1. What is MIS? Merle P. Martin CSU Sacramento

2. Agenda t Definition t Complexity Spectrum t MIS Continuum t Development Sequence t Areas and characteristics

3. Definition M anagement I nformation S ystems t Management u Focus on decision making u Blunting the technical edge u People-oriented u Output-oriented

4. Definition t Information u Processed data u Computer or otherwise t Systems u Not just hardware / software u People and procedures

5. The IT System TECHNOLOGYMANAGEMENT COMPUTERUSER Hardware/Soft- ware Interface Change Management Decision Support Application Programming Systems Development Database IT Operations Management Connectivity

6. Contrast with Computer Science t Future orientation t Adaptive to change t Satisficing, not optimizing t Business (profit) orientation t Balance between u technology u people

7. Complexity Spectrum Minor Modifi- cations ComplexityComplexity Major Modifi- cations System Enhance- ments System Replace- ments Maintenance (85%) Development (15%) Systems Analysis (Options to Choose)

8. MIS Continuum t Data Flow Diagram u Processes (programs) u Data Stores (files) u Data Flows (forms / messages) u External Entities (customers)

9. MIS Continuum Dataflow Process External Entity Data Com. Dataflow Data store Data- base Strategic computing literacy Applic. Prog. Decis. Models S y s t e m s D e s i g n

10. Systems Analysis (Triage) Decide Reengineering Minor Repair Replacement System System Design Systems Operation (Maintenance)

11. Areas t Primary tools t Team skills t Communication skills t Customer contact t Problem solving t Interface with computer science Characteristics t Systems design t Data base t Data communications t Application programming

12. Systems Analysis (Triage) Area Systems Design Data Base Data Com. Applic. Prog. Char. Prim. tools Team skills Com. skills Cust. contact Prob. solving Interface comp. sci. Interface comp. sci. DFDHighHighHighMed.LowERDMed.Med.Med.Med.Med.???Med.LowMed.Med.High Flow charts HighLowMed.HighLow

13. Customer Focus t Users / end-users t Participation in design t Decisions on technology alternatives t Feedback on satisfaction t Future File

14. Concepts to Remember t MIS Definition t Complexity spectrum t MIS Continuum t Development Sequence t Areas and Characteristics It’s not about hardware; it’s not about software; it’s about people!