MIS Important Questions

1. What is the role of MIS in current scenario?

A management information system (MIS) is a computerized database of
financial information organized and programmed in such a way that it
produces regular reports on operations for every level of management in a
company. It is usually also possible to obtain special reports from the system
easily.
The system ensures that an appropriate data is collected from the various
sources, processed and send further to all the needy destinations. The system
is expected to fulfill the information needs of an individual, a group of
individuals, the management functionaries: the managers and top
management.
It is a type of information system which is basically for middle level
management.
Middle Management needs systems to help with monitoring, controlling,
decision-making, and administrative activities.
MIS provides middle managers with reports on the organizations current
performance. This information is used to monitor and control the business
and predict the future performance.
MIS serves managers primarily interested in weekly, monthly, and yearly
results, although some MIS enable managers to drill down to see daily or
hourly data if required. MIS generally provide answers to routine questions
that have been specified in advance and have a predefined procedure for
answering them.
These systems generally are not flexible and have little analytical capability.
Most MIS use simple routines, such as summaries and comparisons, as
opposed to sophisticated mathematical models or statistical techniques.
Here are some of the important roles of the MIS:
The MIS satisfies the diverse needs through variety of systems such as query
system, analysis system, modeling system and decision support system.
The MIS helps in strategic planning, management control, operational control
and transaction processing. The MIS helps in the clerical personal in the
transaction processing and answers the queries on the data pertaining to the
transaction, the status of a particular record and reference on a variety of
documents.
The MIS helps the junior management personnel by providing the operational
data for planning, scheduling and control , and helps them further in
decision-making at the operation level to correct an out of control situation.

The MIS helps the middle management in short term planning, target setting
and controlling the business functions. It is supported by the use of the
management tools of planning and control.
The MIS helps the top level management in goal setting, strategic planning
and evolving the business plans and their implementation.
The MIS plays the role of information generation, communication, problem
identification and helps in the process of decision-making. The MIS,
therefore, plays a vital role in the management, administration and operation
of an organization.

2. What is role of information Technology?

Everyday knowingly or unknowingly, everyone is utilizing information technology. It
has grown rapidly and covers many areas of our day to day life like movies, mobile
phones, the internet, etc.
Information technology can be broadly defined as integration of computer with
telecommunication equipment for storing, retrieving, manipulating and storage of
data.
IT typically includes hardware, software, databases and networks. Information
technology often governs the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of
digitized information, or data, generated through the disciplines of computing and
telecommunications. Information technology focuses on managing technology and
improving its utilization to advance the overall business goals.
According to Information Technology Association of America, information
technology is defined as the study, design, development, application,
implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems.
Information technology greatly enhances the performance of economy; it provides
edge in solving social issues as well as making information system affordable and
user friendly.
Information technology has brought big change in our daily life be it education, life
at home, work place, communication and even in function of government.
Information technology has shown exponential growth in the last decade, leading to
more sophisticated information systems. Todays information technology has
tremendously improved quality of life. Modern medicine has benefited the most
with better information system using the latest information technology.
3. What is the role of Information System?
E-mail, online conferencing, and cell phones have become essential tools for
conducting business. Information systems are the foundation of fast-paced supply
chains. The internet allows many businesses to buy, sell, advertise, and solicit
customer feedback online. Organizations are trying to become more competitive and
efficient by digitally enabling their core business processes and evolving into digital

firms. The internet has stimulated globalization by dramatically reducing the costs of
producing, buying and selling goods on a global scale. New information system
trends include the emerging mobile digital platform, online as a service, and cloud
computing.
Business firms invest heavily in information systems to achieve six strategic business
objectives:
Operational excellence
New products, services, and business models
Customer and supplier intimacy
Improved decision making
Competitive advantage
Survival
In the emerging, fully digital firm
Significant business relationships are digitally enabled and mediated
Core business processes are accomplished through digital networks
Key corporate assets are managed digitally

4. Difference between Information Technology and Information System.

Information Technology
The origin of information technology is
mostly associated with invention of
computers.
Information technology is seeing
constant changes with evermore faster
processor and constantly shrinking size
of storage devices.

Information System
Information systems have been in
existence since pre-mechanical era in
form of books, drawings, etc.
Information systems have undergone
great deal of evolution, i.e. from manual
record keeping to the current cloud
storage system.

Information technology has helped drive

efficiency across organization with
improved productivity and precision
manufacturing.

