Management Information Systems Islamia University of Bahawalpur Delivered by: Tasawar Javed Lecture 3

Virtual Office Systems Decision Support Systems Enterprise Resource Planning Systems The Evolution in Computer Applications

Virtual Office Systems 1964; IBM introduced an Electric Typewriter with a magnetic-tape capability It was capable of storing the typed data on magnetic tape and retrieve the material when needed The application was called Word processing This was start of office automation, which is the use of electronics to facilitate communication In addition: , voice mail, electronic calendaring, audio conferencing, videoconferencing, computer conferencing and facsimile (FAX) transmission Today, these applications account for a major portion of a firm’s use of the computer as a communications vehicle

Personal productivity systems Use this technology to self-manage and support managers eg  To maintain calendar & address book that contain mailing ID, address, phone numbers  PDA (personal Digital Assistants) Technology: Has not burdened managers with clerical tasks To remove unnecessary obstructions to communicate between managers & others Has made managers more efficient Rapid communication (made—check---send) Virtual Office Systems

Ability of the office automation applications to be performed anywhere gave birth to the concept a Virtual office; The performance of office activities independent of a particular physical location. For example, managers can engage in a videoconference without all gathering at the same physical location. Virtual office system have made managers more available to customers and to others with in the firm. Virtual Office Systems

Problem:  Some MIS failed, and failure convinced information specialists:  to develop another way to help problem solvers make decisions  Then the term Decision Support System was introduced by G. Anthony Gorry & Michael S. scott  This system was tailored to specific problem solvers and specific problems Decision Support Systems

A DSS is;  A system that assists a single manager or a small group of managers to solve a single problem.  DSS is designed to help a sales manager determine the best commission rate for the sales force.  It’s a rifle approach to problem solving, whereas MISs take a shotgun approach by providing large group of problem solvers with information to solve a wide range of problems. Decision Support Systems

Periodic & special reports groupware Mathematical models Report writing software Outputs from Mathematical Models Outputs from groupware Solutions & Explanations Output from OLAP Relational DBM system Relational Database Knowledge Data base Multidimensional database Inference engine Multi dimensional DBM system

At the top 3 sources of information that is delivered to users DSS outputs were originally produced from a relational DB and included periodic & special reports a & outputs from Mathematical models. Next, group decision support capability was added by means of group-oriented SW called groupware The groupware enabled the DSS to act as a group decision support system (GDSS) Decision Support Systems

Recent additions:  DSS include AI and on-line analytical processing.  AI is the science of providing computers with the ability to display behavior similar to that of an intelligent human.  AI is built into the DSS by means of knowledge base of information about a problem area, and an inference engine that can analyse the contents of the knowledge base, online analytical processing OLAP involves the storage of data in a multidimensional form to facilitate the presentation of an almost infinite number of data views. Decision Support Systems

Multidimensional database  MDB is type of DB that is optimized for data warehouse & OLAP applications. MDB allows user to ask question like “how many iPhones have been sold in Bahawalpur so far this year” OLAP  This application helps to access data from multidimensional DB.  It enables analyst, managers & executives to Gain insight into data through fast, consistent, interactive access to a wide variety of possible views of info Decision Support Systems

Enterprise Resource Planning Systems With the passage of time, pace of development ERP system; is a computer based system that enables the management of all of the firm’s resources on an organization wide basis. Several factors included:  Y2K problem  Difficulty in achieving enterprise wide systems  Corporate merger activity  ‘Follow the leader’ competitive strategy

An ERP system provides  visibility for key performance indicators (KPIs) required for meeting corporate objectives  ERP software applications can be used to manage product planning, parts purchasing, inventories, interacting with suppliers, providing customer service, and tracking orders  ERP can also include application modules for the finance and human resources aspects of a business Typically, an ERP system uses or is integrated with a relational database system relational database Enterprise Resource Planning Systems

Rebecca Gill, VP of technology group international says  "For almost twenty years we have had people ask for demonstration copies of our ERP software, so they may play with it at their leisure. For years we have said no and we've done so with good reason. An ERP package is an advanced system. It isn't Microsoft Office and it isn't an iPhone. You can't simply turn it on and expect it to run without training." Enterprise Resource Planning Systems

Companies using ERP system  Coca-Cola Bottling Company Consolidated (CCBCC)  Compaq  DHL  Enron  Exxon/Mobil  Kodak  Phillips  Procter & Gamble

IBM and Microsoft Don’t develop ERP SW; yet the run large portions of their business using SW from ERP vendors. SAP, is a large multinational company based in Germany, but majority sales are in US An ERP system requires an enormous financial commitment from the organization. Enterprise Resource Planning Systems

Examples of ERP systems  To calculate sales commission  Deals with redundancy of data  Centralized solution  Related to purchase department  Increases workflow activities & make them more efficient Enterprise Resource Planning Systems

Thank you!!! Q&A