Q-1- Describe Transaction Processing System (TPS)?

Transaction processing is a way of computing that divides work into individual, indivisible
operations, called transactions. A transaction processing system (TPS) is a software system, or
software/hardware combination, that supports transaction processing.

A transaction process system and transaction processing are often contrasted with a batch
process system and batch processing, where many requests are all executed at one time. The
former requires the interaction of a user, whereas batch processing does not require user
involvement. In batch processing the results of each transaction are not immediately available.
Additionally, there is a delay while the many requests are being organized, stored and eventually
executed. In transaction processing there is no delay and the results of each transaction are
immediately available. During the delay time for batch processing, errors can occur. Although
errors can occur in transaction processing, they are infrequent and tolerated, but do not warrant
shutting down the entire system.

To achieve performance, reliability and consistency, data must be readily accessible in a data
warehouse, backup procedures must be in place and the recovery process must be in place to deal
with system failure, human failure, computer viruses, software applications or natural disasters.

Transaction Processing System Features:

The following features are considered important in evaluating transaction processing systems.

 Performance - Fast performance with a rapid response time is critical. Transaction

processing systems are usually measured by the number of transactions they can process
in a given period of time.

 Continuous availability - The system must be available during the time period when the
users are entering transactions. Many organizations rely heavily on their TPS; a
breakdown will disrupt operations or even stop the business.
  Data integrity- The system must be able to handle hardware or software problems
without corrupting data. Multiple users must be protected from attempting to change the
same piece of data at the same time, for example two operators cannot sell the same seat
on an airplane.

 Ease of use - Often users of transaction processing systems are casual users. The system
should be simple for them to understand, protect them from data-entry errors as much as
possible, and allow them to easily correct their errors.

 Modular growth - The system should be capable of growth at incremental costs, rather
than requiring a complete replacement. It should be possible to add, replace, or update
hardware and software components without shutting down the system.
Types of Transaction Processing System Features:

Transaction processing is distinct from other computer processing:-

 Batch processing - Batch processing is execution of a series of programs (jobs) on a

computer without manual intervention. Several transactions, called a batch are collected
and processed at the same time. The results of each transaction are not immediately
available when the transaction is being entered; there is a time delay.

 Real-time processing - Real time systems attempt to guarantee an appropriate response

to a stimulus or request quickly enough to affect the conditions that caused the
stimulus." Each transaction in real-time processing is unique; it is not part of a group of
transactions.
  Transaction processing - A Transaction Processing System (TPS) is a type of
information system that collects, stores, modifies and retrieves the data transactions of an
enterprise. Transaction processing systems also attempt to provide predictable response
times to requests, although this is not as critical as for real-time systems. Rather than
allowing the user to run arbitrary programs as time-sharing, transaction processing allows
only predefined, structured transactions. Each transaction is usually short duration and
the processing activity for each transaction is programmed in advance.

Q-2- Describe Decision Support System (DSS)?

A decision support system (DSS) is an information system that supports business or

organizational making activities. DSSs serve the management, operations and planning levels of
an organization (usually mid and higher management) and help people make decisions about
problems that may be rapidly changing and not easily specified in advance i.e. unstructured and
semi-structured decision problems. Decision support systems can be either fully computerized or
human-powered, or a combination of both.

While academics have perceived DSS as a tool to support decision making process, DSS users
see DSS as a tool to facilitate organizational processes. Some authors have extended the
definition of DSS to include any system that might support decision making and some DSS
include a decision-making software component; Sprague (1980) defines a properly termed DSS
as follows:

1. DSS tends to be aimed at the less well structured, underspecified problem that upper
level managers typically face;
2. DSS attempts to combine the use of models or analytic techniques with traditional data
access and retrieval functions;
3. DSS specifically focuses on features which make them easy to use by non-computer-
proficient people in an interactive mode; and
4. DSS emphasizes flexibility and adaptability to accommodate changes in
the environment and the decision making approach of the user.
DSSs include knowledge-based systems. A properly designed DSS is an interactive software-
based system intended to help decision makers compile useful information from a combination
of raw data, documents, and personal knowledge, or business models to identify and solve
problems and make decisions.

