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MB0031 Assingment Set1 Set2
MB0031 Assingment Set1 Set2
MB0031
SET 1
During the period of preindustrial revolution most of the data processing was done manu
ally.It was after the industrial revolution that the computers slowly started replacing
manual labour. The modern digital computer was basically designed to handle scientific
calculations. During the period 1940 to 1960 computers were commercially used for
census and payroll work. This involved large
amount of data and its processing. Since then the commercial application exceeded the
scientific applications for which the computer were mainly intended for. MIS is an
Information system which helps in providing the management of an organization with
information which is used by management for decision making.
Impact of MIS MIS has a major impact on the functions of any organization. The
organization derives benefits from the systems in the following form:
(a) Speedy access to information,
(b) Interpretation of data,
(c) Quick decisions,
(d) Speedy actions,
(e) Increased productivity and thereby increase in the profit
(f) Reduced transaction cost
The usage of Electronic media for data storage and processing the data is an inte
gral part of MIS. The texts and images in electronic forms are effective in
communicating ideas from source to destination. It is technology driven in the
sense it revolves around wireless electronic gadgets, internet, money cards –
credits cards, debit cards, id cards, atm cards etc.
MIS is very significant in modern day education system where we come
across usage of LCDs, Smart
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boards, internet etc in class rooms. In the tourism MIS has led to radical
changes in booking system, tourist information system, hotel facilities,
accommodation facilities, transportation modes available, images of the facilities that
could be provided etc.
Transportation
Teaching planning
methodology
Increased
Production
Better Banking
system
Function of MIS The main function of MIS is to help the managers and the executive
s in the organization in decision making.
Disadvantages of MIS
Ans:- Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) OLAP refers to a system in which there
are predefined multiple instances of various modules used in business applications. Any
input to such a system results in verification of the facts with respect to the
available instances. A nearest match is found analytically and the results
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displayed form the database. The output is sent only after thorough verification
of the input facts fed to the system.
The system goes through a series of multiple check of the various parameters use
d in business decision making.
OLAP is also referred to as a multi dimensional analytical model.
Many big companies use OLAP to get good returns in business. The querying process of t
he OLAP is very strong. It helps the management take decisions like which month would
be appropriate to launch a product in the market,
what should be the production quantity to maximize the returns,
what should be the stocking policy in order to minimize the wastage etc.
Demand
Region
Sales
Model of OLAP
IT influences Organizations goals There is always a mention about what IT contributes to
corporate strategy. It was recognized that corporation achieved a
significant competitive advantage by adopting suitable IT concepts in building
Types of DSS
Data-Driven DSS take the massive amounts of data available through the company's
TPS and MIS systems and cull from it useful information which executives can use to
make more informed decisions. They don't have to have a theory or model but can "free-
flow" the data. The first generic type of Decision Support System is a Data-Driven DSS.
These systems include file drawer and management reporting systems, data
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warehousing and analysis systems, Executive Information Systems (EIS) and Spatial
Decision Support Systems. Business Intelligence Systems are also examples of Data-
Driven DSS. Data-Driven DSS emphasize access to and manipulation of large databases
of structured data and especially a time-series of internal company data and sometimes
external data. Simple file systems accessed by query and retrieval tools provide the
most elementary level of functionality. Data warehouse systems that allow the
manipulation of data by computerized tools tailored to a specific task and setting or by
more general tools and operators provide additional functionality.
Data-Driven DSS with Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) provide the highest
level of functionality and decision support that is linked to analysis of large collections of
historical data.
Model-Driven DSS A second category, Model-Driven DSS, includes systems that use
accounting and financial models, representational models, and optimization models.
Model-Driven DSS emphasize access to and manipulation of a model. Simple statistical
and analytical tools provide the most elementary level of functionality. Some OLAP
systems that allow complex analysis of data may be classified as hybrid DSS systems
providing modeling, data retrieval and data summarization functionality. Model-Driven
DSS use data and parameters provided by decision-makers to aid them in analyzing a
situation, but they are not usually data intensive. Very large databases are usually not
needed for Model-Driven DSS.
