Chapter 13 Organizing Information System Resources

1. MIS Department • Centralization and Decentralization • Outsourcing Computer Facilities and Services Chapter 13 Organizing Information System Resources

2. I. MIS Department • 1. Basic Roles of MIS Department (p.510) • Hardware acquisition and support • Software acquisition and support • Network support • Software development • Support end-user development • Corporate Computing Standards • Data and Database Administrator • Security • Advocacy roles

3. Hardware acquisition and support • Purchase, test, deliver and setup computers • Fix or replace computers • Routine maintenance • Software acquisition and support • Purchase and install • User training and support • Upgrade • Network Support • Wired and wireless • Connections to Internet • Network Security • Software development • MIS development team leader • Select and schedule MIS projects • Monitor progress

4. Support end-user development • Training and help desk • Simple one-user system grows into large multiple-user system (security, accuracy and so on) • Set corporate data standards: data, files, software, hardware and hardware connections • Data and data administration • maintain and monitor performance of database • Provide data integrity and security control • Data backup and recovery • Security • Policies • Control and monitor • Advocacy roles: present benefits and strategic use of MIS.

5. 2. MIS Jobs (p.516) • Management: CIS/VP, Director • Business oriented: system analyst • Technical positions: network administrator, database administrator, telecommunication specialist, programmer • Entry-level: help desk, PC technician

6. II. Centralization or Decentralization? (p.519) • 1. Hardware • Centralizing hardware • Share hardware such as large computer, printer and so on. • Less duplication of hardware, software, data and MIS personnel. • More efficient use of hardware • User access control • Decentralizing hardware • Price ($50,000 per MIPS vs.. $50 per MIPS) • Avoid total breakdown • Personalized equipment

7. 2. Software • Centralizing software • Standardization and compatibility • Easier to install and upgrade • A certain number of licenses shared by more users • Buying discount • Decentralizing software • Speed • Flexible to requirement of users

8. 3. Data • Centralizing data • Easy to share data (concurrent access, data integrity, security control and monitoring access and usage) • Easy to backup and recover • Decentralizing data • Faster data access (sometimes through data replication) • Complete control of own data • Easy access since users know what data they have and where data is located.

9. 4. Personnel • Centralizing personnel • Group of specialized MIS personnel • Ease of recruitment and training • Professional career and promotion • Easy to monitor MIS cost • Decentralizing personnel • Faster response to users’ needs • Better understanding of users’ needs • Better communication to users • Different career path • 5. Client/Server model combines both • Items on server tend to be centralized and gain efficiencies from large scale of operation • Items on client tend to be decentralized and flexibility

10. III. Outsourcing Computer Facilities and Services • (p.517) • Advantages • Professional development teams • Minimize management of IT development issues • Easy to control costs • Disadvantages • Possible loss of control • Security issues • Who identify long-term competitive advantages • Possible higher costs: your cost + profit margin