--- title: "IS supports managers in decision making" subject: "Information System" chapter: 1 key: "semester_8/information_system:is-supports-decision-making-quality" source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/information_system/is-supports-decision-making-quality site: BCT Engineering --- # IS supports managers in decision making Information System · Chapter 1: Information Systems - Asked in: 2072 Magh, 5+3 marks - Video: [MIS & Decision-Making | TPS, DSS, EIS Explained](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ox--lLABHdw) — Business Courses - Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14 - Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/information_system/is-supports-decision-making-quality - Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/information_system/chapter-1 ## Question "An Information System supports managers in decision making". Illustrate it with your thoughts. What are different quality requirements that an information system should possess? ## Short answer Information systems support decision making by delivering accurate, timely information: MIS provides structured reports, DSS enables what-if analysis, ESS offers executive summaries, and expert systems give rule-based advice. Quality requirements include accuracy, timeliness, relevance, reliability, security, usability, flexibility, efficiency and maintainability. ## Answer #### How an IS supports managers in decision making Decision making needs intelligence (finding the problem), design (finding alternatives), choice (selecting) and review. An information system helps managers in each step. 1. **Right information at the right time** - MIS reports, dashboards and queries give current and accurate facts. 2. **Structured decisions** - TPS and MIS automate routine decisions (reorder level, credit limit checks). 3. **Semi-structured decisions** - DSS offers models, "what-if" and sensitivity analysis to compare alternatives. 4. **Strategic decisions** - ESS gives executives summarised internal and external trends with drill-down. 5. **Expert advice** - expert systems provide rule-based recommendations. 6. **Group decisions** - GDSS and email/video tools allow collaboration. 7. **Monitoring and feedback** - managers compare actual and planned results and take corrective action. 8. **Reduced uncertainty** - forecasting and data mining reveal patterns. Example: a store manager uses sales reports to decide stock quantities, while the CEO uses a dashboard to decide whether to open a new branch. #### Quality requirements of an IS - **Accuracy**, **timeliness**, **relevance** and **completeness** of information - **Reliability and availability** - **Security and privacy** - **Usability** (easy interface) - **Flexibility and scalability** - **Efficiency and low cost** - **Maintainability and integration** with other systems - **Consistency** of data across the system ## Check yourself The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why. 1. Which sequence of decision-making steps does the answer give? A. Intelligence, design, choice, review B. Choice, review, design, intelligence C. Planning, coding, testing, release D. Input, process, output, feedback Answer: A. An IS helps managers at each of these steps. (Key point: Decision steps) 2. Which system supports semi-structured decisions using what-if and sensitivity analysis? A. TPS B. OAS C. DSS D. Email Answer: C. DSS offers models to compare alternatives. (Key point: Semi-structured) 3. Which is an example of a structured decision automated by TPS/MIS? A. Opening a new branch B. Reorder level or credit limit check C. Choosing a company vision D. Entering a new market Answer: B. Routine rule-based decisions can be automated; branch opening is strategic. (Key point: Structured decisions) 4. Which quality requirement means data is the same across the whole system? A. Usability B. Timeliness C. Efficiency D. Consistency Answer: D. Consistency of data across the system is listed as a quality requirement. (Key point: Consistency) ## Related in Information System - [Quality requirements of an IS](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finformation_system%3Ais-quality-requirements) — Information System, chapter 1, asked 2× - [Strategic information system and benefits](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finformation_system%3Astrategic-is-benefits) — Information System, chapter 1, asked 2× - [Geographic Information System](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finformation_system%3Agis-characteristics-uses) — Information System, chapter 1 - [Short note: HR information system](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finformation_system%3Ashort-note-hris) — Information System, chapter 6 - [Intelligent agent requirements](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Finformation_system%3Aintelligent-agents-requirements) — Information System, chapter 4 ## Related in other subjects - [Types of information systems; decision support](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Forganization_and_management%3Amis-types-decision-making) — Organization and Management, chapter 9 - [Restaurant information system requirements](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fsoftware_engineering%3Arestaurant-requirements) — Software Engineering, chapter 1 - [Principles of engineering economics and decision making](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fengineering_economics%3Aprinciples-ee-help-decision) — Engineering Economics, chapter 1 - [Switch statement in decision making](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_1%2Fcomputer_programming%3Aswitch-decision-making) — Computer Programming, chapter 5