The goal of Management Information Systems, Sixth Edition is to provide a real-world understanding of information systems (ISs) for business and computer science students. Like its predecessor, this Sixth Edition provides students with a firm foundation in business-related information technology (IT) on which they can build successful careers regardless of the particular fields they choose. They may find themselves formulating strategic plans in executive suites, optimizing operations in businesses or on factory floors, fine-tuning plans for their own entrepreneurial ventures, designing ISs to optimize their organization’s operations, working as consultants, augmenting business activities on the Web, or creating valuable new information products in any number of industries.

This Sixth Edition is organized in fourteen chapters that contain the most important topics for business students.The fundamental principle guiding this book is that ISs are everywhere in business. Information systems are pervasive because information is the single most powerful resource in every business function in every industry. Knowledge of IT is not always explicitly stated as a job requirement, but it is an essential element of success in virtually any position. Not everyone in business needs to have all the technical skills of an IT professional, but everyone needs a deepenough understanding of the subject to know how to use IT in his or her profession. This is especially so in the increasingly digital and networked business world.

Management Information Systems provides students with the proper balance of technical information and real-world applications. No matter what field they undertake, students will enter the business world knowing how to get information to work for them. They will know enough about IT to work productively with IT specialists, and they will know enough about business applications to get information systems to support their work in the best way possible.