Model-Driven DSS were isolated from the main Information Systems of the
organization and were primarily used for the typical "what-if" analysis. That is, "What if
we increase production of our products and decrease the shipment time?" These systems
rely heavily on models to help executives understand the impact of their decisions on the
organization, its suppliers, and its customers.
Knowledge-Driven DSS The terminology for this third generic type of DSS is still
evolving. Currently, the best term seems to be Knowledge-Driven DSS. Adding the
modifier “driven” to the word knowledge maintains a parallelism in the framework and
focuses on the dominant knowledge base component. Knowledge-Driven DSS can
suggest or recommend actions to managers. These DSS are personal computer systems
with specialized problem-solving expertise. The "expertise" consists of knowledge about
a particular domain, understanding of problems within that domain, and "skill" at solving
some of these problems. A related concept is Data Mining. It refers to a class of
analytical applications that search for hidden patterns in a database. Data mining is the
process of sifting through large amounts of data to produce data content relationships.
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Communications-Driven and Group DSS Group Decision Support
Systems (GDSS) came first, but now a broader category of Communications-Driven DSS
or groupware can be identified. This fifth generic type of Decision Support System
includes communication, collaboration and decision support technologies that do not fit
within those DSS types identified. Therefore, we need to identify these systems as a
specific category of DSS. A Group DSS is a hybrid Decision Support System that
emphasizes both the use of communications and decision models. A Group Decision
Support System is an interactive computer-based system intended to facilitate the
solution of problems by decision-makers working together as a group. Groupware
supports electronic communication, scheduling, document sharing, and other group
productivity and decision support enhancing activities We have a number of technologies
and capabilities in this category in the framework – Group DSS, two-way interactive
video, White Boards, Bulletin Boards, and Email.
The five levels Scott Morton proposes five levels of complexity at which
reconfiguration can be applied. The following five levels indicates how it is possible to
reconfigure strategic information system based on the influence of IT.
1. Localised exploitation This is part of the Evolutionary level and exist
s within individual business functions. It addresses the local efficiency and
effectiveness of a information system.
2. Internal integration
This is part of the evolutionary level and exists between different systems
and applications. It evolves out of rationalization using a common IT
platform. Efficiency and effectiveness are enhanced by coordination
and cooperation within the enterprise;
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contemporary software firms. Read on to know more about the Software Development
Life Cycle (SDLC) in detail.
Curtain Raiser Like any other set of engineering products, software products are
also oriented towards the customer. It is either market driven or it drives the market.
Customer Satisfaction was the buzzword of the 80's. Customer Delight is today's
buzzword and Customer Ecstasy is the buzzword of the new millennium. Products that
are not customer or user friendly have no place in the market although they are
engineered using the best technology. The interface of the product is as crucial as the
internal technology of the product.
Research and Development Once the Market Research is carried out, the
customer's need is given to the Research & Development division (R&D) to conceptualize
a cost-effective system that could potentially solve the customer's needs in a manner
that is better than the one adopted by the competitors at present. Once the conceptual
system is developed and tested in a hypothetical environment, the development team
takes control of it. The development team adopts one of the software development
methodologies that is given below, develops the proposed system, and gives it to the
customer.
The Sales & Marketing division starts selling the software to the available
customers and simultaneously works to develop a niche segment that could potentially
buy the software. In addition, the division also passes the feedback from the customers
to the developers and the R&D division to make possible value additions to the product.
Popular Software Development Models The following are some basic popular
models that are adopted by many software development firms
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1. System/Information Engineering and Modeling As software is always of
a large system (or business), work begins by establishing the requirements for all
system elements and then allocating some subset of these requirements to software.
This system view is essential when the software must interface with other elements such
as hardware, people and other resources. System is the basic and very critical
requirement for the existence of software in any entity. So if the system is not in place,
the system should be engineered and put in place. In some cases, to extract the
maximum output, the system should be re-engineered and spruced up. Once the ideal
system is engineered or tuned, the development team studies the software requirement
for the system.
