Introduction to Project Management
Information Systems
Chapter 1
Maryam S.Kom, M.Eng
What is Information?
Four different definitions
Knowledge derived from data
Data presented in a meaningful
context
Data processed by summing,
ordering, averaging, grouping,
comparing, or other similar
operations
A difference that makes a difference
2
Examples of Information Systems
Raw Data Information
1. Jeff Parks earns $10.00 per 1. Jeff Parks earns less than
hour. the average hourly wage of
his department
2. George Hanes get 83 in his 2. The average score of
mid-exam of BUS304 BUS304 is 77
3. Gary spent $200 in Bestbuy 3. The total sale of Bestbuy is
on Dec 15, 2006 $708,000 on Dec 15, 2006
4. Dallas Mavericks has won 36 4. Dallas Mavericks is now
games and lost 9 games in ranked #1 team in NBA
the new season western conference
3
Information is Subjective
Information in one person’s context is just a data
point in another person’s context
Context changes occur in information systems
when the output of one system feeds a second
system
Information conveys meaning, which contains the
information providers’ point of view. (Information
manipulation)
4
Characteristics of Good Information
describe the five characteristics of good information
Accurate
Good information shall be accurate. However, there are
a lot information that’s inaccurate. Be careful!
Example: managers & financial analysts may
manipulate earnings to mislead investors
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Characteristics of Good Information
Accurate
Timely
Good information shall be delivered to the right person at
the right time in order to make the right decision.
Example: many companies keep outdated customer
contact information, which is a waste of time and money.
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Characteristics of Good Information
Accurate
Timely
Relevant
Information is subjective. Good information shall be
relevant to the reader which helps make good decision.
Example: a list of customer activities is relevant to the
marketing department but not that relevant to the CEO.
7
Characteristics of Good Information
Accurate
Timely
Relevant
Just Sufficient
Users shall have all the available information in order to
make the right decision. However, too much information
will reduce efficiency.
Example: use the credit score instead of the whole
transaction history to evaluate a person’s probability to
default.
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Characteristics of Good Information
Accurate
Timely
Relevant
Just Sufficient
Worth Its Cost
In a business world, think cost-effectively:
What is the value of information? How
much does it cost to produce that
information?
Example: why not keep track of all the
consumers’ activity?
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Characteristics of Good Information
Just Sufficient
Worth its Money
Accurate
Relevant
Timely
-- Good information shall be SMART!
10
Understanding the Five-Components
11
The most important component
Your mind and thinking are the most important component
If you don’t know what to do with your information system’s
information, you are wasting time and money.
12
Definition of PMIS
The Development and Use of Information Systems that Achieve
Business Goals and Objectives
Three
ThreeKey
KeyElements:
Elements:
Components
Componentsofofan
anInfo
InfoSys
Sys
Development
Developmentand
anduse
useofofthe
theIS
IS
Achieving
Achievingbusiness
businessgoals
goalsand
andobjectives
objectives
13
Project Management Information System (PMIS)
help plan, execute and close project management
goals.
During the planning process, project managers
use PMIS for budget framework such as
estimating costs, is also used to create a specific
schedule and define the scope baseline
the project management team collects
information into one database. The PMIS is used
to compare the baseline with the actual
accomplishment of each activity, manage
materials, collect financial data, and keep a
record for reporting purposes.
14
During the close of the project, the Project
Management Information System is used to
review the goals to check if the tasks were
accomplished. Then, it is used to create a final
report of the project close.
To conclude, the project management information
system (PMIS) is used to plan schedules, budget
and execute work to be accomplished in project
management.
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PROJECT MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM -
IMPORTANCE
monitoring and control system
support for decision making.
processed information
planning, budgeting, and resource allocation.
Many PMISs additionally perform assorted
analyses
control of changes to system configuration and
project plans as well.
=> With an effective PMIS the project manager
does not have to wait for days or comb through
reams of data to identify problems and determine
project status.
