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Friday, August 21, 2020

Management Information Systems (MIS) Definition and How It Works

Management Information Systems (MIS) Definition and How It Works HISTORY OF MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMSOwing to the strong link between Management Information Systems and technology, the history of these systems goes hand in hand with the history of computing technology.With that said, we will split the evolution of MIS into five eras. Letâ€™s take a closer look at what changes were effected in each of these eras.First Era: Computing on Mainframe and MinicomputersThis was the era before 1965 when computing was done on large mainframe computers located in large special rooms designed specifically for the computers. This included special temperature control to ensure that the machines always operated in optimum conditions.These computers were operated by teams of technicians and hence the cost of operating them was quite high. As a result, most of the computing was done on a time-sharing basis to meet the high costs of owning and operating these mainframes. The dominant supplier of hardware and software in this era was IBM.With time, technology a dvanced and towards the end of this era, minicomputers were introduced. The minicomputers were significantly smaller and cheaper, hence large companies could afford to own these and do their computing in-house. However, the minicomputers were still very expensive when compared to todayâ€™s standards.Second Era: Personal ComputersThis era began in 1965 and was mainly as a result of the introduction of the microprocessor. This meant that companies could now afford cheaper personal computers, which provided access to computing power that would have cost exorbitant amounts of money just one decade before.By mid 1980s, personal computers were becoming much more affordable hence they were made available to the mass markets. The predominant ones at this time were the Apple I and Apple II, and the IBM personal computer, commonly referred to as PC. The PC was friendlier to businesses, which explains why it rose to popularity in those early days.During this era, Management Information Systems started making way into businesses thanks to the development of a spreadsheet application known as VisiCalc (short for â€œvisible calculatorâ€). This application was released originally for the Apple II, but a PC version was also made for the IBM PC when it was produced.This application is considered by many the factor that turned the microcomputer from an expensive gadget for scientists and enthusiasts to an all-important business tool thus paving way for the modern Management Information Systems. Following the success of the VisiCalc, more powerful spreadsheet applications like the Lotus 1-2-3 and Microsoftâ€™s Multiplan and later Excel.Follow this interview with the developers of VisiCalc. Third Era: Client/Server NetworksWith the widening use of computing in business and advances in technology, more needs came from the business community to ensure a more efficient interaction with information. Since companies were able to computing thanks to reduced costs of computers, better ways had to be sought for making the most out of this computing power.One of the most prominent needs that arose was the need for employees within organizations to share computer information with other employees. The solution was provided by client/server networks that went a long way in enhancing the management information systems we have today.One big step in this era was the development of intranets which were static websites that gave employees access to information that was stored in a central location. This made it possible to work faster and more efficiently because more people could access information on a server as long as their computers were on a common network.Fourth Era: Enterprise ComputingThe fourth era was an improvement of the third era that saw to it that different departments in companies had even better access to information. The main improvement was the introduction of high speed enterprise networks that enabled faster access to information.This provided a bette r and more complete management structure since decision making was easier thanks to the better access of information from different parts of the company. Essentially, the applications used by departments in the company were consolidated and woven together into a single platform that was accessible from the company network.High-speed networks were also added into the mix to increase the efficiency of the platform. This meant that business operations such as finance, accounting, sales, marketing, inventory and even human resource management could be harmonized to ensure cooperation and efficiency throughout the entire company.Although the applications used by different departments differed and measures of access control were introduced to limit access to sensitive company information, this era gave top management officials a complete view of the current standing of the entire business.Fifth Era: Cloud ComputingThis is the current era that employs the latest networking technology to fu rther enhance information processing and access by business officials and management executives. The added element in this era is the fact that the networking technology adds a level of mobility to the systems.This means that irrespective of your location, the configuration that you are using or the hardware thatâ€™s available, you will still be able to use business applications and access data stored in company servers. With the improvement of cellphone networks to provide high speed mobile data access and the increase in popularity of Wi-Fi networks, managers have ready access to the Management Information System around the clock hence better decisions can be made faster.This era frees management from the chains of office-bound computers with local network access. With the rise in popularity of mobile devices such as laptops, smartphones and tablet computers, great levels of mobility are achieved while still improving on efficiency.This also calls for a change in management style since the workers will be generally more informed due to the ability to produce and consume more information about the business, giving rise to whatâ€™s now known as the knowledge worker. Knowledge workers are more empowered and hence more productive naturally.This means that the command-and-control method of management will no longer be the most effective management style for this worker. As a result, employee autonomy is gradually becoming more and more inevitable.A beginners guide to cloud computing.[slideshare id=44803904doc=cloud101editeddeckfinal-150217155954-conversion-gate02w=710h=400]TYPES OF INFORMATION SYSTEMSManagement Information Systems is one out of several information systems that are used in business. To better understand Management Information Systems, letâ€™s look at the different types of information systems available in business.Transaction Processing Systems. These systems have been designed to collect, process and store transactions that occur in the day to da y operations of a company. The system can also be used to cancel or modify transactions done in the past if the need arises. One property of this system that enables them to work effectively is the ability to accurately record multiple transactions even if the different transactions take place simultaneously. They are built to be able to handle large volumes of transactions. Examples include stock control systems, payroll systems, order processing systems etc.Decision Support Systems. These systems help decision makers to make the best decisions by generating statistical projections from analyzed data. Although it does not eliminate the need for the managerâ€™s judgment, it significantly improves the quality of the decision by offering forecasts that help determine the best course of action. These systems compile information from several sources for purposes of aiding in decision making. Examples of these systems include computer supported cooperative work, group decision support sy stems, logistics systems and financial planning systems.Executive Information Systems. Also known as Executive Support System, this is a tool used for reporting enterprise-wide data to top executives. These systems provide quick and easy to use reports that are presented in graphical displays that are easy to compare. They can be taken as specialized decision support systems because they provide information necessary to help improve the quality of decisions. Owing to the high expectations from such a system, these systems need to be highly individualized hence they are usually custom made for specific clients. They are also customizable to fit the specific needs of the clients.Management Information Systems. These systems make use of information technology to help managers ensure a smooth and efficient running of the organization. Information collected by these systems is structured so that the managers can easily evaluate the companyâ€™s current performance vis-Ã -vis previous outp uts. Some of the common types of Management Information Systems include process control systems, human resource management systems, sales and marketing systems, inventory control systems, office automation systems, enterprise resource planning systems, accounting and finance systems and management reporting systems.COMPONENTS OF MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMSTo effectively deliver the information needed to decision makers, Management Information Systems need to have the necessary components to collect, process, store and retrieve the information whenever it is needed.To achieve this, these systems use the following four components:Information System. This is a combination of software, hardware, personnel and infrastructure. This component helps in the collection of data that is stored in the MIS. The hardware includes computers, scanners, printers and network devices. The software elements include the companyâ€™s enterprise software and any other software that is used in the running of the companyâ€™s network. This component makes it possible for employees to interact with the system and thus information can be collectedDatabase Management System. This component is primarily made up of computer programs that help in the storage and retrieval of data. Of course, it also includes the actual physical databases where the information is stored after it has been captured. There are several different database management systems that can be used in Management Information Systems. The suitability of the systems will depend on the amount of data that will need to be processed and stored in the system. There are small database management systems that can comfortably work on personal computers and there are huge ones that will need larger and more complex machines like mainframe computers. Learn more about database technologies.Intelligence System. This component is concerned with processing of the data collected and presenting it in a manner that is easy to comprehend. E verything from the processing of the data to the displaying of the data is designed to give top executives an easy time as they try to make decisions concerning the business. It is sometimes referred to as business intelligence which stores human knowledge and uses the logic to formulate quick solutions for future problems where patterns match.Research System. This component is concerned with identifying