Typical information that a decision support application might gather and present includes:

 inventories of information assets (including legacy and relational data sources, cubes, data
warehouses, and data marts),
 comparative sales figures between one period and the next,
 Projected revenue figures based on product sales assumptions.

Decision-making analysis was conducted by the Carnegie Institute of Technology in the late
1950s and early 1960s. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) applied computer
technology to decision-making theory in the 1960s. By the 1980s, intensive research on DSS was
underway, and new theories and concepts emerged from single-user models of DSS, including
organizational decision support systems (ODSSs), group decision support systems (GDSSs) and
executive information systems (EISs). By 1990 DSS was broadened to include data warehousing
and online analytical processing.

Typical information gathered by a DSS may include:

 Projected revenue and sales figures, some based on new product sales projections
 Comparative sales figures between selected time periods
 Inventory data organized into relational databases for timely analysis

In some DSS applications, timely analysis includes the consequences of different decision
alternatives.

DSS applications are used in many diverse fields, including medical diagnosis, credit loan
verification, evaluating bids on engineering projects, business and business management,
agricultural production at the farm and policy levels, forest management and railroad (for
evaluation of defective rails).
Components:-

Three fundamental components of a DSS architecture are:

1. the database (or knowledge base),

2. the model (i.e., the decision context and user criteria)
3. The user interface.

The users themselves are also important components of the architecture

Classification:-

There are several ways to classify DSS applications. Not every DSS fits neatly into one of the
categories, but may be a mix of two or more architectures.

Holsapple and Whinston classify DSS into the following six frameworks: text-oriented DSS,
database-oriented DSS, spreadsheet-oriented DSS, solver-oriented DSS, rule-oriented DSS, and
compound DSS. A compound DSS is the most popular classification for a DSS; it is a hybrid
system that includes two or more of the five basic structures.

The support given by DSS can be separated into three distinct, interrelated categories: Personal
Support, Group Support, and Organizational Support.

DSS components may be classified as:

1. Inputs: Factors, numbers, and characteristics to analyze

2. User knowledge and expertise: Inputs requiring manual analysis by the user
3. Outputs: Transformed data from which DSS "decisions" are generated
4. Decisions: Results generated by the DSS based on user criteria

DSSs which perform selected cognitive decision-making functions and are based on artificial
intelligence or intelligent agents technologies are called intelligent decision support
systems (IDSS)

The nascent field of decision engineering treats the decision itself as an engineered object, and
applies engineering principles such as design and quality assurance to an explicit representation
of the elements that make up a decision.
Q-3- Describe Executive Information System (EIS)?

Early executive information systems were developed as computer-based programs on mainframe

computers to provide a company’s description, sales performance and/or market research data
for senior executives. However, senior executives were not all computer literate or confident.
Moreover, EIS data was only supporting executive-level decisions but not necessarily supporting
the entire company or enterprise.

Current EIS data is available company- or enterprise-wide, facilitated by personal computers and
workstations on local area networks (LANs). Employees can access company data to help
decision-making in their individual workplaces, departments, divisions, etc. This allows
employees to provide pertinent information and ideas both above and below their company level.

An Executive Information System can be defined as a specialized Decision Support System. This
type of the system generally includes the various hardware, software, data, procedures and the
people. With the help of all this, the top level executives get a great support in taking and
performing the various types of the decisions. The executive information system plays a very
important role in obtaining the data from the different sources, then help in the integration and
the aggregation of this data. After performing these steps the resulting information is displayed
in such a pattern that is very easy to understand.

Executive information system is ‘a computer based system that serves the information that is
needed by the various top executives. It provides very rapid access to the timely information and
also offers the direct access to the different management reports.’

Executive Information System is very user friendly in the nature. It is supported at a large extent
by the graphics.

