MIS - A Support to the Management

 

The management process is executed through a variety of decisions taken at each step of planning, organizing, staffing, directing coordinating and control. If the management is able to spell out the decisions required to be taken, the MIS can be designed suitably.  The decisions required to be taken in these steps are tabulated in Table below.

 

Table: Decisions in Management

 

Steps in Management	Decision
Planning	A selection from various alternatives - strategies, resources, methods, etc.
Organization	A selection of a combination out of several combinations of the goals, people, resources, method and authority.
Staffing	Providing a proper manpower complement.
Directing	Choosing a method from the various methods of directing the efforts in the organization.
Coordinating	Choice of the tools and the techniques for coordinating the efforts for optimum results.
Controlling	A selection of the exceptional conditions and the decision guidelines

 

The objective of the MIS is to provide information for a decision support in the process of management. It should help in such a way that the business goals are achieved in the most efficient manner.  Since the decision making is not restricted to a particular level, the MIS is expected to support all the levels of the management in conducting the business operations.  Unless the MIS becomes a management aid, it is not useful to the organization.