the main management problems in the organization and coming up with alternative decisions that could have sufficed in a particular situation. This helps ensure that all the possible options are analyzed and the best decision made. The best decision is not always the most obvious one. This component of Management Information systems ensures that the best decision is reached even in those instances.ROLE OF MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN BUSINESSThe main role of Management Information Systems is to report on business operations with the purpose of supporting decision making. This is to ensure that the organization is managed in a better and more efficient way so that it can be able to achieve full potential thus gain competitive advantage.Letâ€™s look at some of the other roles played by Management Information Systems in an organization.To provide information readily to company decision makers. Regardless of whether it is a marketing, financial or operational issue, managers need quick access to information so that they can make good decisions that will have a positive impact on the companyâ€™s performance. Management Information Systems enhance this by strategically storing vast amounts of information about the company in a central location that can be easily accessed by managers over a network. This means that managers from different departments have access to the same information hence they will be able to make decisions that collectively help solve the companyâ€™s problems in the quickest way.Management Information Systems also help in data collection. Dat a from everyday operations in the company is collected and brought together with data from sources outside the organization. This enables a healthy and functional relationship between distributors, retail outlets and any other members of the supply chain. It also helps keep good track of performance since production and sales numbers will be recorded and stored in a central database that can be accessed by all members of the MIS. Access to this information also helps ensure that problems are detected early and decisions are made quickly using the latest information.To promote collaboration in the workplace. In any large company, there are many situations that call for input from several individuals or departments before decisions can be made. Without an efficient communication channel, these decisions can take a very long time. Even with good communication channels, if the different stakeholders donâ€™t have access to all the available data, the process would hit a number of snags b efore itâ€™s complete. Management Information Systems ensure that all the members of the decision-making group have access to all the data thatâ€™s required to make the decision even if they are working from different physical locations.To run possible scenarios in different business environments. Before making a decision that will affect the overall standing of the business, a lot of precaution must be taken. There is a need to check and verify that the company will not suffer after making a decision. Management Information Systems enable executives to run what-if scenarios so that they can see how some of the important metrics in the business will be affected by a given decision. The data is presented in easy to understand reports and graphs that make interpretation easy. For example, a human resource manager will be able to tell what will happen to the revenue, production, sales and even profit after reducing the number of workers in a manufacturing department. Another example wo uld be the effect of a price change on profitability. Once executives have been able to see whether or not the decision will be beneficial to the company, it is easier to make good decisions that will not leave the company in chaos.Management Information systems give accurate projections of the companyâ€™s standing in the short and long term. Most of the decisions made by top executives in companies have an effect on the company strategies. As a result, some of them may need some modifications done on the company goals or strategies. Most Management Information Systems come with trend analysis features that will enable you to project the performance of a business with the current configuration and how they will be affected once you have implemented any changes that you are considering. The Management Information Systems that donâ€™t have the trend analysis feature will still provide you with enough information to accurately carry out the analysis using external tools.Management Info rmation Systems help track the implementation of particular decisions in a company. Before making a decision, executives use these systems to make projections of the expectations from the particular decision. If they decide to go ahead with the changes, there will be a need to keep monitoring the performance to see if you are on track to achieving the desired results. Management Information Systems give detailed reports and recommendations so that the evaluation of the goals moves smoothly and effectively. You get data that shows if your decisions have had the desired effect. If not, you will be able to take the necessary corrective measures early so that you can get back on track.To improve on the companyâ€™s reporting. One of the reasons why Management Information Systems are favored by large companies is the effectiveness of the reporting features. The decisions can be made quickly because the information is presented in an easy to understand format. The fact that the system is a ccessible by people from different parts of the organization makes it an effective reporting and communication tool. Findings can be shared among colleagues with all the necessary supplementary data. It is also possible to create brief executive summaries that sum up the whole situation for review by senior company executives in situations that need their approval.ADVANTAGES OF MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMSThere are many benefits that come with applying Management Information Systems. Some of these benefits help make work easier for management while the rest of them help the organization as a whole.Letâ€™s take a closer look and see what you stand to gain from having a MIS.All stakeholders in the company have access to one single database that holds all the data that will be needed in day to day operations. If the MIS is used for project management, the contractor, client and consultant will be able to achieve a high level of transparency hence it will be easy to develop trust. Ope rations will also be smoother because information will always be readily available and data collection methods like forms or questionnaires will be standardized.Employees and other stakeholders in the organization will be able to spend more time doing productive tasks. This is because a big chunk of their time is saved thanks to the more efficient information system. This time would have otherwise been spent setting up or retrieving traditional information recording systems such as forms and files. As a result, the company is able to save on manpower costs, while at the same time producing more output in a fixed time span will now be spent productively.Another benefit of Management Information Systems is that they bring the power of data processing tools that help significantly improve the quality of decisions made in the company. A majority of Management Information Systems have built-in data processing tools that are able to draw conclusions based on the inputs received from the d ifferent sources. This helps make better plans for material management, manpower allocation and even the overall execution of the project.Owing to the flexibility that is brought by the use of mobile devices such as tablet computers and smartphones, Management Information Systems ensure that employees have easier and closer interaction with information about the progress of any process within the organization. This also ensures a higher degree of accuracy in data collection since it will be possible to record the progress in smaller milestones throughout the day on mobile devices as opposed to recording once at the end of the day. As a result, management is able to get a better idea of the progress due to the availability of the latest information.Inputs and modifications in these systems are logged and the authors noted. The time when the change has been made is also recorded for future reference. This means that the company is able to achieve a higher degree of accountability sinc e all the actions can always be tracked back to the particular individuals who initiated them. This also means that the best performing employees can also be easily identified since information such as production numbers per shift and sales reports are always available and well presented in the system.Management Information Systems help reduce the amount of paperwork that departments have to deal with thanks to the central database thatâ€™s accessible from the company network. This means that in addition to making processes simpler and faster, the company is able to go paperless while at the same time reducing its carbon footprint. The bills also go down since the need for items like plain papers, ink and toner cartridges will be reduced significantly. Transportation costs are also reduced since there will be no need for shipping documents back and forth for approval and signatures. Shelf space will be saved and used for other tasks. Company wastes will also be reduced when the comp any goes paperless.Reports make it easy for companies to easily identify their strengths and weaknesses in carrying out various tasks. Management Information Systems provide revenue reports, performance reports for employees, expenses tracking reports and many others. When companies use these reports, they are able to improve their operations.From a top executive perspective, Management Information Systems help give an overall impression of where the company stands financially. These systems can also give overall status reports for specific projects within the organization. This enables top executives and managers to easily tell if the company is on track towards achieving its goals.Most Management Information Systems provide a channel for customers to collect and store vital data and feedback from customers. With this data, companies can easily adjust their products and marketing campaigns to better suit the needs of the customers hence improving on sales.With management informatio n systems, a company gains competitive advantage. This is because operations are faster and smoother and thus results are achieved faster and more efficiently. Customers will be happy with the service delivery because they will be getting the answers that they seek faster and employees will be motivated because most of the tasks will become easier with better access to data.MIS helps eliminate redundant roles. When information is stored efficiently, itâ€™s possible to identify parts of a system that are unnecessary. This means that any efforts that were duplicated are eliminated hence the company is able to better use the available resources.CHALLENGES WHEN APPLYING MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN BUSINESSEven with the numerous benefits, there are a number of challenges that companies are likely to face when applying Management Information Systems in their businesses.The first challenge is in the cost of equipment. For a big company to successfully incorporate a Management