Will The Real MIS Please Stand Up

Abstract

One problem for information and communication technology (ICT) is its lack of commonly agreed upon classification frameworks and definitions, due mainly to the ICT field not possessing a sound theoretical foundation. It is considered that viable classification frameworks are important. In particular this paper considers issues of how to best classify different information types comparing a ‘Yes/No’ or digital approach with an analogue approach that allows different information system types to overlap. For example, in defining ‘true’ management information systems (MISs) it is considered that these systems should have all of the following characteristics: (a) focus is on information retrieval rather than input of data; (b) use of the system is voluntary not mandatory; (c) user population is predominantly at management level across the organization; (d) data contained in the MIS repository comes from both internal sources as well as external sources; and (e) major interactions by end users with the system is for structured decision making. Other information systems types may also possess one or more of these features but not all. Finally, as a test of the analogue approach to classifying information system types comparisons are made of decision support by transaction processing systems (TPSs) and MISs.