Chapter 1
The Importance of MIS
This Could Happen to You: “You’re Fired”
Jennifer lacks skills
FlexTime needs
Abstract reasoning
skills
Systems thinking skills
Scenario
Video
Collaboration skills
Experimentation skills
1-2
Study Questions
Q1: Why is Introduction to MIS the most important class in
the business school?
Q2: What is an information system?
Q3: What is MIS?
Q4: Why is the difference between information technology
and information systems important to you?
Q5: What is your role in IS security?
How does the knowledge in this chapter help Jennifer and
you?
1-3
Q1: Why Is Introduction to MIS the Most
Important Class in the Business School?
Moore’s Law—cost of data communications and data
storage is essentially zero
Number of
transistors per •Speed of computer chip
increases in proportion to
square inch on
density of transistors
an integrated
chip doubles •Price/performance ratio of
every 18
computers falls dramatically
months
1-4
Moore’s Law (cont’d)
1-5
Moore’s Law: See Thomas Moore Video
Podcast
Here are some consequences
Cost of data
communications
and data storage
is essentially
zero
• YouTube
• iPhone
• Facebook
• Second Life
• Pandora
• Twitter
• LinkedIn
http://www.secondlife.com
http://www.pandora.com
1-6
What Are Cost-Effective Business
Applications of Facebook and Twitter or
Whatever Will Soon Appear?
• Are these applications cost-effective?
• Do they generate revenue worth the time
and expense of running them?
• Someone needs to be examining that
question, and that person works in marketing
... not in a technical field.
1-7
Why MIS Is Most Important Business Class
Future business professionals need to be
able to assess, evaluate, and apply
emerging information technology to
business
Knowledge gained in this course will help
you attain that skill
Your only job security is a marketable skill
and courage to use it
1-8
How Can I Attain Job Security?
Rapid technological change and increased
international competition spotlight nonroutine cognitive skills and ability to adapt to
changing technology and shifting demand
Organizations favor those with strong nonroutine cognitive skills
1-9
Why Jennifer Lost Her Job
Skill
Abstract
Reasoning
Systems
Thinking
Collaboration
Ability to
Experiment
Example
Jennifer’s Problem
Construct a model or
representation.
Inability to model the
customer life-cycle.
Model system
components and show
how components inputs
and outputs relate to one
another.
Develop ideas and plans
with others. Provide and
receive critical feedback.
Create and test promising
new alternatives,
consistent with available
resources.
Confusion about when/how
customers contact accounts
payable.
Unwilling to work with
others with work-inprogress.
Fear of failure prohibited
discussion of new ideas.
1-10
Summary: Why Is Introduction to MIS Most
Important Business Class?
It will give you background you need to
assess, evaluate, and apply emerging
information systems technology to
business.
1-11
Q2: What Is an Information System?
A group of components that interact to
produce information.
See video
1-12
Experiencing MIS InClass Exercise 1:
Information Systems and Online Dating
Theory of
•Chemistry
relationships:
•eHarmony
personality,
compatibility, etc. •PerfectMatch
•ConservativeDates
Political interests
•Liberalhearts
Common
•GoodGenes
social/economic •MillionaireMatch
interests
Common activity
interests
•Golfmates
•EquestrianCupid
•CowboyCowgirl
•Single Firefighters
•Asexual Pals
1-13
Q3: What Is MIS?
Management
Information
Systems
• Development and use
of information systems
• Achieving business
goals and objectives
Goal of MIS
Aligning the IS to achieve business
goals and objectives
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Development and Use of Information
Systems
Business professionals need to:
Take an active role in IS to ensure
that systems meet their needs
Understand how IT systems are
constructed
Consider users’ needs during
development
Learn how to use IT systems
Take into account ancillary IT
functions (security, backups)
1-15
Achieving Business Goals and Objectives
MIS empowers
users to achieve
business
objectives
•Information systems exist to
assist business people
(a.k.a. “users”)
•Information systems exist to
achieve business goals and
objectives
1-16
Q4: Why Is the Difference Between Information
Technology and Information Systems
Important to You?
Information technology
1.
2.
3.
4.
Products
Methods
Inventions
Standards
 IT =hardware + software + data
 Information system (IS) = IT plus procedures,
and people that produces information
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Q5: What Is Your Role in IS Security?
• Security systems have five components,
including people.
• Security system ultimately depends on
behavior of its users.
• If security procedures are not followed, then
hardware, software, and data components
of security system are wasted expense.
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Passwords Are Necessary
• Should have a strong password
• Protect passwords from others (critical)
• Practice proper etiquette
Never write down your password
Do not share it with others
Never ask others for their password
1-19
Creating a Strong Password
Rules for strong password:
• Use ten or more characters
• Do not include your user name, real name, or
company name
• Do not use complete dictionary word in any
language
• Is different from previous passwords you have
used
• Contains both upper- and lowercase letters,
numbers, and special characters (such as ~ ! @; #
$ % ^; &; * ( ) _ +; – =; { } | [ ] \ : “ ; ’ <; >;? , . /)
1-20
Password Etiquette: Mark of a Business
Professional
• Never write down your password, do
not share it with others
• Never ask others for their password
• Never give your password to someone
else
• “do-si-do” move—one person getting
out of way so another person can enter
a password—common professional
practice
1-21
How Does the Knowledge in This Chapter
Help Jennifer and You? (cont’d)
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How Can Intro to MIS Help You Learn
Non-Routine Skills?
• Abstract Reason
• Chapter 1: Model of an information system
• Chapter 2: How to use IS model to assess
scope of any new information system
project
• Chapter 5: How to create data models
• Chapter 7: How to make process models
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How Can Intro to MIS Help You Learn
Non-Routine Skills? (cont’d)
• Systems Thinking
• Ability to model system components,
connect inputs and outputs among
components to reflect structure and
dynamics of system observed
• Every chapter, especially Ch. 2–7 and 10
1-24
How Can Intro to MIS Help You Learn
Non-Routine Skills? (cont’d)
• Collaboration
• Activity of two or more people working
together to achieve a common goal, result,
or work product
• Chapter Extensions 2A and 2B discuss
collaboration skills and illustrate several
sample collaboration information systems
• Group discussions and presentations in
this class.
1-25
What is the Bottom Line?
1. Assess, evaluate, and apply emerging
information systems technology to business.
2. Learn abstraction, systems thinking,
collaboration, and experimentation.
3. There is strong growth in the number of
available jobs for those with strong cognitive
skills.
4. Read Ethics Guides about ethical dilemmas.
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Chapter Topics to Cover in This Class
• Introduction to MIS (Chapter 1), some current trends
• Business process management and ISs (Chapter 2
and Ext. 17)
• Business strategies, IS strategy, Firm-based value
chain analysis (Chapter 3, Ext. 3 and others)
• Closer look at some information systems in
organizations, ERP, supply chain mgmt (Chapter 7,
Exts. 9, 10)
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Chapter Topics to Cover in This Class
• Database processing (Chapter 5)
• Data communication and the cloud (Chapter
6)
• Social Media and mobile systems (Chapter
8, Ext. 7)
• Information security mgmt (Chapter 12)
1-28
Chapter Topics to Cover in This Class
• IS Mnagement (Chapter 11)
• IS Development (Chapter 10, Ext. 16)
• Business Intelligence (Chapter 9)
1-29