MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS THEORY
LECTURER :
QUESTION : “Developments in the technologies associated with management information systems, social networking tools, internet and mobile technologies are now changing leadership and management with in organizations”. Required discuss the statement.
Definition of key terms
Technology is the product of transferring scientific knowledge to practical use. Different forms of technology are the result of people trying to find more efficient ways to do things and testing new ideas. Technology is constantly improving and generally aims to make processes easier for people. For example, the internet makes communication easier and more efficient. While a single piece of technology often overlaps into different areas, there are generally six different categories of technology: communication, electrical, energy, manufacturing, medical and transportation (Clyne, 2020).
Management information systems, Is a computer-based information system which is basically concerned with processing data into information which is then communicated to the various departments in the organization to support the operations, the management and the decisions making function in the organization (Martins et al., 2019).
The evolution of management information systems has a long history however, can be specifically traced from the invention of Herman Hollerith census tabulator which was invented to process the 1890 U.S. census. This brought the first step in automation and development of the management information systems era.
In the modern era, technology has led to a dynamic change in the way managerial functions are handled in organization, for example technological systems like the use of artificial intelligence has attracted considerable interest from a spectrum of sectors globally. The uptake, however, has been more pronounced in the managerial functions like social networking applications which have changed the way organizational members communicate with one another and these has advanced and affected managerial functions (Hughes, 2012).
Social networking is the practice of using a dedicated online platform to maintain contact, interact and collaborate with like-minded individuals, peers, friends and family. Popular social networking sites such as Facebook, Yelp, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok, enable individuals to maintain social connections, stay informed and access, as well as share, a wealth of information. These sites also enable marketers to reach their target audiences. Social networking sites have come a long way since the first social networking site, SixDegrees.com, was launched in 1997. Today, the world is rapidly adopting newer social networking platforms. According to Datareportal a Kepios analysis from January 2022 indicated that there are more than 4.62 billion social network users worldwide (Miller, 2020).
Leadership
Leadership is a process by which a person influences other to accomplish an objective and directs the organization in a way that makes it more cohesive and coherent (Al Khajeh, 2018).
Leadership is a process whereby an individual influence a group of individuals to achieve a common goal.
Management
Management is a process of planning, decision making, organizing, leading, motivation and controlling the human resources, financial, physical, and information resources of an organization to reach its goals efficiently and effectively (Ansar, & Baloch, 2018).
Nowadays all around the world, the mobile application market has rapid explosive growth because of an increasingly important role in everyone’s life. Smartphone mobile devices that are Internet of Things (IoT) are enabled for work, social media, and most importantly, with family, colleagues, friends and businesses. The mobile application comprises a different wide variety of platforms, architectures and technological choices. Companies and organizations provide their own websites together with mobile data networks in electronic commerce and communication with digital media phones, broadband digital wireless networks, and mobile hypermedia. Mobile phones offer the mobility of users’ calls for malleable patterns of conducting electronic business because handheld portable devices are readily available. In the same way that electronic commerce catalyzed the development of Web application, mobile commerce may become the key driving force for developing mobile applications and all these developments in technologies has completely changed the way management and leadership is carried out in organizations, (Shin et al., 2020).
The following are some of the ways how technologies associated with management information systems, social networking tools, internet, mobile technologies are changing leadership and management with in organization.
Facebook, Twitter as well as messaging applications like WhatsApp and Telegram provide organizations with access to substantial amounts of consumer data. The data emanating from mobile phones holds particular promise because it is easier to link mobile generated data to individuals. This data can paint a picture about the needs and behavior of individual users rather than simply the population as a whole. therefore, the use of social networking tools has enabled faster sharing of data with organizations.
Communication technology consists of any pieces of technology people use to communicate with one another. Some early examples of communication technology include Morse code and the telegraph. Below are some examples of more modern communication technologies
The use of social networking tools is imperative for Information Gathering; this enables management and leadership to make better decisions, this is People tasked with making business decisions require access to information to prepare and justify their choices. Data can be obtained from customer records, financial records, market trends, competitor profiles, and other corporate details. To access such large amounts of data, a company can make use of a robust data management system that can store information in a central location accessible through a secure network.
