– Professor Sanjiv Marwah, director of ERA Business School (EBS), Delhi

If you find iPhones, Social Media, Gadgets, and Facebook fascinating you have in you what it takes foremost in information systems. All you need is a curious attitude and the wish to use technology to touch peoples lives.

Management Information System, or MIS, generally refers to a computer-based system that furnishes managers with the tools to arrange, assess and competently manage departments within an organisation. In order to furnish past, present and forecasting information, a management information system can admit software that helps in determining, data resources such as databases, the hardware possessions of a system, decision making systems, people management and project management applications, and computerized actions. These enable the departments and the organisation to run efficiently. Management Information Systems (MIS) thus relates to people, technology, and organisations. All business enterprises need human resources who can take care of their information and data requirements.

Scope:

As per authentic projections, utilisation of computer and information systems is expected to grow by around 18 percent from 2010 to 2020. Technological expertise notwithstanding, today organisations seek IT professionals with sound written and verbal communication skills also because presentations to clients and serving with sales and marketing teams are the usual part of job requirements.

Information – its invention, publication, storage, retrieval, examination and implication – has become central to the sustenance and growth of most present-day institutions. In almost every sphere of our economy, we can see people dealing with loads of information management, making knowledge and skills progressively valuable. Career opportunities are diverse and challenging; and, lifelong education is valued.

MIS professionals produce information schemes for data management (i.e., storing, exploring and examining data). In addition, they supervise various information systems to assemble the requirements of managers, staff and customers. By working collaboratively with several members of their work group, as considerably as with their customers and clients, these professionals are equipped to play a contributory role in fields such as information security, consolidation and exchange.

Skills:

The MIS set of courses is presently amongst the most highly cherished programmes all over the world. As electronic business (e-business) conversion and rapid scientific innovations continue to encompass the business environment, students are ready to face challenges to deal with new information technologies and business methods. The major attainments necessary for successful MIS professionals are as follows:

Technology Skills:

Technology obsolescence is a harsh reality today. New technologies emerge rapidly and existing ones disappear. Social media sites, cell phones and computers are here to stay for some time. Hence a continuous up-gradation is a must. Organisations use information technology for various needs and the MIS professionals should be equipped to supervise such systems in order to remain effective.

Analytical Skills:

Since MIS professionals use technology extensively, to progress in business processes, one should be capable of identifying and evaluating business processes. One should be equipped to evaluate these processes, come up with deficiencies and offer alternatives which are likely to address these questions/issues.

Interpersonal and Managerial Skills:

In these days of modern day communication deluge, an MIS professional should have excellent interpersonal skills. Information normally gives a person a sense of importance and power and it is very difficult to elicit the same on a regular and continuous basis. There in comes the skill of managing the same. An MIS Professional should maintain a very open and pleasant communication channel with all, as you cannot make friends just when you need them.

MIS Jobs Overview:

Going by the significance of connecting business and technology, MIS graduates naturally occupy a critical position in an organisation. The very nature of their job related activities brings them close to the decision makers. These are heavily communication and data management oriented professionals and heavily influenced by the global environment and developments. Business Application Developer, Business Forecaster, Systems Analyst, Database Administrator, Business Intelligence Analyst, Systems Developer, IT Consultant, Database Analyst, Information Systems Manager, etc are some of the career choices a MIS professional can look forward to. Organisations may hire a fresher as trainee and then train him for specialised job requirements.

Eligibility:

Students opting for the Master’s degree program must generally have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, with minimum qualification and marks as required by the institute in which they seek admission. Applications also comprise of a resume, letters of advice, statement of purpose and college transcripts.

An MIS degree course concentrates on technical and management subjects around the blueprint and choice of information systems striking public and private companies. A Master’s degree program is useful for both recent Bachelor’s degree receivers and those who have been functioning in management for some years.

Remuneration:

The positions here are diverse and purely organisation oriented. By and large these positions are headed by senior persons who have spent a considerable time in the organisation and are all well received across the company. Since the jobs are at different levels, the compensations are variable in roles such as Business Forecaster, Business Application Developer, Database officer, Systems Forecaster, etc to name a few.

Freshers usually start at the beginning of the ladder and then over time, move up. Salary figure would depend on numerous factors such as your qualification, knowledge in this field and off course the hold on things. A fresher can earn a monthly salary which ranges between, Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 30,000. Hence, if the candidate is active, reliable, passionate and ready to traverse on a fast moving career, then this profession may be the right choice. Senior-level MIS professionals can earn a monthly salary of anything between Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1, 00,000 or even higher.

Also read: Career prospects after an MBA in IT Business Management