Businesses have been using information

systems for example in form of manual
books of accounts to modern TALLY. The
mode of communication has also gone
under big change, for example, from a
letter to email.

Degree programs in information

technology typically include courses in:
Mathematics
Database Design
Computer Science and Forensics
Programming Languages
Occupations in the field include:
Network Administrator
Information Technology Manager
Computer Support Specialist
Data Security Administrator
Computer Technician

A degree in information systems often

includes courses in:
Information Theory
Foundations of Management
Social Science
Information Technology
Occupations in this field include:
Project Managers
Chief Information Officers (CIO)
Technical Writers
System Analysts
Data Communication Analysts

5. What are RDBMS and DBMS?

DBMS: A database management system (DBMS) is system software for creating and
managing databases. The DBMS provides users and programmers with a systematic
way to create, retrieve, update and manage data.
A DBMS makes it possible for end users to create, read, update and delete data in a
database. The DBMS essentially serves as an interface between the database and
end users or application programs, ensuring that data is consistently organized and
remains easily accessible.
The DBMS manages three important things:
The data,
The database engine that allows data to be accessed, locked and modified
and
The database schema, which defines the databases logical structure.
These three foundational elements help provide concurrency, security, data integrity
and uniform administration procedures.
The DBMS is perhaps most useful for providing a centralized view of data that can be
accessed by multiple users, from multiple locations, in a controlled manner. A DBMS
can limit what data the end user sees, as well as how that end user can view the
data, providing many views of a single database schema.

Advantages of DBMS:
Data abstraction and independence
Data security
A locking mechanism for concurrent access
An efficient handler to balance the needs of multiple applications using the
same data
The ability to swiftly recover from crashes and errors, including restartability
and recoverability
Robust data integrity capabilities
Logging and auditing of activity
Simple access using a standard application programming interface (API)
Uniform administration procedures for data
RDBMS: A relational database management system (RDBMS) is a program that lets
you create, update, and administer a relational database. Most commercial RDBMS's
use the Structured Query Language (SQL) to access the database, although SQL was
invented after the development of the relational model and is not necessary for its
use.
The leading RDBMS products are Oracle, IBM's DB2 and Microsoft's SQL Server.
Despite repeated challenges by competing technologies, as well as the claim by
some experts that no current RDBMS has fully implemented relational principles, the
majority of new corporate databases are still being created and managed with an
RDBMS.
RDBMS data is structured in database tables, fields and records. Each RDBMS table
consists of database table rows. Each database table row consists of one or more
database table fields.
RDBMS store the data into collection of tables, which might be related by common
fields (database table columns). RDBMS also provide relational operators to
manipulate the data stored into the database tables.
Features:
Provides data to be stored in tables
Persists data in the form of rows and columns
Provides facility primary key, to uniquely identify the rows
Creates indexes for quicker data retrieval
Provides a virtual table creation in which sensitive data can be stored and
simplified query can be applied.(views)
Sharing a common column in two or more tables(primary key and foreign
key)
Provides multi user accessibility that can be controlled by individual users.

Difference between both:

No.

DBMS

RDBMS

1)

DBMS applications store

data as file.

RDBMS applications store data in a

tabular form.

2)

In DBMS, data is generally

stored in either a
hierarchical form or a
navigational form.

In RDBMS, the tables have an

identifier called primary key and the
data values are stored in the form
of tables.

3)

Normalization is not
present in DBMS.

Normalization is present in RDBMS.

4)

DBMS does not apply any

security with regards to
data manipulation.

RDBMS defines the integrity

constraint for the purpose of ACID
(Atomocity, Consistency, Isolation
and Durability) property.

5)

DBMS uses file system to

store data, so there will be
no relation between the
tables.

in RDBMS, data values are stored in

the form of tables, so a relationship
between these data values will be
stored in the form of a table as well.

6)

DBMS has to provide some

uniform methods to access
the stored information.

RDBMS system supports a tabular

structure of the data and a
relationship between them to
access the stored information.

7)

DBMS does not support

distributed database.

RDBMS supports distributed

database.

8)

DBMS is meant to be for

small organization and deal
with small data. it supports
single user.

RDBMS is designed to handle large

amount of data. it supports
multiple users.

9)

Examples of DBMS are file

systems, xml etc.

Example of RDBMS are mysql,

postgre, sql server, oracle etc.

