1. THEORIES OF EVOLUTION OF MIS
Stages theories of MIS growth
Dickson’s system hierarchy theory

2. STAGES THEORY OF MIS GROWTH
This divides life cycle of organizational information system in to 6 stages such as
Initiation
Contagion
Control
Integration
Data administration
maturity

3. INITIATION
Computers are introduced in to the organization & a small no of people use them for some data processing needs
The organization set up a data processing department under the accounting department
System development is characterized by trial & error method
System analysis and design uses some crude tools

4. Projection implementation always took more time than estimated one
The users do not know what to expect from the system & hence are not dissatisfied with what system support they are getting in the initiation stage

5. CONTAGION
In this stage the no: of users and application multiply and cost rise rapidly
Specialist who are mathematicians handle the computer in this stage
Users get increasingly enthusiastic about the use of IS
They demand more applications
The department in this stage is called EDP

6. CONTROL
This stage is characterized by missed deadlines and cost overruns of IS projects
Senior mangers take control of EDP Function and EDP budgets are closely checked
The users community becomes comfortable with sophisticated technology
EDP function get a new name MIS & a manger is assigned to the function

7. INTEGRATION MIS functions get centralized
Centralization results in data & system integration
The DBMS & 4GLs facilitated the integration of data systems
Organization acquire microcomputers & microcomputer based software
Spread sheet applications become popular with users

8. MIS becomes IS & a separate department is created with more decentralized structure
IS manager’s power gets weakened as users become aware of potential of IS and develop their own applications

9. DATA ADMINISTARION
Information gets recognized as an organization resources & information resource management gains importance
Systems are designed to give organization wide access to information
Users get more control over information system

10. MATURITY Information is recognized as a strategic resource
IS manager becomes Chief Information Officer (CIO)
The CIO becomes part of senior management and guides the organization in using IT for gaining competitive advantage

11. This model is dated.
A new organization does not go through these stages now

12. SYSTEM HIERARCHY MODEL OF IS DEVELOPMENT
Gray scale proposed a model of IS development based on organization structure and its information needs
He categorized application system into clerical, information, decision support and programmed systems

13. Level I(Clerical systems)
The IS suggests computerization at this level
Organization develops computerized system to replace certain manual operations
Accounting is the first function to be taken up for computerization in the early stage

14. Accounting applications have well defined i/p s, o/p s, & processing rules
The computerized system replace the manual system of accounting
The system roughly represents the initiation & contagion stages

15. Level II (Information System)
IS does not generate any information at this level
The system provides summarized data to the managers , who convert it into information for control or decision making
The system stores and retrieve data on request by manager
The user play a minor role in system development
This level represents the control stage

16. Level III (Decision Support Systems)
In this level applications are developed to address the decision problems
The applications at this level are interactive manager –machine systems
They provide facilities to decision makers to analyze data
Decision making at this level is less structured

17. The system stores the decision rules and the managers provide inputs into the decision making process
The system does not make decision but it facilitate decision making
The manager arrives at the decision after many iterative interaction with system
The user managers and IS professionals develop DSS jointly

18. Level IV (Programmed Systems)
These systems help in arriving at decision after applying a set of decision rules
AI concepts are used to develop these programmed systems
IS manager become a member of the top management

19. CHARACTERISTICS OF MIS
MIS is management oriented
Business driven
Avoids redundancy in data storage
Heavy planning
Common database
Flexibility & ease of use
Distributed systems
Information as a resource