Management Information Systems Specialist

http://www.misdegree.org/

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Maintaining a Competitive Advantage Using Information System Integration

There are many ways that a business can develop and maintain a competitive advantage in the commercial marketplace, but few have as much impact as the use of computerized information systems. The types of systems being used today are able to increase production and improve the way individuals communicate between different departments. Although many companies have been resistant to the idea of integrating modern technology into their operations, few will deny that technology has quickly become a necessary aspect of effect business growth. As more and more companies begin to utilize information systems to improve operations, few will be able to continue using the obsolete systems of the past.

One of the most widely used types of information systems is referred to as a decision support system. This type of computer network is designed to populate data that it collects from database warehouses, digital documents, data marts, and manual input in order to provide individuals with a more informed decision-making process. Decision support systems can be very basic in nature providing only enough insight to reinforce a decision or they can be highly complex and capable of creating their own set of recommended actions. The price tag and expertise that is required is usually directly correlated with the complexity of the system that a company decides to integrate.

The basic decision support systems are commonly referred to as passive systems because they are simply manipulating data without subjecting it to any type of business model. A passive system is most useful for solving fairly simple problems. The more complex systems are usually either referred to as active or cooperative. An active system is one that provides recommended courses of action, but does not allow users to manipulate and resubmit data for further evaluation. A cooperative system does everything that an active one does, but it allows users to resubmit manipulated data for further evaluation. The system that a company decides to use should reflect the complexity and importance of the objective that it is meant to accomplish.

When integrating new technology into an operational process, it is important for businesses to anticipate the types of problems that they could encounter so that operational interruptions can be kept to a minimum. Because few experienced administrators have specialized training in the technical aspects of computer systems, it has become increasingly important for company leaders to recruit individuals who are familiar with modern technology and who have the skills required to critically evaluate how technology should be applied to specific business problems. Professionals who are capable of managing new technology and overseeing administrative teams are in very high demand and are able to command extremely competitive salaries.

In response to the technology needs of the business community, many colleges and universities across the United States have taken the initiative to develop a new type of business administration degree that includes basic computer science courses. This new educational track is most commonly referred to as the Management Information Systems (MIS) Degree. Individuals who graduate from an MIS Degree Program are highly qualified to use their knowledge of technology to help companies remain competitive and continually improve both production and profitability.

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Problems and Opportunities in Enterprise Resource Planning

Since the advent of capitalism, companies have been attempting to find ways to improve efficiency and reduce waste. While there have been modest advances in technology throughout history, few compare to the highly complex computer systems being used to automate operations today. Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software has greatly improved the way businesses handle various aspects of their operations and has made business intelligence a far more accessible and applicable tool in the constant drive to outpace the competition. While automation systems like ERP do have many benefits and can greatly improve informational flow within a business, there are some disadvantages and problems that administrators must understand prior to implementing such a system.

The transition process during which old mechanical systems are replaced with new technology can be very challenging as non-automated systems can be very difficult to combine with automated systems. In many cases, operations must be halted and profits lost in order to replace obsolete systems with more profitable technology. In order to minimize the negative impact that shutting down operations can have, administrators and executives must carefully plan in advance for how new systems will be integrated and how resources will be managed during the transition process. Well thought out plans can help address anticipated problems in a hurry freeing up resources that are needed when unanticipated problems arise. Despite all of the frustrations that come with the ERP integration process, the new and innovative opportunities that they provide often make the transition worth it.

ERP systems can be used to improve operations in many different areas of business including production, transaction processing, human resource planning, finance, accounting, supply chain management, inventory control, and many others. The use of automated computer systems to collect, store, relay, and evaluate real-time information about business operations can greatly improve the way individuals communicate and the way managers and executives make decisions. In the past, important operational data was collected and stored in ways that consumed many resources and was susceptible to decay and damage. Today, computerized systems can store vast quantities of information and can present useful statistics about how efficient operations are and what areas could be improved.

While some people point out that automated computer systems have eliminated many important jobs, others point out that such systems have reduced costs for consumers and created new and more advanced career opportunities for those who possess specialized technical skills. In fact, many colleges and universities have begun to develop new degree paths that combine computer science with practical business courses. Many of these educational institutions refer to this track as the Management Information Systems (MIS) Degree. Graduates from these programs are given the knowledge and skills they need to apply rapidly advancing technological innovations to real world business problems.

The business community has begun to appreciate the need for technology savvy administrators and they have begun hiring MIS Degree Graduates in record numbers. Individuals who enjoy learning about new technology and feel that they would perform well in a fast-paced business administration setting are discovering that the MIS Degree path is perfect for them. The skills that are acquired in a program like this allow graduates to have a positive influence over the technological evolution of businesses.

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From Punch Cards to Advanced Management Information Systems

For hundreds of years, individuals have been striving to create efficient and effective ways to improve the way in which business operations are carried out and important decisions are made. While it has taken many years for technology to evolve to where it is today, there were a few significant innovations that led to the development of the complex and exciting new technology fields that now exist. As the promising career paths shift from the specialized technical fields of the past to the technology driven occupations of the future, it becomes increasingly important for new professionals to develop a keen sense for how information systems can be used to solve real world problems.

An information system is anything that gives individuals and organizations the power to collect, store, and manipulate data that can be used to make more informed decisions. These systems include everything from consumer products like smart phones and laptops to business solutions like database warehouses and transaction processing software. All of these systems depend on the complex components of computer hardware and software in order to function. While the systems in use today are highly advanced and technical, they can all trace their origins back to a much simpler punch card system that was used by textile mill operators in the early 1700s.

A punch card is a fairly straightforward innovation that uses a series of holes arranged in a stiff piece of paper to represent data that can be used to operate machinery and input information into a computer system. Textile mills used punch cards to run their machinery and to help make business operations more intelligent and efficient. Surprisingly, the punch card system was being used as recent as 2012 in the United States electoral process. Most voters are familiar with the act of punching holes next to their chosen political candidate, but few people realize that this method of voting is related to an old information systems innovation.

Over time, new advances were gradually made in technology that allowed the punch card system to be replaced with a type of data system that was much more durable and versatile. This system became known as a database and it can be found in all modern computers. Most people are familiar with a very important component of computers commonly referred to as a hard drive. The hard drive is a magnetized database storage device that arranges uniform data into a series of rows and columns. This data is related to each other and can be retrieved using the read/write heads that are also found in all modern computers. Industry professionals sometimes refer to magnetized storage systems as non-volatile storage because of its improved functionality and damage resistant capabilities.

The business environment has become increasingly competitive as new and innovative technology has improved the efficiency of operations and made business decisions far more informed. As a result of the evolution of technology, business leaders have discovered that they desperately need individuals who understand the basics of computer science and who can use their knowledge to solve complex business problems. The demand for technology savvy business administrators has led to the development of a relatively new degree path referred to as the MIS Degree. Management information systems graduates are given the skills they need to communicate intelligently with technology specialists in order to come up with solutions to actual business problems that need to be solved.

Readers who are interested in learning more about career opportunities in the management information systems industry are encouraged to visit http://www.misdegree.org/ where they will find details about the types of systems being used today as well as links to colleges and universities that offer the MIS Degree.