Chapter 13 Organizing Information System Resources

• MIS Department

• Centralization and Decentralization

• Outsourcing Computer Facilities and Services

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

• 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

• 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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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