What Is the Importance of Information Management System - Research Proposal Example

What is the importance of Information Management System? How do these systems enable the small businesses to interact and learn from one another? Name Tutor Institution Course Date Table of Contents 1.Introduction 3 1.2Motivation towards Conducting this Study 3 1.2Research Questions 4 2.Literature Review 4 2.1Units of Analysis 4 2.2Key Articles 5 3.Research Methodology 8 3.1Data Collection 9 4.Conclusion 9 4.1Expected Findings 10 References 11 What is the importance of Information Management System? How do these systems enable the small businesses to interact and learn from one another? 1. Introduction Management information systems avail information that enables business organizations to manage themselves effectively and efficiently. They are typically computer information systems which facilitate the management of five important components. These components include the hardware, software, data, procedures, and the human resource. Data refer to the information which facilitates decision making within an organization, and this means that this is the component that is actually manipulated by all the others in an endeavor to achieve the organizational objectives (Essvale Corporation Limited, 2008). Management information systems have been considered to be distinct from several other automated information systems since they facilitate the analysis of data with the view of strategizing operational activities. Indeed, academicians consider these infrastructures as facilitators of the manner in which organizations, groups, and individuals evaluate, blueprint, implement, and improve systems. The goal is to generate information for the purpose of enhancing effectiveness and efficiency (Fong, 2011). 1.2 Motivation towards Conducting this Study The objective of this study is to evaluate the manner in which small businesses in the city of Canberra can share experiences. The research is meant to evaluate the manner in which such information sharing can enable such businesses to grow irrespective of the turbulences in the market place. The study is justified by the fact that management information systems have proved to be among the most essential infrastructures which facilitate the business operations in many big and successful companies around the world. 1.2 Research Questions The proposed research is meant to: 1. Evaluate the effectiveness of such assistive technologies as the Management Information Systems in enhancing the quality of service and profitability of small businesses within the city of Canberra. 2. Seeking the revelation of the advantages, disadvantages, as well as the reliability of sharing experiences amongst these businesses. 2. Literature Review 2.1 Units of Analysis The study commences by evaluating the available literature on the subject. The literature in question includes Journal Articles, Research/thesis, papers, Conference Proceedings, Government web-sites, and Case studies. The literature avails the basis for assessing the achievements in the technological development of the subject area. After the evaluation of related literature, the study proceeds into the methodology section. The methodology section presents the manner in which the research question is addressed, both qualitatively and quantitatively. The study terminates with the conclusion of the main points, as well as the expected contributions. 2.2 Key Articles In this section, a number of reliable publications will be analyzed. These publications have been compiled by professionals in the area of Information Technology; among them include Jack T. Marchewka, Sean Ekins, and A.Z. Maggie. Among the texts considered for the purpose of completing this study include: i Green IT for Dummies by Baroudi and Reinhold (2009); ii Networked Digital Technologies by Fong (2011); iii Business Knowledge for IT in Trading and Exchanges by Essvale Corporation Limited (2008); and iv Information Technology Project Management: providing measurable organizational value by Marchewka (2006). The evolution of management information systems corresponds to five main phases, and the phases are unique to the computing technology. The evolution commenced with mainframe computing. It then progressed into the minicomputer computing. Much of the success witnessed today became achievable after the personal computers were invented. Later, client/server computer networks were developed, and this is where enterprise computing proves to be of relevance. Of late, there has been the development of a new and more powerful platform, and this is referred to as cloud computing (Yamagata-Lynch, 2010). The development of management information systems is widely referred to as the system development. It commences with the feasibility study, then it progresses into analysis, design, implementation/computer programming, testing, production, and finally the maintenance. All these steps proceed in a specified manner. Nonetheless, a number of them may be repeated as others are accomplished concurrently. Conversion has always been the process through which the old systems are enhanced in an endeavor to exploit new opportunities with ease. All these steps require close cooperation amongst the key stakeholders since none of them can make a perfect system single-handedly (Yamagata-Lynch, 2010). Research study by Marchewka (2006) has indicated that there are various types of management information systems. These include the decision support, expert, as well as the executive information systems. In organizations such as colleges, universities, and other learning institutions, the managements set up MIS departments, and these departments are assigned the roles of supporting operations being undertaken in the marketing, finance, accounting, as well as several other departments. In this case, they serve as the spinal cord of the business operations in these institutions (Marchewka, 2006). According to Yamagata-Lynch (2010), management information systems avail important information to the managers. This