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ELEMENTS OF A TYPICAL PMIS
A typical PMIS software system has:
Scheduling abilities
Resource tracking and leveling
Budgeting control
Reporting functionality
Quality control charts, PERT charts, Gantt charts, and
other charting features
Calculations for the critical path, EVM, target dates
based on the project schedule, and more
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BENEFITS OF COMPUTER-BASED PMIS
The benefits of computer PMISs over manual
systems are speed, capacity, efficiency, economy,
accuracy, and ability to handle complexity.
The major benefit is speed. Once data have been
collected and entered, practically any
manipulation can be done more rapidly by
computers.
To create or revise printed plans, schedules, and
budgets takes days or weeks with a manual
system, but seconds or minutes with computers.
This is especially true of Internet and intranet
project management systems.
Computer-based PMISs store large amounts of
information that is easily accessed, prioritized,
and summarized
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computer-based PMISs are much better at
handling and integrating complex data
relationships.
Large projects with thousands of work tasks,
hundreds of organizations, and tens of thousands
of workers cannot be managed efficiently without
computers.
For managing large projects, a computer-based
PMIS is a virtual necessity, but even in small
projects it simply makes the work easier to
manage.
Simpler PMISs have limited capability, but they
usually are good at what they can do, and they
can be of tremendous benefit. Also, once
mastered, it is easy to upgrade to more
sophisticated systems.
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I. Information Systems
Definitions:
System: A group of components that interact to achieve
some purpose
Information System ( give the definition by yourself)
Example:
non computer-based IS: a schedule sheet posted outside the
classroom telling us the classroom reservation information
computer-based IS: WebCT, Online course registration
system, online banking system, etc.
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EXAMPLES OF COMPUTER-BASED PMIS
Microsoft Project (MS Project)
Project Scheduler
Welcom
Trakker
Primavera
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II. Development and Use of Info. Sys
You need to take an active role in every stage of the
information system’s development
It doesn’t matter if you are a programmer, database
designer, or only a user, you must be active in:
Specifying the systems requirements
Helping to manage the development project
Using the information system
System System System System
Analysis Design Implementation Maintenance
22 System Development Cycle
III. Achieving Business Goals and Objectives
Businesses themselves do not “do” anything
Information Systems exist to help people in business to
achieve goals and objectives of business.
Case 1: Land’s End (Success)
-- Describe the critical role IT plays in supporting Land’s End
business operation
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Case of Land’s End
Questions:
1. List some of the critical operations that are supported by IT/IS
2. Explain the system philosophy “keep day-to-day operation
running smoothly.”
3. Give an example how IT/IS help Land’s End collect critical
customer information.
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Career Path of MIS Major
CIO / IS Director
Information Center Manager
App. Dev. Manager
Project Manager
Operations Manager
System Manager
Programming Manager
Business Analyst
Systems Analyst
Systems Programmer
Emerging Technologies Manager
Network Manager
Database Admin.
Auditing or Computer Security
Manager
Webmaster
Web Designer
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Full Time Employment Statistics by Major:
(2006 undergraduate National wide)
Major Avg Standard Dev % of Reports
Accounting $40,670 $7,655 2%
ERB $48,870 $6,640 3%
Finance $48,530 $7,756 50%
Honors + BBA $50,050 $7,365 15%
International $45,920 $9,584 3%
Business
Management $42,460 $11,662 4%
Marketing $39,510 $8,772 13%
MIS $52,010 $5,815 11%
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Summary
Definition of MIS:
Management information systems is the development and
use of information systems that help business achieve their
goals and objectives.
What is an information system:
a group of components that interact to produce information.
The five components of an information system
hardware,
software,
data,
procedures, and
people.
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Summary (Cont)
Explain why you are the most important
component
Use the five-component framework to analyze an
Information System
Four definitions of Information
Why Information is subjective?
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