Managers are able to Collect data very first; Technology can speed up data collection to help company managers make decisions faster and more efficiently. By offering network links between consumers and the company’s central database, the company will collect current data on sales and can make decisions based on the new information.
Efficient Collaboration between organizations is possible through the use of social networking tools and internet for example using Google mail services, Zoom, Google meet, this is because through this platform’s information is exchanged very first between organization enabling management to be able to collaborate with other organizations efficiently.
Technology has enabled managers and leaders to enhance their Public relations through social media platforms. the development of mobile applications and growth of social media usage has provided opportunity by creating applications and customer data gathering and engagement points therefore the use of social networking platforms has enabled managers to enhance their public relation which is imperative in the development of organizational brand. (Manuelita M. , 2020).
The use of internet has enabled managers and leaders in organizational Asset Management. Digital asset management tools can help a leader manage equipment and monitor resources the company has. Knowing what your business has, where it is, and who is using it can be a goldmine of data to reduce costs and streamline operations. company can track and control its assets to detect any weak spots that may affect productivity. With proper asset tracking. Having this information can help an organization evaluate its resources, reduce unnecessary spending, and improve decision-making about purchasing and operations. Having a centralized database makes it easy to calculate asset depreciation and guide decision whenever they need to conduct routine maintenance or replace the asset.
The use of internet and social networking tools is imperative for Storage of Data and Information, while human brains can contain a high level of information to use in making a decision, a computer’s “brain” can contain even more data and information, depending on the storage space it is connected to. With a higher capacity for more data, especially data that a human brain might not retain, such as complex equations, more information can be incorporated into the “brain” or algorithm of the computer in its decision making, leading to better results.
Speed and Accuracy; Computers can process information much faster than a human brain. One advantage to computers making decisions is that you will have decisions made faster and more accurately than a human brain, which may get hung up with different factors involving the decision, leading to slower overall results. Also, unlike people who can become tired or suffer from a lack of concentration and deliver inaccurate decisions, a well-tuned computer is always alert and can process reams of information without growing bored or tired, leading to more precise results.
Despite of the benefits of using technology the following are some of the disadvantages of using management information systems. Information systems may not always function properly. This happens for a number of reasons. Systems break down, interrupting smooth operations and causing customer dissatisfaction. For instance, customers may be charged for the wrong services or for merchandise that they did not order. Also, defective information systems can deliver the wrong information to other systems, which could create further problems for the company and its customers. Furthermore, systems are vulnerable to hackers and fraud.
REFERENCES
Al Khajeh, E. H. (2018). Impact of leadership styles on organizational performance. Journal of Human Resources Management Research, 2018, 1-10.
Ansar, N., & Baloch, A. (2018). Talent and talent management: definition and issues. IBT Journal of Business Studies (JBS), 1(2).
Clyne, N. (2020). Teachers and iPads in the first three years of school: Using a teacher activity system to explore factors influencing the use of tablet technology in the classroom (Doctoral dissertation, Australian Catholic University).
Hughes, T. P. (2012). The evolution of large technological systems. The social construction of technological systems: New directions in the sociology and history of technology, 45-76.
Manuelita, M. (2020, October). Institute For Public Relations. Retrieved from https://instituteforpr.org/ai-in-pr-the-conversation-has-just-begun/
Manuelita, M. A. (2020). The Rise of Intelligent Machines: How Artificial Intelligence is Transforming the Public Relations Industry. California: Annenburg School for Communication and Journalism
Martins, J., Branco, F., Gonçalves, R., Au-Yong-Oliveira, M., Oliveira, T., Naranjo-Zolotov, M., & Cruz-Jesus, F. (2019). Assessing the success behind the use of education management information systems in higher education. Telematics and Informatics, 38, 182-193.
Miller, D. (2020). Social networking sites. In Digital anthropology (pp. 146-161). Routledge.
