Author: Howaida Ali Abdelkader
Summary of the Book: Management Information Systems
The book "Management Information Systems" emphasizes that information has become a crucial resource for organizations in the modern era. To maintain their existence, organizations must pay attention to information systems. Management uses these systems in all its functions, including planning, directing, organizing, and controlling to perform the organization's tasks. Since decision-making is at the heart of the administrative process that deals with problems, the use of information in decision-making is one of the main purposes for which organizations retain data. The book points out that investors benefit from information about the organization to measure the accuracy and vitality of its financial performance, and lenders, financiers, and banks use information about the organization to judge its creditworthiness.
The rapid technological advancement nowadays has made it possible to build advanced and intelligent information systems that assist in all administrative tasks. The concept of globalization and the digital life we live in is well known, so it is essential to understand this useful science in administrative processes.
Many researchers have focused on the technical and programming aspects of specialized information systems, but have not paid attention to providing managers with the basics of this science that helps them adopt modern management using these systems.
"Management Information Systems" is a modest effort to gather the basics of information systems and their administrative applications from useful references in one place, so readers of this book can benefit from it.
The book consists of four sections. The first section explains the basics of information systems, the second section focuses on describing the technology used in computer-based information systems, the third section describes methods for building and developing information systems projects, and the book concludes with a section explaining some basic applications of management information systems for any organization to keep up with current technological advancements.
The book emphasizes that information and data have become closely related to decision-making and are essential resources for organizations in the modern era. To maintain their existence, organizations must collect, purify, store, and use a vast amount of data and information. If they want to thrive, they must excel in this new economic resource. Management uses information in all its functions, including planning, directing, organizing, and controlling to perform the organization's tasks. Since decision-making is at the heart of the administrative process that deals with problems, the use of information in decision-making is one of the main purposes for which organizations retain data.
The book adds that investors benefit from information about the organization to measure the accuracy and vitality of its financial performance. Lenders, financiers, and banks use information about the organization to judge its creditworthiness. Government regulatory bodies use information about the organization to monitor its compliance with rules, regulations, procedures, and laws. Suppliers also benefit from information about the organization to decide whether to deal with it and buy its products.
The book points out that the concept of information differs from data despite their close relationship. Data represents any numbers, words, names, or symbols that can be stored in any way, while information is useful data for decision-making, whether processed or not.
Information can be obtained through direct observation or other communication methods. Most managers obtain information through communications, which represent the means of transferring information or the channel used to convey information messages. Knowledge is the process of understanding, evaluating information, and transforming it into skills and experiences for information and decision-making.
The book emphasizes that management faces many routine and non-routine administrative problems that require decision-making. The decision-making process is crucial and sensitive because the results of these decisions positively or negatively affect the organization. Therefore, it is essential to pay attention to this process and master all its stages. All decisions require information, and the decision-making process is primarily based on information.
The Relationship Between the DocSuite HR System and the Book "Management Information Systems: Theory and Application"
The DocSuite HR system aims to organize and manage information related to employees and administrative operations involving them, including salaries, attendance, training, and more. The book "Management Information Systems" aims to explain the principles and theories that govern the use of technology in managing information and administrative operations.
The relationship between them lies in the fact that the DocSuite HR system is a type of management information system, as it uses technology to facilitate and improve human resource management in the organization.
You can download the book "Management Information Systems: Theory and Application" directly from here.