Executive support system can be defined as the comprehensive executive support system that
goes beyond the Executive Information System and also includes communications, office
automation, analysis support etc.
Components:-

EIS components can typically be classified as:

 Hardware - When talking about computer hardware for an EIS environment, we should
focus on the hardware that meets the executive's needs. The executive must be put first
and the executive's needs must be defined before the hardware can be selected. The basic
hardware needed for a typical EIS includes four components:

1. Input data-entry devices. These devices allow the executive to enter, verify, and update
data immediately
2. The central processing unit (CPU), which is the most important because it controls the
other computer system components
3. Data storage files. The executive can use this part to save useful business information,
and this part also helps the executive to search historical business information easily
4. Output devices, which provide a visual or permanent record for the executive to save or
read. This device refers to the visual output device such as monitor or printer

In addition, with the advent of local area networks (LAN), several EIS products for networked
workstations became available. These systems require less support and less expensive computer
hardware. They also increase EIS information access to more company users.

 Software - Choosing the appropriate software is vital to an effective EIS. Therefore, the
software components and how they integrate the data into one system are important. A
typical EIS includes four software components:

1. Text-handling software—documents are typically text-based

2. Database—heterogeneous databases on a range of vendor-specific and open computer
platforms help executives access both internal and external data
3. Graphic base—graphics can turn volumes of text and statistics into visual information for
executives. Typical graphic types are: time series charts, scatter diagrams, maps, motion
graphics, sequence charts, and comparison-oriented graphs (i.e., bar charts)
4. Model base—EIS models contain routine and special statistical, financial, and other
quantitative analysis
  User interface - An EIS must be efficient to retrieve relevant data for decision makers,
so the user interface is very important. Several types of interfaces can be available to the
EIS structure, such as scheduled reports, questions/answers, menu driven, command
language, natural language, and input/output.

 Telecommunication - As decentralizing is becoming the current trend in companies,

telecommunications will play a pivotal role in networked information systems.
Transmitting data from one place to another has become crucial for establishing a reliable
network. In addition, telecommunications within an EIS can accelerate the need for
access to distributed data.

Advantages of EIS

 Easy for upper-level executives to use, extensive computer experience is not required in
operations
 Provides strong drill-down capabilities to better analyze the given information.
 Information that is provided is better understood
 EIS provides timely delivery of information. Management can make decisions promptly.
 Improves tracking information
 Offers efficiency to decision makers

Disadvantages of EIS

 System dependent
 Limited functionality, by design
 Information overload for some managers
 Benefits hard to quantify
 High implementation costs
 System may become slow, large, and hard to manage
 Need good internal processes for data management
 May lead to less reliable and less secure data
 Excessive cost for small company
Q-1- Explain MIS for financial?
A financial MIS provides financial information for managers to make daily decisions on
operations within the organization. Most systems provide these functions:

 Integrate financial information from multiple sources

 Provide easy access to financial information in summarized form
 Enable financial analysis using easy-to-use tools
 Compare historic and current financial activity

