Final- Blogpost# 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.


Toyota supported by Management Information Systems

The early days of computer processing were driven mostly by hardware developments during the 1950s and 1960s. The lack of hardware innovation impeded the development of software applications from creating greater efficiencies in business processes. The first and second generation systems were keypunched IBM cards and paper tape based. The U.S. government funded research to network their mission-critical information systems which in turn led to the creation of the Internet in 1969. There were no distributed computer systems during the 1960s and 1970s and most business transactions were processed as batches on mainframe computers. This centralized processing and distribution of information led to the creation of management information systems (MIS) in 1969 (Laudon & Laudon, 2004).

The hardware evolution continued in the 1980s as IBM invented the personal computer (PC) to allow its customers to perform business transactions independently without mainframe computers. Interestingly, this paradigm shift fueled the rapid evolution of software applications in the information technology industry that led to third, fourth and fifth generation hardware and software applications. Software companies such as Microsoft and Oracle were the drivers of the emerging technological wave and introduced products that forced rapid changes in the hardware development process.

Managers use information systems (transaction processing [TPS], knowledge work [KWS], management information [MIS], decision support [DSS] and executive support systems [ESS]) at different organizational levels. For example, MIS can be used for semi-structured decision making at the management organizational level. In contrast, ESS can be used for unstructured (uncertainty) decision making at the strategic organizational level. Likewise, DSS can be used for semi-structured decision-making as well as at the senior management organizational level (Laudon & Laudon, 2004).

Organizations have produced specified and scheduled non-management reports to meet regulatory requirements. In contrast, organizations can produce internal management reports to assist managers in understanding the day-to-day business operations and processes. It is clear that MIS has relationships with other management support systems (MSS) such as decision support systems (DSS) and executive support systems (ESS). However, such a wide MIS coverage can be problematic for mangers without a technical background to select the appropriate tool quickly in order to make better decisions (Laudon & Laudon, 2004).

MIS are allowing manager to make decisions for the successful operation of businesses. MIS consist of computer resources people and procedures used in the modern business enterprise.

MIS tool has outlived its useful life since many business transactions and communications are processed in real time on distributed computer systems such as microcomputers, servers, personal computers, notebooks, personal digital assists, cellular phones, and hybrid multifunction x-boxes. Managers can download content from their mainframe computers’ database and work independently using ease-of-use software applications.

Reference

Journal of Knowledge Management Practice, 2005 - tlainc.com

Final-Blogpost #4

The Knowledge- Based Systems (KBS)- definition

Knowledge-based system- is a program for extending and/or querying a knowledge based.A computer system that is programmed to imitate human problem-solving by means of artificial intelligence and reference to a database of knowledge on a particular subject.

Distinguish KBS from MIS

KBS is used an artificial intelligence in solving some problem in the organization while MIS refer to the group of information management methods to support human decision.

Example


Querybot's is a knowledge base software can be set up on any website almost instantly! There is no need to install any software on your server.

Querybot acts as your customer support frontline, answering most customer questions instantly. If a question cannot be answered, the Querybot Knowledge base software will allow your customer to contact you by email with a single click of the mouse--while keeping track of the question so you can improve the system.

Reference
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowledge-based_systems

Final-Blogpost #3

VIRTUAL OFFICE (VO)-definition

Virtual office is a term that suggests that office work can be done at virtually any geographical location as long as the work site is linked to one or more of the firms fixed locations by some type of electronic communications capability.

DISTINGUISH VO from MIS

Virtual Office is for shared office services, which normally includes business address, mail & courier services, phone services, fax services, answering services, web-hosting services, and meeting & conference facilities,you are just running a business efficiently by using online communication technologies. 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.

EXAMPLES

Examples of Virtual offices can benefit a wide range of users. This ranges from an individual working from home seeking a professional image; to a multinational company looking for a short term solution to gain a foothold in a new country. Of course, you need not use all of the facilities a provider has to offer. A company looking for a way to handle incoming calls may choose to use just a telephone answering service as a cheaper alternative to hiring a receptionist.

REFERENCE:

w1office.blogspot.com/2006/11/virtual-office-business-address.

Final-Blogpost #2

Decision Support Systems – DSS (definition)

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.

Typical information that a decision support application might gather and present would be:

• Accessing all of your current information assets, including legacy and relational data sources, cubes, data warehouses, and data marts
• Comparative 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

Distinguish DSS from MIS

The DSS and MIS models are very similar. Both consist of a database, report writing software, and mathematical models. In the MIS model, the users are called organizational problem solvers, whereas in the DSS model there are two types of users- individual problem solvers and other group members. The DSS model also includes a third category of software- groupware, which establishes communications link among the problem solvers and between the problem solvers environmental settings a groupware.

Examples

1. The best example of decision support systems include high-level summary reports or charts and allow the user to drill down for more detailed information.

2. A specific example concerns the Canadian National Railway system, which tests its equipment on a regular basis using a decision support system. A problem faced by any railroad is worn-out or defective rails, which can result in hundreds of derailments per year. Under a DSS, CN managed to decrease the incidence of derailments at the same time other companies were experiencing an increase.

References

1. Power, D.J. A Brief History of Decision Support Systems DSSResources.COM, World Wide Web, version 2.8, May 31, 2003
2. O’Brien, J (1999). Management Information Systems – Managing Information Technology in the Internetworked Enterprise (in English). Boston: Irwin McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0071123733.
3. Management Information System 7th Edition.
   

