THE APPLICATIONS OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN VARIOUS LEVELS OF MANAGEMENT.

INTRODUCTION
The role of Management Information System (MIS) is vital now-a-days in business environment because it has
evolved over time to become an integral part of its business operations. The use of management information system
has increased for last few years not only by firms, but also by individuals and even governments. Because of the
today’s global environment where competition is very high, it is the basic requirement of the organization to install
management information system to compete the market and to earn more profitability, invest in innovation in their
products, and to grow their businesses. All of these factors transformed the information system from data
processing systems to decision support systems and became the foundation of the new business environment.

Management information systems are typically computer systems used for managing five primary components:
hardware, software, data (information for decision making), procedures (design, development and documentation),
and people (individuals, groups, or organizations). Management information systems are distinct from other
information systems, in that they are used to analyze and facilitate strategic and operational activities. MIS is
commonly used to refer to the study of how individuals, groups, and organizations evaluate, design, implement,
manage, and utilize systems to generate information to improve efficiency and effectiveness of decision making,
including systems termed decision support systems, expert systems, and executive information systems.
Organizations view the effective adoption of Management Information System (MIS) as a way to combat
competition by improving productivity, profitability, and the level of information which is one common asset
shared by all business regardless of their nature because it is a vital part of any business entity irrespective of their
forms of ownership as it enables conceptualization and creation of new products and services.

Most firms nowadays depend upon Information Technology. But personal computers (PCs) themselves will not
improve organizational productivity this only comes about if they are used efficiently and effectively. Computer
systems can clearly aid organizations in the processing of data into accurate, well presented, up-to-date and cost
effective information. While the conciseness, relevancy, timeliness and completeness of supplied information will
largely depend on the capabilities of the people involved in its processing and selection of the relevant information
for proper decision making for the organization to improve the product to capture the market share. However, most
decisions about IT are critically important to the prosperity and survival of a firm. A successful organization must
be able to adapt and learn fast as creative activity increase their survival against all odds, especially in rapidly
changing environment of the 21st century.
With more innovation in technology, new businesses are created. With more business, technology comes to the
rescue by making things easier. The two exist in something of a symbiotic relationship that ensures they will always
coexist.

Business has been around since prehistoric times. It may have begun with nothing more than barter trade, if the
history books are to be believed, but it has since morphed into something far more complex, and none of that would
have been possible without technology. The major industries of the world would collapse, if the existence and use of
information technology were to be snatched suddenly from businesses. That's because most business transactions
and operations cannot be conducted in the 21st century without technology.

Technology Is Necessary in Business

Over the years, technology has caused an explosion in commerce and trade. Because of technology, many traditional
business models and concepts were revolutionized. Technology gave us the opportunity to see things from a new
perspective, and to approach what we were already doing from a new perspective. Technology also gave us greater
efficiency for conducting business.

Some of the areas in which technology is crucial to business include point of sales systems, the use of ICT in
management, accounting systems, and other complex aspects of everyday business activities. Even something as
simple as the calculator, which was revolutionary in its time, came about because of technology. It is tough to
imagine going back to performing tasks manually. It would take us back about 100 or so years.

Technology as a Source of Support and Security

Technology enables us to automate numerous processes, which thereby increases our productivity. This is possible
because it enables us to use fewer resources, thereby enabling us to improve on quality at a low cost and to improve
the speed with which we can deliver to customers. In the process, it has become possible to serve even more clients.

Technology also makes it easy to store more information while maintaining the integrity of that information. We are
better able to store sensitive and confidential information in a way that makes it less vulnerable to a data breach. The
information can be retrieved instantly when needed, and it can be analyzed not only to study past trends but also to
forecast the future. In turn, this can help with the decision-making process.

Technology as a Link to the World

Communication is a part of business. So, transportation and processes make business a web of complicated
processes that interplay with each other. With technology, it has been possible to globalize business operations.
Now, just about anyone can do business practically anywhere, from any room in their house.

Technology has made it possible for businesses to have a wider reach in the world. The best example of this is the
internet and the World Wide Web. The internet is now a crucial part of any businesses’ marketing campaign, as it
enables the business to attract customers worldwide.

Technology, when well-integrated with business, has made life itself worth living. It would be foolish to deny,
however, that there are also threats to business brought about by technology. These include malicious activities by
activities and organizations, such as hacking. Because of this, it is important for businesses to exercise responsibility
when using technology to conduct business. With the good that technology brings, there is some bad that must also
be dealt with. All the same, it is something that's worth all of the baggage, and we must acknowledge and
responsibly utilize it to make our businesses better.

How Does Information Technology Affect Business?

The Industrial Revolution changed things in the business world, making a lot of processes more efficient and
increasing productivity a hundred-fold. However, the business world remained somewhat stagnant for a century
after. With the technological revolution, and the use of technology in business, however, things changed even more
disruptively than during the Industrial Revolution and it would be safe to say that things will never be the same
again. The rate at which technology is evolving and adapting is exponential to the point where all businesses are
being swept by the wave, whether they are ready for it or not. Technology has changed every aspect of business in a
big way and this has never happened this fast before in history. To be more specific, here are a few ways in which
information technology has affected business:
The Advent of Mobile Solutions

Mobility is seen by many as the next great frontier for businesses. Google’s algorithms reflect this, as they make
mobile websites a priority. Your business, and every aspect of it can be handled, using nothing more than a tablet or
smartphone. From content marketing to customer relations, to sales, the back-end stuff like invoicing and shipping ,
all of that power is in your hands.

