Role Of Computers In Management Information System

(A Case Study Of National Fertilizer Company Of Nigeria (Nafcon) Onne)

5 Chapters
|
104 Pages
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11,658 Words

Computers play a crucial role in modern Management Information Systems (MIS), serving as the backbone for efficient data processing, storage, and retrieval. Within MIS, computers facilitate data collection, analysis, and dissemination, enabling managers to make informed decisions swiftly. Through database management systems, computers organize vast amounts of information, ensuring its accessibility and security. Additionally, computers support communication channels, enhancing collaboration among stakeholders and enabling real-time exchange of information. Furthermore, they enable the integration of various software applications, such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, to streamline business processes and enhance organizational efficiency. In essence, computers are integral to the dynamic functioning of MIS, empowering organizations to effectively manage resources, optimize operations, and adapt to evolving business landscapes.

PROPOSAL

Management information system is the formal method by which management gathers, compares analyses, processes, stores and retrieves accurate information in a timely, effective and efficient manner to aid in the decision making process of an organization.
It is made up of three concepts: namely; of old, data processing was done manually, but with the introduction of computers, data is how processed with the use of computers. This does not however totally displace human processing abilities.
Hence the hypothesis of this project work are as follows:
1. That the role of computers in management information system is negligible.
2. smaller organizations should not be encouraged to use computers in their business except it I most relevant.
3. the disadvantages of the use of computers in general is negligible.
SOURCES OF DATA
1. The Closed Questionnaire
2. The Open Questionnaire
3. the Face-to-Face interview
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY TO FIND OUT:
a. What management information system is all about.
b. What are the difficulties usually encountered in trying to gather necessary data for management usage
c. What role has computer come to play in management information system
d. Whether to encourage or discourage companies in using computers for processing their data.
e. How a computer-based management information system could be installed.
f. To find out the problems usually associated with the management of information and how it could be overcome.
g. To survey other types of information system and their different characteristics
h. To find out the role of management in the development, implementation and use of computerized information system.
i. To find out the attitude of the users of the computerized system.
j. To examine different application packages that could be used in processing, storage and retrieval of information for management consumption
CONCLUSION
Based on the findings and recommendations, it has been found out that the role computer plays in management information system is significant because the end result is encouraging though it cannot be compared to the human brain.
This is despite the fact that the use of computers in data processing also has some disadvantages such as high cost of acquiring and reduction in manpower.
Hence smaller organizations which have the intention to get their business computerized have been advised to go ahead though some recommendations have been made to guide them in the computerization. Such recommendations are:-
1. Carrying out of feasibility study report before delving into it. This will enable tem find out if they actually need computers or not, which areas it is needed and how much it will cost them to acquire one.
2. they incorporate the workers into the plan so as to dispel their negative reactions towards the new change.
3. to adopt the parallel change-over technique where the manual method (old method) will run hand in hand with the computer method. This is to enable with the computer method. This is to enable them compare the two methods before choosing the best.
The case study has also been advised to try as much as possible to get all their personnel trained on the use of computers since they already have a training school, this will help reduce the excessively off in manpower.

TABLE OF CONTENT

CERTIFICATION III
DEDICATION IV
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT V
TABLE OF CONTENTS VIII

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 THE EVALUATION OF MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CONCEPT 1
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM 4
1.3 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY 4
1.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 5
HYPOTHESIS 4 6
SOURCES OF DATA 6
1.5 DEFINITION OF TERMS 7
I. MANAGEMENT 7
Function of Systems 8
2. INFORMATION
Types of Systems
DEFINITION OF MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM STRUCTURE OF THE MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM

CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW 15
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 15
INFORMATION AND ORGANIZATION 17
HUMAN AS INFORMATION PROCESSORS18
OTHER FORMS OF INFORMATION SYSTEM 21

CHAPTER THREE
INFORMATION 35

CHAPTER FOUR
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 55

CHAPTER FIVE
PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS OF DATA 58
DISCUSSION OF FINDING 83
RECOMMENDATION 84
CONCLUSION 85
BIBLIOGRAPHY 88
APPENDIX 90

