their logistics to Fedex and concentrate on their core activities

IT makes it possible to cut down costs

IT-driven electronic enterprise interfaces like Extranet, integrated tracking systems, etc help to cut down lead times drastically

IT also enhances greater customer traffic by placing company related information on the Web

Fedex, became experts in the field of IT. Information Technology is critical to Fedex though it is a transportation and logistics company, not a software development company or manufacturing firm Fedex started the process of substituting inventory with information created Virtual Warehousing

The technology links that Fedex created with its customers were intimate and difficult to imitate. In fact there is a lock-in arrangement with customers. But customers saw Fedexs commitment to technology as a major reason why they didnt switch to UPS or DHL. Fedex had pioneered web based package tracking system which was very popular

Fedex encouraged business customers to sign in for its Virtual Order platform Here customers could log into Fedexs tracking system through Fedex Applications Programming Interfaces (APIs) on their own websites

The following examples illustrate why FedEx remains the leader in the express cargo transportation industry.

COSMOS (Customer Operations Service Master On-line System) is a computerized package tracking system that monitors every phase of the delivery cycle at Federal Express. FedEx employees constantly input information into COSMOS by several means. Hand-held computers, called Super Trackers, are used to scan the progress of the package an average of 5 times from pick-up to delivery.