CC6052 Management Support Systems

Part 2 of Lecture 1:
Introduction to the module Who, when, where, how, what, why

Intelligence
Is there a problem/opportunity?

Design
What are the options/alternatives?

Choice
Which should you choosehow to choose?

Implementation (do it!)

...and evaluation (is the choice working?)

The Decision Making Process

Decisions Managers

Information

Information requirements

Transform data

Obtain data

Data requirements

Database

Example MSS applications

1. MIS application
Northwind Traders MIS application (or Information Reporting System): example MS-Access 97 application

2. DSS application
RCL Consultancy Revenue Forecast Tool: developed using Visual Basic, although might have been simpler in MS-Excel

3. MIS application
Module results spreadsheet (MS-Excel): What management information does this provide? What management decisions does it support?

1. MIS application - Northwind

Management reports include, for example:

Products by category
stock count

Sales by category
sales totals by product

Employee sales by country

sales totals by employee measured against target

Sales by Year
sales totals by year, with optional detail

Sales Totals by Amount

who are our best customers?

2. DSS Application RCL Consultancy Revenue Forecast Tool (1)

Calculates working days per quarter based on typical holiday patterns

Allows default values to be applied across consulting teams

2. DSS Application RCL Consultancy Revenue Forecast Tool (1)

Calculates overall team and company revenue based on numbers and attributes of consultants

3. MIS application Module results spreadsheet

Detailed individual marks

breakdown by assignment section and exam question

Team coursework summary

includes crude performance tracking

Summary results
graphical presentation of coursework, exam and overall results

What management decision-making could this support?

are some questions preferred over others?

are there implications for:

design of the syllabus? delivery of course materials? methods of assessment?

Introduction to CC6052

Who:
o o

Dr Kay Dudman Penny Dekker

How:
Teaching and Learning Approach Assessment Methods and Criteria Module materials via blog and Weblearn Recommended Reading Lecture 10:00 11:00 TMG-47 Seminar 11:00 12:00 TMG-79 and TM1-40 PC Workshop 12:00 13:00 TMG-07 and TMG-08

What, when, where: Thursday morning

o o

Why: Module Aims and Learning Outcomes

CC6052 Module Aims

To understand the application of computer-based information systems used in business for the support of management
Management Information Systems
Decision Support Systems Expert Systems

Executive Information Systems

etc

CC6052 Module Aims

The module aims to develop: - a critical appreciation of the key processes involved in management decision-making at all levels within a business organisation and of the ways in which information and information systems support this decision-making - a detailed understanding of the structure and function of different types of computer-based information system that have a role in supporting managers in their decision-making - a critical awareness of the methods and techniques used to develop computer-based management support systems

CC6052 Learning Outcomes

LO 1. Demonstrate a critical appreciation of the key processes involved in management decision-making at all levels within a business organisation LO 2. Demonstrate an awareness of the ways in which information and information systems support management decision-making. LO 3. Demonstrate a detailed understanding of the structure and function of computer-based information system that have a role in supporting managers in their decision-making activities. LO 4. Produce, in teams, a computer-based information system that would provide significant support to management in the decisionmaking associated with a given business scenario, along with supporting design and implementation documentation.

CC6052 Coursework and Exam/Test

Coursework (50%)
Based on case study Group membership form for coursework Group assignment
Formative feedback on draft

Implementation report and software

Examination/In-class test (50%)

Refers to case study Case study will be provided

Things to do next

Read the case study Form a group for the coursework:

3 or 4 students per group complete group membership form - hand to tutor Consider case study and associated data - discuss your ideas in seminars and workshops - generate ERD - data files will be made available - clean the data first: find and correct errors - keep notes what you have done

Recommended reading

Cadle J. & Yeates D., 2001, Project Management for Information Systems, 3rd ed., FT Prentice Hall
Business Strategy and Information Systems: chapter 2 (pages 23 - 35)

Chaffey, D. (ed.), 2003, Business Information Systems, 2nd ed., FT Prentice Hall
Introduction to BIS Strategy: Chapter 13 (pages 517 - 537)

Laudon, K. & Laudon, J., 2004, Management Information Systems, 8th ed., Pearson Prentice Hall
Information Systems and Business Strategy: Chapter 3 (pages 91 - 104)

Needle, D., 2000, Business in Context, 3rd ed., Thomson Learning

Management Strategy: Chapter 4 (pages 195 - 242)

Whiteley, D., 2004, Introduction to Information Systems, Palgrave

Business Strategy: Chapter 5 (pages 60 - 74)

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