Understanding Cross National Human Resource Management

Question: Task 1: The manager of a company complains that the management information systems (MIS) continually fails to produce the appropriate information at the right time. The person responsible for MIS responds by blaming the inadequate data and information flow within the company and request a review of data and information flow 1- Describe the distinction between information, information systems and ICT management. 2- Describe some of the main activity systems to be found in a typical business. 3- State six factors which influence the flow of information and data within an organisation. 4- With the aid of appropriate examples, explain the difference between formal and informal information flow. 5- Explain why human decision-making is satisficing rather than rational and discuss the consequences of this for MIS, DSS and EIS. 6- Explain what is meant by a transaction and why it is important in the context of an information system. 7- With the aid of examples, describe three techniques which could be used to review the current information flows. Task 2: A manager uses a bespoke application which cannot produce reports in the exact format required but does allow the export of information to a spreadsheet. The manager uses this facility to export the information, improves the layout of the information and produces several graphs. This takes her several days. On presenting the reports to colleagues she is questioned over the accuracy of the information as many figures appear to be out of date. 1- What is the purpose of a management information system? 2- Why is such a system required by managers of an organisation? 3- Give examples of the use of a MIS within and state its purpose. 4- Describe how this problem may be overcome by using MIS. Task 3: Information systems are capable of producing strategic, tactical and operational level information. With the aid of examples, explain the difference between these three levels of information, clearly stating the level of personnel involved in using each one. Answer: Distinction between information, information systems and ICT management Information The data of any form and by any means either through collection, research, analysis or perception can be called as information. It could of relational connection between various sources. Information System The data base which stores the information either in a program or a system is called as an information system. The normal usage of the ICT was to provide an automation technology or supplant all or parts of the existing activities and systems. This has been explained in detail as to what are the different methods to view ICT as an agency to innovate new forms of activity system. ICT had a positive impact on individuals and especially on myself as it provides a huge provision to the different types of sources of information which are teamed together by growth of the internet. There are many advantageous aspects like new opportunities for learning and leisure, online tutorials through which I have benefitted a lot by exploring new subjects through virtual reality. I have learnt a lot of self-directed tools with the manuals provided and by stand - alone systems where I have personally overcame a lot of inhibitions in terms of learning because software tenability has become a more dependent way of learning (Budhwar, P.S., Sparrow, P. R. 2002a). Describe some of the main activity systems to be found in a typical business IT enables the business enterprise to establish and maintain all the potential contacts with its potential customers through buying processes. Electronic Kiosks, Multimedia Machines, Internet tools for maintaining banking and financial products, Single Window service are all useful for maintaining electronic contact mediums for the customers. State six factors which influence the flow of information and data within an organization There are different dimensions which can change the way the data flows between various sources or different points and in turn they can enhance or hinder the information flow activities like time constraints, cost constraints, computer - based random sampling method, questionnaires which can be used to gather data and redistribute between other departments, Organizational policies and procedures. The information characteristics dimension depends on subjectivity, timelines, details and methodologies which are generally adapted and implemented. Fig 1: The Study Model With the aid of appropriate examples, explain the difference between formal and informal information flow Information flows between various points and there are different ways in which the information flows can be explained in detail. Most of the Organizations have different ways of obtaining data and they also have different ways documenting the given information. As an example we can also consider the knowledge sharing resources which are used by inter departments for various uses in the projects can also be considered into this category. For instance the use of computerized systems like the information in knowledge banks or data houses where the data designs, tables, relationships, reports are linked with the structure, intranet, project reports, meetings and presentations. Informal information flow has no order or structure like the traceability however it might still consist of some useful information. Instances of this type could be informal meetings, telephone calls, memos, notice boards or coffee in corridors (Hofstede, G. (1980). Explain why human decision-making is satisficing rather than rational and discuss the consequences of this for MIS, DSS and EIS. Advances in communication and technology have changed the way in which the business is performed by changing how people meet and communicate and in making group decisions related to many other technologies in the world. The technological changes help most of the people across the physical, social, technological and psychological boundaries about the other secondary effects which might take place due to rational decision making. Human decision making is better is because it involves various types of discussions like group meetings, face to face which might turn out to be flaming because of some outspoken people but would still be friendly because of the proximity with the management who can take quick decisions. This becomes more a conventional method of decision making. This