A financial MIS often has a number of subsystems, depending on the type of organization. These
include systems to analyze revenues, costs and profits, auditing systems for both internal and
external purposes and systems to manage funds. A financial MIS can also be used to prepare
reports for third parties, such as external auditors or shareholders.
Uses of Management Information System in Finance
Management Information Systems (MIS) in Finance have been widely adopted both by
corporations as well as governments. They are information systems with capacity to maintain
large data bases enabling organizations to store, organize and access financial information easily.
These systems are primarily used for accounting operations and generation of financial reports..
Increasingly they are also used to support budgetary, planning and decision making processes.
These systems are credited with increasing financial transparency, efficiency and accountability.
 General Ledger - The main use of a management information System (MIS) in
finance is that it automatically updates all the transactions in the General Ledger. The
General Ledger is the core component of all financial information systems. Financial
transactions are simultaneously posted on the various accounts that comprise the
organization's "Chart of Accounts". Simultaneous updating of accounts such as sales,
inventory and accounts receivable, reduces errors. It also provides an accurate and
permanent record of all historical transactions.
 Cash Management - Cash flow management is an important use of MIS in Finance.
Cash Management refers to the control, monitoring and forecasting of cash for financing
needs. Use of MIS in Finance helps companies track the flow of cash through accounts
receivable and accounts payable accurately. Accurate records also help in monitoring cost
of goods sold. This can help pin point areas that eat up cash flow such as inventory costs,
high raw material costs or unreliable sales.
 Budget Planning - Financial budget planning uses proforma or projected financial
statements that serve as as formal documents of management's expectations regarding
sales, expenses and other financial transactions. Thus financial budgets are tools used
both for planning as well as control. MIS in finance helps organizations evaluate "what
if" scenarios. By modifying the financial ratios, management can foresee the effects of
various scenarios on the financial statements. MIS thus serves as a decision making tool,
helping in choosing appropriate financial goals.
 Financial Reporting - The use of MIS systems in Finance enables companies to
generate multiple financial reports accurately and consistently. Generation of financial
 statements both for internal reports as well as for shareholder information takes less effort
because of the automatic updating of the General Ledger. Compliance with Government
regulations as well as auditing requirements is also easier because the records are
accurate and provide a permanent historical map of transactions that can be verified.
 Financial Modeling - A financial model is a system that incorporates mathematics,
logic and data in the form of a large database. The model is used to manipulate the
financial variables that affect earnings thus enabling planners to view the implications of
their planning decisions. MIS in Finance enables organizations to store a large amount of
data. This helps managers develop accurate models of the external environment and thus
incorporate realistic "what if" scenarios into their long-range planning goals.
The Ideal FMIS Systems
An ideal or well-designed system should:

 Collect accurate, timely, complete, reliable, consistent information

 Provide adequate management reporting
 Support government-wide and agency policy decisions
 Support budget preparation and execution
 Facilitate financial statement preparation
 Provide information for central agency budgeting, analysis and government-wide
reporting
 Provide complete audit trail to facilitate audits.

FMIS Building Blocks

An FMIS will consist of several elements with different functions. In the description that
follows, the term “module” will imply that the system is a sub-element in a FMIS. The core of an
FMIS could be expected to include the following modules and systems:

 General ledger
 Budgetary accounting
 Accounts payable
 Accounts receivable

The noncore or other modules are, inter alia:

 Payroll system
 Budget development
 Procurement
 Project ledger
 Asset module

Advantages of FMIS

There are many advantages of implementing an FMIS. A few of them are listed below:

 Integrated financial information

  Flexibility of reporting and additional control over expenditure
 Less administration required within the business

Q-2- Explain MIS for marketing?

Marketing Information System (MIS) is a permanent arrangement (system or setup) for provision

of regular availability of relevant, reliable, adequate, and timely information for making

marketing decisions.

Information is like a life-blood of business. Quality of decisions depends on the right type of

information. The right information implies the right quality, the right quantity, and the right

timing of information. Circulation of needed information is as important as the circulation of

blood in human being.

Information keeps the organization actively functioning, alive, and connected with internal and

external marketing participants. It is a valuable asset for a firm as it is a base to manage other

valuable assets. The firm fails to manage information (i.e., collecting, analyzing, interpreting,
storing, and disseminating of information) will definitely fail to attain goals.

Today’s marketing is dynamic, and manager has to undergo necessary changes to cope with the

pace of changing marketing environment. Information is a basic input to know what is happening

and what is going to happen. Marion Harper has rightly asserted: “To manage a business well is
to manage its future, and to manage the future well is to manage the information.”

A company needs information on a continuous basis to be aware of marketing developments

taking place in the market. In order to learn about changing needs of customers, new

competitors’ initiatives, changing distribution practices, recent trends in promotion practices,

etc., a manager requires the permanent arrangement to get the needed information on a regular

basis. The system or arrangement that deals with providing the information regularly is known as
marketing information system (MIS).
Components of MIS:
MIS is made of parts, subparts or subsystems which are called the components. Typically,

according to Philip Kotler, a marketing information system consists of four interrelated

components – Internal Reports (Records) System, Marketing Research System, Marketing

Intelligence System, and Marketing Decision Support System, as shown in Figure 1. All
components are interrelated and interdependent.

1. Internal Records System: - Internal records system is a major and easily accessible source of
information. It supplies the results data. It consists of all records of marketing operations
available within organization. This system concerns with collecting, analyzing, interpreting, and
distributing needed information from records of various departments of the company.