B. Prototyping Model This is a cyclic version of the linear model. In this model,
once the requirement analysis is done and the design for a prototype is made, the
development process gets started. Once the prototype is created, it is given to the
customer for evaluation. The customer tests the package and gives his/her feed back to
the developer who refines the product according to the customer's exact expectation.
After a finite number of iterations, the final software package is given to the customer.
In this methodology, the software is evolved as a result of periodic shuttling of
information between the customer and developer. This is the most popular development
model in the contemporary IT industry. Most of the successful software products have
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been developed using this model - as it is very difficult (even for a whiz kid!) to
comprehend all the requirements of a customer in one shot. There are many variations
of this model skewed with respect to the project management styles of the companies.
New versions of a software product evolve as a result of prototyping.
Back to top.
4. Application generation The RAD model assumes the use of the RAD
tools like VB, VC++, Delphi etc... rather than creating software using
conventional third generation programming languages. The RAD model works to
reuse existing program components (when possible) or create reusable
components (when necessary). In all cases, automated tools are used to facilitate
construction of the software.
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reusability. The integration/assembly of the already existing software components
accelerates the development process. Nowadays many component libraries are available
on the Internet. If the right components are chosen, the integration aspect is made
much simpler.
Q.3:- a. Explain the role of systems analyst in SDLC. Explain with a scenario.
b. Draw a data flow diagram for an hospital management system.
The system analyst gives a system development project, meaning and direction.
The typical breakdown of an information systems life cycle includes a feasibility
study, requirements, collection and analysis, design, prototyping, implementation,
validation, testing and
operation. It may be represented in the form of a block diagram as shown below:
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4. Prototyping A prototype is a simplified implementation that is produced i
n order
to verify in practice that the previous phases of the design were well conducted.
Data Flow Diagram Data flow diagrams represent the logical flow of data within
the system. DFD do not explain how the
processes convert the input data into output. They do not
explain how the processing takes place. DFD uses few symbols like circles and rectangles
connected by arrows to represent data flows. DFD can easily illustrate relationships
among data, flows, external entities an stores. DFD can also be drawn in
increasing levels of detail, starting with a summary high level view and
proceeding more detailed lower level views.
Q.4:- What are the features contributing to success and failures of MIS
models?
1. The MIS is integrated into the managerial functions. It sets clear objectives to
ensure that the MIS focuses on the major issues of the business. Also adequate
development resources are provided and the human and organisational barriers to
progress are removed.
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3. The MIS is oriented, defined and designed in terms of the user’s requirements
and its operational viability is ensured.
4. The MIS is kept under continuous surveillance, so that its open system design is
modified according to the changing information needs.
5. MIS focuses on the business results and goals, and highlights the factors and
reasons for non-achievement.
6. MIS is not allowed to end up into an information generation mill avoiding the
noise in the information and the communication system.
7. The MIS recognises that manager is a human being and therefore, the systems
must consider all the human behavioural factors in the process of the management.
8. The MIS recognises that the different information needs for different objectives
must be met with. The globalisation of information in isolation from the different
objectives leads to information overload and its non-use.
9. The MIS is easy to operate and, therefore, the design of the MIS has such
features which make up a user-friendly design.
10. MIS recognises that the information needs become obsolete and new needs
emerge. The MIS design, therefore, has a basic potential capability to quickly meet new
needs of information.
11. The MIS concentrates on the developing the information support to manage
critical success factors. It concentrates on the mission critical applications serving the
needs of the top management.
Factors Contributing to Failure of MIS The common observed features which are
responsible for the failure of MIS is as follows:-
2. The MIS does not provide that information which is needed by the managers but
it tends to provide the information generally the function calls for. The MIS then
becomes an impersonal system.
4. Adequate attention is not given to the quality control aspects of the inputs, the
process and the outputs leading to insufficient checks and controls in the MIS.
5. The MIS is developed without streamlining the business processing systems in the
organisation.
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6. Lack of training and appreciation that the users of the information and the
generators of the data are different, and they have to play an important responsible role
in the MIS.
