The PMIS and Its Ways, Research Paper Example

Essential to the functioning of any successful business or organization is the concept of a project management information system, or PMIS.  This process involves providing the basic information that is necessary to manage the organization in a competent, efficient manner.  This paper will discuss the major characteristics and components of a PMIS, which computer-based components are typically included in a PMIS, and the benefits that such a system provides to an organization that is competing with other similar businesses.

The function of a PMIS is to provide a framework in which to plan, oversee, evaluate and demonstrate the relationships between cost, schedule, and technical performance for the project as well as for the strategic direction of an organization. (Cleland & Ireland, 2006.) The system consists of methods and techniques that collect, merge, and give out information using both manual and electronic means.  Part of the PMIS includes identifying problems with the project before they occur, in order to prevent them or at least to lessen their impact.

The characteristics of the PMIS include:

• Accuracy—all the data contained in the PMIS should be factual and should realistically portray the situation. If the information contained is completely reality-based, the chances that the project will succeed are increased; conversely, a project is destined to fail if it contains information that is false or misleading, and results in making poor choices.
• Precision—the information provided needs to be generally, although not always exactly, a good estimate of what should occur.
• Reliable—the data must originate from a source that is considered legitimate and that accurately portrays the situation.
• Level of detail—there must be enough information that provides ease of demonstration of the project.
• Charts, tables, graphics—the use of illustrations can provide a much easier, readable description than purely text can.
• Mathematics or numbers—numbers provide an exact measurement of information. (Cleland & Ireland, 2006.)

The components of a PMIS are:

• Marketing research system (MRS)—a method of data collection that includes a collection of settings or clients, such as stores, businesses, or individuals that collects, stores, and analyzes data to established patterns, preferences, and other variables that are useful in implementing business practices.
• Marketing Intelligence System (MIS)—the set of procedures and sources that managers utilize in order to develop the marketing strategy. Essentially, MIS is the tool used to collect the ongoing data from the market, and then using analysis of the records to assess the results of the business.
• Internal Records System (IRS)—the collection of data pertaining to all levels of a business organization such as employee records, budget, assets, operating costs, etc.
• Decision Support System (DSS)—a category of computerized information system that assists the decision-making activities of businesses and organizations. Usually, this involves an interactive system that uses software to help the people in charge gather information from data, documents and personal experience or knowledge.

There are five distinct components that are included in computer-based information systems: hardware, software, data, procedures, and people.  A PMIS that is well designed and implemented, and is updated regularly to coincide with changing times, can provide a competitive advantage to the organization in two distinct ways: by assisting managers to reach corporate goals by providing them support, and by allowing those same managers to view the organization’s results and compare them to the company’s objectives, helping them to pinpoint areas that need improvement and options to implement positive changes.

References

David I. Cleland, Lewis R Ireland. Project management: strategic design and implementation. New York: Mcgraw-Hill Professional, 2006.

Information builders decision support system 1996-2010, retrieved July 30, 2010, from: http://www.informationbuilders.com/decision-support-systems-dss.html

James Daniel Jr., Thomas Busyn, and Brent Batterman. “Marketing research system and method for obtaining retail data on a real time basis.” Free patents online. November 20, 1990. www.freepatentsonline.com/4972504.html (accessed July 30, 2010).

Vikram, Raja. “Marketing intelligent system-MIS.” Saching.com. May 12, 2010.http://www.saching.com/Articles/Marketing-Intelligence-System-MIS-1404.html (accessed July 30, 2010).