Informa tion system, there is a need to purchase devices that the employees and management executives will be using to interact with the system. These devices include servers, tablets, laptops and desktop computers. In addition, the company needs to invest in a good network that will connect these devices in order for the system to work effectively.Training of the workforce can also become a problem when applying Management Information Systems in a company. Without a proper understanding of how the system works, it can be hard to reap the full benefits of using it. This therefore makes it necessary for the company to ensure that employees and their managers are well trained on how to use the system. This can be an expensive and time consuming exercise.The systems are expensive to purchase. Owing to the unique needs of each organization, Management Information Systems have to be customized for each company. This means that there has to be brainstorming sessions where the vendors sit with man agement officials seeking to understand the needs before they can develop the system. As a result, the cost of the system goes up, thus taking it out of reach for small and medium companies.Many companies end up purchasing systems that lack the features they need most. As mentioned earlier, each company has its own unique needs when it comes to Management Information Systems. When you purchase a system that is not meant for your company, you will have better access to data that doesnâ€™t help improve your operations. As a result, you will not be able to get the best return on investment.There is also a need for trained personnel to keep the system in good working order at all times. Like any other system, management information systems need proper maintenance in order for them to produce the best results. This means that you will need to add specialized personnel for system maintenance in your company. Without these people, using the system will be a challenge since errors will go u nresolved and this will result in inefficiencies in the operations.Management Information Systems are heavily affected by large changes in the company. This means that before you make any change in the way you run the company, there will be a need to consider the impact of the changes on the information system. Sometimes, it becomes impossible to make some changes without changing the Management Information Systems hence having the system in place ends up being a limitation. However, most small changes should easily be incorporated in a good MIS.Management Information Systems will result in the loss of employment for a number of employees in a company. People like office messengers and traditional registry clerks will need to be reduced or eliminated after the system has been incorporated since some of these tasks will be automatically done on the system. These employees will not be happy about the changes and this can easily result in lawsuits or other problems with trade unions wh en large numbers of employees are retrenched.TIPS FOR EFFECTIVELY APPLYING MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN A BUSINESS Management Information System, commonly referred to as MIS is a phrase consisting of three words: management, information and systems. Looking at these three words, itâ€™s easy to define Management Information Systems as systems that provide information to management.That is the simple definition of MIS that generally sums up what a Management Information System is, and what it should do. However, its role and impact on the smooth operation of a company can never be overemphasized. That is the reason why every successful company makes use of these systems in one way or another.The reason why Management Information Systems are very important in the day to day operation of companies is because these systems work with people, organizations, technology and relationships among the people and organizations affecting the company.This means that when properly implemented, Management Information Systems will help achieve a high level of efficiency in a companyâ€™s management operations. © Shutterstock.com | one photoThis explains why MIS degrees are in high demand globally since the graduates have practical knowledge that will help them develop more efficient solutions thanks to their systems perspective of business processes developed in their training in Management Information Systems.In the decade between 2014 and 2024, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that MIS professionals, and specifically database administrators, should expect the highest job growth when compared to all the other occupations.In this guide, we explore 1) the history of Management Information Systems, 2) types of information systems, 3) components of Management Information Systems, 4) its role in business, 5) common advantages and disadvantages of using MIS, and 6) tips for effeccctively applying MIS in your business.HISTORY OF MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMSOwing to the strong link between Management Information Systems and technology, the history of these systems goes hand in hand w ith the history of computing technology.With that said, we will split the evolution of MIS into five eras. Letâ€™s take a closer look at what changes were effected in each of these eras.First Era: Computing on Mainframe and MinicomputersThis was the era before 1965 when computing was done on large mainframe computers located in large special rooms designed specifically for the computers. This included special temperature control to ensure that the machines always operated in optimum conditions.These computers were operated by teams of technicians and hence the cost of operating them was quite high. As a result, most of the computing was done on a time-sharing basis to meet the high costs of owning and operating these mainframes. The dominant supplier of hardware and software in this era was IBM.With time, technology advanced and towards the end of this era, minicomputers were introduced. The minicomputers were significantly smaller and cheaper, hence large companies could afford to own these and do their computing in-house. However, the minicomputers were still very expensive when compared to todayâ€™s standards.Second Era: Personal ComputersThis era began in 1965 and was mainly as a result of the introduction of the microprocessor. This meant that companies could now afford cheaper personal computers, which provided access to computing power that would have cost exorbitant amounts of money just one decade before.By mid 1980s, personal computers were becoming much more affordable hence they were made available to the mass markets. The predominant ones at this time were the Apple I and Apple II, and the IBM personal computer, commonly referred to as PC. The PC was friendlier to businesses, which explains why it rose to popularity in those early days.During this era, Management Information Systems started making way into businesses thanks to the development of a spreadsheet application known as VisiCalc (short for â€œvisible calculatorâ€). This application was released originally for the Apple II, but a PC version was also made for the IBM PC when it was produced.This application is considered by many the factor that turned the microcomputer from an expensive gadget for scientists and enthusiasts to an all-important business tool thus paving way for the modern Management Information Systems. Following the success of the VisiCalc, more powerful spreadsheet applications like the Lotus 1-2-3 and Microsoftâ€™s Multiplan and later Excel.Follow this interview with the developers of VisiCalc. Third Era: Client/Server NetworksWith the widening use of computing in business and advances in technology, more needs came from the business community to ensure a more efficient interaction with information. Since companies were able to computing thanks to reduced costs of computers, better ways had to be sought for making the most out of this computing power.One of the most prominent needs that arose was the need for employees within organizations to shar e computer information with other employees. The solution was provided by client/server networks that went a long way in enhancing the management information systems we have today.One big step in this era was the development of intranets which were static websites that gave employees access to information that was stored in a central location. This made it possible to work faster and more efficiently because more people could access information on a server as long as their computers were on a common network.Fourth Era: Enterprise ComputingThe fourth era was an improvement of the third era that saw to it that different departments in companies had even better access to information. The main improvement was the introduction of high speed enterprise networks that enabled faster access to information.This provided a better and more complete management structure since decision making was easier thanks to the better access of information from different parts of the company. Essentially, t he applications used by departments in the company were consolidated and woven together into a single platform that was accessible from the company network.High-speed networks were also added into the mix to increase the efficiency of the platform. This meant that business operations such as finance, accounting, sales, marketing, inventory and even human resource management could be harmonized to ensure cooperation and efficiency throughout the entire company.Although the applications used by different departments differed and measures of access control were introduced to limit access to sensitive company information, this era gave top management officials a complete view of the current standing of the entire business.Fifth Era: Cloud ComputingThis is the current era that employs the latest networking technology to further enhance information processing and access by business officials and management executives. The added element in this era is the fact that the networking technolog y adds a level of mobility to the systems.This means that irrespective of your location, the configuration that you are using or the hardware thatâ€™s available, you will still be able to use business applications and access data stored in company servers. With the improvement of cellphone networks to provide high speed mobile data access and the increase in popularity of Wi-Fi networks, managers have ready access to the Management Information System around the clock hence better decisions can be made faster.This era frees management from the chains of office-bound computers with local network access. With the rise in popularity of mobile devices such as laptops, smartphones and tablet computers, great levels of mobility are achieved while still improving on efficiency.This also calls for a change in management style since the workers will be generally more informed due to the ability to produce and consume more information about the business, giving rise to whatâ€™s now known as th e knowledge worker. Knowledge workers are more empowered and hence more productive naturally.This means that the command-and-control method of management will no longer be the most effective management style for this worker. As a result, employee autonomy is gradually becoming more and more inevitable.A beginners guide to cloud computing.