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION
1.1 THE EVOLUTION OF MANAGEMENT INFORMATION CONCEPT
For as long as men store to accomplish task, make decision about scares resources in uncertain situations management will continue to need information.
In this managerial world of increasing uncertainty due to rapid change, information becomes the key to management effectiveness. Today’s manager faces a confusion of potential sources of information, he has to determine what information he needs. This is now a new and crucial management function. The idea of an information system to support management and decision making pro-dates the use of computers, which have extended the organizational capabilities for implementating such a system. One can conveniently discuss management information system without computers, but it is the power of the computer which makes management information possible. The question is not whether a computer shall be used in management information system but the extent to which various processes shall be computerized.
As organizations have increased in complexity the heed for co-ordination of the different parts arises. These parts must be properly coordinated so that it makes a meaning whole. As competition has increased and resource scarcity has left organizations on the premise of failure, the use of efficient information as a criterion for the evaluation of organizational effectiveness has gained momentum. The changing environment of organizations and the resultant uncertainty has brought about renewed effort for effective information management. In order to achieve this effective information management, the information system has to be computer based.
Computers are basically electronic device which are capable of storing data, performing arithmetic and logical operations and specific operations. They are used in such important areas like – Accounting, Banking, Business organization etc. Ti provides information in area such as payroll, payslip, stock-keeping and many other information relating to the entire organization. There are various ways in which computer can be used to provide information for a business organization.
Information provided by the computer can used in the present day to day running of the business and for futuristic purpose that is predict or for forward looking, for the basis of trends and forecast derived from the use of forecasting technique and the it also serve as a means of responding to changes at the right moment. It also serves as a means of providing brother internal, external, strategic operation of the organization.
The idea of a computer-based information systems does not mean complete automation. The man-to-machine system concept implies some tasks are best perfumed by man, while others are best done by machine. For many problems, the man and machine form a combined system to get them completely sowed.
the fact that management information system is computer-based means that designers must have a good knowledge of computers and their use in information processing. The man-to-machine concept means that the designer of management information system should understand human capabilities as information processors and human behaviours in decision making.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Initially, data processing was done manually. This was however flawed with a lot of errors and did not keep to time. With the invent of the computer, things changed. Therefore, it is now necessary to know how computers, are used in the processing of data and what role it plays.
How should the information be provided to help the manager in achieving their set objectives? What are the strength of computer? These are the cases this study intend to look into.

1.3 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
The scope and delimitation’s of this study is limited to a case study of National Fertilizer company of Nigeria (NAFCON) onne. Even within the company, only those workers whose jobs are in one way or the other related to the use of computers were involved in the interview and the questionnaire. Other information were obtained from textbooks, journals, magazines and unpublished handouts.

1.4 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The objectives of the study is to find out the following
1. What management information system is all about.
2. what are the difficulties usually encountered in trying to gather data for management usage
3. what role has the computer come to play in management information system.
4. whether to encourage or discourage companies for processing their data.
5. to find out the problem usually associated with management information system.
6. to survey other types of information system and their characteristics.
7. to find out the role of management in the development, implementation and use of computerized information system..
8. to find out the attitude of users to the computerized system.
9. to examine different application packages that could be used in processing storage and retrieved of information for management consumption
HYPOTHESIS
1. The role of computers in management information system.
2. Smaller organizations should not be encouraged to use computers except it is most relevant.
3. The disadvantages of the use of computers in general is legible.
SOURCES OF DATA
Data here obtained from the following sources
1. THE CLOSED QUESTIONNIRE
Where the respondent’s answers will be restricted to the answers provided and a space provided against, which he ticks his answers.
2. THE OPEN QUESTIONNAIRE
Where the respondents is allowed to express his or her view about the questions asked. Some spaces will be left for such answers.
3. THE FACE-TO-FACE INTERVIEW
This involves only the unstructured interview where the questions emerge from the answers given to the previous questions.

