Page 42 - Using MIS

10 Chapter 1 The Importance of MIS

1.60
Education
Utilities
Specialized Design Services
1.40
Travel Arrangement &
Reservations
Pharma
Other Support Services
1.20
Health Care
Aerospace
Advertising
1.00 R&D
Other Professional Services
Jobs, In Millions 0.80 Business Support Services
Mining
Accounting, Tax Prep,
Bookkeeping, Payroll, etc.
Management,
Scientific, and
0.60 Technical Consulting
Computer Systems
Design & Related
Services
0.40
Figure 1-3
Growth of Jobs by Sector from
1989 to 2009
Source: From The Evolving Structure 0.20
of the American Economy and the
Employment Challenge by Michael
Spence and Sandile Hlatshwayo.
Copyright © 2011 by The Council on
Foreign Relations Press. Reprinted with 0.00
permission. 1989 1994 1999 2004 2009

What Is the Bottom Line?

The bottom line? This course is the most important course in the business school because:

1. It will give you the background you need to assess, evaluate, and apply
emerging information systems technology to business.

2. It can give you the ultimate in job security—marketable skills—by helping
you learn abstraction, systems thinking, collaboration, and experimentation.
3. Many MIS-related jobs are available.

With that introduction, let’s get started!

Q2 What Is MIS?

We’ve used the term MIS several times, and you may be wondering exactly what it is. MIS stands
for management information systems, which we define as the management and use of infor-
mation systems that help organizations achieve their strategies. This definition has three key ele-
ments: management and use, information systems, and strategies. Let’s consider each, starting
first with information systems and their components.