What is Management Information Systems?

Management Information Systems (MIS) is the study of people, technology, organizations and the relationships among them. MIS professionals help firms realize maximum benefit from investment in personnel, equipment, and business processes. MIS is a people-oriented field with an emphasis on service through technology. If you have an interest in technology and have the desire to use technology to improve people’s lives, a degree in MIS may be for you.

Businesses use information systems at all levels of operation to collect, process and store data. Management aggregates and disseminates this data in the form of information needed to carry out the daily operations of business. Everyone who works in business, from someone who pays the bills to the person who makes employment decisions, uses information systems. A car dealership could use a computer database to keep track of which products sell best. A retail store might use a computer-based information system to sell products over the Internet. In fact, many (if not most) businesses concentrate on the alignment of MIS with business goals to achieve competitive advantage over other businesses.

MIS professionals create information systems for data management (i.e., storing, searching and analyzing data). In addition, they manage various information systems to meet the needs of managers, staff and customers. By working collaboratively with various members of their work group, as well as with their customers and clients, MIS professionals are able to play a key role in areas such as information security, integration and exchange. As an MIS major, you will learn to design, implement and use business information systems in innovative ways to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of your company.

A common misconception that MIS only concerns programming. However, programming is just a small part of the MIS curriculum. While programming concepts represent some of the founding concepts and information systems development, implementation and use, many jobs in MIS do not utilize programming at all. A large portion of the MIS degree focuses on data analysis, teamwork, leadership, project management, customer service and underlying business theories. These aspects of the degree are what set the MIS professional apart from a computer science specialist.

• Do you enjoy working with people?
• Would you enjoy the chance to work on global problems with people from all over the world?
• Do you enjoy analyzing and solving problems?
• Do you want to create innovative, cutting-edge technology solutions?
• Do you want to learn how to make businesses more efficient, effective and competitive?

Then you should consider as your major the field that is experiencing a critical shortage of professionally trained individuals. A field where demand is skyrocketing with projected growth rates of 38 percent – the fastest of any business discipline (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

MIS professionals make business better

Below are some frequently asked questions regarding careers in MIS. This information will help you learn more about a career in MIS and to better understand the opportunities such a career may have in store for you.

What kinds of people pursue MIS degrees?

The profiles of MIS professionals are varied, but in general, such individuals possess many of the following traits:

• good problem solving skills
• ability to effectively manage time and resources
• a clear vision of “the big picture” as well as the “small details”
• a desire to work closely with other people
• excellent communication skills
• ability to think strategically about technology
• a desire to take responsibility for developing and implementing their own ideas

What are typical career options for MIS professionals?

• IT Consultant
• Web Developer
• Information Systems Manager
• Business Intelligence Analyst
• Network Administrator
• Business Application Developer
• Systems Analyst
• Technical Support Specialist
• Business Analyst
• Systems Developer

Why should I choose to major in MIS?

• Job satisfaction
• High placement rate
• High salaries
• Exciting field
• Challenging field
• Hands-on problem solving
• Innovation and creativity
• Global opportunities
• Great chance for advancement
• You can have an impact!

What is an average salary for an MIS professional?

From 2002 to 2009, MIS undergraduate starting average salaries for Mays Business School graduates rose from $42,165 - $56,000. Though the economy has taken a downturn, our spring 2011 MIS graduates received average starting salaries of $55,990 with some students receiving salaries as high as $70,000.

The following table shows a comparison of average starting salaries for graduates from each of the six undergraduate majors at Mays Business School over the past several semesters:

State of Database Management In Organizations:
The needs of organizations and management are changeable, diverse and often ill-defined, yet they must be met. Both internal and external forces demand that organizations exercise control over their data resources.
Data is a vital resource in an organization and must be managed. The organizational database is an essential component in a management information system. Of the four components of a data processing system, attention to data has lagged behind the development of machines and programming technology. Taking a database approach requires an organization to focus on data as a valued resource. Data is separate from programs and application systems which use it.

The overall purpose of Reporting Software is to provide profitability and related information to help managers and staff understand business performance and plan its future direction.

IMPORTANCE OF Reporting Software:

1. Reporting Software is always management oriented and keeps in view every level of management and gets the desired information.
2. Integrated - refers to how diff components(sub systems) are actually tied up together. eg: diff departments of organization linked together.
3. Useful for planning - as every organization makes log-term and short-term plans with the help of information like sales & production, capital investments, stocks etc management can easily plan..
4. Effective Reporting Software helps the management to know deviations of actual performance from pre-set targets and control things.
5. its important for increasing efficiency.
6.Reporting Software provides updated results of various departments to management.
7.Reporting Software is highly computerized so it provides accurate results.
8.Reporting Software adds to the intelligence, alertness, awareness of managers by providing them information in the form of progress and review reports of an ongoing activity.
9.Helps managers in decision- making.

How does CRM help?

If your organization is willing to take the necessary steps to implement a good CRM, it's automation can make your company vastly more efficient. Early adopters of computer technology took charge to develop efficient methods to keep track of the prospective clients. They found that centralizing a database of their clients gave their sales professionals valuable information about other similar prospective successes, it gave their management a way to see what is happening in their sales organization in one universal platform and, most importantly, it gave organizations a way to efficiently make continual contact with perspective clients who may have otherwise been neglected.

Since this time, CRM software developers have been adding more and more functionality, tools and problem solving to help organizations get ahead with the customers. These changes, however, have come over time. Those who adopted simple strategies early could now gradually and effectively add new features to their arsenal.

Can a software tool really help?

Do you feel like there aren't enough hours in the day to get done what you need to get done? Are you trying to find time to schedule just one more appointment, or deliver a proposal, or even just get back to a customer in need of attention?

If this sounds like you, you need eSalesTrack to help organize your day. From managing leads, calls, appointments, and tasks, to automating your daily sales reports, eSalesTrack has helped thousands of users get on top, and stay on top, of their day. eSalesTrack has made them more effective at their job and helped them communicate with their customers better.

Organize your day...

...and manage your activity all in one screen using tools like eSalesTrack's Activity Management module. Developed specifically to help manage your busy day, you can track all the items that you need to do today and watch your activity to plan more accurately for the future. List all tasks, appointments, and follow-up contacts.

Using tools like the eSalesTrack's unique funnel management tool, you can quickly manage opportunities to stay on top of who needs to the most attention. Managers can stay on top of their teams activity, allowing them to proactively jump into opportunities that may need more attention.