1.5 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Management information system is made up of, three important concepts, namely MANAGEMENT, INFORMATION AND SYSTEM. Efforts shall be made to define and elaborate on each of these terms.
1. MANAGEMENT
Management has been defined by several authors in different ways. However, Richard D Brown and George J. Petrello (1979), defines it as:
“The process by which those in authority plan, organize, and control a business in an effort to make it successful:.
Jerry M. Rosenbery (1983) in his book Dictionary of Business and Management defines it under two sub-headings.
GENERAL: The individual or group of individual responsible for studying analyzing, formulating decisions, and initiating appropriate actions for the benefit of an organization.
ADMINISTRAION: The above authors have defined management in their diverse ways, but they are all talking about the same thing. Hence management can be defined more embarking as:
“The factor of production which is responsible for planning, organizing, staffing, directing and controlling all other aspects of production such as land, labour, capital, machine and materials.
FUNCTIONS OF MANAGEMENT
The functions of management regardless of the level are as follows:
1. PLANNING:
This is a mental managerial activity involving the arrangement of multiple linked decisions on ends and on means to accomplish a long-range, or major objective. Planning involves two key concepts. Developing the goals an organization seeks to attain, and deciding on the meas to achieve them.
ii. ORGANIZING
This involves the development of a structure which groups, assigns and co-ordinates activities by delegating authority, offering responsibilities, and requiring accountability.
iii. STAFFING
Staffing involves selecting, training and assigning of personal to specific organizational activities.
iv. DIRECTING
It simply means “putting plans” and people in motion. Outstanding plans and an excellent organization will accomplish noting unless people are actually put to work, doing the right job and going it correctly. Directing is a process of guiding and motivating people in the organization to do work needed to accomplish the company goals. It in dudes telling and showing subordinates what jobs to do and how to do them and detecting errors and seeing that they are corrected.
V. CONTROLLING
The final function of management is controlling. It is mainly a feedback process. It involves evaluating the performance of the firm and its parts and making changes to improving operations.
TYPES OF STSYEMS
1. PHYSICAL AND ABSTARCT SYSTEM
A physical system is a set of element which operates together to accomplish an objective.
An abstract system on the other hand is an orderly arrangement of independent ideas or construct.
2. DETERMINISTIC AND PROBABILISTIC SYSTEMS
A deterministic system is one which operates in a perfectly predicable manner. The interaction among the parts is known with certainly. An example of this, is a computer programme which operates strictly according to instruction.
The probabilistic system can be described in terms of probable behaviour but a certain degree of error is always attached to the prediction of what the system will do. An inventory system is an example of a probabilistic system because the quality of stock at any given time cannot be know but the number of order can be known.
3. CLOSED AND OPEN SYSTEM
A closed system is defined as a set of interacting elements operating without any exchange with the environment in which they exist. A computer program is an example of this because it accepts only previously defined inputs, process them and provided a previously defined output.
An open system is the reverse of the closed system because it exchanges and interacts with the external environment
DEFINITION OF MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM
According to Joseph T. Straub (1979) Management information system is:
“A system which provides managers with information to help them control operations”
it is also defined as:
“A formal method of making available to management the accurate and timely information necessary to facilitate the decision making and enable the organization’s to be carried out effectively “.
(James A.F. Stoner)
Harld Koontz and Heinze Wethrich defines it as:
“Any formed system to gather, integrates compare, analyze and disperse information internal and external to the enterprise in a timely and external to the enterprise in a timely effective and efficiencies manner”.
For the purpose of this project work however, Management information system shall be defined as:
“The formed method by which management gathers, compares, analyses, processes, stores and retrieves accurate information in a timely, effective and efficient manner to aid in the decision making process of an organization”.
STRUCTURE OF THE MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM
The four major components of the above model are the internal report system, the management intelligence system, the research system and analytical system.
THE INTERNAL REPORT SYSTEL
This is the most basic sources of information, it concludes reports on orders, sales, inventory levels, receivable, payable. Analysis of information from this source enables management to spot important opportunities and problems.
THE INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM
This is used by managers to get information about pertinent development in the environment.
THE RESEARCH SYSTEM
This is done by surveying in a focused study on specific problems and opportunities.
THE ANALYSIS SYSTEM
This is the most modern source of information retrieved of stored information from computer and also the analysis of some via programmed models.

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Role Of Computers In Management Information System:

Computers play a vital role in Management Information Systems (MIS), which are designed to provide accurate and timely information to support managerial decision-making within organizations. The integration of computers and information technology has revolutionized how businesses manage and use information. Here are some key roles that computers play in a Management Information System:

  1. Data Storage and Retrieval: Computers allow organizations to store vast amounts of data electronically. This data can include information about customers, products, sales, inventory, financials, and more. Computers enable efficient and quick retrieval of this information, eliminating the need for manual record-keeping and paper-based storage.
  2. Data Processing: Computers process data quickly and accurately. They can perform complex calculations, aggregations, and statistical analyses on large datasets in a fraction of the time it would take a human. This processing capability enables organizations to generate reports, analyze trends, and derive insights from their data.
  3. Data Integration and Automation: Computers facilitate the integration of data from various sources, such as different departments, branches, or external systems. This integration supports automated data flows, reducing manual data entry and the risk of errors.
  4. Reporting and Dashboards: Computers allow the creation of customized reports and interactive dashboards. These tools help managers visualize key performance indicators (KPIs) and important metrics, enabling them to make informed decisions based on real-time data.
  5. Decision Support: Computers in MIS provide decision support systems that assist managers in making strategic and tactical decisions. These systems often utilize data analysis, simulations, and modeling to help managers explore different scenarios before making a choice.
  6. Communication and Collaboration: Computers facilitate communication and collaboration among different levels of management and across departments. Email, instant messaging, shared documents, and project management software help streamline communication and ensure that the right information reaches the right people.
  7. Inventory and Resource Management: Computers are used to track inventory levels, monitor stock movement, and manage resources efficiently. This helps organizations minimize wastage, optimize stock levels, and meet customer demands.
  8. Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Computers aid in managing customer information, interactions, and sales leads. CRM systems allow organizations to track customer preferences, history, and feedback, leading to better customer service and targeted marketing efforts.
  9. Supply Chain Management: Computers play a crucial role in optimizing supply chain operations. They help monitor the movement of goods, manage suppliers, forecast demand, and ensure timely delivery of products.
  10. Security and Data Protection: Computers in MIS support data security measures such as encryption, access controls, and backups. They help protect sensitive business information from unauthorized access and potential data breaches.
  11. Scalability and Flexibility: Computers enable MIS to scale as an organization grows. Whether an organization expands geographically or diversifies its operations, computer-based MIS systems can adapt to changing requirements.

In essence, computers in Management Information Systems enhance organizational efficiency, enable better decision-making, and provide a competitive edge by harnessing the power of data and technology.