The management information system（MIS）concept has been defined in dozens of ways．Since one organization’s model of an MIS is likely to differ from that of another，it’ s not surprising that their MIS definitions would also vary in scope and breadth．For our purposes，an MIS can be defined as a network of computer-based data processing procedures developed in an organization and integrated as necessary with manual and other procedures for the purpose of providing timely and effective information to support decision making and other necessary management functions．
Although MIS models differ，most of them recognize the concepts shown in Fig. 7-2．In addition to what might be termed the horizontal management structure shown in Fig．7-2（a），an organization is also divided vertically into different specialities and functions which require separate information flows（see Fig. 7-2（b））．Combining the horizontal managerial levels with the vertical specialities produces the complex organizational structure shown in Fig. 7-2（c）．Underlying this structure is a database consisting，ideally，of internally and externally produced data relating to past，present，and predicted furture events。
The formidable task of the MIS designer is to develop the information flow needed to support decision making（see Fig. 7-3）．Generally speaking，much of the information needed by managers who occupy different levels and who have different responsibilities is obtained from a collection of existing information systems（or subsystems）．These systems may be tied together very closely in an MIS．More often，however，they are more loosely coupled．
管理信息系統(tǒng)（MIS）的概念已經(jīng)用數(shù)十種方式定義過(guò)。因?yàn)镸IS的組織模型可能各不相同，所以MIS的定義隨應(yīng)用范圍和廣度而變化就不奇怪了。本文認(rèn)為MIS系統(tǒng)可定義為基于計(jì)算機(jī)的數(shù)據(jù)處理過(guò)程的網(wǎng)絡(luò)系統(tǒng)，它是一個(gè)機(jī)構(gòu)為了支持決策及其他必需的管理功能提供及時(shí)有效的信息而開(kāi)發(fā)的，并且可按需要把人工和其他過(guò)程結(jié)合在一起。
盡管MIS模型不同，但其中大多數(shù)都認(rèn)可如圖7-2所示的概念。除圖7-2（a）中所示的橫向管理結(jié)構(gòu)如何命名之外，一個(gè)機(jī)構(gòu)從縱向也可分成需要獨(dú)立信息流的不同職能部門(mén)（見(jiàn)圖7-2（b））。綜合橫同管理級(jí)和縱向特長(zhǎng)產(chǎn)生了如圖7-2（c）所示的復(fù)雜組織結(jié)構(gòu)。這個(gè)結(jié)構(gòu)的基礎(chǔ)是數(shù)據(jù)庫(kù)，該數(shù)據(jù)庫(kù)理想的方式是由內(nèi)部和外部產(chǎn)生的，與過(guò)去、現(xiàn)在及預(yù)見(jiàn)到的將來(lái)事件相關(guān)的數(shù)據(jù)組成。
MIS設(shè)計(jì)者的一個(gè)棘手的問(wèn)題是開(kāi)發(fā)支持決策所需的信息流（見(jiàn)圖7-3）。一般而言，不同級(jí)別與不同職責(zé)的管理者所需的信息大多來(lái)自現(xiàn)有信息系統(tǒng)（或子系統(tǒng)）的匯集，這些系統(tǒng)在MIS中可緊密地結(jié)合在一起，但是，更經(jīng)常的情況是松散耦合的。
Although MIS models differ，most of them recognize the concepts shown in Fig. 7-2．In addition to what might be termed the horizontal management structure shown in Fig．7-2（a），an organization is also divided vertically into different specialities and functions which require separate information flows（see Fig. 7-2（b））．Combining the horizontal managerial levels with the vertical specialities produces the complex organizational structure shown in Fig. 7-2（c）．Underlying this structure is a database consisting，ideally，of internally and externally produced data relating to past，present，and predicted furture events。
The formidable task of the MIS designer is to develop the information flow needed to support decision making（see Fig. 7-3）．Generally speaking，much of the information needed by managers who occupy different levels and who have different responsibilities is obtained from a collection of existing information systems（or subsystems）．These systems may be tied together very closely in an MIS．More often，however，they are more loosely coupled．
管理信息系統(tǒng)（MIS）的概念已經(jīng)用數(shù)十種方式定義過(guò)。因?yàn)镸IS的組織模型可能各不相同，所以MIS的定義隨應(yīng)用范圍和廣度而變化就不奇怪了。本文認(rèn)為MIS系統(tǒng)可定義為基于計(jì)算機(jī)的數(shù)據(jù)處理過(guò)程的網(wǎng)絡(luò)系統(tǒng)，它是一個(gè)機(jī)構(gòu)為了支持決策及其他必需的管理功能提供及時(shí)有效的信息而開(kāi)發(fā)的，并且可按需要把人工和其他過(guò)程結(jié)合在一起。
盡管MIS模型不同，但其中大多數(shù)都認(rèn)可如圖7-2所示的概念。除圖7-2（a）中所示的橫向管理結(jié)構(gòu)如何命名之外，一個(gè)機(jī)構(gòu)從縱向也可分成需要獨(dú)立信息流的不同職能部門(mén)（見(jiàn)圖7-2（b））。綜合橫同管理級(jí)和縱向特長(zhǎng)產(chǎn)生了如圖7-2（c）所示的復(fù)雜組織結(jié)構(gòu)。這個(gè)結(jié)構(gòu)的基礎(chǔ)是數(shù)據(jù)庫(kù)，該數(shù)據(jù)庫(kù)理想的方式是由內(nèi)部和外部產(chǎn)生的，與過(guò)去、現(xiàn)在及預(yù)見(jiàn)到的將來(lái)事件相關(guān)的數(shù)據(jù)組成。
MIS設(shè)計(jì)者的一個(gè)棘手的問(wèn)題是開(kāi)發(fā)支持決策所需的信息流（見(jiàn)圖7-3）。一般而言，不同級(jí)別與不同職責(zé)的管理者所需的信息大多來(lái)自現(xiàn)有信息系統(tǒng)（或子系統(tǒng)）的匯集，這些系統(tǒng)在MIS中可緊密地結(jié)合在一起，但是，更經(jīng)常的情況是松散耦合的。