Download SYSTEMS ANALYSIS

Information and Systems
15
systems play their part. Some of the facilities provided by a computer which can help a manager in
reaching a decision are:
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Rapid processing of historical data.
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Ability to carry out simulations.
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Ability to carry out calculations rapidly so that it becomes feasible to use operational research
techniques of various kinds; these techniques can calculate optimum solutions and show the
effect of variation in some of the parameters.
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Highlighting of the unusual – the value of a piece of information often depends on its
unusualness and, by means of exception reporting, the computer can draw the attention of the
manager to outstanding items.
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Personal computer systems which allow managers to manipulate data and information
themselves so that they become more aware of its implications.
Thus a computer provides managers with powerful and intelligent tools to assist them in their job;
these tools are often called decision support systems.
MIS, EIS and DSS
Earlier in the unit we said a little about the Management Information System or MIS. This is the
computerised information system that carries all the corporate information used in all the company
departments.
Clearly, this information is provided to give a basis on which decisions can be made.
However, as part of the MIS, an EIS or Executive Information System may be provided. This system
will draw information from the MIS files and provide particular executives with exactly the
information they require to support their decision-making. It will assist direct access to the necessary
data and provide a means of manipulating the data to compile reports as required. We have already
seen the various reports that can be provided by such systems. The EIS will generate tailored reports
for particular executives.
When an EIS is designed to provide information specifically for specified decisions, then we
sometimes refer to the system as a DSS or Decision Support System.
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