Information Technology & Systems

SUMMARY: The design and implementation of an MIS cannot be carried out in an unplanned fashion. The different groups of tasks and the cost of design and implementation make it a major project.

The conceptual design outlines the structure of the MIS and indicates the performance requirements for those who will develop the detailed design. Since it establishes the broad outlines of the MIS, the managers who are going to make use of it should have a major role in the development and evaluation of alternative concepts.

The management must recognize the fundamental business problems and objectives of the MIS. The system constraints can be environmental, basic business, or technical. The management is mainly responsible for describing the first two.

If the operating system is not going to be changed, the design of the MIS should be developed in association with the design of the operating system.

A complete description of the detailed design cannot be given, as design work is a creative and problem-solving activity. The 'systems approach'to problem solving uses a systems orientation to define problems and opportunities and develop solutions.

Every organization needs to make a decision on whether to develop the IS in-house or buy it from external sources. These kinds of decisions are called make-or-buy decisions.

Organizations have three alternatives or options to consider: Building a MIS in-house, External Procurement, or Outsourcing.