An Analysis on the Evolution of Management Information Systems (MIS) and their New Approaches

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An Analysis on the Evolution of Management Information Systems (MIS) and

their New Approaches

Mohammad Reza Falah Kheir andish

, Hosein Khodashenas

,

Kamal Farkhondeh

Farhad Ebrahimi

, Ali Besharatifard

1,2,3,4,5-M.A. Student of Business Management, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad

University, Rasht, Iran

Abstract

The knowledge of MIS which is a branch of information sciences or, in better words, of systems science have a background of less than 50 years.

The concept of MIS, formed in 1965 in the U.S, extended rapidly in most academies and especially management departments in the whole world. It is said that almost two third of this scientific field grew until 1990 and since then it didn’t have any significant advance. Most researchers and scientists of information sciences have performed important studies on MIS evolution and transformation with each investigating the issue from different viewpoints and proposing various analyses.

The present paper aims to propose suggestion and solutions in some cases while making use of theories and findings of well-known scientists.

Keywords: Evolution, Management Information Systems, Classical Paradigm New Scientific Paradigm. Introduction:

MIS: Emergence of a New Scientific Paradigm

Emergence and expansion of MIS can be considered as the result of effects and consequences of “computer” invention in industrial developed countries. The concept of MIS was first used in 1965 in management department of Minnesota University. It was, then, soon adopted by many management academic centers as a modern scientific attitude. Unfortunately, MIS did not progress as expected while communication and information technology has changed and transformed a lot during a period of less than 20 years. The main objective of this paper is to investigate and criticize important factors effective on MIS transformation and evolution (Panahi,2000).

Conceptual Ambiguities of the Classical Paradigm

MIS was basically predicted and designed for organizational and managerial applications. Hence it was called “Management Information System” which is composed of three concepts: “management”, “information” and “system”. Since the beginning the main objective of MIS was to present cognitions and solutions to, and conduct required scientific principles and techniques for management students, managers and decision-makers of the society in order to design, apply and manage automatic information systems in organizations and management section. But many specialists and experts are still debating on the title (Kentsi,2012). Therefore no comprehensive definition of MIS is available. Here we mention some definitions proposed so far:

MIS deals with planning for management development and using information technology tools to help individuals implement all functions and performances concerning information processing and management (GilaniNia, 2012). MIS is a system which receives data from different units and produces information and provides managers in all levels with relative, just-in-time, precise and uniform information for decision-making (Safarzade & Mansoori, 2009).

MIS is a manual or computer system which improves every organization’s just-in-time use, management and processing of data and information (Feizi, 2005).

MIS involves official methods of providing precise and just-in-time information to facilitate managers’ decision-making processes while planning, controlling and decision-making effective and optimal decisions in the organization (Momeni, 1993).

As can be seen, all definitions (except the last two ones) define MIS as a “system” not a “knowledge” or a “separate scientific specialty” and this is while MIs is firstly considered as a modern scientific paradigm the goal of which is to develop and apply new methods in analyzing, designing and applying automatic information systems in all fields requiring information production and exchange (Berch,1992).

In general, MIS can be considered in three concepts based on various definitions and studies mentioned so far: 1. MIS (Management Information Systems): It is an independent “scientific field” which, like other sciences,

provides required knowledge and cognition on planning and developing applied information systems. It must be noticed that MIS is not only useful in management, but also in all fields requiring information. 2. MIS (Managerial Information Systems): As a “system” the main objective of MIS is to provide the

organization with its required information. Information produced in this way can be used by managers directly as a supporting decision.

3. MIS (Management of information systems): A set of management tools and methods used to maintain, guide and control automatic information systems in organizations and management section.

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Organization

Or

Determinant

system

Having a review on all definitions17 it can be concluded that most ambiguities result from ambiguous and relatively complex title of this concept (Irannejad,1994).

New names are becoming common in Europe, Africa and some Middle Eastern countries and no global consensus is achieved on the concept of MIS as a result of various viewpoints. Of course most experimental research has demonstrated the fact that selecting a new title as “information systems” instead of MIS (as the knowledge of information systems) can remove most of the concept’s ambiguities. The proposed title is advantageous in some ways: it is simple and general, it doesn’t specify a certain application field, and can be considered (with no ambiguity) as the “knowledge of information systems).

But the second problem or ambiguity in MIS (as a kind of applied information system in management) it that it is not seemingly necessary to use such a title for all information systems. Information systems are not only used in management and decision-making, but also in all human and machine activities. Therefore, an appropriate name or title can be selected for every information system which fits its certain content and application(Tardieu,2001). MIS Is Independent of Computer

MIS is not equivalent to computer science and a computer system is not necessarily equal to an information system. In fact, MIS is much wider than computer and computer systems. Computer is only a component of MIS and information systems. Of course, it is noteworthy that one of the most important characteristics of MIS-type information systems is that they are computer-based.

