Key MIS Concepts
August 28 – September 1
People as a Key Resource :
oThe single most important resource in an organization is not technology, but it is
people (p. 10).
oTechnology is a tool that can help an organization produce and manage
information more efficiently. In the end, the most important thing to an
organization is what its people decide to do with the information.
oTherefore, it is important that you become a technology-literate knowledge
worker. A technology-literate knowledge worker is a person who knows how
and when to apply technology (p. 11).
oYou cannot apply technology to any given process and expect that process
instantly efficient and effective. In addition, you also must be an information-
literate knowledge worker. Information-knowledge workers (p. 11):
Can define what information they need.
Know how and where to obtain that information.
Understand the information once they receive it.
Can act appropriately based on the information to help the organization
achieve the greatest advantage.
oAlthough you may be both a technology-literate and information-literate
knowledge worker, you must also be resolved to use that information in an
ethical manner. Ethics are the principles and standards that guide our behavior
toward other people (p. 13).
Being a good knowledge worker also involves protecting yourself and
your organization from unethical people (p. 13).
Decentralized Computing and Shared Information :
oBecause most organizations have so many different people performing many
different tasks, the concepts of decentralized computing and shared information
have become very important (p. 17).
oShared information is an environment in which an organization’s information is
organized in one central location, allowing anyone to access and use it as he or
she needs it (p. 17).
