Different Types of Management Info Systems Management information systems are those systems that allow managers to make decisions forthe successful operation of businesses. Management information systems consist of computerresources, people, and procedures used in the m odern business enterprise. The termMISstands for management information systems. MIS also refers to the organization that develops and maintains most or all of the computer systems in the enterprise so that managers can make decisions. The goal of the MIS organization is to deliver information systems to the various levels of corporate managers. MIS professionals create and support the computer system throughout the company. Trained and educated to work with corporate computer systems, these professionals are responsible in som e way for nearly all of the computers, from the largest mainframe to the desktop and portable PCs. Management information systems can be used as a support to managers to provide a competitive advantage. The system must support the goals of the organization. Most organizations are structured along functional lines, andthe typical systems are identified as follows: Accounting management information systems : All accounting reports are shared by al l levels of accounting managers. Financial management information systems : The financial management information system provides financial information to all financial managers within an organization including the chieffinancial officer. The chief financial officer analyzes historical and current financial activity, projects future financial needs, and m onitors and controls theuse of funds over time using the information developed by the MIS department. Manufacturing management information systems : More than any functional area, operations have been impacted by great advances in technology. As a result, manufacturing operations have changed. For instance, inventories are provided just in time so that great amounts of money are not spent forwarehousing huge inventories. In some instances, raw materials are even processed on railroad cars wait ing to be sent directly to the factor y. Thus there is no n eed forwarehousing. Marketing management information systems : A marketing management information system supports managerial activity in the area of product development, distribution, pricing decisions, promotional effectiveness, and s ales forecasting. More than any other functi onal area, marketing systems rely on external sources of data. These sources include competition and customers, forexample. Human resources management information systems : Human resources management information systems are concerned with activities related to workers, managers, and otherindividuals employed by the organization. Because the personnel function relates to all otherareas in bu siness, the human resources m anagement information system plays a valuab le role in ensuring organizational success. Activities performed by the human resources management information systems include, work -force analysis and planning, hir ing, training, and job assignments.