7. The MIS does not meet certain critical and key factors of its users such as a
response to the query on the database, an inability to get the processing done in a
particular manner, lack of user-friendly system and the dependence on the system
development personnel.
8. A belief that the computerised MIS can solve all the management problems of
planning and control of the business.
11. The MIS does not give perfect information to all the users in the organisation. Any
attempt towards such a goal will be unsuccessful because every user has a human
ingenuity, bias, certain assumptions not known to the designer. The MIS cannot make up
these by providing perfect information.
Q.5:- What are the limitations of ERP systems? How do ERP packages
help in overcoming theses limitations?
However, the term is typically reserved for larger, more broadly based application
s. The introduction of an ERP system to replace two or more independent applications
eliminates the need for external interfaces previously required between systems,
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and provides additional benefits that range from
standardization and lower maintenance to easier and/or greater reporting capabilities.
Ideally, ERP delivers a single database that contains all data for the software mod
ules, which would include:
ERP systems saw a large boost in sales in the 1990s as companies faced the Y2K
problem in their legacy systems. Many companies took this opportunity to replace their
legacy information systems
with ERP systems. This rapid growth in sales was followed by a
slump in 1999, at which time most
companies had already implemented their Y2K solution.
An ideal ERP system is when a single database is utilized and contains all data
for various software modules. These software modules can include:
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contact, calls center support, etc.
7. Data Warehouse: Usually this is a module that can be accessed by an organizati
ons customers, suppliers and employees.
Limitations of ERP Success depends on the skill and experience of the workforc
e, including
training about how to make the system work correctly. Many companies cut costs by
cutting training budgets. Privately owned small enterprises are often
undercapitalized, meaning their ERP system is often operated by personnel with
inadequate education in ERP in general, such as APICS foundations, and in
the particular ERP vendor package being used.
4. ERP systems can be very expensive to install often ranging from 30,000
US Dollars to 500,000,000 US Dollars for multinational companies.
5. ERP vendors can charge sums of money for annual license renewal that is unrelat
ed to the size of the company using the ERP or its profitability.
6. Technical support personnel often give replies to callers that are inappropriate for
the caller's corporate structure. Computer security concerns arise, for example
when telling a non-
programmer how to change a database on the fly, at a company that requires an audit
trail of changes so as to meet some regulatory standards.
7. ERPs are often seen as too rigid and too difficult to adapt to the specific
workflow and business process of some companies
this is cited as one of the main causes of their failure.
9. Systems are too restrictive and do not allow much flexibility in implementation an
d usage.
10. The system can suffer from the "weakest link" problem an inefficiency in one
department or at one of the partners may affect other participants.
11. Many of the integrated links need high accuracy in other applications to work
effectively. A company can achieve minimum standards, then over time "dirty
data" will reduce the reliability of some applications.
12. Once a system is established, switching costs are very high for any one
of the partners (reducing flexibility and strategic control at the corporate level).
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13. The blurring of company boundaries can cause problems in accountability,
lines of responsibility, and employee morale.
15. Some large organizations may have multiple departments with separate,
independent resources, missions, chainsofcommand, etc, and consolidation into a single
enterprise may yield limited benefits.
16. There are frequent compatibility problems with the various legacy systems of the
partners.
17. The system may be overengineered relative to the actual needs of the customer.
Before ERP systems, each department in an organization would most likely have t
heir own computer
system, data and database. Unfortunately, many of these systems would not be able
to communicate with one another or need to store or rewrite data to make it
possible for cross computer system communication. For instance, the financials of a
company
were on a separate computer system than the HR system, making it more intensive and
complicated to process certain functions. Once an ERP system is in place, usually all
aspects
of an organization can work in harmony instead of every single system needing to be
compatible with
each other. For large organizations, increased productivity and less types of
software are a result.
Ans:- Artificial Intelligence is the science and technology based on various functions to
develop a system that can think and work like a human being. It can reason,
analyze, learn, conclude and
solve problems. The systems which use this type of intelligence are known as artificial
intelligent systems and their intelligence is referred to as artificial intelligence.
