X University has of late expanded very rapidly introducing a number of programs
ID: 3770769 • Letter: X
Question
X University has of late expanded very rapidly introducing a number of programs and increasing student enrollment capacity. It has recently computerized its examination process based on some off-the-shelf software. The library had already been computerized a couple of years back using a freely distributed Library Automation System. Daily cash transactions are also handled by computers in the Finance and Accounting Division, using an accounting software. For further improvement of efficiency, the new governing body of the University have entrusted the task of developing an MIS for the University to a software company.
All these developments were welcomed by a cross-section of the University community except a few. One of them is a faculty member at the Management Science Department who commented that the University is burdening itself with too many independent information systems. He strongly favored an integrated information system on the lines of an ERP for a business organization.
What do you understand by Integrated Information System, the faculty member is talking about? Elaborate in the context of the X University.
Explanation / Answer
Considering the above X univerisity has different information systems such as Examination process, library automation system, Finance and Accounting department, Placement automation etc,. The above all departments are maintained differently in different databases and they work individually. In case of a small college or University the maintenance of such systems are easy, But as years pass on the burden may be huge as they have new programs and new students and they have to maintain alumni list of students also.
suppose one of the enrolled student is detained in the department CSE due to lack of attendance, then the student name is removed from the department CSE. As all departments run diiferent database his name may be maintained in library, finance and placement departments. May be later on each department may sort the list. But this may lead to problems like he may not get his certificates on proper time etc.,
Integrated information system can show some solutions to the problems like above. ERP is a software solution that that tackles the needs of an organization, taking into the account the process and resource needs of that organization.By using MIS the information flow from each to other departments in the organization is easy. In a single line MIS with ERP integrates all departments and thier functionalities of an organization into a single computer system to serve different queries by all the sections.
If X university implements an ERP system then all departments such as enrollement , library , finance, placement are integrated as a single database. so if the student is detained then the information passes to all the departments at the same time, though implementing ERP is costly but in long run it serves good results. Choosing correct ERP solution is different story. The main advantage of ERP is sharing information and communication made easy .
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