MIS in the Changing World
Adam Weir
The world of technology is forever expanding and changing. As this world continues to grow we need to grow with it. Important information that was relevant five years can be completely useless today. That is why people, especially people in the business world, must continue to be educated and adapt to the changing world. Large companies know this and that is why they take their information system technology so serious. They know that if they fall behind the curve, their competition will take control of their industry.
At the bridge connecting the business world to technology is field of management information systems or MIS. MIS integrates the three essential basic parts of business, technology, and management. Businesses know how important this information is and that is why they spend so much time and money for it. The United States alone spends over $1 trillion on information technology every year. They do this because the information gathered is so very valuable. There is a direct correlation between the amount spent on technology and the productivity gained. The more money spent the higher the return on investment.
Businesses use MIS in all areas of their company to make jobs much more effective. From the marketing, finance, accounting, and management departments, information technology is essential in today’s world. The marketing department has had a huge overhaul due to the advances in technology. Through the internet they have found a limitless supply of market data. The problem is how to gather, filter, and sort this information. Besides basic forms of information gathering through surveys and questionnaires, marketing teams now use more efficient ways to gather data. By using sophisticated CRM software they gather information as people log in and browse websites. They can tell what products are most popular and what types of people buy certain products. Many sites, like Amazon, encourage users to create personal profiles so the site can be customized to what the user likes. Personalization is a huge marketing strategy on the internet. It makes the user feel welcome when the site changes and shows only sections that he or she enjoys. Technology has advanced recently that websites recognize IP addresses and will customize even if users never gave any personal information. Marketing teams are in a new age of information gathering. They can now gain a great understanding of what people want in an enormously broad scale.
The marketing team gains information from not only the internet, but from bar code data on an item that is scanned and sold at retail stores. Through this store scanning process, companies can easily see what products are selling and which are not. They will then know which items to continue manufacturing, and which ones need to be taken off the market. This information, while useful, does not tell the companies who the people are that are buying their product. However, many stores today, such as grocery stores, require the use of their store cards when purchasing items. Although this is usually not required, many customers use them to gain the perks of having the card. By having this card, customers will be able to purchase items at lower costs and gain other rewards. This also helps out companies with their marketing program. Customer’s personal information is programmed onto these cards and every time they swipe it, the company knows what they purchased. This data is then used to see what types of people are buying certain products. The marketing knowledge gained is easy, fast, and cheaper then the old marketing methods.
The use of information technology in marketing is only one of many ways that businesses have changed. MIS technologies have also advanced the areas of accounting and finance. Through new software programs, the bookkeeping of financial information has never been simpler. With the help of enterprise resource planning (ERP), and other advances in database programs, the problems of the accounting world have depleted rapidly. Computer security, validation, and risk modeling have helped reduced the problems in both the accounting and financial departments. Software programs can now update in real time financial information and perform forecasting. Lastly, MIS technologies have helped with the advances in the management department. Business plans and templates are made with ease through various business software programs. Large organizational problems in a company are a thing of the past. Human resource departments can easily form databases for every employee, including salary, benefits, and other personal information. The information can be accessed quickly and efficiently with minimal interferences. The internet has also helped with the recruitment department for every company. Through their website and several job search websites, companies can simply and inexpensively advertise job offerings to millions of potential employees. MIS programs have changed the face of the entire business world.
Everyday new technologies are created and reshaped to make the technology environment easier for both employees and the customer. There is no way of telling how drastic the use of MIS technologies will change in the future. Employees in the business world are not the only ones who will see the change. Customers will see the economic world of tomorrow advance into a new age of customization and personalization. Users will go to websites and will only see information and products that they enjoy. People will walk into stores and be directed to exactly the things they need to buy. The flow of information today moves at a blinding pace, and it will only go faster. Information technology is forever changing and only time will tell if people will continue to advance and change with it.