MAASAI MARA UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND

ECONOMICS
DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
BCM 2208 MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS
LECTURE IV
MANAGEMENT OF COMPUTER BASED
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
• A Computer Based Information System is an organized integration of
hardware and software technologies and human elements designed
to produce timely, integrated, accurate and useful information for
decision making purposes.
• Computer(-Based) Information System is essentially an IS using
computer technology to carry out some or all of its planned tasks.
The basic components of computer based information system are:

• Hardware– these are the devices like the monitor, processor, printer and
keyboard, all of which work together to accept, process, show data and
information.
• Software– are the programs that allow the hardware to process the data.
• Databases– are the gathering of associated files or tables containing
related data.
• Networks– are a connecting system that allows diverse computers to
distribute resources.
• Procedures– are the commands for combining the components above to
process information and produce the preferred output.
PLANNING OF INFORMATION
SYSTEMS
• The goal of strategic information systems planning is to develop strategies to
ensure that the information technology function and infrastructure are
aligned with and support the business to enable it to achieve its business
mission, objectives and goals.
• The planning process involves amongst other things the aligning of
objectives of an organization with the objectives of the MIS.
• This activity requires strategic management orientation and a macro view of
the needs and growth aspirations of the organization among other skills as
the system will have to be relevant to the organization in the near future.
• If the organization outgrows the MIS, then the MIS will have to be
redeveloped.
STEPS IN IS PLANNING
• Identify objectives and challenges- First step in planning of IT
infrastructure is to identify the objectives and the challenges involved
in the business in general and information systems in par­ticular. This is
achieved by enlisting the broad objectives, business functions and
processes, business resource requirements.
• Business and information systems planning- The second step is to
review the business planning process in the light of changing business
scenario and identify the business functions that need greater
support from information systems.Objectives of the IT in­frastructure
may be defined keeping in view the functions to be automated.
• Identifying alternatives - Once the objectives of the information
systems are defined, the alternative strategies for IT solutions need to
be identified. These alternatives may require identifying alternatives
re­garding the organization structure, computer hardware, software
and networking strategies for achieving the objectives set forth
earlier.
• Determine priorities- The evaluation process shall help in
determining the resource require­ment for each information system
project. The priority ranking may have to be changed later in view of
the new options that might have been opened.
• Draw operational plan- These operational plans may include
identifying the hard­ware needs, planning for system development life
cycle, and other IT resources needed for the accepted information
system projects.
OPERATIONAL FUNCTIONS OF IS
• Information gathering
• Information storage
• Information processing
• Information distribution.
Information storage
• Data storage is the recording of information in a storage medium.
• It also refers to the use of recording media to retain data using computers or other
devices.
• Data storage is a common term for archiving data or information in a storage
medium for use by a computer. It’s one of the basic yet fundamental functions
performed by a computer.
• It’s like a hierarchy of comprehensive storage solution for fast access to computer
resources.
• A computer stores data or information using several methods, which leads to
different levels of data storage.
• Primary storage is the most common form of data storage which
typically refers to the random access memory (RAM).
• It refers to the main storage of the computer because it holds data
and applications that are currently in use by the computer.
• Secondary storage refers to the external storage devices and other
external media such as hard drive and optical media.
CONTROL OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS
• Information system controls are methods and devices that attempt to
ensure the accuracy, validity and propriety of information system
activities.
• It is designed to monitor and maintain the quality and security of the
input, processing, output, and storage activities of any information
system.
• GENERAL CONTROLS- General controls include software controls,
physical hardware controls, computer operations controls, data
security controls, controls over the systems implementation process,
and administrative controls.
• APPLICATION CONTROLS- Application controls include both
automated and manual procedures that ensure that only authorized
data are completely and accurately processed by that application.
Application controls can be classified as;
(1) input controls, (2) processing controls, and (3) output controls.