Part 1
Theories and models are essential for any research work. The terms hypothesis, paradigm, model are similar to each other, yet they are different and distinct. This assignment highlights the various terms related to theories and application of the theories in the management information system. Peer reviewed journals have been chosen to discuss the various types of theories and the nature of three theories have been compared and contrasted with each other. The goal setting theory and its importance has been highlighted in this assignment along with applying theories to the research work.
Management information system is defined as a computerized database for storage of organizational information and is programmed in such a way that it produces regular reports on the various operation of the management of the company. In context of the management information system, the paradigm, models and hypothesis are essential (Baskerville & Wood, 2016).
Paradigm: A paradigm is defined as a set to distinct theories and concepts relate to a particular field of study (Gelso, 2006). A paradigm is very different from a theory, as a paradigm encompasses various theories as well as concepts.
Hypothesis: A hypothesis is referred to as a supposition or a proposal that is based on limited evidences and has a wide scope for further investigation. A hypothesis is based on supposition and not established like a theory.
Model: A model is defined as a representation of an idea that is used to describe and explain a particular phenomenon. A model is often based on a theory; hence it is not based on supposition, but established on proved facts.
Although these terms appear to be similar, however, each of these terms is different from each other. Theories play a vital role is providing guidance to a research. Each of these have a definite importance in a research work and contribution of each provides a platform for a research work.
Scientific theory:
Scientific theory refers to the theories that are useful in explaining various theories and experiments related to scientific field of research. However, theory is often equated with grand theoretical systems (Gelso, 2006). Moreover, in practice oriented fields of psychoanalysis and humanism, the theories are often equated with broad therapy systems. These theories include the person-centred therapies as well as cognitive therapy (Ellis & Levy, 2008). A theory is often defined as a series of two or more abstractions that have been hypothesized or assumed. A theoretical proposition might be defined as the relation between the variables, when the propositions are no longer contested. The theories vary in terms of subjectivity, idealism, as well as formality and informality. According to (Gelso, 2006), there are four functions of a theory. These are: descriptive, generative, integrative as well as delimiting. The descriptive function of a theory is used to describe and explain various scientific phenomena. The more vivid the description is, the better is the descriptive function of the theory. The explanatory power describes who well the theory explain the scientific phenomenon (Galliers & Leidner, 2014). Many of the theories also delimit. These theories place a limit to what is to be looked at. These are the theories that limit the explanation to a boundary and are not applicable beyond the mentioned limits. The integrative functions refer to the quality of a theory to bring together the constructs as well as the propositions. The essential ingredients of a scientific theory are as follows:
- Descriptive ability:This describes how well the phenomenon being the theory about is explained. This is an essential quality for a theory. Lack of descriptive ability of a theory might result in lack of usefulness of the theory.
- Explanatory power:This power of a theory highlights why the things explained in the theory takes place. It highlights the causes of occurrence of certain phenomenon. A theory should be able to explain the topic successfully. Lack of explanatory power of theory is not desirable.
- Heuristic values: This quality of a theory generates scientific research. A theory rich in heuristic value is a rich resource for conducting research work.
- Testability:This quality contains the proposition that could be tested and confirmed through extensive research. The theory presented should be testable in the present situation and confirmed.
- Integrity: The organization of the ideas in the theory needs to be coherent enough to explain the ideas well. Lack of integrity and disassociation of ideas in a theory is not desirable.
- Parsimony: This refers to the ideas and the essential explanations, without any extra information. A theory needs to be crisp enough to make the facts clear, without any additional and unnecessary information.
- Comprehensiveness: This explains the specific relations within the domain of the theory. The quality of comprehensiveness is useful for conducting various researches.
- Clarity: The clarity of a theory is the way the ideas of a theory are explained explicitly. Clarity is an essential quality to be possessed by a theory such that it could be successfully used for research purpose.
- Delimitation: This quality of a theory sets specific boundaries in order to mention the limits, up to which the theory could be extended. These boundaries and limitations needs to be considered by the research that would be based on the theories setting boundaries.
Part 2
The Management information system is defined as an integrated system that supports the management, operations and the decision making functions of the business organization. The management information system use computer softwares as well as hardware to efficiently use the decision support system and management information system (Hill, Jones & Schilling, 2014). Based on the Anthony’s theory, the various models of management information systems include classification by characteristic, classification by applications as well as classification by management hierarchy. In classification by characteristics, the process of decision making is generally of three types. These are as follows:
Strategic information: These are the information that is related to the decisions and operations that are critical and strategic for the business organization. These include information related to acquisition of a new plant or launch of new products (Rasouli & Timmermans, 2014). These are sensitive information and needs to be handled with care. Moreover, privacy needs to be maintained in case of handling strategic information.
Tactical information: This type of information refers to the information that is concerned with long term policies of the business such as budgeting, inventory level information, service level information, productively information as well as quality control (Mills, Durepos & Wiebe, 2010).
Operational information: The operational information includes information specific to machines or a particular job role. The operational information is essential since job specific information is presented in this information management system.
The information related to applications includes the following:
Planning information: These refer to the information that is essential for establishment of norms and specifications. This information includes design standards and time standards (Harsh, 2005). Planning information are critical to the organization, as the future planning information is stores and retrieved from planning information management system.
Control information: This information refers to the business information that is critical for the business activities. This information is used for controlling the attainment of the processes.
Knowledge information: This refers to the information about information. The knowledge information is acquired through learning as well as experience (Harsh, 2005). The knowledge gained from learning needs to be applied to the organization. Moreover, the knowledge gained from experience, could be used as example for future work.
