MIS and the User

 

Every person in the Organization is a user of the MIS. The people in the organization operate at all levels in the hierarchy. A typical user is a clerk, an assistant, an officer, an executive or a manager.  Each of them has a specific task and a role play in the management of business. The MIS caters to the needs of all persons.

 

The main task of a clerk is to search the data, make a statement and submit it to the higher level. A clerk can use the MIS for a quick search and reporting the same to higher level. An assistant has the task of collecting and organizing the data, and conducting a rudimentary analysis of it. The MIS offers the user tools to perform these tasks. An officer has a role of integrating the data from different systems and disciplines to analyze it and make a critical comment if anything adverse is found.

 

In MIS offers the methods and facilities to integrate the data and report the same in a proper format.  An executive plays the role of a decision maker.  He is in a position of responsibility and accountability; a position of a planner and a decision maker.  He is responsible for achieving the targets and goals of the organization. The MIS provides facilities to analyze the data and offers the decision support systems to perform the task of execution. The MIS provides action-oriented information.

 

The manager has a position of responsibility and accountability for the business results. His management role expands beyond his management function. The MIS provides information in a structured or unstructured format for him to react. The MIS caters to his constant changing needs of information. The user of the MIS is expected to be a rational person and the design of the MIS is based on this assumption.

 

However, in reality the impact created on individuals by MIS is difficult to explain.

 

The recent major technological advances in communication such as Multimedia, Imaging, Graphical User Interface (GUI) etc and the ability to access the data stored at different locations on the variety hardware of platforms would make MIS more attractive and efficient proposition. An intelligent user of information can demonstrate the ability of decision making, since his manipulative capability is considerably increased, with the information now being available on his desktop.

 

Through the MIS, the information can be used as a strategic weapon to counter the threats to business, make businesses more competitive, and bring about the organizational transformation through integration. A good MIS also make an organization seamless by removing all the communication barriers.