Final Question # 5

As a topic before KBS, DSS and VO, identify and describe one company that adopts an MIS. Include in your discussion, how MIS help and support the company, its managers and other employees, in their problem solving and decision-making.
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GREENWOOD PUBLISHING GROUP

Based on a longitudinal, small-sample study of Midwest companies, Thierauf's work develops a number of interesting and potentially useful approaches to management information systems (MIS) practice. The author presents a number of techniques (some well known, others more recent) that practicing MIS managers may adopt to facilitate effective MIS planning for the 1990's by focusing on problem finding rather than on problem solving. A primary recommendation of Thierauf's is the restructuring of the MIS organization using a functional (end-user) departmental approach. Discussed at length are various issues relevant to this restructuring, such as staffing, motivating MIS personnel and end users, and MIS `soft' controls. Recommended for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students as well as practicing managers and MIS specialists. With new developments in hardware and software, MIS managers are increasingly faced with the need to develop more sophisticated managerial--as opposed to purely technical--skills. Here, an acknowledged expert in the field of information systems draws on his own original research and experience to develop a set of workable strategies and techniques that MIS managers can use to function more effectively as we move into the next decade. Thierauf identifies probable trends in the field in coming years and outlines ways in which MIS managers can anticipate predictable problems, apply improved management skills to the end-user interface, and effectively motivate MIS personnel. Thierauf concentrates particularly on four major areas of managerial responsibility: planning, organizing, motivating, and controlling. In planning, he shows how to use problem-finding techniques to anticipate and solve potential problems between MIS personnel and end-users. To help reduce this conflict, Thierauf argues, there is a need for a new direction in organizing MIS departments. He proposes bringing MIS and end-use departments together by using a functional departmental approach. In motivating MIS personnel, there is need to go beyond self-actualization by emphasizing mutual actualization as well as self donation. Finally, in the area of control, Thierauf advocates the use of soft controls to replace stringent controls that have had a tendency to restrict personal freedom on the job. A common thread througout the discussion is a focus on effective guidelines for the MIS manager to follow in order to come to grips with the changing realities of the 1990s.(WWW.YAHOO.COM)

Final Question # 4

TOPIC: THE KNOWLEDGE - BASED SYSTEMS (KBS)Question # 3: 1. Describe or define KBS.2. Distinguish KBS from MIS.3. Illustrate (give examples) how KBS can improve company's competitive advantage and organizational performance.
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1.)Knowledge-based system are systems based on the methods and techniques of [[Artificial Intelligence]] (http://www.wikipedia.com/)
2.)Management Information Systems are distinct from regular information systems in that theysystems are used to analyze other information systems applied in operational activities in the organization while knowledge-based system are interactive computer program that helps a user solve a problem.
3.)Information overload is a critical problem in both military and commercial decision-making processes. Knowledge based systems provide a flexible, user definable and highly scalable solution to these problems by wedding intelligent multi-agent software with a user-focused graphical interface to provide improved decision making in dynamic environments and improved situational awareness. This approach lends itself to many potential applications in both the military and commercial sectors. The use of easily adaptive model processing enables the system to implement evolving policies and technological capabilities. The WCI intelligent agents 'understand' the cyber defense concepts they implement through an advanced internal language system utilizing highly evolved artificial intelligence. This will give the company to gathered information and to have communication easily.

Final Question # 3

TOPIC: THE VIRTUAL OFFICE (VO)Question # 3: 1. Describe or define VO.2. Distinguish VO from MIS.3. Illustrate (give examples) how VO can improve company's competitive advantage and organizational performance.
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1.)Virtual office is a shared office services, which normally includes business address, mail & courier services, phone services, fax services, answering services, web-hosting services, and meeting & conference facilities.

2.) MIS reporting was made manually and only periodically, as a by-product of the accounting system and with some additional statistics, and gave limited and delayed information on management performances. While Virtual office are providers of services that provide the in-house or outsourced services such as corporate secretarial services, accounting services, or legal services. Professional firms such as law firms and accounting firms often provide registered address services as part of their service offerings.
3.)Virtual office can improve companys competitive advantage and organizational performance it enables a network of co-workers to run a business efficiently by using nothing other than online communication technologies,this will help the employees to do the operation easily.

