Transactions with customers, business partners and internal operations generate vast, complex data sets at accelerating rates for businesses every day. That reality requires developing and deploying systems to manage the tsunami of digital information and analyze and convert it into actionable business intelligence and competitive advantage.
A management information system (MIS), broadly speaking, streamlines the flow of information into and from databases and interprets data to make it accessible and useful.
Business units — such as production, inventory, sales and marketing and others — manage data generated by their operations with dedicated MIS. At the top of the chart, management reporting and executive MIS integrate unit datasets to provide broader and deeper visibility into company operations, market conditions and competitors.
“Organizations that embrace the power of a well-designed MIS are better equipped to adapt to changing market dynamics and achieve sustainable growth,” according to Today Founder.
What Jobs Can I Get With a Master of Science in MIS Degree?
As a business-critical need, MIS software and infrastructure solutions are continuously evolving. That means professionals with advanced insights and technological proficiency are in high demand to drive strategic change for organizations.
The online Master of Science (MS) Management Information Systems (MIS) program offered by the University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) is an ideal way to prepare for high-demand careers such as the following:
Data Analyst
Data analysts play a central role in MIS functionality of converting digital information into knowledge and understanding that drives efficient, effective decision-making. Key actions include:
- Use automated data-mining processes to extract information from datasets.
- Identify and remove corrupted, outdated and irrelevant data and fix coding errors.
- Organize, analyze and interpret value stored in datasets.
- Model data to identify patterns and trends for diagnostic and predictive analytics.
- Report trends and patterns to key leadership using visualizations and other tools.
While the data analyst role involves using past data to develop solutions, according to 365 Data Science, it often overlaps that of the data scientist — which is primarily concerned with predicting trends — because they both involve manipulating digital information to support business intelligence analysis.
Business Intelligence Analyst
Business intelligence analysts model data and use visualizations to support decision-making within and across business units. The role is becoming increasingly valuable as organizations discover new ways to extract value from data and use it to:
- Optimize and integrate processes across the enterprise.
- Identify opportunities to reduce costs or increase revenue.
- Measure operational efficiency and compare it to market and industry trends.
“Candidates need a well-rounded background to balance the line between IT and the business,” CIO advises. According to data from PayScale, the average salary for a BI analyst is $73,138 per year.
Database Administrator
Demand for experts in this critical role is growing, according to redShift. In fact, it is “an excellent career choice in addition to similar positions such as data warehouse administrators, database analysts, and database architects.”
Database professionals’ key responsibility is keeping billions of bytes of data organized, accessible and secure from cyberthreats. They often:
- Collaborate with data architects in the design of database storage strategies.
- Ensure data analysts and related company personnel have access to stored data.
- Develop and implement protocols to protect data from unauthorized access.
Employers expect to add nearly 13,000 database administration positions through 2031 (9% growth rate) at an average annual compensation of $101,000.
Business Systems Analyst
While there is significant overlap in the roles of business analyst and business systems analyst, the two are distinct. While the business analyst primarily uses data to support decision-making, the systems analyst focuses on systems specifications and process requirements.
For example, if a business identifies a needed software solution, a business analyst collaborates with designers and vendors to ensure the solution supports the specific business needs at “a much finer level of granularity,” according to Inteq.
How Does the Master of Science in MIS Prepare Graduates for Those Roles?
The multifaceted MS MIS program offered online by UIS empowers and prepares students for high-demand roles through a curriculum geared specifically for those jobs. The curriculum explores:
- Concepts, processes and techniques for comprehension and evaluation of data mining for effective decision-making
- Database design theory and development techniques focused on relational databases, including data modeling theories, theory implementation in CASE tools and data manipulation
- Innovations using the latest methodologies to redesign optimal business processes and information technologies
Graduates of an advanced degree program in MIS will gain skills that employers in a handful of spaces and industries need. With MIS knowledge and insight, professionals can succeed in any number of jobs that require technological savvy, analysis skills, design experience and a passion for innovation.
Learn more about the University of Illinois Springfield’s online Master of Science Management Information Systems program.