Cybernetics Model of Classical MIS

Cybernetics is an old concept which meant coxswain in ancient Greece. Most part of theoretic and practical principles of this science is already defined and presented by different scientists. Feedback circles form the basis of cybernetics(Le Moig,1986). This means that if systems are related to their environment by sensory organs so that they can exchange messages, information and even energy, system’s actions and behaviors affect the environment, the environment reacts and the system receives this reaction. Thermostat is one of the primitive examples of such systems. Cybernetic mechanism was first used in animals and live creatures and then widely applied in machinery after sampling.

Since 1965 the cybernetic model was used in all MIS applications as a reference paradigm in order to provide a part of information, control, adjustment and communications.

The application of cybernetic model became so wide during 20 years (1965 – 1985) that some researchers and scholars such as Lomoan criticized it and considered it as equal to feedback:

Figure 1: siberentiki model

act

MIS = Feedback

Although a certain part of organization’s information is provided through feedback and data collection, but the cybernetic model has two main weaknesses:

1.This is a machinery model and acts in a systematic manner whereas an organization is a combination of discipline and chaos and does not always follow certain rules.

2.The cybernetic model is restricted and focuses on certain cross-sections (Rezaeian,2001).

Lomoan and Simon severely criticized the cybernetic model and proposed the systematic model. This model is based upon information analysis and production. It is possible to produce information and solve structures problems through the systematic model. Here, we suggest a new model of MIS based on mentioned scientists’ viewpoints which produces information besides using feedback data (Stoner,1996).

17 _{- The concept of computer also have three definitions: computer as the computer science, computer as a computer}

system and computer as computer equipments

Environment

or

Future position

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Determinant

system

Environment or

future position

Storage system

Or

Archive

Feed forward Feedback

Figure 2 : system model & general mis

From Knowledge-Based Information Systems to Learning-Based Information Systems

Undoubtedly, ESs are very useful in proposing solutions and specific comments and also in decision-making. But, it must be noticed that managers are not solely making decisions but they change during the time. Therefore, TPS exchange process systems (which are a part of DSSs) were intellectually invented to help in organizational planning and management (Long,1989).

TPSs are automatic and intellectual information systems through which all information variables of a system (a business center, for instance) interact, encounter and exchange with one another and are analyzed and processed. The result of all these events is a series of valuable information based on which most tasks of an organization are being planned (Poolit,2001).

Figure 3: A classical TPS model Variables such as data Balance supply and demand orders)

)

( Programs developed by environmental variables )

Application fields of TPS include: instructional planning, job finding centers, business (especially international trade), civil and national transportation, banks, energy-related organizations, power and water, land use planning, etc.

Lack of advance in MIS (despite all efforts made in this area) has many various reasons some of the most important of which are listed below:

4. MIS mostly requires a methodological foundation but is it is still deficient in this.

5. MIS is a multi-specialty knowledge requires various aspects such as management and organization principles, systems bases, modeling and computer in all of its applied fields. Ignoring any of these aspects results in deficiencies and even MIS failures (Mac Liod, 1998).

At the present time, similar to what Ask off suggested decades ago, “what annoys managers the most is not solely lack of information but undesirable data on which they spend most of their time to separate proper information from improper ones”. Fortunately, despite all available deficiencies and insufficiencies, some research centers of developed industrial countries have recently anticipated advanced and innovative plans for the future of MIS. Realization of each of these plans open ups a clear and wide insight into this knowledge. As an instance we can mention the project of completing KBIS and LBIS systems (Beheshtian,1994).

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Conclusion

Nowadays, information systems are considered as the most vital competitive and strategic tools in the global market. No organization can face complex, unpredictable, critical competitive world without information and information systems.

MIS, as a new scientific paradigm, has a heavy strategic load and can provide organizations with most cognitions and scientific – applied principles required for modeling, planning and management of information systems. What MIS needs the most today is not material tools and equipments but a methodological and conceptual foundation which can propose newer models and patterns to deepen information and communication analysis and make them more efficient. At the present time the information and communication technology is sufficiently and effectively providing requirements of information system development. From now on the co-existence of intensive and non-intensive, horizontal and vertical systems becomes more and more possible. Fragmented information systems are being replaced by integrated ones and even TPS systems can be well designed and implemented. But what ICT is not able to provide in organizations is to define and conduct strategies, explain perspectives beside conscious and intellectual prediction and guidance and this must usually realize in the form of transformed MIS.

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