Main sources include various records on sales and purchase, ordering system, sales force

reporting system, inventory level, receivable-payables, marketing staff, costs, the past research

works, and other literatures/reports available within organization. Particularly, for sales orders

and sales force reporting, the computer technology is excessively used for accurate, efficient, and
speedy transmission of information.

To manage the internal record system, some companies appoint internal MIS committee to deal
with all aspects of internal information.

The committee:
 Attends request for all type of information required by managers,

 Determines sources of the information and tools needed to collect, evaluate, and analyze
information,

 Deals with presenting, distributing and updating the information,

 Handles complaints of employees, and

 Performs all types functions related to information.

Internal records system keeps regular circulation of the information throughout the organization

without much expense and efforts. Managers can get the up-to-date information about marketing
operations. Once the system is set up properly, it can serve the purpose continually.

2. Marketing Intelligence System: - While internal report system concerns with information
available from internal records of organization, the marketing intelligence system supplies the
managers with happening data. It provides information about external happenings or external
environment.

Marketing intelligence system is:

The set of procedures and sources used by managers to obtain every day information regularly

about pertinent developments in the marketing environment. A manager can try to expose
external environment in various ways.

Marketing intelligence system consists of various methods.

A manager can use one or more below mentioned methods:

 Reading newspapers, books, and other publications.

 Watching TV, hearing radio, or Internet surfing.

 Talking to customers, dealers, suppliers, and other relevant parties.

 Talking to other managers and employees of his company as well as of other companies.

 Maintaining live contacts with other officials and agencies.

 Purchasing useful information from professional sources.

 Assigning marketing intelligence task to professional agencies, etc.

Effective marketing intelligence system can facilitate managers to take immediate actions like

reacting to competitors, meeting changing needs of customers, solving dealers’ problems, and so
on.

3. Marketing Research System: - Marketing research is a powerful and independent branch of

the MIS. In certain cases, managers need detailed information on the specific problem of the
specific marketing area. Thus, it is a formal study of specific problems, opportunities, or
situations. Normally, it is carried out for solving the specific problem.

In this sense, it is not a part of routine activity. It collects need-based information. Nowadays, it

is treated as the separate discipline or subject. Philip Kotler defines: “Marketing Research is the

systematic design for collection, analysis, and reporting of data and findings relevant to specific
marketing situations facing the company.”

Marketing research consists of collecting primary and secondary data from various respondents

using various tools through various methods for definite period of time, analyzing data using

appropriate statistics tools, and presenting findings in forms of a report. It is conducted by

internal expert staff or external professionals.

4. Marketing Decision Support System (MDSS): - Previously, the component was known as
Analytical Marketing System. While former three components supply data, the marketing
decision support system concerns more with processing or analyzing available data. This
component can improve efficiency and utility of the whole marketing information system.

The system is used to help managers make better decisions. John D. C. Little defines: “A

marketing decision support system (MDSS) is coordinated collection of data, systems, tools, and

techniques with supporting software and hardware by which an organization gathers and
interprets relevant information from environment and turns it into a basis for making decisions.”

Advantages
Bhasin stated that, “With an increasingly competitive and expanding market, the amount of
information needed daily by an organization is profound. So they have to establish a Marketing
Information system. There are several advantages of marketing information systems
 Organized Data collection – MkIS can help the managers to organize loads of data
collected from the market, thus results in an increment in the productivity.
 A broad perspective – With a proper MkIS in place, the organization can be tracked which
can be used to analyze independent processes. This helps in establishing a broader
perspective which helps us know which steps can be taken to facilitate improvement.
 Storage of Important Data – The storage of important data is essential in execution and
thus proves again that MkIS is not important only for information but also for execution.
 Avoidance of Crisis – The best way to analyze a stock (share market) is to see its past
performance. Top websites like money control thrive on MIS. Similarly MIS helps you keep
tracks of margins and profits. With an amazing information system established, an
organizations direction can be analyzed and probably crises averted before they place.
 Co-ordination – Consumer durables and FMCG companies have huge number of processes
which needs to be co-ordinate. These companies depend completely on MIS for the proper
running of the organization.
 Analysis and Planning – MkIS plays a crucial role in the planning process, considering the
planning procedure requires information. For planning, the first thing which is needed is the
organizations capabilities, then the business environment and finally competitor analysis. In
a proper MkIS, all these are present by default and are continuously updated. Therefore,
MkIS is very important for planning and analysis.
 Control – Just like MkIS can help in a crisis, in normal times it provides control as you have
information of the various processes going on and what is happening across the company."
Possible risks
"Nevertheless, the collection of marketing information should obey a high-frequent manner due
to the rapid change in the external market." The possible risks the business may face if they
disobey the manner according to Bhasin are:

