Intro to MIS

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Intro to MIS

• John Drake
• 206 Lowder Building
• 844-6421
• drakejr_at_auburn.edu

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Syllabus and Schedule

• Syllabus
• Schedule

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4 Topics Today

• What is MIS?
• Difference between MIS and Computer Science
• Difference between MIS personnel and users
• Evolution of MIS function

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What is MIS?

• Systems A group of interacting, interrelated,
  or interdependent elements forming a complex
  whole
• Information Systems Systems that manage, use,
  transport, and process information
• Management Information Systems - The
  organizational function responsible for managing,
  using, transporting, and processing information
  in the organization

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MIS vs. Computer Science

• Management Information Systems is the major that
  studies all systems and capabilities  necessary
  to manage, use, transport, and process
  information as a resource to the organization
• Computer Science is the major that studies the
  design, implementation, deployment, and
  evaluation of computer systems.  Based on a deep,
  technical knowledge of the hardware and software
  components

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MIS personnel vs. MIS users

• MIS personnel are employees in the Information
  Systems department.  They may be centralized in a
  data center, or assigned to a user group in one
  of the functional areas.
• MIS Users are everyone else in the organization.

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Evolution of MIS function

• First Era Standalone Mainframes
• Users program on punch cards
• Give punch cards to MIS personnel
• MIS personnel would return hard-copy printouts

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Keypunch Machine
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Evolution of MIS function

• Second Era Hard-Wired Terminals
• Users program on terminals
• Terminals directly linked to Mainframe
• MIS personnel maintain terminals and connection

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Dumb Terminal
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Evolution of MIS function

• Third Era Standalone Personal Computers
• Users bring PC to work
• Killer apps were spreadsheets and word processors
• MIS personnel provided support for PCs, in
  additional to mainframe/terminal support

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Evolution of MIS function

• Fourth Era Local Area Networks, Wide Area
  Networks, and Enterprise Networks
• PCs connected within organization and between
  organizations
• MIS personnel had to manage local and wide area
  networks, PCs, and Mainframes

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Evolution of MIS function

• Fifth Era the Internet
• Users gain access to information and applications
  throughout the world
• MIS personnel must manage Internet connections,
  LANs, WANs, PCs, and Mainframes
• Internet creates additional security concerns

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Evolution of MIS function

• Sixth Era  Wireless
• Users can connect and work anytime, anywhere.
• MIS personnel find that their function has become
  increasingly complex and difficult.
• With increasing connectivity comes increasing
  security concerns

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What conclusions can we draw?

• MIS very complex and increasingly difficult
• Need for MIS personnel in organizations
• Need for MIS majors