Final Question # 2

TOPIC: THE DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM (DSS)Question # 3: 1. Describe or define DSS.2. Distinguish DSS from MIS.3. Illustrate (give examples) how DSS can improve company's competitive advantage and organizational performance.Cite your reference.
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1.) Decision Support Systems (DSS)- are a specific class of computerized information system that supports business and organizational decision-making activities. A properly-designed DSS is an interactive software-based system intended to help decision makers compile useful information from raw data, documents, personal knowledge, and/or business models to identify and solve problems and make decisions.(www.wikipedia.com)

2.)Management Information System (MIS) is a subset of the overall internal controls of a business covering the application of people, documents, technologies, and procedures by management accountants to solving business problems such as costing a product, service or a business-wide strategy. Management Information Systems are distinct from regular information systems in that they are used to analyze other information systems applied in operational activities in the organization while Decision Support System are Typical information that a decision support application might gather and present would bean inventory of all of your current information assets including legacy, relational data sourcescomparative sales figures between one week and the next, projected revenue figures based on new product sales assumptions; the consequences of different decision alternatives, given past experience in a context that is described.

3.)DSS can improve company's competitive advantage and organizational performance in away that DSS belong to an environment with multidisciplinary foundations, including (but not exclusively) database research, artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, simulation methods, software engineering, and telecommunications.(http://www.wikipedia.com/)

Final question # 1

Research one company from the Internet and describe their MIS strategic plan in 1-2 paragraphs. Discuss too the impact of this strategic plan on the company's management, competitors, customers and the company as a whole.Evaluate how can this strategic plan be applied to any local company in the Philippines. Discuss too the possible effect on the company.Include your reference.
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EDSG- Environmental Data Solution group LLC

Developing a strategic EHS MIS direction allows companies to move forward with EHS MIS projects that support overall management system objectives. A strategic planning effort can identify and prioritize near and long-term EHS MIS initiatives based on need, as well as develop high level scheduling and budgetary estimates. The EHS MIS strategic planning process is intended to define high level business needs, assess current systems for their ability to meet these needs, and develop a strategic framework for moving forward.
EDSG has developed numerous proprietary tools and processes that facilitate strategic planning including the following: SPF, KMR, and Legacy Review
Project Summary: Continental Airlines operates greater than 200 facilities worldwide ranging for aircraft maintenance facilities to major hubs to remote stations. Environmental Affairs are centralized in Houston, Texas and a staff of 5 is responsible for environmental compliance and management at each of these facilities. This very lean group was overwhelmed with data about sites but had very little available information for day-to-day use. EDSG was contracted to develop a strategic plan for management of a wide variety of environmental information. Functional requirements considered in the strategic plan and solution design were:
Compliance management ,Facilities information ,Environmental cost tracking,Remediation project tracking ,Document management ,Air permits ,Wastewater permits ,Waste management
Chemical inventory ,Spill reporting For each functional area, EDSG assessed current work practices, applications in place (if any), requirements for future solutions, integration points with other business applications, and output requirements. In addition to addressing functional requirements, EDSG addressed technical requirements and the framework required by Continental IT staff for new applications. Based on the analysis of processes, current and future, EDSG recommended an EHS MIS strategy and solution design for Continental. This design consisted of the use of existing applications, new COTS applications, integration with existing systems, and development of a web interface tying all components together.After completing the strategic plan and establishing EHS MIS priorities, the priority topics are typically addressed in detail. The detailed design involves defining requirements, assessing solution options, further defining economics, and documenting the design.This will allow companies to quickly address priority topics in sufficient design to immediately and rapidly begin building the system. EDSG detailed designs address and incorporate both COTS and custom components as needed.EDSG incorporates the following proprietary tools and methods into the detailed design process: ARD Templates and ARD Workshops, COTS Specification, and Architect Specification.An additional element often included in the detailed design is EDSG's cost/benefit analysis. EDSG has developed proprietary methods to quantify both direct and INDIRECT benefits.Indirect benefits include risk and liability avoidance and are estimated by considering the company history, forecasting possible future scenarios by running probabilistic simulations using Monte Carlo simulations.EDSG is the only company who has specific proven methods to address indirect benefits in a systematic and defensible manner. Genentech, El Paso Corporation, Petro-Canada
Goodrich Corporation. This strategic plan could be apply in different company, if the assign person will use the right and proper way of spending the money for the development and improvement of its operation the inside and outside activities to achieve excellent project and mission for the progress.