 Opportunities may be missed.

 There may be a lack of awareness of environmental changes and competitors' actions.
 Data collection may be difficult to analyze over several time periods.
 Marketing plans and decisions may not be properly reviewed.
 Data collection may be disjointed.
 Previous studies may not be stored in an easy to use format.
 Time lags may result if a new study is required.
 Actions may be reactionary rather than anticipatory.
Maintenance, complexity and setting up a MkIS are one of the major hindrances to Marketing
information systems. Furthermore, wrong information being fed in MkIS can become
cumbersome and appropriate filters need to be established.
Limitations
Kotler and Philip have said that "both primary and secondary researches offer loads of the data
and information needed for the marketers, whereas the secondary data sources are relatively
superior in quick provision of data at lower cost. Simultaneously, a firm cannot find all the data
required by itself, but sometimes can be done with the help of secondary research. However,
researchers must assess those data collected from both primary and secondary data sources to
enable the accuracy, updates and fairness. Each primary data collection method – observational,
survey, and experimental – has its own advantages and disadvantages. Similarly, each of the
various research contact methods – mail, telephone, personal interview, and online – also has its
own advantages and drawbacks."

Q-3- Explain MIS for HR system?

Human Resources Management (HRM) is the attraction, selection, retention, development, and
utilization of labor resource in order to achieve both individual and organizational objectives.
Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) is an integration of HRM and Information
Systems (IS). HRIS or Human resource Information system helps HR managers perform HR
functions in a more effective and systematic way using technology. It is the system used to
acquire, store, manipulate, analyze, retrieve, and distribute pertinent information regarding an
organization’s human resources. A human resource information system (HRIS) is a system used
to acquire, store, manipulate, analyze, retrieve, and distribute pertinent information about an
organization’s human resources. The HRIS system is usually a part of the organization’s larger
management information system (MIS) which would include accounting, production, and
marketing functions, to name just a few. Human resource and line managers require good human
resource information to facilitate decision-making.
Application of HRIS

 HRIS can be applied in the following areas of HRM:

 HR planning
 Succession planning & work force planning
 Work force dynamics analysis
 Staffing
 Applicant recruitment and tracking
 Employee data base development
 Performance management
 Learning and development
 Compensation and benefits
 Pay roll
 Job evaluation
 Salary survey & Salary planning
 International compensation
 Benefits management
 Develop innovative Org. Structure & Develop IT

Difference between MIS (human resource) and HRIS

MIS HR includes only

 HR STRATEGIC HR PLANNING
 HR PLANNING
 MANPOWER PLANNING
 SUCCESSION PLANNING
  COMPENSATION PLANS
 INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS PLANS

HRIS for various purposes

*HR strategic planning & manpower planning

*job analyses, description & specification
*recruitment & selection
*performance appraisal & performance management
*development programs & career planning
*promotions
*career development
*succession planning
*job rotation, enrichment & multiskilling
*compensation planning
*staff leave management
*termination records management & international staff records