Organizational information: Organizational information refers to the information that deals with the environment of the organization as well as its achievement of the organizational goals (Stam, 2005).
Functional information: This is operation specific information. This information is mostly internal to the organization and is critical to be maintained using the management information system.
Database information: The database information includes large quantities of information with multiple usage as well as applications (Loock, Staake & Thiesse, 2013). The above mentioned theories are different from each other in the information they store and process. Though each of them is part of management information systems, yet they differ from each other widely.
Each of these information management systems are distinct and different from each other in terms of the information they store and process. Moreover, the way of storage and retrieval of data from these information systems are also different.
Part 3
The qualitative and quantitative research is two distinct research ways that might be significant in the application of the research work. The qualitative research aims to provide a detailed description. However, the quantitative research aims to classify the features of the research and count them, in order to construct statistical methods. In case of the qualitative research, the research is aware of only a part of the research that the person is looking for. However, in case of the quantitative research, the research is well aware of the research topic and knows clearly what he is looking for. The qualitative research is done at the earliest phase of the research project. However, quantitative research is conducted at the end of the research project. The qualitative research design unfolds as the research progresses. However, quantitative research is recommended in the latter phase of the research project.
The contribution of the research to enhance the theories is significant enough, and hence the researches and theories have an intrinsic relation with each other. The theory and the research work are inter-related to each other in the following ways:
- Theory provides the framework on which the research work takes place. However, various new findings in the research enhance the theories on which the research was based. Moreover, an authentic research might help the theory to explain the concepts even more clearly, thus enhancing the scope of future researches.
- The theories assist people to connect to a single study on which research work could be carried out. However, based on one theory, a variety of researches might take place. Thus, the various facets of the research based on one single theory enhance the theory such that the delimitation of the theories could be removed.
- Theories are abstract in nature and provide a one-sided point of view as perceived by the proposer of the theory. However, advanced researches based on the theories might provide a new side of the theory that was not considered earlier. Thus, the theory is enhanced and a new perspective was added to the theory.
- A theory makes the most significant progress by interacting with the research findings. Thus, the research finding and the results enriches the theories.
The chosen theory is the goal setting theory. Lock and Latham’s theory of goal setting is one of the most important theories that provides a guideline for goal setting and making it most effective. The five principles of this theory are as follows:
- Clarity
While setting goal clarity is an essential quality that needs to be maintained, such that there is no scope of misunderstanding (Locke & Latham, 1994). The goals should be stated explicitly regarding the behaviour that is desired and the rewards that are set for the fulfilment of the goals. The goals need to be SMART such that they are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time specific (Locke & Latham, 1994).
- Challenges
A goal should be perceived as a challenge. This is useful in creating a motivation among the people who are to fulfil the goals. Though the goal needs to be a challenging one, yet it should be achievable (Locke & Latham, 1994).
- Commitment
Commitment is essential in order to achieve specific goals. All the people need to be committed in order to achieve the goals successfully. The goals that are set, needs to be established by keeping in mind the expectations of the employees (Locke & Latham, 1994). Both the employer as well as the employees need to align together to fulfil the goals. Commitment and diligent working are essential for the successful fulfilment of the goals (Locke & Latham, 2013). Moreover, the employees and employers need to discuss as a team in order to fulfil the organizational goals (Siegert & Levack, 2014).
- Feedback
Feedback is an important factor in completion of the organizational goals. Feedback needs to be collected from the employees as well as the employers such that the goals could be fulfilled along with enhancement of the goals (Siegert & Levack, 2014). Feedback provides a chance to correct or clarify the goals before it has been achieved. Thus, feedback is important for setting of the goals.
- Task complexity
Conclusion
When a role is technically complex, the person in that role is highly motivated. However, the most motivated employee might also become de-motivated if the complexity of the task is beyond the expertise of the employee (Siegert & Levack, 2014). Unreasonable timing expectations from the employees to fulfil the goals are also factors that de-motivate the employees.
This theory could be applicable in the management information system. The management information system also needs setting up of goals such that the management of information systems could be carried out successfully (Miner, 2015). The management information system goals include decision support systems and productivity goals. The employees need to be motivated and aligned towards achievement of success in the management information systems. Regular feedback needs to be collected from the employees, once the goals are set (Kotlar & Massis, 2013). The feedback enables the employer as well as the employees to provide recommendations and suggestions such that enhancement of the management information system could be done (Birkland, 2014). The information systems could be enhanced by incorporating the suggestions from the feedback. Moreover, the task complexity of the systems needs to be considered such that the task complexity does not de-motivate the employees (Reigeluth, 2013).
This assignment highlights the importance of the theories and models in a research work. The relation between the research and the theory has been presented in this assignment. It has been observed that the research on a particular topic enhances the related theories (Rasouli & Timmermans, 2014). Since the theories present only one perception, hence intensive research might include another perception to the theory (Cramer, 2013). Thus, intensive researches enhance the theories related to the research. Researches and theories share an intrinsic relation with each other. Theories provide a platform to start a research work and in course of the research, it enhances the various related theories (Rasouli & Timmermans, 2014). Moreover, since theories are made by one person or a group of people, hence it might provide a biased view on a particular topic. However, based on a particular theory, various researches might be developed thus, providing an unbiased view of the theory.
Conclusion
This assignment presents the importance of the theories in research works. The various models and theories related to the management information system have been presented. Moreover, the goal setting theory has been described, along with the highlighting the importance of researches in relation to enhancement of the theories.
References
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