But mobile solutions are not just about businesses; they are also about consumers. The millennial generation uses
their phones to do everything from buying and selling to sharing their experiences with their friends and finding
local businesses.

The Phenomenon of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing has made it possible for businesses to outsource many of their functions to third parties using the
internet. It makes it possible for variable data packages to be handled but also makes it possible for businesses to
expand rapidly and embrace mobility without having to worry about such things as crashes, downtime, and lost data.
This has enabled small and medium-sized businesses to gain access to resources that would have cost them a fortune
only a few years ago.

Increased Customer Segmentation

Since more and more data is flowing, it is now much easier to analyze and gain deep insight into the things that
customers are looking for. Analytics services are expanding by the day and are allowing businesses to segment their
prospects into more and more specific groups, making it much easier to target them and get more value for their
advertising money. Something as simple as having a Google account can let a business know where a user is from,
the kind of browser they are using, how they stumbled upon a website, What they do on that website, how long they
are likely to stay and at what point they decide to leave. There are even more advanced analytics services that allow
businesses to become even more refined with this segmentation in order to improve their conversions drastically.

Increased Connectivity

Technology has made it easier for people to stay in touch. Whether you are looking to communicate with your
employees and colleagues via video chat or sending email blasts to leads, mobile technology and the constant
innovation that takes place within the space has made it possible for communication to take on a new level of hyper-
realism.

Decreasing Costs and Increasing Utility

There are two main things that have come together to make what is called a “buyer’s market” possible. These are the
fact that both hardware and software that are needed in creating the necessary software solutions have become more
affordable and the fact that more and more entrepreneurs who are also tech-savvy are appearing by the day to make
use of these technologies. There was a time when it would take a large company about a year to build a back-end
inventory system. Now it takes a few colleges graduates a matter of weeks to build the same thing. Since the
solutions are offered affordably and very easy to use, businesses do not have to invest too much money into them
and that has made business easier.

Greater Consideration for the Social Impact of Business

You cannot just assume your business operates in a vacuum anymore. Social networking has made the world a
smaller place where users can connect regardless of who they are, where they are from, and how wealthy they are.
Only a few years ago you could have gotten by if your customer service was just okay. Now you have to put in the
extra effort if you do not want unfavorable ratings on review sites and people going on rants on social media about
your service. Businesses, therefore, need to be careful about their online reputation and need to work on their digital
footprint.

The End of Downtime

This is actually a negative effect of technology. With increased connectivity, individuals have less and less time to
themselves now. Vacation seems to have all but become a thing of the past, with most people working even when
they are on vacation. Since we can always access our emails, texts, and social media through our phones and
laptops, it is harder and harder to just disconnect and wind down.

Why Is Information Technology Important to an Organization?

It might be a little difficult to fathom the importance of information technology to an organization if you are not an
IT professional. However, there are numerous ways in which information technology is crucial to an organization.

Business

The business world changed forever when computers were introduced onto the scene. Businesses can utilize
information technology through the use of computers and different software to run their operations in a smoother
fashion. They use it in different departments, including finance, manufacturing, human resources, and security.

Education

Education is one of the frontiers of technology and is growing with technology every day. It’s important that
education be able to keep up with the progress happening in technology by reaching students in a way that
adequately helps them to prepare for the future. The students in our classrooms today are meant to be the thought
leaders, business people, teachers, and investors of tomorrow, so technology should be used to prepare them. This
includes the use of gadgets in teaching, such as computers, mobile phones, and tablets, as well as the use of the
internet as a medium of learning.

Finance

With an increasing number of transactions happening online, it is important that financial and security institutions
work together to make the internet a safe place. As more transactions are done on the internet, there will be a need
for more networks and greater security, making it possible for banks to keep purchases and sales secure.

Health

With improvements in information technology, it is becoming easier to reform the health sector. Medical offices are
now able to share medical information with each other, and they can get your health data from your previous
doctors. This makes it possible for timely care to be delivered, as well as for costs to be reduced.

Security

With an increasing number of transactions being done online, there is an ever-increasing need for safety.
Information technology is what makes it possible to keep your data and information safe and only accessible by you.
Through the use of encryption and passwords, your digital data is safely hidden away and can only be accessed by
those who have your permission.

How Can I use Technology to Work More Efficiently?

First, use technology to integrate communication within your organization. Let your employees be on the same page
with each other, using such things as collaboration platforms and social media to keep everyone updated about what
is going on in the business and where it is headed. That way, they will be in sync with the goals of the business, and
their productivity will be significantly improved.

You can also use technology to improve the service you deliver to your customers, by enabling them to give you
feedback on your products and services, as well as suggestions on what you can improve.

With improving security standards, you could also do away with passwords altogether and try biometric security
systems, which do not require you to remember a dozen passwords at once.