[slideshare id=44803904doc=cloud101editeddeckfinal-150217155954-conversion-gate02w=710h=400]TYPES OF INFORMATION SYSTEMSManagement Information Systems is one out of several information systems that are used in business. To better understand Management Information Systems, letâ€™s look at the different types of information systems available in business.Transaction Processing Systems. These systems have been designed to collect, process and store transactions that occur in the day to day operations of a company. The system can also be used to cancel or modify transactions done in the past if the need arises. One property of this system that enables th em to work effectively is the ability to accurately record multiple transactions even if the different transactions take place simultaneously. They are built to be able to handle large volumes of transactions. Examples include stock control systems, payroll systems, order processing systems etc.Decision Support Systems. These systems help decision makers to make the best decisions by generating statistical projections from analyzed data. Although it does not eliminate the need for the managerâ€™s judgment, it significantly improves the quality of the decision by offering forecasts that help determine the best course of action. These systems compile information from several sources for purposes of aiding in decision making. Examples of these systems include computer supported cooperative work, group decision support systems, logistics systems and financial planning systems.Executive Information Systems. Also known as Executive Support System, this is a tool used for reporting enterpr ise-wide data to top executives. These systems provide quick and easy to use reports that are presented in graphical displays that are easy to compare. They can be taken as specialized decision support systems because they provide information necessary to help improve the quality of decisions. Owing to the high expectations from such a system, these systems need to be highly individualized hence they are usually custom made for specific clients. They are also customizable to fit the specific needs of the clients.Management Information Systems. These systems make use of information technology to help managers ensure a smooth and efficient running of the organization. Information collected by these systems is structured so that the managers can easily evaluate the companyâ€™s current performance vis-Ã -vis previous outputs. Some of the common types of Management Information Systems include process control systems, human resource management systems, sales and marketing systems, invento ry control systems, office automation systems, enterprise resource planning systems, accounting and finance systems and management reporting systems.COMPONENTS OF MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMSTo effectively deliver the information needed to decision makers, Management Information Systems need to have the necessary components to collect, process, store and retrieve the information whenever it is needed.To achieve this, these systems use the following four components:Information System. This is a combination of software, hardware, personnel and infrastructure. This component helps in the collection of data that is stored in the MIS. The hardware includes computers, scanners, printers and network devices. The software elements include the companyâ€™s enterprise software and any other software that is used in the running of the companyâ€™s network. This component makes it possible for employees to interact with the system and thus information can be collectedDatabase Management System. This component is primarily made up of computer programs that help in the storage and retrieval of data. Of course, it also includes the actual physical databases where the information is stored after it has been captured. There are several different database management systems that can be used in Management Information Systems. The suitability of the systems will depend on the amount of data that will need to be processed and stored in the system. There are small database management systems that can comfortably work on personal computers and there are huge ones that will need larger and more complex machines like mainframe computers. Learn more about database technologies.Intelligence System. This component is concerned with processing of the data collected and presenting it in a manner that is easy to comprehend. Everything from the processing of the data to the displaying of the data is designed to give top executives an easy time as they try to make decisions concerning the bus iness. It is sometimes referred to as business intelligence which stores human knowledge and uses the logic to formulate quick solutions for future problems where patterns match.Research System. This component is concerned with identifying the main management problems in the organization and coming up with alternative decisions that could have sufficed in a particular situation. This helps ensure that all the possible options are analyzed and the best decision made. The best decision is not always the most obvious one. This component of Management Information systems ensures that the best decision is reached even in those instances.ROLE OF MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN BUSINESSThe main role of Management Information Systems is to report on business operations with the purpose of supporting decision making. This is to ensure that the organization is managed in a better and more efficient way so that it can be able to achieve full potential thus gain competitive advantage.Letâ€™s look at some of the other roles played by Management Information Systems in an organization.To provide information readily to company decision makers. Regardless of whether it is a marketing, financial or operational issue, managers need quick access to information so that they can make good decisions that will have a positive impact on the companyâ€™s performance. Management Information Systems enhance this by strategically storing vast amounts of information about the company in a central location that can be easily accessed by managers over a network. This means that managers from different departments have access to the same information hence they will be able to make decisions that collectively help solve the companyâ€™s problems in the quickest way.Management Information Systems also help in data collection. Data from everyday operations in the company is collected and brought together with data from sources outside the organization. This enables a healthy and functional relat ionship between distributors, retail outlets and any other members of the supply chain. It also helps keep good track of performance since production and sales numbers will be recorded and stored in a central database that can be accessed by all members of the MIS. Access to this information also helps ensure that problems are detected early and decisions are made quickly using the latest information.To promote collaboration in the workplace. In any large company, there are many situations that call for input from several individuals or departments before decisions can be made. Without an efficient communication channel, these decisions can take a very long time. Even with good communication channels, if the different stakeholders donâ€™t have access to all the available data, the process would hit a number of snags before itâ€™s complete. Management Information Systems ensure that all the members of the decision-making group have access to all the data thatâ€™s required to make the decision even if they are working from different physical locations.To run possible scenarios in different business environments. Before making a decision that will affect the overall standing of the business, a lot of precaution must be taken. There is a need to check and verify that the company will not suffer after making a decision. Management Information Systems enable executives to run what-if scenarios so that they can see how some of the important metrics in the business will be affected by a given decision. The data is presented in easy to understand reports and graphs that make interpretation easy. For example, a human resource manager will be able to tell what will happen to the revenue, production, sales and even profit after reducing the number of workers in a manufacturing department. Another example would be the effect of a price change on profitability. Once executives have been able to see whether or not the decision will be beneficial to the company, it is easier to make good decisions that will not leave the company in chaos.Management Information systems give accurate projections of the companyâ€™s standing in the short and long term. Most of the decisions made by top executives in companies have an effect on the company strategies. As a result, some of them may need some modifications done on the company goals or strategies. Most Management Information Systems come with trend analysis features that will enable you to project the performance of a business with the current configuration and how they will be affected once you have implemented any changes that you are considering. The Management Information Systems that donâ€™t have the trend analysis feature will still provide you with enough information to accurately carry out the analysis using external tools.Management Information Systems help track the implementation of particular decisions in a company. Before making a decision, executives use these systems to make projections of the ex pectations from the particular decision. If they decide to go ahead with the changes, there will be a need to keep monitoring the performance to see if you are on track to achieving the desired results. Management Information Systems give detailed reports and recommendations so that the evaluation of the goals moves smoothly and effectively. You get data that shows if your decisions have had the desired effect. If not, you will be able to take the necessary corrective measures early so that you can get back on track.To improve on the companyâ€™s reporting. One of the reasons why Management Information Systems are favored by large companies is the effectiveness of the reporting features. The decisions can be made quickly because the information is presented in an easy to understand format. The fact that the system is accessible by people from different parts of the organization makes it an effective reporting and communication tool. Findings can be shared among colleagues with all th e necessary supplementary data. It is also possible to create brief executive summaries that sum up the whole situation for review by senior company executives in situations that need their approval.ADVANTAGES OF MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMSThere are many benefits that come with applying Management Information Systems. Some of these benefits help make work easier for management while the rest of them help the organization as a whole.Letâ€™s take a closer look and see what you stand to gain from having a MIS.All stakeholders in the company have access to one single database that holds all the data that will be needed in day to day operations. If the MIS is used for project management, the contractor, client and consultant will be able to achieve a high level of transparency hence it will be easy to develop trust. Operations will also be smoother because information will always be readily available and data collection methods like forms or questionnaires will be standardized.Employe es and other stakeholders in the organization will be able to spend more time