information is the one which enables them to arrive at key decisions. Previously, organizations utilized computers while undertaking such simple operations as billing, sales, tracking of inventory, and the preparation of payrolls. Back then, the employees paid little attention to structure or fine details. With time, complex computer applications have been designed. This has been prompted by the increased storage capacity of computer systems as well as the improvement of technologies. These technologies have facilitated the connection of applications which were previously isolated. The successful storage and linkage of pieces of data prompted managements in various organizations to seek enhanced abstraction. The stakeholders did also manage to get into the finer details of any business operation, meaning that more accurate management reports could be produced (Yamagata-Lynch, 2010). About two decades ago, MIS described those applications which provided the management with data relating to inventories, sales, and other pieces of data which were deemed important in the management of enterprises. As time went by, the term has been broadened to include resource management, decision support systems, enterprise resource and performance management, human resource management, supply chain management, as well as project management. The operations of these systems are facilitated by the database retrieval applications (Fox & der Waldt, 2008). The present versions of management information systems avail a wide variety of data to the management. The data in question is availed in form of Periodic Scheduled Reports. The reports have specified formats, and are designed to avail the management with appropriate information on regular bases. In many organizations, Exceptional Reports are only produced in case there is an exceptional condition. Reporting exceptions reduces data overload, and this means that decision makers are not largely overwhelmed with unnecessary periodic and detailed business reports (Ekins et al., 2011). The reports and responses on demand are usually available whenever the managers wish to access and assess vital information. Report generators, DBMS querying languages, and web browsers empower the managers into getting an appropriate set of information. This means that they do not have to wait for periodic reports, even though these reports do usually offer detailed business activities. Another facilitator in the management of information is the Push Reporting. Push Reporting refer to the pieces of information which are pushed directly to the management’s networked workstations. Moreover, webcasting software tools are also being utilized for the purpose of facilitating selective broadcasts of reports as well as several other vital pieces of data (Baroudi et al., 2009). 3. Research Methodology The study will utilize both qualitative and quantitative strategies while seeking to meet the expected goals. While the use of qualitative techniques facilitates the expansion of views, it sometimes proves to be biased. As such, by combining the two strategies, the researcher will be able to enhance precision, and also eliminate bias. 3.1 Data Collection Much of the data used in the study will be collected from secondary sources. Such a strategy will facilitate timeliness and cost effectiveness. There are numerous sources of reliable pieces of data, and these sources include books, certified company websites, journals, as well as government databases. A section of the data will be collected through primary means, and this will include the use of focus groups and observation. Combining multiple sources enhances credibility since each one of them supplements what is not captured by the others. After the data has been gathered, reverse directed hypotheses will be used. This strategy is where theoretical frameworks are utilized during the modeling of phenomena intended for the conclusion of the study. Key points will have to be marked as this is the only way appropriate categorization can happen. Then the hypotheses will be developed, and the process repeated until a satisfactory quality of results is established. Finally, the theory will be developed. 4. Conclusion It is expected that the value of management information systems will be uncovered during the study. Then the importance of cooperation amongst the stakeholders of small businesses is expected to be established. Upon establishing the situation on the ground, the study will attempt to relate the findings with the conclusions of other similar studies. 4.1 Expected Findings Even though the researcher believes that the subject matter is topical, it is expected that there may be the limitation of none cooperation on the part of the small businesses. It may also be challenging to evaluate organizations/businesses of diverse nature. These limitations will be dealt with through effective planning, as well as following the plans in question to the letter. In case of unforeseen developments, the developments will be carefully evaluated before the necessary changes are made on the plan. References Baroudi, C. & Reinhold, A. (2009). Green IT for Dummies. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons Ekins, S. Maggie A.Z., Antony J., & Willium H. (2011). Collaborative Computational Technologies for Biomedical Research. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons Essvale Corporation Limited (2008). Business Knowledge for IT in Trading and Exchanges. New York: Essvale Corporation Limited Fong, S. (2011). Networked Digital Technologies: Third International Conference, NDT 2011, Macau, China, July 11-13, 2011 Proceedings. Berlin: Springer Fox, W. & der Waldt, G.A. (2008). A Guide to Project Management. Claremont, Western Cape: Juta and Company Ltd. Marchewka J.T. (2006). Information Technology Project Management: providing measurable organizational value, Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. Yamagata-Lynch, L.C. (2010). Activity Systems Analysis Methods: Understanding Complex Learning Environments, London: Springer. Read More