It was said that the computer don’t have common sense. Here in AI, the main idea
is to make the computer think like human beings, so that it can be then said that
computers also have common sense. More precisely the aim is to
obtain a knowledge based computer system that will help managers to take quick decisio
ns in business.
Artificial Intelligence can be classified into various branches like Natural Language
Processing (NLP), Speech Recognition, Automated Programming, Machine Learning,
Pattern Recognition and Probabilistic Networks. Most of the software developed for AI
have been through Prolog, C++, Java and LISP. These programming languages
provide facility of creating various functions of business activity, extension of a
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function, handling dynamic situations in business, providing uniformity
in application etc.
Advantages of Neural Networks Neural networks are used to forecast some complex
data patterns. When designed properly, they can be used as experts for a
particular project. They have the ability to adjust to the changing environment and
thus are very flexible. For example, it can forecast net asset values of mutual funds.
Fussy logic systems can process data that are incomplete or ambiguous. Thus, th
ey can solve semi
structured problems with incomplete knowledge by developing approximate inferences
and answers, as humans do.
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This enables the network to operate and learn from the data it processes, similar
to the human brain. That is, it learns to recognize patterns and relationships in
the data. The more data examples
it receives as input, the better it can learn to duplicate the results of the examples
it processes. Thus, the neural networks will change the strengths of the
interconnections between the processing elements in response to changing patterns
in the data it receives and results that occur.
For example, neural network can be trained to learn which credit characteristics r
esult in good or bad loans. The neural network would continue to be trained until
it demonstrated a high degree
of accuracy in correctly duplicating the results of recent cases. At
that point it would be trained enough to begin making credit evaluations of its own.
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ASSIGNMENTS - MBA – II SEMESTER
MB0031
SET 2
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The paradigm shift to E-enterprise has brought four transformations, namely:
The last but not the least important is the challenge to organize and implement
information architecture and information technology platforms, considering multiple
locations and multiple information needs arising due to global operations of the business
into a comprehensive MIS. E-COMMERCE is a second big application next to ERP. It is
essential deals with buying and selling of goods. With the advent of intent and web
technology, E-Commerce today covers an entire commercial scope online including
design and developing, marketing, selling, delivering, servicing, and paying for goods.
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Some E-Commerce application add order tracking as a feature for customer to know the
delivery status of the order.
Let us illustrate the model using an event in the business such as receipt of
material for a job to be processed on the shop floor. In this event there is a transaction
receipt of material, which needs to be processed, and then a workgroup will use this
information of material receipt. Each member of this workgroup has a different goal.
Q.2:- What are the different emerging fields in MIS? Explain with an
application of your own for each.
A SIS is a type of Information System that is aligned with business strategy and
structure. The alignment increases the capability to respond faster to environmental
changes and thus creates a competitive advantage. An early example was the favourable
position afforded American and United Airlines by their reservation systems, Sabre and
Apollo. For many years these two systems ensured that the two carriers' flights
appeared on the first screens observed by travel agents, thus increasing their bookings
relative to competitors. A major source of controversy surrounding SIS is their
sustainability.
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progressing. A strategic information system is concerned with systems which contribute
significantly to the achievement of an organization's overall objectives. The body of
knowledge is of recent origin and highly dynamic, and the area has an aura of
excitement about it. The emergence of the key ideas, the process whereby strategic
information systems come into being is assessed, areas of weakness are identified, and
directions of current and future development suggested.
Ans.:- Todays managers depend on information systems for decision making. The
managers have handful of data around them but manually they cannot process the data
accurately and with in the short period of time available to them due to heavy
competition in modern world. Therefore mangers depend on information systems.
Information Data are facts and figures that are not currently being used in a
decision processes and usually take the form of historical records that are recorded and
filed without immediate intent to retrieve for decision making.
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The objective of an MIS (Management Information System) is to provide
information for decision making on planning, initiating, organizing, and controlling the
operations of the subsystems of the form and to provide a synergetic organization in the
process.
a. Draw the PERT network for the above data. Also draw the critical path
for the network.
b. Given the optimistic time estimate as 3, the most likely time estimate as 12
and the pessimistic time estimate as 21, calculate the activity time estimate.