doing productive tasks. This is because a big chunk of their time is saved thanks to the more efficient information system. This time would have otherwise been spent setting up or retrieving traditional information recording systems such as forms and files. As a result, the company is able to save on manpower costs, while at the same time producing more output in a fixed time span will now be spent productively.Another benefit of Management Information Systems is that they bring the power of data processing tools that help significantly improve the quality of decisions made in the company. A majority of Management Information Systems have built-in data processing tools that are able to draw conclusions based on the inputs received from the different sources. This helps make better plans for material management, manpower allocation and even the overall execution of the project.Owing to the flexibility that is brought by the use of mobile devices such as tablet computers and smartphones, Management Information Systems ensure that employees have easier and closer interaction with information about the progress of any process within the organization. This also ensures a higher degree of accuracy in data collection since it will be possible to record the progress in smaller milestones throughout the day on mobile devices as opposed to recording once at the end of the day. As a result, management is able to get a better idea of the progress due to the availability of the latest information.Inputs and modifications in these systems are logged and the authors noted. The time when the change has been made is also recorded for future reference. This means that the company is able to achieve a higher degree of accountability since all the actions can always be tracked back to the particular individuals who initiated them. This also means that the best performing employees can also be easily ide ntified since information such as production numbers per shift and sales reports are always available and well presented in the system.Management Information Systems help reduce the amount of paperwork that departments have to deal with thanks to the central database thatâ€™s accessible from the company network. This means that in addition to making processes simpler and faster, the company is able to go paperless while at the same time reducing its carbon footprint. The bills also go down since the need for items like plain papers, ink and toner cartridges will be reduced significantly. Transportation costs are also reduced since there will be no need for shipping documents back and forth for approval and signatures. Shelf space will be saved and used for other tasks. Company wastes will also be reduced when the company goes paperless.Reports make it easy for companies to easily identify their strengths and weaknesses in carrying out various tasks. Management Information Systems pr ovide revenue reports, performance reports for employees, expenses tracking reports and many others. When companies use these reports, they are able to improve their operations.From a top executive perspective, Management Information Systems help give an overall impression of where the company stands financially. These systems can also give overall status reports for specific projects within the organization. This enables top executives and managers to easily tell if the company is on track towards achieving its goals.Most Management Information Systems provide a channel for customers to collect and store vital data and feedback from customers. With this data, companies can easily adjust their products and marketing campaigns to better suit the needs of the customers hence improving on sales.With management information systems, a company gains competitive advantage. This is because operations are faster and smoother and thus results are achieved faster and more efficiently. Customer s will be happy with the service delivery because they will be getting the answers that they seek faster and employees will be motivated because most of the tasks will become easier with better access to data.MIS helps eliminate redundant roles. When information is stored efficiently, itâ€™s possible to identify parts of a system that are unnecessary. This means that any efforts that were duplicated are eliminated hence the company is able to better use the available resources.CHALLENGES WHEN APPLYING MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN BUSINESSEven with the numerous benefits, there are a number of challenges that companies are likely to face when applying Management Information Systems in their businesses.The first challenge is in the cost of equipment. For a big company to successfully incorporate a Management Information system, there is a need to purchase devices that the employees and management executives will be using to interact with the system. These devices include servers, tablets, laptops and desktop computers. In addition, the company needs to invest in a good network that will connect these devices in order for the system to work effectively.Training of the workforce can also become a problem when applying Management Information Systems in a company. Without a proper understanding of how the system works, it can be hard to reap the full benefits of using it. This therefore makes it necessary for the company to ensure that employees and their managers are well trained on how to use the system. This can be an expensive and time consuming exercise.The systems are expensive to purchase. Owing to the unique needs of each organization, Management Information Systems have to be customized for each company. This means that there has to be brainstorming sessions where the vendors sit with management officials seeking to understand the needs before they can develop the system. As a result, the cost of the system goes up, thus taking it out of reach for small and medium companies.Many companies end up purchasing systems that lack the features they need most. As mentioned earlier, each company has its own unique needs when it comes to Management Information Systems. When you purchase a system that is not meant for your company, you will have better access to data that doesnâ€™t help improve your operations. As a result, you will not be able to get the best return on investment.There is also a need for trained personnel to keep the system in good working order at all times. Like any other system, management information systems need proper maintenance in order for them to produce the best results. This means that you will need to add specialized personnel for system maintenance in your company. Without these people, using the system will be a challenge since errors will go unresolved and this will result in inefficiencies in the operations.Management Information Systems are heavily affected by large changes in the company. This means that before you make any change in the way you run the company, there will be a need to consider the impact of the changes on the information system. Sometimes, it becomes impossible to make some changes without changing the Management Information Systems hence having the system in place ends up being a limitation. However, most small changes should easily be incorporated in a good MIS.Management Information Systems will result in the loss of employment for a number of employees in a company. People like office messengers and traditional registry clerks will need to be reduced or eliminated after the system has been incorporated since some of these tasks will be automatically done on the system. These employees will not be happy about the changes and this can easily result in lawsuits or other problems with trade unions when large numbers of employees are retrenched.TIPS FOR EFFECTIVELY APPLYING MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN A BUSINESSEven with the challenges, it goes without saying that installing a Management Information System is the way to go for businesses to perform better.This means that companies should find a way of working around the challenges. Here are a number of tips that will help ensure a successful and smooth transition.Know your needs from the outsetThis is the first step towards getting an effective system. Before you even start looking for a vendor, itâ€™s important to first ensure that you know exactly what type of system you want for your company. Make a portfolio score card that is in line with the goals that you have as a company.This score card should define the objectives and the key performance indicators that you will be using to evaluate your success as a company. This is what you will go with to the vendors.Evaluate a number of vendorsOnce you have established what you need, itâ€™s time to talk to a number of vendors in the market.Find out about their costs for the system and any additional benefits that you will get when you purch ase the system from them. Some of the things to look out for include support, installation, updates and training of employees on how to use the system.The vendor to choose is the one who offers the system that you need and at the same time, one who will give you the best after sales service to ensure that you have an easy time using the system.Train your employees wellDonâ€™t assume that your employees will figure out how to use the system once it is in place. Remember, the quality of the decisions made by management from using the MIS will be determined to a large extent by the data that has been captured by employees.This means that you need to put all the necessary measures in place to ensure that these employees do a good job.Invest in reliable devices across your companyInvesting in enough devices improves the accessibility of the system. This ensures that more data is tracked and as a result, more of it is accessible to management.Better accessibility also reduces the time tak en for data to be entered in the system and as a result making it available faster.Get a system that only has the features that you needInstead of investing in a complicated system that is expensive to run and tracks large volumes of data that you donâ€™t need, you should go for something that addresses the immediate needs of your companyâ€™s management.This way, you will not have to pay too much for the system and at the same time, you will not take your workforce through a complicated and unnecessary training process. You will also reduce the chances of errors arising in the use of the system since the features and functions will be easy to understand.Make sure that you choose a system that is adaptable to changesThe system that you choose should be able to adapt to changes in the company. With time, you might need to change the personnel handling different tasks in the system or the reports that you will need the system to generate.It is important to ensure that the system is abl e to handle these small but frequent changes easily without having to contact the developer. If there will be a need to contact the developer, like in the event of large changes, you should discuss this early before you make the decision to purchase the system.However, most small changes should be effected in-house.Be prepared for the changesIncorporating a Management Information System in your business is a big step that will result in many changes in your operations. Be prepared for these changes and prepare your workforce for them.You will need to train your employees, move some of them from one department to another or even adjusting job descriptions to eliminate redundancy in tasks.

