Introduction to MIS

Assignment No#1

NAME:

USMAN ASGHAR

CLASS:

ADP CS 4th

SECTION:

(B)

INSTRUCTOR:

M. Adeel Riaz

TOPIC:

Methods of Problem Solving in MIS

 Four Step Method of Problem solving
 Develop a Problem Statement

 Determine Root Causes

 Rank Root Causes in Order of Importance

 Create an Action Plan

1. Develop a Problem Statement

Problem Statement:

To develop a problem statement in Management Information Systems

(MIS), it's essential to clearly articulate the issue or challenge that needs to be addressed. Here's
an example of a problem statement in MIS

Background:
The current data management system used by the organization is outdated and
inefficient. Employees spend significant time manually inputting, organizing, and validating data
from various sources, leading to delays in generating essential reports for management
decision-making. This inefficiency not only impacts operational productivity but also hinders the
organization's ability to respond quickly to changing market conditions and make informed
strategic decisions.

Objective:
The objective is to implement an advanced data management system that
streamlines data collection, storage, processing, and reporting processes, thereby improving
operational efficiency, data accuracy, and decision-making capabilities within the organization.

2. Determine Root Causes

Determining root causes in Management Information
Systems (MIS) involves identifying the underlying reasons or factors contributing to a particular
issue or problem within the system. Here's a structured approach to determine root causes in
MIS:
Define the Problem:
Clearly articulate the specific issue or challenge that needs to be
addressed. This could include issues related to system performance, data quality, security
breaches, user satisfaction, etc.

Gather Data and Information:

Collect relevant data and information related to the
problem. This may involve reviewing system documentation, analyzing system logs, conducting
user surveys, interviewing stakeholders, etc.

Use Root Cause Analysis Techniques:

Apply root cause analysis techniques to systematically
identify potential root causes of the problem

Verify Root Causes:

Validate the identified root causes through data analysis, expert opinion,
and cross-referencing with other sources of information. Ensure that the root causes are
logically connected to the observed problem.

Address Root Causes:

Develop and implement corrective actions to address the identified root
causes. This may involve:

 Making changes to systems, processes, or procedures.

 Providing additional training or resources to users.
 Implementing new technologies or tools.
 Modifying organizational policies or structures.
 Improving communication and collaboration among stakeholders
.

3. Rank Root Causes in order of

importance:
Ranking root causes in order of
importance in Management Information Systems (MIS) involves assessing the impact
and significance of each identified root cause on the observed problem. Here's a
structured approach to rank root causes in MIS:
Collect Data and Information:
Gather relevant data and information related to each identified
root cause, including its frequency, severity, impact on the problem, and potential
consequences.

Evaluate Root Causes:

Assess each identified root cause against the defined criteria to determine
its relative importance. You may assign scores or ratings to each root cause based on the
criteria.

Calculate overall Scores:

Calculate an overall score for each root cause by combining the scores or
ratings assigned to each criterion. This may involve summing the scores or using a weighted
average approach.

Rank Root Causes:

Rank the root causes in descending order of importance based on their
overall scores. The root cause with the highest overall score should be ranked as the most
important, followed by the others in descending order.

4. Create an Action Plan

Creating an action plan to solve a problem in
Management Information Systems (MIS) involves outlining specific steps and strategies to
address the identified root causes and improve system performance. Here's a structured
approach to developing an action plan:

Identify key Stakeholders:

Identify the individuals or teams responsible for implementing the
action plan, including IT personnel, system administrators, department heads, and other relevant
stakeholders.
Define Objectives:
Clearly articulate the objectives of the action plan, including the desired
outcomes and goals to be achieved. Ensure that the objectives are specific, measurable,
achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).

Prioritize Root Causes:

Prioritize the identified root causes based on their importance and impact
on the observed problem. Focus on addressing the most critical root causes first to achieve the
greatest impact.

Allocate Resources:

Identify and allocate the necessary resources, including budget,

personnel, and time, to implement the action steps effectively. Ensure that resources are
allocated appropriately based on the priority and complexity of each action step.

Monitor and Evaluate:

Establish mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating the progress and

effectiveness of the action plan. Collect feedback from users, track key performance indicators
(KPIs), and make adjustments as needed to ensure that the objectives are being met.

Celebrate Success and learn from Challenges:

Celebrate achievements and successes as
milestones are reached. Also, learn from any challenges or setbacks encountered during the
implementation process to improve future problem-solving efforts.