Ans:- (a) The critical path is that path which takes the longest time for start to end.
The critical path for the above mentioned network is as follows:-
C
2 5
A E
0
4
D 3 B
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(b) to the optimistic time estimate = 3
tm the most likely time estimate = 12
tp the pessimistic time estimate = 21
te the activity time estimate = to + 4tm +tp
6
- ,- = 3 + 4(12) + 21
6
-,- = 12
Ans:- Information Systems have grown powerful year after year. The role of the
traditional MIS has been obscured by newer software applications. Various
applications known collectively as enterprise resource planning (ERP) software
has taken a dominant position among large business applications. These packages,
which typically come in functional modules such as an accounting module,
a human resources module, and a manufacturing supply chain module, serve
many of the functions that a traditional MIS would, and they tend to be more
flexible, integrated, and user-friendly than legacy MIS. While early implementations
of ERP suites were largely cross functional databases with minimal high-level
management tools, later upgrades have added decision support and
data manipulation tools to facilitate a wide range of analyses.
In future, MIS is likely to be verbal and qualitative in nature. It will depend upon
the strength of the organizations Information Systems. Most of the enterprises are growi
ng and their systems also have to grow. The ever growing demands of the systems will f
orce out the old conventional systems by newer systems. The next decade is going to wit
ness several fundamental and qualitative changes in the practice of management of
commercial enterprises and other types of organizations. These changes would be
necessitated by better rates of economic growth, intensification of
competition, diversified and rapid technological developments, continuing fluidity in
economicpolitical environments, and sociopolitical changes involving the values and
attitudes of people working in organizations at all levels.
To support these demands and meet newer challenges in
the business, organizations will have to resort to various technologies. This unit
is based on such possible technologies which
will enable the enterprises to support their MIS.
Extranet An extranet is a private network that uses the Internet protocols and the
public telecommunication system to securely share part of a business's information or
operations with suppliers, vendors, partners, customers, or other businesses. An
extranet can be viewed as part of a company's intranet that is extended to users outside
the company. An extranet requires security and privacy.
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who are members of the same company or organization, an extranet provides various
levels of accessibility to outsiders. You can access an extranet only if you have a valid
username and password, and your identity determines which parts of the extranet you
can view.
The professional development team at My Web Services has the expertise and the
right tools to design the right intranet or extranet that will meet your exact needs, both
for today and the future.
Intranet An internal use, private network inside an organisation that uses the same
kind of software which would also be found on the Internet. Inter-connected network
within one organization that uses Web technologies for the sharing of information
internally, not world wide. Such information might include organization policies and
procedures, announcements, or information about new products.
An intranet is a restricted-access network that works like the Web, but isn't on it.
Usually owned and managed by a company, an intranet enables a company to share its
resources with its employees without confidential information being made available to
everyone with Internet access. A network based on TCP/IP protocols (an internet)
belonging to an organization, usually a corporation, accessible only by the organization's
members, employees, or others with authorization. An intranet's Web sites look and act
just like any other Web sites, but the firewall surrounding an intranet fends off
unauthorized access. Like the Internet itself, intranets are used to share information.
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5. Customer service, help desk, etc.
Ans:- A management control systems (MCS) is a system which gathers and uses
information to evaluate the performance of different organizational resources like
human, physical, financial and also the organization as a whole considering the
organizational strategies. Finally, MCS influences the behavior of organizational
resources to implement organizational strategies. MCS might be formal or informal. The
term ‘management control’ was given of its current connotations by Robert N. Anthony
(Otley, 1994).
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Management control systems use many techniques such as
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(c) Just-in-time (business) - a business inventory strategy.
7. Budgeting A budget (from old French bougette, purse) is generally a list of all
planned expenses and revenues. It is a plan for saving and spending. [1] A budget is an
important concept in microeconomics, which uses a budget line to illustrate the trade-
offs between two or more goods. In other terms, a budget is an organizational plan
stated in monetary terms.
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