Every company in today’s world will have some automation or other. Accounting packages are the first to be implemented. And the sales order processing is automated so that their clients and suppliers can access the data. It helps to implement Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), which allows the entire company to automate all its division/locations. In 1980s, ERP was available only to large industries who could afford the huge expenditure. Many ERP vendors have done their own ERP Review and have developed ERP solutions to different markets. Any thinking of implementing ERP system shall have three stages of ERP Review process – Pre-implementation, Implementation and Post-implementation review. In the pre-implementation ERP Review, the company shall identify itself as large, medium or small scale enterprise. There are many ERPs for small and medium enterprises. Even, some big ERP software vendors offer a different products for small and medium industries. In the pre-implementation Continue reading
Management Information Systems
Cost Accounting Information System
Cost Accounting Information System (CAIS) is an accounting information system which determines the costs of products manufactured or services provided and record these costs in the accounting records. It is the key to management’s assessment of the company’s efforts to achieve profit. Since it is so important, the CAIS must be carefully designed and properly maintained. Functions of Cost Accounting Information System (CAIS) Generally the purposes or functions of cost accounting information system fall into four categories. These include providing information for: External financial statements, Planning and controlling activities or processes, Short term strategic decisions and Long term strategic decisions. These four functions relate to different audiences, emphasize different types of information, require different reporting intervals and involve different types of decisions. Cost Accounting Information System (CAIS) Technology Input: The input devices commonly associated with CAIS include: standard personal computers or workstations running applications; scanning devices for standardized data entry; Continue reading
Why Businesses Need an Efficient Management Information System?
We are living in a time of great change and working in an Information Age. Managers have to assimilate masses of data, convert that data into information, form conclusions about that information and make decisions leading to the achievement of business objectives. For an organization, information is as important resource as money, machinery and manpower. It is essential for the survival of the enterprise. Before the widespread use of computers, many organizations found difficulties in gathering, storing, organizing and distributing large amounts of data and information. Developments in computer technology made possible for managers to select the information they require, in the form best suited for their needs and in time they want. This information must be current and in many cases is needed by many people at the same time. So it has to be accurate, concise, timely, complete, well presented and storable. Most firms nowadays depend on IT. Continue reading
Personnel Action Systems (PAS)
As the name itself specifies, Personnel Action Systems (PAS) supports the activity of the personnel department in taking actions on the following: Filling job openings and Recording and reporting promotions, transfers, terminations and other employee status changes. Two systems involved in Personnel Action Systems (PAS) are: Placement data system and Personnel activity reporting system. The details vary from organization to organization. Equal employment opportunity and affirmative action concerns in USA are making more extensive data systems necessary with respect to both the above systems. There is a growing need to document the search procedure employed to job applicants and the decision procedure by which the new applicant is selected. Promotions, transfers and termination need more justification than they were in the past. 1. Placement Data System Placement data procedures center around the development and use of more applicant files (generally more than one). Separate files are required for jobs that Continue reading
Different Categories of E-Business
Introduction to E-business: E-business is an all-encompassing concept that refers to the numerous ways in which companies are taking advantage of the universal connectivity offered by the Internet and other computer networks. Traditional Information Systems courses also discuss how businesses use computers, but focus in addition on technical issues of hardware, software, databases, networks, and management of all of these components. This course focuses on the ideas and processes involved in starting an e-business or in adding e-business functions to an existing business. E-business enables a customer to conduct business anytime, anywhere and from any place via a distribution channel. It helps to get a continuous dialogue between you and your customer, just as if you both were talking face to face. E- business is more than having a web site for your business. Accessing internet to provide information about the company, products, supplies, using appropriate project management software etc. Continue reading
Systems Approach to Problem Solving
The systems approach to problem solving used a systems orientation to define problems and opportunities and develop solutions. Studying a problem and formulating a solution involve the following interrelated activities: Recognize and define a problem or opportunity using systems thinking. Develop and evaluate alternative system solutions. Select the system solution that best meets your requirements. Design the selected system solution. Implement and evaluate the success of the designed system. 1. Defining Problems and Opportunities Problems and opportunities are identified in the first step of the systems approach. A problem can be defined as a basic condition that is causing undesirable results. An opportunity is a basic condition that presents the potential for desirable results. Symptoms must be separated from problems. Symptoms are merely signals of an underlying cause or problem. Example: Symptom: Sales of a company’s products are declining. Problem: Sales persons are losing orders because they cannot get current Continue reading