Seminar-II

Evaluation of MIS in Construction Organization

PROPOSAL
GUIDE:MR.Snehal Desai

-Dharmendra Vyas [CP 1506]

1.1 Introduction
An information system can be defined technically as a set of interrelated
components that collect, process, store, and distribute information to support decision
making and control in an organization. Management information system can be defined as
a system which provides information support for decision making in the organization.
Construction projects need an information system for making appropriate decisions
speedily. A suitably designed and effectively implemented management information
system can improve managerial efficiency and effectiveness in construction projects.
The information generated at the lower level is processed to derive information for
the next higher level. The bottom level contains information pertaining to transaction
processing at the operational level like activity progress status or its resource productivity.
The second level consists of information necessary like activity progress status or its
resource productivity. The second level consists of the information necessary at the
responsibility central for planning, decision-making and controlling assigned objectives.
The top management needs information for making strategic decisions for attaining he
prime objective of the firm of profit making.
With the above mentioned changes in the construction field, management
information systems started getting importance as it not only helped the contractor to finish
the projects on time but also to have a proper control on project thus imparting higher
quality than ever. Thus a revolution has taken place in the management information
systems in the construction sector everyone competing to have a better but none is able to
get an idealized management information system that is the basic need of the sector.

1.2 Need For Study:

Construction being an unorganized sector has been neglected for the want of the
better-processed & coordinated information that can only be achieved by implementing
effective and efficient management information systems to achieve better quality and
timely completion of the project.
The increasing competition in the vast field of construction urges companies to
revise and improvise their information system. The proactive and on time decision taking
capability of the management would always come into action once it has a well-upgraded
MIS. In order to increase efficiency of output in terms of quality, reliability and
productivity, it is very important that relevant information is well transferred and shared.
Means of converting data from operations into information and without redundancy
of data, proper interpreting media in the form of formats, data sheets and other user

friendly modes need to be well designed. This would result in a better understanding and
interpretation by various levels of management and thus minimise wastage of resource in
terms of time and manpower during the analysis of such data. Thereafter, in order to
deliver the information on time for decision making or any remedial corrective action, it is
desired that the MIS is so updated that much time can be devoted to the actual execution of
the necessary action rather than on the accumulation of information prior to it.

1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The study would involve an exploration and evaluation of existing Management information systems of
a construction organization involved in construction projects. The aims of the exercise are:
To study the existing system and determine its effectiveness.
To suggest a MIS design framework.
To improvise the system by identifying the lapses and suggesting alterations.

1.4 SCOPE

Restricted to a construction firm only.

Restricted to intra organisational and construction project related information flow only.

1.5 METHODOLOGY OF STUDY

Literature study
Literature review based on a detailed study of various books and technical papers.
Exploring various web sites.
Data collection
To carry out an in-depth study for evaluating existing Management information systems of one
such construction organisation.
Interviewing operating personnel (information generators) and managers (end users) regarding
the existing system.
Data analysis
To analyse the above data by categorising the existing system into various work areas
such as 'Field', 'Regional Office' and 'Head Office' and then categorising them further into
various departments in order to have a complete study of the existing system and the
scope and feasibility to improvise it.
Determining the various attributes for an effective information system and analysing the
system under study considering the:
o Delivery method and time involved in it.
o Degree of reduction of labour in duplication
o Preciseness of information
o The effectiveness of the information determined on the basis of the action taken
thereafter.