6. What is E-commerce?
Electronic commerce or ecommerce is a term for any type of business, or
commercial transaction that involves the transfer of information across the Internet.
It covers a range of different types of businesses, from consumer based retail sites,
through auction or music sites, to business exchanges trading goods and services
between corporations. It is currently one of the most important aspects of the
Internet to emerge.
Ecommerce allows consumers to electronically exchange goods and services with no
barriers of time or distance. Electronic commerce has expanded rapidly over the past
five years and is predicted to continue at this rate, or even accelerate. In the near
future the boundaries between "conventional" and "electronic" commerce will
become increasingly blurred as more and more businesses move sections of their
operations onto the Internet.
Different types of e-commerce:
Business-to-business (B2B)
Business-to-consumer (B2C)
Business-to-government (B2G)
Consumer-to-consumer (C2C)
Government to consumer (G2C)
Government-to-business (G2B)

Business-to-business (B2B): B2B e-commerce is simply defined as ecommerce

between companies. About 80% of e-commerce is of this type.
For example Intel selling microprocessor to Dell
Heinz selling ketchup to Mc Donalds
Business-to-consumer (B2C): Business-to-consumer e-commerce, or commerce
between companies and consumers, involves customers gathering information;
purchasing physical goods or receiving products over an electronic network.
For example- Dell selling me a laptop
Business-to-government (B2G): Business-to-government e-commerce or B2G is
generally defined as commerce between companies and the public sector. It refers
to the use of the Internet for public procurement, licensing procedures, and other
government-related operations.
For example- Business pay taxes, file reports, or sell goods and services to Govt.
agencies.

Consumer-to-consumer (C2C): Consumer-to-consumer e-commerce or C2C is simply

commerce between private individuals or consumers.
For example Arun buying an iPod from Vijay on eBay
Me selling a car to my neighbor
Government to consumer (G2C):
This Model is also a part of e-governance.
The objective of this model is to provide good and effective services to each
citizen.
The Government provides the following facilities to the citizens through
website.
Information of all government departments.
Different welfare schemes.
Different application forms to be used by the citizens.
Government-to-business (G2B): Government-to-business (G2B) is a business model
that refers to government providing services or information to business organization.
Government uses B2G model website to approach business organizations. Such
websites support auctions, tenders and application submission functionalities.
ADVANTAGES OF E-COMMERCE:
Faster buying/selling procedure, as well as easy to find products.
Buying/selling 24/7.
More reach to customers, there is no theoretical geographic limitations.
Low operational costs and better quality of services.
No need of physical company set-ups.
Easy to start and manage a business.
Customers can easily select products from different providers without
moving around physically.
DISADVANTAGES OF E-COMMERCE:
Unable to examine products personally
Not everyone is connected to the Internet
There is the possibility of credit card number theft
Mechanical failures can cause unpredictable effects on the total processes.

7. ERP Systems.
ERP is an integrated, real-time, cross-functional enterprise application, an
enterprise-wide transaction framework that supports all the internal business
processes of a company.
It supports all core business processes such as sales order processing, inventory
management and control, production and distribution planning, and finance.

Why ERP?
ERP is very helpful in the following areas:
Business integration and automated data update
Linkage between all core business processes and easy flow of integration
Flexibility in business operations and more agility to the company
Better analysis and planning capabilities
Critical decision-making
Competitive advantage
Use of latest technologies

Features of ERP:
The following diagram illustrates the features of ERP:

Scope of ERP:
Finance: Financial accounting, Managerial accounting, treasury management,
asset management, budget control, costing, and enterprise control.
Logistics: Production planning, material management, plant maintenance,
project management, events management, etc.
Human resource: Personnel management, training and development, etc.
Supply Chain: Inventory control, purchase and order control, supplier
scheduling, planning, etc.
Work flow: Integrate the entire organization with the flexible assignment of
tasks and responsibility to locations, position, jobs, etc.
Advantages of ERP:
Reduction of lead time
Reduction of cycle time
Better customer satisfaction
Increased flexibility, quality, and efficiency
Improved information accuracy and decision making capability
Onetime shipment
Improved resource utilization
Improve supplier performance

Reduced quality costs

Quick decision-making
Forecasting and optimization
Better transparency

Disadvantage of ERP:
Expense and time in implementation
Difficulty in integration with other system
Risk of implementation failure
Difficulty in implementation change
Risk in using one vendor