THEORIES OF EVOLUTION OF MIS Stages theories of

THEORIES OF EVOLUTION OF MIS Stages theories of MIS growth Dickson’s system hierarchy theory

STAGES THEORY OF MIS GROWTH This divides life cycle of organizational information system in to 6 stages such as Ø Initiation Ø Contagion Ø Control Ø Integration Ø Data administration Ø maturity

INITIATION Computers are introduced in to the organization & a small no of people use them for some data processing needs The organization set up a data processing department under the accounting department System development is characterized by trial & error method System analysis and design uses some crude tools

Projection implementation always took more time than estimated one The users do not know what to expect from the system & hence are not dissatisfied with what system support they are getting in the initiation stage

CONTAGION In this stage the no: of users and application multiply and cost rise rapidly Specialist who are mathematicians handle the computer in this stage Users get increasingly enthusiastic about the use of IS They demand more applications The department in this stage is called EDP

CONTROL This stage is characterized by missed deadlines and cost overruns of IS projects Senior mangers take control of EDP Function and EDP budgets are closely checked The users community becomes comfortable with sophisticated technology EDP function get a new name MIS & a manger is assigned to the function

INTEGRATION MIS functions get centralized Centralization results in data & system integration The DBMS & 4 GLs facilitated the integration of data systems Organization acquire microcomputers & microcomputer based software Spread sheet applications become popular with users

MIS becomes IS & a separate department is created with more decentralized structure IS manager’s power gets weakened as users become aware of potential of IS and develop their own applications

DATA ADMINISTARION Information gets recognized as an organization resources & information resource management gains importance Systems are designed to give organization wide access to information Users get more control over information system

MATURITY Information is recognized as a strategic resource IS manager becomes Chief Information Officer (CIO) The CIO becomes part of senior management and guides the organization in using IT for gaining competitive advantage

This model is dated. A new organization does not go through these stages now

SYSTEM HIERARCHY MODEL OF IS DEVELOPMENT Gray scale proposed a model of IS development based on organization structure and its information needs He categorized application system into clerical, information, decision support and programmed systems

Level I(Clerical systems) The IS suggests computerization at this level Organization develops computerized system to replace certain manual operations Accounting is the first function to be taken up for computerization in the early stage

Accounting applications have well defined i/p s, o/p s, & processing rules The computerized system replace the manual system of accounting The system roughly represents the initiation & contagion stages

Level II (Information System) IS does not generate any information at this level The system provides summarized data to the managers , who convert it into information for control or decision making The system stores and retrieve data on request by manager The user play a minor role in system development This level represents the control stage

Level III (Decision Support Systems) In this level applications are developed to address the decision problems The applications at this level are interactive manager –machine systems They provide facilities to decision makers to analyze data Decision making at this level is less structured

The system stores the decision rules and the managers provide inputs into the decision making process The system does not make decision but it facilitate decision making The manager arrives at the decision after many iterative interaction with system The user managers and IS professionals develop DSS jointly

Level IV (Programmed Systems) These systems help in arriving at decision after applying a set of decision rules AI concepts are used to develop these programmed systems IS manager become a member of the top management

CHARACTERISTICS OF MIS is management oriented Business driven Avoids redundancy in data storage Heavy planning Common database Flexibility & ease of use Distributed systems Information as a resource