CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study

The term management information system (MIS) is a relatively recent addition to the vocabulary of management and was widely adopted following the accelerated use of computers in the early 1960s. Prior to that time, electronic data processing (EDP) was the most frequently used term to describe the computer usage. This earlier stage reflects the view that the computer was little more than a fast calculator for large scale, routine, clerical applications which had formerly been done manually. As these computer applications became more complex, hardware storage capacities grew and technology improved for connecting previously isolated applications. As more and more data were stored and linked, managers sought greater detail as well as greater abstraction with the aim of creating management reports from the raw stores data.

The term “MIS” arose describe such applications providing managers with information about sales, inventories and other data help in managing the enterprise and also improving planning and control of operations needed for effective decision making by managers.

According to the oxford advanced learners dictionary, management can be defined as the cat of running and controlling a business or similar organizations. While information based on the oxford learners dictionary can be seen as facts or details about somebody or something then system is a group of things, pieces of equipment etc that are connected or work together, we can now define MIS as a process by which equipments are connected together in order to provide individuals with information necessary for the upkeep of their organization which can as well be controlled.

Information can be seen as raw data that has been processed into meaningful and useful context that has been processed into meaningful and useful context for specific end users (Brian 2002). This information can also be seen as data shaped into a meaningful form for human being to use. Information which is seen as the backbone and bedrock of any organization may be internal or external depending on the kind of information which would be of use to the organization.

Before the processing of information for useful context, facts, figures, numbers, symbols etc were seen as raw data which was gotten from individuals and places. In order to make raw data become information, it needed the help of the information system (IS) to process these raw data into information and make them ready for the upkeep of the organization. Okolo (2011) defined information system as a set of interrelated components that collect, retrieve, process, store and distribute information to support decision making, coordination and control in an organization. In addition, it also helps managers and workers to analyze problems, visualize complex subjects and create new products. Before now, paper based  work were recorded as information with duplicates in a file for reference purpose until when the computer age came invoke and reframed all methods of which information were kept into becoming technologically wise.

The information system may have a combination of people who are the end users of the information, the hardware – the devices used in the processing of information, the software –the instructions which you give to the computer which then involve the system analyst or programmers as the case may be.  This programmer/ system analyst creates a design by which users of the information can manage their organization effectively.

What then is Management Information System?

Management Information System (MIS) according to Brian (2002) is the collection of data processing equipment, procedures, software and people that integrate the subsystems of the organization and provides information for decision making on planning and controlling operations. This entails the collection of raw data, the step to follow, the instruction to give, specialist that will help in integrating the software into the system so as to produce information needed by the organization for the day to day running of the business. A management information system is an integrated man machine system that provides information to support the planning and control function of managers in an organization. The word integrated man machine involves the collection of the machines/equipments with the people involved in the information. Once the result of an MIS is information, it serves as a managerial function. Who then is an office manager? Since an office is a room or a building where an individual works and a manager is a person who is in charge of running a business or a similar organization. We then collectively define an office manager as an individual who coordinates and controls the activities of his colleague under his care. An office manager can be seen as one has the administrative responsibilities of office management. He is seen as an individual distinct from the other employee. He directs, supervises and co-ordinate the affairs of his employee making sure that they work effectively and efficiently towards high productivity.

An office manager may not just mean an individual with massive control. It could mean an individual with massive control. It could mean any person/individual who is in hold of information to arrive at a decision. A student who is in hold of information is seen as an office manager because it is with this information that the support of decision making is known in an organization. That is why it is said that when a system provides information to persons who are not managers, then it will not be considered as part of a management information system.

Management Information System help management design information system that provide them with information about events occurring inside the organization as well as in its external environment which is vital for effective decision making. Management Information System according to Okolo (2011) can be defined as a system to convert data from internal and external source into information and communicate that information in an appropriate form to managers at all level to enable them make timely and effective decision making for planning, directing and controlling the activities for which they are responsible. An example of organizations that uses the design of management information system in managing information effectively is the banks. They have database of their customers and clients and it is with their databases that the management information systems are been designed and managed effectively.

Management should ensure that equipment needed for the retrieval and distribution of information are upgraded with the help of the system analyst. Management as well  must be involved in making effective contribution to the system designs of their organization and likewise and the analyst must be aware of the managerial needs so that jointly, more effective management information systems are developed.

Statement of the Problems

Despite the vast advancement of technology in the world, most organizations and individuals still find it difficult to acquaint with the world globalization. This as a result reduces work efficiently and effectiveness. Technology is seen as the use of scientific knowledge for improving the way to do things. One would use scientific knowledge to invent machines or devices to make things easier to do. Just as management information system is technological means of how information could be managed which was brought about by inventors of the world.

Based on the topic, the relevance of management information system on the performance of office managers in some selected business organization, it was realized that certain factors were the loopholes to managing information. They are lack of management involvement in the designs of MIS of their organization, the problem of system analyst overlooking the user’s acceptance, the problem of the user’s of information on how to manage this information, poor appreciation of management support. All these filed as the problem faced by management and specialist in the design of how information can be managed.

Purpose of the Study

The major purpose of this study was to determine the relevance of management information system to the performance of office managers in some selected business organizations. Specifically, the study was to;

1. To identify the types of management information system in your organization.
2. Find out the relevance of management information system to an office manager.
3. Find out the shortcomings of MIS to an office manager.

Research Questions

This study sought answers to the following research questions:

1. What are the types of management information system in your organization?
2. What extent has the relevance of MIS to an office manager?
3. What extent has the shortcomings of MIS affected the office manager?

Significance of the Study

In all but the smallest organizations, management rarely observes operations directly. They attempt to make decisions, prepare plans and control activities by using information which they obtain from formal sources and by informal means. As a matter of fact, an MIS is a special purpose system useful for management in an organization. It is an accessible and rapid conveyor belt for appropriate high quality information from its generation to its users. Before now user’s of information recorded every data on papers not until the era of technology came in place and changed every means of applying information with the aid of the electronic data processing (EDP). With the help of innovators, various methods were adopted in the implementation of managing information.

Because of the place of technology in the world, the outcome of this topic will be beneficial to the schools because it help in managing information of pupils, guardians and parents and teachers.

The finding of the study will help ICTs of higher institution of learning on how information could be managed based on the databases of all individual thereby giving appropriate information to those required to have the information.

Teachers in the field of management will benefit from this as it will them in handling the subject proficiently and effectively at any given time. Managers in various organizations will equally benefit from this research work as it will provide them with right understanding of management information system. It is also hoped that discoveries of this study will be beneficial to students who offer courses related to information management.

Scope of the Study

This study was delimited to the relevance of management information system on the performance of office managers. It focused on the types of management information system operating in some selected business organization and also looked at the individuals involved in the management of information who are as well seen as those in hold of information.