An information system has four main functions: input, storage, processing, and output. There is often a feedback loop so the system output can affect future input. An information system takes in detailed data through input, stores and processes it, and produces output information. The output can then provide feedback to users to influence future inputs into the system and analyses requested. Key elements that make up an information system include data, people, hardware, software, and telecommunications infrastructure.

1. Information Systems
Features and Functions of an MIS

2. Functions of Information Systems
• An information system has four main
functions
– Input
– Storage
– Processing
– Output
• There is often a control or feedback loop
so that the system output can affect future
input.

3. Information System Showing Feedback
Input Storage Processing Output

4. Input
• Input to an information system has two parts:
– Detailed data which is stored and processed
and forms the basis of the output from the
system
– The user must tell the system what sort of
analyses they want from the system
(sometimes hidden from the user and the IT
dept. sets this up)

5. Storage
• Data should be stored at the most detailed level
• IT department may choose to store various
summaries of the data
• IT department should take regular backups of the
data
• These backups should be stored in a different
location in case of a disaster

6. Processing
• It’s what turns data into information
– Simple: i.e. adding up all the individual items
sold by a supermarket and producing totals by
store, by product, by time or by day
– Complex: i.e. computer program performs
complex calculations and makes assumptions
about any missing data

7. Output
• Output can be in two formats: Graphical and
Textual
• Graphical often used for seeing ‘the bigger
picture’, usually presented as
charts, diagrams, graphs or pictures
• Textual used for when it important to analyse the
detail, often presented as characters, numbers or
text

8. Control and Feedback Loops
• Control or Feedback loop is what happens in
the organisation as a result of the output from
an information system
• It should have some effect, direct or not, on
future inputs to the information system

9. Closed and Open Systems
• A Closed Loop system: the user has some
choice about what to report on, but they are
limited to predefined output formats
• In an Open Loop system there is often great
flexibility on what to report on and the format
in which the information is output

10. Types of Information System
• Marketing Systems – sales performance
• Financial Systems – costs and investments
• Human Resources (HR) Systems – staffing and
professional development
• Management Information Systems (MIS) – decision
support

11. Features of an MIS
• MIS is a decision support system
• Input queries and response is predetermined
• Used to ask the same questions repeatedly
• Example – List the top 10 sales by product type
for this month, showing the percentage change
against previous month

12. Key Elements of a MIS
Data
People
Hardware
Software
Telecommunications

13. Key Elements of a MIS
Data
• Accurate
• Stored in the most logical way
• Storage often different to how input
• Needs to be summarised to create useful
information
• May not be most logical, cheapest or easiest
way

14. Key Elements of a MIS
People
• Capture the data
• Extract the information
• Important people realise importance of data
to the organisation

15. Key Elements of a MIS
Hardware
• One PC or runs on a server
• Internet or intranet access
• Do not usually need specialist hardware

16. Key Elements of a MIS
Software
• Simple system – standard software
• Most use specialised software
• System configured to match data and
information needed
• 1 – 1000’s users
• Simple to complex
• Cheap to very expensive

17. Key Elements of a MIS
Telecommunications
• May be delivered across the internet but could
lead to security problems
• Can be delivered via an intranet within company
firewall to prevent unauthorised access
• Can be a dedicated telecommunications
network to provide high level of security