leads to other advantages like redistribution of work time, reallocation of resources depending on the urgency of work and it increases in complexity of group organizations and in turn creates a greater impact on the Organizations (Drucker, P. F., 1977). The consequences of human decision making over the rational methods might have some implications or consequences on MIS, DSS and EIS where the emergence of EIS provides an opportunity to change the situation. The role and research which was conducted by the senior executives still allows the management to conduct their normal activities by using MIS, DSS and EIS. Transaction and why it is important in the context of an information system Any amount of data which is shared between various environments is encountered by various agents and all of them run on a specific semantic model. All these transactions are performed on the basis of trust which relies on a central data base. This consists of scalable data structures and algorithms which require no central control however is formed on the base of an inter connection between various agents. In a way this becomes the platform for most of the transactions in an information system (Mezirow, J 1997). With the aid of examples, describe three techniques which could be used to review the current information flows For single databases there are different types of primary hindrances for end user access which provide access to various volumes of data which is becoming available and which is used in order to analyze and interpret the different types of data. If we consider an example of combing different types of data there is a major mismatch with the implementation strategy especially in terms of representation in various structures. This is one example where we could consider sources of intelligent and active use of information requires a class of software modules which mediate between different workstations, applications and data bases. Various techniques are used like mediation simplifies, abstracts, reduces, merges which explain the flow of data Task 2 Purpose of a management information system Information systems are needed for recording transactions between an organization and its environment as well as in the management of relationships with external stakeholders. The data base which stores the information either in a program or a system is called as an information system. It is also an approach which is used to create architecture based on the use of services like web services which use small functions for producing and validating a customer related data by using simple analytical services. The Service oriented architecture based principles are convenient to use and they are not to be termed as complex. Service oriented architecture has the ability to leverage its services between various applications (Kathleen, 2011). Why is such a system required by managers of an organization? These different styles possess of different independent principles like an overview, the critical principles, major benefits and application which helps to choose the appropriate architectural styles for the application. Some of these styles describe the structure and design issues and others describe communication factors. The models which describe a combination would be useful for describing the structure and design of the systems ( Give examples of the use of a MIS within and state its purpose Management Information Systems have various applications in the retail industry. MIS is the systematic use of technology and people to manage the flow of information. In retail MIS is used ofor point of sale data collection, logistics, inventory control and internal communication which affects the retail operations and marketing. Describe how this problem may be overcome by using MIS MIS is organized for functional areas of an organization. The systems are typically organized for functional areas of an organization. It helps integrate the financial information from multiple sources. It provides easy access to financial information in a summarized form. It also enables the financial analysis using easy easy access. It has a no. of sub systems which is used to analyze revenue, costs, profits and auditing systems which is used to manage funds .s Task 3 Difference between these three levels of information Organizational control involves using strategy, tactics and operational oversight to monitor and improve company processes. Organizations are built with the goal of profitability of processes. A tactic is a method intended to fulfill a specific objective in the context of the overall plan. Operational control regulates day to day output relative to schedules, specifications and costs (TF Online, 2013). Task 4 Tescos corporate strategy is to devise the functional areas and devise the department based specific strategies to ensure their objectives are achieved (Wiley, J.W., 2000). They believe that their vision drives their business by embedding their values throughout their strategic planning process. TESCO has reached a market share of about 30% in the UK almost the same as Sainsburys and ASDA in combination. TESCO has greatly diversified business with extended lines into food, non food, clothing, financial services and tele communications. TESCO has started as a mid chain however Sainsburys had a bigger market share and was the market leader even when it started of initially (Heaacademy, Inc; n.d.). Even as markets they have started as a super market stores, hyper market stores and later some of the retail brands like Sainsburys have backed up from hyper markets. TESCO has divided its stores into various formats differentiated by size and range of products with their profits increasing annually and by employing more no. of employees giving a greater scope for employment (Kraut (Ed.) n.d.). Most of their business chains are also located in towns and cities. Tesco should focus more on diversity by setting up newer stores as their decision was already embraced by their stakeholders and customers. If we consider the example of a consumer brand industry they are significant with their presence in various locations and they are getting more effective in their presence with their marketing initiatives (Robert, M, 2012). References: Budhwar, P.S., Sparrow, P. R. (2002a). An integrative framework for understanding cross national human resource management practices. 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