Management Information Systems (MIS) Definition and How It Works

Sunday, May 24, 2020

500 Million Years of Fish Evolution

Compared to dinosaurs, mammoths and saber-toothed cats, fish evolution may not seem all that interesting Ã¢â‚¬â€ until you realize that if it werent for prehistoric fish, dinosaurs, mammoths, and saber-toothed cats would never have existed. The first vertebrates on the planet, fish provided the basic body plan subsequently elaborated on by hundreds of millions of years of evolution: in other words, your great-great-great (multiply by a billion) grandmother was a small, meek fish of the Devonian period. (Here are a gallery of prehistoric fish pictures and profiles and a list of ten recently extinct fish.) The Earliest Vertebrates: Pikaia and Pals Although most paleontologists wouldnt recognize them as true fish, the first fish-like creatures to leave an impression on the fossil record appeared during the middle Cambrian period, about 530 million years ago. The most famous of these, Pikaia, looked more like a worm than a fish, but it had four features crucial to later fish (and vertebrate) evolution: a head distinct from its tail, bilateral symmetry (the left side of its body looked like the right side), V-shaped muscles, and most importantly, a nerve cord running down the length of its body. Because this cord wasnt protected by a tube of bone or cartilage, Pikaia was technically a chordate rather than a vertebrate, but it still lay at the root of the vertebrate family tree. Two other Cambrian proto-fish were a bit more robust than Pikaia. Haikouichthys is considered by some experts--at least those not overly concerned by its lack of a calcified backbone Ã¢â‚¬â€ to be the earliest jawless fish, and this inch-long creature had rudimentary fins running along the top and bottom of its body. The similar Myllokunmingia was slightly less elongated than either Pikaia or Haikouichthys, and it also had pouched gills and (possibly) a skull made of cartilage. (Other fish-like creatures may have predated these three genera by tens of millions of years; unfortunately, they havent left any fossil remains.) The Evolution of Jawless Fish During the Ordovician and Silurian periods Ã¢â‚¬â€ from 490 to 410 million years ago Ã¢â‚¬â€ the worlds oceans, lakes, and rivers were dominated by jawless fish, so named because they lacked lower jaws (and thus the ability to consume large prey). You can recognize most of these prehistoric fish by the -aspis (the Greek word for shield) in the second part of their names, which hints at the second main characteristic of these early vertebrates: their heads were covered by tough plates of bony armor. The most notable jawless fish of the Ordovician period were Astraspis and Arandaspis, six-inch-long, big-headed, finless fish that resembled giant tadpoles. Both of these species made their living by bottom-feeding in shallow waters, wriggling slowly above the surface and sucking up tiny animals and the waste of other marine creatures. Their Silurian descendants shared the same body plan, with the important addition of forked tail fins, which gave them more maneuverability. If the -aspis fish were the most advanced vertebrates of their time, why were their heads covered in bulky, un-hydrodynamic armor? The answer is that hundreds of millions of years ago, vertebrates were far from the dominant life forms in the earths oceans, and these early fish needed a means of defense against giant sea scorpions and other large arthropods. The Big Split: Lobe-Finned Fish, Ray-Finned Fish, and Placoderms By the start of the Devonian period--about 420 million years ago--the evolution of prehistoric fish veered off in two (or three, depending on how you count them) directions. One development, which wound up going nowhere, was the appearance of the jawed fishes known as placoderms (plated skin), the earliest identified example of which is Entelognathus. These were essentially larger, more varied -aspis fish with true jaws and the most famous genus by far was the 30-foot-long Dunkleosteus, one of the biggest fish that ever lived. Perhaps because they were so slow and awkward, placoderms vanished by the end of the Devonian period, outclassed by two other newly evolved families of jawed fish: the chondrichthyans (fish with cartilaginous skeletons) and osteichthyans (fish with bony skeletons). The chondrichthyans included prehistoric sharks, which went on to tear their own bloody path through evolutionary history. The osteichthyans, meanwhile, split into two further groups: the actinopterygians (ray-finned fish) and sarcopterygians (lobe-finned fish). Ray-finned fish, lobe-finned fish, who cares? Well, you do: the lobe-finned fishes of the Devonian period, such as Panderichthys and Eusthenopteron, had a characteristic fin structure that enabled them to evolve into the first tetrapods Ã¢â‚¬â€ the proverbial fish out of water ancestral to all land-living vertebrates, including humans. The ray-finned fish stayed in the water, but went on to become the most successful vertebrates of all: today, there are tens of thousands of species of ray-finned fish, making them the most diverse and numerous vertebrates on the planet (among the earliest ray-finned fish were Saurichthys and Cheirolepis). The Giant Fish of the Mesozoic Era No history of fish would be complete without mentioning the giant dino-fish of the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods (though these fish werent as numerous as their oversized dinosaur cousins). The most famous of these giants were the Jurassic Leedsichthys, which some reconstructions put at a whopping 70 feet long, and the Cretaceous Xiphactinus, which was only about 20 feet long but at least had a more robust diet (other fish, compared to Leedsichthys diet of plankton and krill). A new addition is Bonnerichthys, yet another large, Cretaceous fish with a tiny, protozoan diet. Bear in mind, though, that for every dino-fish like Leedsichthys there are a dozen smaller prehistoric fish of equal interest to paleontologists. The list is nearly endless, but examples include Dipterus (an ancient lungfish), Enchodus (also known as the saber-toothed herring), the prehistoric rabbitfish Ischyodus, and the small but prolific Knightia, which has yielded so many fossils that you can buy your own for less than a hundred bucks.

