Introduction
In this article critique, we are going to consider an article titled Management Role of MIS in Corporate Decision Making. The article was authored by Sadhana Jadhav and analyzes several aspects of management information systems and its role in business decision making in organizations (Jadhav, 2011).
The article explains to its audience the importance of promoting and adapting the use of information systems to ensure that managers get the latest information in time.
Organizations that fail to acquire latest information in a timely manner end up being faced by several uphill tasks and they may even close down.
For instance, if an organization makes decisions without considering latest developments in the business environment, chances are high that they may fail to achieve their intended goals.
Body
Effective management information system is one that helps managers in organizations to make real-time decisions. This means that the system should have the ability and capacity to provide information that is reliable hence playing pivotal roles in decision making process in organizations (Goyal, 2006).
For instance, managers need relevant information in order to provide their customers with what is a right hence giving them palatable chance of surviving in the business.
The management information system should be monitored by experts to make sure that all information made available to managers is essential to the organization.
This helps in cautioning the organization from misleading information which may lead to misinformed decisions, which eventually may have a great impact on the entire organization.
An effective management information system should include tools that can help in the collection of data that aim at adding reliability and value to the organization.
This means that the system should be able to bring about change that is measurable. If the system cannot be accountable, chances are high that decisions made based on it remain dangerous to the organization.
Managers may at times hesitate or even reject some recommendations from the management information system if they doubt or question their rationality.
Since decision making is a process that involves representatives from various departments, any information provided by the system is subject to thorough scrutiny.
This remains important since any decision made by decision makers affects all operations of the organization. Therefore, all information needs to be analyzed to ensure that only credible information is considered for the decisions (Jadhav, 2011).
Management information systems have various objectives that guide the type of information to be availed to managers. These objectives include delivery of the right information to the right people at the right time and right place.
This means that the system should be used to give information to specific people and at specific times. This is necessary because organization information should remain confidential since its exposure to the public may be a threat.
This happens where competitors take advantage of the information to attack the organization. Therefore, the system should be designed in a way such that information is accessible only to the right individuals within the organization.
Management information system should be able to improve productivity and profitability to the organization. In addition, the system should be standardized in a way such that it can obtain information from all hierarchical levels in an organization.
This makes sure that the organization makes use of all individuals within their organization to offer information regarding the organization. This information can be used by decision makers to come up with effective strategies aimed at improving operations and productivity within the organization.
Another role of management information system is to store information in soft copies in order to preserve it for future use. The system ensures that organization’s information is safe for use by the board of directors anytime they require it for decision making.
In fact, management information system helps organization managers in making strategic decisions. This is where they are required to set objectives and develop strategies aimed at attaining the said objectives.
Management information system, therefore, can provide adequate information regarding targets that are achievable. This is done through analysis of information obtained internally and in the external environment.
Other decisions that can be influenced by management information system include management control decisions made by middle managers on use of resources.
Operational control decisions rely on information from management information system, as well.
The article also looks at the three phases of decision making as argued by Herbert Simon. These three phases are the intelligence phase which primarily involves problem searching and problem formulation.
This phase is extremely valuable for any organization since it is the one where decisions get their basis (Goyal, 2006). There is the design phase where decision makers evaluate the issue, come up with alternatives and thorough analysis is done to find out the best that fits the organization as a whole.
Finally, there is the choice phase where managers choose one of the many alternatives discussed and it is branded the decisions. Managers should make use of the management information system at each phase to ensure that the whole process remains fully informed.
Conclusion
The article is truly categorical on the role of management information system to decision making in organizations. Managers should make sure that their organizations have an effective system that can help them in acquiring information since that contributes to its success in a great manner.
Management information system has proved to be part of any organization, and it should be promoted and protected for survival of organizations in the competitive environment.
References
Goyal, D. P. (2006). Management information Systems, Managerial perspectives, Second edition, London: Macmillan India Limited.
Jadhav, S. (2011). Management Role Of MIS in Corporate Decision Making. Novel Institute of Management Studies 4(1), 34-36. Web.