| The terms MIS and information system are often | | | | Manage resources. |
| confused. Information systems include systems that | | | | Produce reports for you and outside organizations, |
| are not intended for decision making. MIS is sometimes | | | | such as financers’. |
| referred to, in a restrictive sense, as information | | | | Maintain records needed for quality control. |
| technology management. That area of study should | | | | Respond confidently to the demands of the Common |
| not be confused with computer science. IT service | | | | Inspection Framework. |
| management is a practitioner-focused discipline. MIS | | | | Manage and track student records of work, |
| has also some differences with Enterprise Resource | | | | achievement and progression. |
| Planning (ERP) as ERP incorporates elements that are | | | | Manage returns to financers’ and accreditation |
| not necessarily focused on decision support. | | | | bodies. |
| | | | | Record and track outcomes. |
| MIS (Management Information Systems) | | | | Manage marketing information. |
| | | | | And a host of other information related functions. |
| MIS provide important tools supporting delivery and | | | | |
| adding credibility to your organization. The information is | | | | If Management Information Systems are flexible, and |
| needed to support student tracking, from making | | | | relate to the needs of your organization, your clients |
| enquires, to enrolling in provision, doing assessments to | | | | and the curriculum that you are delivering, then they |
| moving on to other opportunities. It lets you get through | | | | work well and effectively. You have to be sure that, |
| the inspection and other quality related procedures, | | | | whatever systems you use, they suit your purposes |
| track your finances and be audited and, all in all, live in | | | | and can be customized to do so, are easy to use and |
| the dynamic environment that we all now work with. In | | | | allow rapid data entry with rapid and flexible access |
| brief, gathering and using information is central to | | | | for reporting purposes. |
| managing the processes of recruitment, teaching and | | | | |
| learning, assessment, funding and quality management. | | | | |
| To do this, effective, flexible and responsive | | | | |
| Management Information Systems are needed. | | | | The extent to which managers perform the functions |
| | | | | of management - planning, organizing, directing, and |
| MIS systems let you: | | | | controlling - varies by level in the management |
| Capture information and store it. | | | | hierarchy. The term supervisor could be applied at all |
| Access stored information easily and manipulate it for | | | | management levels of the organization to those who |
| your needs, your clients’ needs and your | | | | direct the work of others. In common usage, however, |
| financers’ needs. | | | | the title tends to be used only in the first level of the |
| Control flow of information into, around and out of your | | | | management hierarchy. If an organization were divided |
| systems. | | | | into top, middle, and lower managerial levels, the term |
| Work within legislation such as the Data protection Act. | | | | generally applies to the lower level. |