Thursday, May 14, 2020

Current Freshman At California State University - 939 Words

My name is Moises Alberto Albayero, and IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢m a current freshman at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). I was born on July 26, 1997, in Los Angeles, CA at California Hospital Medical Center at 6:32 am on a Saturday morning. I have spent my whole life in Los Angeles, where in my opinion is the entertainment capital of the world and has outstanding weather. I can truly call Los Angeles my home; itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s a huge city where the current population is about 3.96 million and has wonderful beaches such as Venice Beach. Today, I live in a small apartment in the West Adams District of Los Angeles, where I have lived for the past five years with my mother, step-father, and my three brothers; Alexander (3), Joshua (15), and Jario (24). My mother is the greatest mother anybody can ask for; she brings unity and structure to the family and is a great cook. My mother is the reason why I work hard every single day, she my motivation to be successful in life. She would always tell me, Ã¢â‚¬Å"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, youÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll land among the stars.Ã¢â‚¬ , and my interpretation of it was to pursue ambitious goals in life and for some reason, if I fail to achieve them, I might still accomplish other great thing in the process. I have taken this quote and applied to many situations in my life; such as graduating both middle and high school with high honors and receiving the gold cord. I attended James A. Foshay Learning Center (Home of the Wolverines) for middle school (class of 2011), whereShow MoreRelatedBackground And Qualifications : Application And Evaluation Of Culturally Responsive Public Health Level At The George Washington University Milken1022 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 5 Pagesapplying to a Master of Public Health degree in Health Promotion at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. 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These sites promote the damagingRead MoreA Civic Engagement Program : University s Center For Education Policy Research1455 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 6 PagesA civic engagement program similar to SPR outside of Duke University is Harvard UniversityÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s Center for Education Policy Research (CEPR). 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Since then, affirmative action has become a big issue in the media; however, many people still do not even know what affirmative action is. Affirmative action is a policy to prevent discrimination on the basis of Ã¢â‚¬Å"color, religion, sex, or national origin.Ã¢â‚¬ Overall, it favors minoriti es that are often discriminated. It might sound like an excellent policy; howeverRead MoreThe Equal Protection Clause From The Fourteenth Amendment1137 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 5 PagesThe Equal Protection Clause derives from the Fourteenth Amendment, which specifies Ã¢â‚¬Å"no state shall deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the lawsÃ¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ As a part of the Reconstruction Amendments, the aforementioned clause was meant to ensure racial equality in the Reconstruction Period and has been applied successfully against the affirmative action. Introduced in United States v. Carolene Products Co., the strict scrutiny has been applied to the cases, in which a fundamentalRead MoreA Study On My Chicano / A Studies Courses Essay1328 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 6 Pagesparticipated (prior research is not required for admission to the program). My current line of research with the Educational Leadership and Policy Study in Higher Education is researching minority males who were former criminal offenders and their experiences at a university level. The Office of Justice Program reported under the Bureau of Justice Statistics department in 2014 an estimate of 1,563,500 prisoners residing in State and Federal custody within our nationÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s Jails and Prison. The population isRead MoreEffects Of Afterschool On Minorities : High School Hmong Students1139 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 5 PagesEffects of Afterschool on Minorities: High School Hmong Students in California Afterschool programs across the country would not exist without grants funded by state or federal institutions. 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Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Personality And Personality Development Freud S...

PERSONALITY Personality can be defined as the stable pattern of behavior, thoughts, motive and emotions that characterizes an individual. (Wade, Tavris, Gary, 2014). This means personality deals not only with the way we behave but deals with our emotions i.e. our feelings; it deals with our thoughts the way we think about some certain things that defines us as individuals. Personality is also the habitual way of behaving, thinking and feeling. (Class note). Personality is also the combination of characteristics or qualities that form an individual s distinctive character. FREUDÃ¢â‚¬â„¢S PSYCHOSEXUAL STAGES/STRUCTURE OF PERSONALITY Freud believed that life was built round tension and pleasure. Freud also believed that all tension was due to the buildup of libido (sexual energy) and that all pleasure came from its discharge. (Wade et al., 2014). In describing human personality development as psychosexual Freud meant to convey that what develops is the way in which sexual energy accumulates and is discharged as we mature biologically. Freud argued that people have three levels of awareness: conscious (what we are aware of), preconscious (what we can be aware of if we attend to is carefully) and unconscious (that about which we cannot be aware except under exceptional circumstances). (Wade et al., 2014). Therapies often aimed precisely at bringing the unconscious into the conscious. He also maintained that personality has a structure. It is the result of threeShow MoreRelatedEssay about Jennys Personality; Interpretation of Forrest Gump1419 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 6 PagesForrest Gump: JennyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s Personality Monday, August 22, 2011 PSY202 Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Principles of Psychology In this character analysis paper the character of Jenny Curran from the award winning movie Forrest Gump will be the subject of discussion. This paper will present an analysis of the JennyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s personality as it is applicable to Psychodynamic theory. The paper will present my rationale for the choice to use the Psychodynamic theory to describe Jenny CurranÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s personality. In addition, this paper willRead MoreThe Life And Works Of Sigmund Freud Essay1679 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 7 PagesThe life and works of Sigmund Freud Introduction Sigmund, an Austrian national, was born in Moravia hamlet of Freiberg, Germany on May 06, 1856 and died in London, England on September23, 1939. He was born in the era of Ã¢â‚¬Å"logic and reasonÃ¢â‚¬ (Love and the formations of family) when sciences was all that mattered and rational analysis was perceived as being the answer to all Ã¢â‚¬Å"mysteriesÃ¢â‚¬ (Love and the formation of family). At the age of three his family relocated to Austria where he lived until the lastRead MoreFreud s Psychoanalytic Theory Of Personality1384 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 6 Pagespsychoanalytic theory of personality. I will describe what his theory is about and about what my thoughts are about if I would use this technique or not in my way in counseling. I will also describe different ways that I would still use the FreudÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s technique but in my own unique way. Sigmund Freud s psychoanalytic theory of personality argues that human behavior is the result of the interactions among three component parts of the mind: the id, ego, and superego. This theory, known as Freud s structural theoryRead MorePsychodynamic And Humanistic Theories Of Psychology1634 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 7 PagesPsychodynamic and Humanistic Personality Theories The study of the human mind is an interesting topic to discuss about, we have many theorists that have come up with many different ideas or theories, in how to evaluate the mind of humans, two main ways to study the mind in psychology are psychodynamic approach and humanistic approach. Even though these theories are to evaluate human minds they have different views in how the mind works. In psychodynamic approach, the way the mind is viewed is thatRead MoreSymptoms And Symptoms Of Generalized Anxiety Disorder Essay1660 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 7 Pagestension, and more. Life becomes a constant state of worry and dread. Eventually, the anxiety overtakes the person s