Staff Information
 department,
 job title,
 grade & salary,
 position history,
 supervisor,
 training completed,
 special qualifications,
 date of birth,
 disabilities,
 visa status,
 benefits selected,
 promotions
 career development & career management
 succession planning
 job rotation
 labor relations
 compensation planning
 staff leave management
 termination records management
 employee communication
 international staff records
 payroll records
 pension management
 health & safety records
Q-4- Explain MIS for operation management?
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 main purpose of the MIS is to give managers feedback about their own
performance; top management can monitor the company as a whole. Information displayed by
the MIS typically shows "actual" data over against "planned" results and results from a year
before; thus it measures progress against goals. The MIS receives data from company units and
functions. Some of the data are collected automatically from computer-linked check-out
counters; others are keyed in at periodic intervals. Routine reports are preprogrammed and run at
intervals or on demand while others are obtained using built-in query languages; display
functions built into the system are used by managers to check on status at desk-side computers
connected to the MIS by networks. Many sophisticated systems also monitor and display the
performance of the company's stock.

MIS and Operation research

Operations research, or OR, is a management science that draws heavily from math and science to help managers
make informed, feasible decisions. Operations managers use OR for planning their scheduling, assembly and
production functions. On the other hand, Management information systems, or MIS, are a managerial decision-
making tool that procures, analyzes and documents facts and figures for preparation of reports. MIS is used across
all functional spheres of the organization, including the IT, marketing, production and finance sectors. The main
difference between the two is that OR pertains only to the organization’s production features whereas MIS is used
in all of the operations of the business.

OR models were developed in the 1940s during World War II. Extensive improvisations have been made to the
models since then. Today businesses worldwide mandatorily use OR techniques. Management information
systems were developed in the 1960s. MIS and development of computing systems took place simultaneously.
MIS techniques are used extensively all over the world today. Organizations use operations research to find ways
to maximize their production, sales and profits and minimize costs and risks. MIS are used by the organization to
manage its resources--physical, material and human--as well as its policies and procedures. Under MIS, detailed
formats are outlined for all processes. Lines of command are clearly demarcated in which every employee in the
organization knows to whom he is reporting and who is reporting to him.

OR enables managers to study and analyze the various options available to a business and choose the most feasible
one. The objective is to find the one production or scheduling plan that uses the least amount of resources and
yields the maximum benefits. Math and statistics are used extensively in forecasting. Linear programming,
simulation, regression and decision analysis are used in analysis work. Using MIS, the organization sets SOPs
(standard operating procedures), policies and internal controls. Uniform and standardized formats for each of the
processes are drawn by MIS. Also under MIS, authority-responsibility and work flow diagrams are designed.
Both OR and MIS facilitate informed decision making. Scientific analysis is facilitated by operations research.
Using OR, management makes decisions, including what to produce, its quantity, and the persons to be employed
in production and how to market goods. The main benefit in using MIS is that the tool enables an organization to
procure and tabulate all relevant data on all operations. Management is able to analyze the strengths and
weaknesses of its processes and thus make improvements and eradicate flaws. MIS helps to integrate the work of
all the departments in the company.

The operations and supply management program offered by the Department of Management
Information Systems, Operations Management, and Decision Sciences includes a major and a
minor in operations and supply management (OPS).

 Process improvement analyst

 Quality assurance analyst
 Purchasing manager
 Production/inventory manager
 Warehouse manager
 Service facility manager
 Operations consultant
Manufacturing Information Systems
Beyond process control, our Manufacturing Information Systems (MIS) Division works
vertically with diverse stakeholder departments to deliver ISA95 compliant Manufacturing
Execution System (MES) and Manufacturing Operations Management (MOM) consultation and
engineering. Industry 4.0 is the appropriate integration and direction of the manufacturing
process with business and operations managements systems:

 Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)

 Inventory (IMS) and Warehouse (WMS)
 Equipment Asset (EAM) and Computerized Maintenance (CMMS)
 Process (PIMS) and Laboratory Information (LIMS)
 Quality (QMS)
 Electronic Document (EDMS)

Our MIS team emphasizes MESA guidelines for development of these architectures with a focus
on front-end business requirements and scope definition to ensure achievement of strategic
initiatives at uncompromising quality and value. Manufacturing process data represents
significant product value. Our MIS team excels in the application of Process Information
Management Systems (PIMS) for enterprise data historian, batch/process reports for product
release, and analytics such as Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and Total Effective
Equipment Productivity (TEEP).