Final-Blogpost #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.

Toyota Motor Companies having MIS Strategic Plan:

Everyone agrees that having a management strategic plan for IT is a good thing but most ... companies throughout Europe, are already using the on-demand service.

Toyota Motor has standardized on Salesforce.com's multitenant on-demand service in less than three months to enable full integration of its sales environment.

The carmaker said its migration onto the service means it can now automate many day-to-day sales processes, allowing its sales territories to work together more efficiently and improve responsiveness to customers.

Account managers at Toyota Motor headquarters in Belgium, as well as Toyota National Sales and Marketing companies throughout Europe, are already using the on-demand service to target, acquire and manage day-to-day relationships with multinational fleet customers.

The firm said one of the main reasons for choosing the on-demand application lay in its ability to integrate with back office systems and external sources of information regarding vehicle data.

Impact of the strategic plan on the toyota company management, competitors, customers and the company as a whole.

Toyota is famous for lean manufacturing, but the No. 1 automaker applies the whole lean philosophy way beyond the production floor. Lean is a “knowledge environment,” says Nick Dieltsien, who’s responsible for strategic planning at Lexus Europe.

The information systems for the Toyota Motor Company (TMC) can clearly be evaluated by using SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats). The biggest strength of Toyota's information systems is their ability to integrate their company goals globally by using their systems effectively. For example, Toyota reaches its customers in different markets by using different online web systems for different world regions. Although, there are multiple websites and systems for each of the world regions, such as North America and Europe, the systems all link back to a worldwide website.

Reference: www.toyotamotors.com

Name: Glendale J. Alicaya

Mgt.7 5:15-6:15A

Midterm-Blogpost#3

Data Warehouse Appliance- Reliance Communication using computerized database

Computerized Database is the world's fastest, most cost-effective solution for analyzing the massive amounts of information generated by surging worldwide usage of wireless and broadband services. The Data Warehouse Appliance powered by Sun is the industry's first cost-effective, high-performance super-capacity data warehouse appliance. Purpose-built for high-performance, large-scale data warehousing, the solution integrates best-in-class database, server, and storage components into one easy-to-use, plug-and-play system.

"The Sun Data Warehouse Appliance running Computerized Database is helping Reliance meet its goal of superior responsiveness in a challenging data environment – one that is characterized by rapid growth and increasing user demand," said Raj Joshi, VP and Head (Decision Support Systems) at Reliance Communications Limited. "Deploying the joint Greenplum and Sun solution improved our response times and enabled Reliance Communications to improve our data management."

Reliance Communications Limited is the telecommunications company of Reliance ADA Group which is one of India's largest industrial groups. Reliance Communications is known for its innovative market offerings and practices. As Reliance has grown to more than 40 million subscribers, providing accurate and timely data support and analytics to all parts of the business has been a challenge. Turning an ad hoc request from historical records could take multiple hours; even loading a day's worth of data into the system could take up to three hours.

After deploying the Sun Data Warehouse appliance running Computerized Database, the time required to turn around an ad hoc request for detailed call records from the historical call detail record (CDR) database shrank by over 80 percent in most cases, from five hours to less than an hour, and the system reduced the average time to load a day's worth of data by over 80 percent, from two hours to under twenty minutes. Following the success of the initial deployment, Reliance is expanding the system to maintain and support ad hoc requests for billing data among coexistent telco carriers on the broader network by including call detail records from its interconnect traffic.

"As demand for wireless and internet connectivity soars in Asia, emerging companies as well as larger established players are looking for ways to manage the explosion of call detail data. There is now an urgent need for high-performance, cost-effective database solutions to deal with huge volumes of data," said Bill Cook, chief executive officer of Computerized Database "Computerized Database offers superior performance and scalability with a significantly lower cost than traditional solutions, which makes us particularly appealing to fast-growth companies who are using data to gain competitive advantage."

"Reliance's choice of the Sun Data Warehouse Appliance gives the company a distinct advantage in the highly competitive and fast-growing Indian telecom market by enabling high-speed, well-informed business decisions," said Kapil Sood, Director, Industry Sales Organization.

Name: Glendale J. Alicaya

Mgt.7 5:15-6:15A

Midterm Blog Post#2

PROCTOR AND GAMBLE

Proctor and Gamble has chosen its Active Risk Manager solution to manage enterprise risk across its operations worldwide.

According to the company, Proctor and Gamble was looking for a consistent method to manage risk across its multi-national operation, and web-based Active Risk Manager will enable branches in different countries to share information, update and monitor risk information in an efficient way.

Security– both internal and external– was also an important con Front's TCP/IP-to-SNA protocol boundary provides, but also has internal security issues to address. Proctor and Gamble wanted to be sure that users could only access the AS/400 applications relevant to their department. With HostFront, users still have to log on to the host as if they were using a traditional terminal, and HostFront provides additional security through user IDs, passwords, and IP addresses that authenticate users before granting them access to the corporate host.

Security– both internal and external– was also an important consideration for Proctor and Gamble. The company is taking full advantage of the natural firewall that HostFront's TCP/IP-to-SNA protocol boundary provides, but also has internal security issues to address. Proctor and Gamble wanted to be sure that users could only access the AS/400 applications relevant to their department. With HostFront, users still have to log on to the host as if they were using a traditional terminal, and HostFront provides additional security through user IDs, passwords, and IP addresses that authenticate users before granting them access to the corporate host.

Name: Glendale J. Alicaya

Mgt.7 5:15-6:15A