mindset so much that it interferes with daily activities such as school, job, and other social activities. The cause of GAD is unknown, however, there is evidence that biology, family background, and traumatic life experiences all contribute to its roots of development. Living with generalized anxiety disorder can be a long-term struggle. In many cases, it is accompanied by other anxietyRead MoreThe Theory Of Personality Development Essay1128 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 5 Pagesthey respond to times the way that they do? Personalities, everyone has a different personality. Personality development are the patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviors that set you apart from another individual. Many of the theories revolve around that personality is something that begins when you are an infant. Adult personality traits are one of the personalities believed to be based off of infant temperament. That means that their personality traits begin to differ early on in life. SomeRead MoreTheories of Personality Development3138 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 13 PagesTHEORIES OF PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT (2 Credits/Compulsory) Course Code: CED 403 Course Title: Theories of Personality Development and Adjustment. Number of Credits: 2 Credits Course Duration: Two hours per week for 15 weeks (30 hours). As taught in 2010/2011 session LecturerÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s name: ONIYE, Abdulrazaq Olayinka Qualifications: B.A.Ed (Islamic Studies Education: Usmanu Dan Fodiyo University Sokoto); M.Ed; PhD (Guidance and Counselling: University of Ilorin); Cert. (Data Processing: UniversityRead MoreSigmund Freud s Theory Of Psychoanalysis1339 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 6 PagesSigmund Freud Biographic Description of Sigmund Freud Sigmund Freud was born on May 6, 1856 in Freiberg (currently known as Czech Republic). Freud is best known as the founder of psychoanalysis, which entails a scientific analysis of unpacking unconscious conflicts based on free associations, fantasies, and dreams of the patient. He was among the greatest psychologists of the 20th century, and his legacy lasts up to now. While young (4 years old), his family relocated to Vienna where he lived andRead MoreTheories On Personality And Personality2396 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 10 Pagestheories on personality and how personalities develops from childhood to adulthood. Alfred Adler, Alderian Psychology focuses on peopleÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s effort to compensate for their self-perceived inferiority to others. Erik Erikson believed that personality develops in a series of stages. They all seem to play a part in the shaping of the social behavior of oneÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s personality, failure or success. Freud theory of personality reasons that the structures and conflicts in the human mind shapes personality. His theoryRead MoreThe Surface Represents The Consciousness Essay1029 Words Ã‚ |Ã‚ 5 Pagesand motivation kept under control and arbitrated by the preconscious area. Sigmund Freud emphasized the significance of the unconscious mind, and an essential presumption of Freudian hypothesis which is the unconscious mind represents conduct to a more prominent degree than people had suspected. Certainly, the objective of psychoanalysis is to make the unconscious conscious. His psychoanalytic theory of personality challenges that human conduct is the after effect of the associations among three segment

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

The Stem Cell Dilemma Essay Example For Students

The Stem Cell Dilemma Essay The Stem Cell Dilemma Essay Every day, nearly 3,000 people die while waiting for an organ transplant (DAgnese). Moreover, 66,000 people are still on an organ donor list in the United States, few of which will ever see their name come up on that list (Improving). Many people believe nothing can be done about this sad fact. However, this is not the case. Studies on stem-cell research point toward a solution to this deadly problem. With efficient use of stem cells, many diseases and medical problems could be solved. Stem-cells are very young, specialized cells. Usually coming from a human embryo, they have the ability to develop into more specialized groups of cells or tissues (Stem Cells: A Primer). As of 2001, scientists could develop stem-cells into more than 110 different types of tissues, such as blood, brain or heart tissue (Robinson). If these cells could be so useful in the medical field, why are they not being used now? First of all, the research on stem-cells is still ongoing, though if given funding this research may have already been accomplished. According to Gary Stix, a writer for Scientific American, on November 5th, 2001, a company called Advanced Cell Technology (ACT) was the first to actually clone embryonic cells. This is not cloning in the most common sense, though. Stem-cells have previously been obtained from tissues of early stage embryos. With this experiment, scientists tried to use a new technique in making stem-cells so that real embryos need not be used. The scientists injected cells into eggs which had their nuclei removed, rather than making an actual copy of the cell. These cells developed, though the furthest development was from the one cell to eight cells, which is not enough to provide stem-cells (Lauritzen). This may not seem like much, but it is seen as a small step on the path to greater and more efficient use of these cells. So, one factor in the question of why do we not use stem-cells is that certain people do not approve of the use of embryonic tissue in research. There are many reasons, however, in which it could be seen as feasible to use embryonic stem-cells in the sake of medicine. For example people with heart disease or kidney failure could be cured with a relatively cheap operation. Today organ transplants are quite expensive and sometimes a matching donor can not even be found if a patient had the money to pay for it. However if stem-cells could be used, organs would be easily accessible, and many of those who would not have been able to get a transplant would have new hope. Not only would stem-cells help with organ transplants, but they have also been shown to treat other diseases such as multiple sclerosis (Lee). Despite these facts, some may still think it is morally wrong to use stem-cells. There are many reasons that help prove the fact that the use of stem-cells does not equal the destruction of a life. Supporters of stem-cell research believe that embryos composed of only a few cells that are being stored in a lab are not alive, because they are frozen. They may have once had the potential to live, and though this potential was lost, it was not lost because of stem-cell research. Many of the cells that are being used come from ended pregnancies when a life would not develop anyway. If an embryo were to go unused, why not use it instead to save another life? There are actually over 110,000 embryos being stored in the United States alone, with no life in sight for them (Robinson). .u2225ada7c59244da99ebfbb82ca4dc3a , .u2225ada7c59244da99ebfbb82ca4dc3a .postImageUrl , .u2225ada7c59244da99ebfbb82ca4dc3a .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u2225ada7c59244da99ebfbb82ca4dc3a , .u2225ada7c59244da99ebfbb82ca4dc3a:hover , .u2225ada7c59244da99ebfbb82ca4dc3a:visited , .u2225ada7c59244da99ebfbb82ca4dc3a:active { border:0!important; } .u2225ada7c59244da99ebfbb82ca4dc3a .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u2225ada7c59244da99ebfbb82ca4dc3a { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u2225ada7c59244da99ebfbb82ca4dc3a:active , .u2225ada7c59244da99ebfbb82ca4dc3a:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u2225ada7c59244da99ebfbb82ca4dc3a .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u2225ada7c59244da99ebfbb82ca4dc3a .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u2225ada7c59244da99ebfbb82ca4dc3a .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u2225ada7c59244da99ebfbb82ca4dc3a .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u2225ada7c59244da99ebfbb82ca4dc3a:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u2225ada7c59244da99ebfbb82ca4dc3a .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u2225ada7c59244da99ebfbb82ca4dc3a .u2225ada7c59244da99ebfbb82ca4dc3a-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u2225ada7c59244da99ebfbb82ca4dc3a:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The thin air held a frigid tone this evening, and a slight breeze brought a sudden rush of coldness to my fac Essay These embryos are not alive, and should be used instead of discarded. To make this debate even easier, stem cells may in the near future come from, for example, the ACT developed embryos. With the ACTs embryos, the scientists started with human eggs, though they were not fertilized with sperm; these eggs were then coaxed into fertilization. The eggs were kept in a culture and seemed to develop like normal embryos, though they could probably never be able to develop fully into a child (Lauritzen). Writer Paul Lauritzen asks about the pro-life statements that s ay .