Business leaders need to be comfortable with management information systems (MIS) for the following (primary) reasons:
¦ The sheer magnitude of the dollars spent on MIS must be managed to ensure business value.
¦ Research has consistently shown that when top managers are active in supporting MIS, they realize a number of benefits, such as gaining a competitive advantage, streamlining business processes, and even transforming entire industries.
¦ When business leaders are not involved in MIS, systems fail, revenue is lost, and entire companies can even fail because of poorly managed systems. How do companies get managers involved in MIS? One of the biggest positive factors is managers' personal experience with MIS and MIS education, including university classes and executive seminars. Once managers understand MIS through experience and education, they are more likely to lead their companies in achieving business success through MIS.
1. Search the Internet for examples of the types of technologies currently used in the field or industry that you plan to pursue. For example, if you are planning a career in accounting or finance, you should become familiar with financial systems such as Oracle Financials. For a career in logistics or distribution, research supply chain management systems. If marketing appeals to you, research customer relationship management systems, blogs, emarketing, and social networking.
2. As a competitive tool, MIS can differentiate products, services, and prices from competitors' offerings by improving product quality, shortening product development or delivery time, creating new MIS-based products and services, and improving customer service before, during, and after a transaction. Search the Internet for examples of companies in the industry where you plan to work that have achieved a competitive advantage through MIS.
3. Create a brief report of your findings; include an overview of the type of technologies you found and how companies are using them to achieve a competitive advantage.