Executive Information Systems EIS Subt

JOHNNY MAHECHA
7 Nov 201705:09

Summary

TLDRThe video script discusses the importance of an Executive Information System (EIS) for senior management in large organizations. An EIS supports strategic decision-making by providing a comprehensive overview of critical information from various units, unlike specific Decision Support Systems (DSS). It emphasizes the use of executive dashboards to display key performance indicators (KPIs), allowing CEOs to quickly assess company performance and make strategic adjustments. The script illustrates the concept with an example of an airline's safety inspection program, highlighting the need for a strategic overview rather than details on individual inspections.

Takeaways

  • 👨‍💼 The role of an Executive Information System (EIS) is crucial for senior management to make strategic decisions and improve long-term organizational performance.
  • 📈 EIS is not just for CEOs but also for any senior manager or executive involved in strategic decision-making processes.
  • 🔍 EIS is a type of Decision Support System (DSS) that is unique in its ability to provide a comprehensive overview by combining critical information from all areas within the organization.
  • 🌟 EIS supports strategic and long-term decisions, which differentiates it from a typical DSS designed for specific, one-time decisions.
  • 🛠 The information presented in an EIS needs to be summarized and easily understandable, often through the use of an executive dashboard.
  • 🚗 An executive dashboard is likened to a car's dashboard, providing critical information at a glance for quick decision-making.
  • 📊 The dashboard should display Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that are relevant to the strategic objectives of the organization.
  • 🔑 KPIs on an executive dashboard are carefully selected to measure progress towards specific goals or the success of particular activities.
  • 🛑 The example of an airline company's safety record illustrates how KPIs can be used to ensure the effectiveness of a company's inspection program.
  • 🔄 EIS typically extracts and summarizes information from various information systems within an organization to avoid information overload for senior executives.
  • 🎨 The content of an executive dashboard can vary greatly between organizations and is influenced by the management style and strategic focus of the executives.

Q & A

  • What is an Executive Information System (EIS)?

    -An Executive Information System (EIS) is a specialized information system designed to support senior-level decision making by providing strategic overviews and summaries of critical information from various units within an organization.

  • Why is an EIS different from other Decision Support Systems (DSS)?

    -An EIS is different from other DSS because it combines critical information from all areas within the organization to provide a complete overview, whereas a typical DSS is designed for one specific decision by individual units.

  • What are the key responsibilities of senior management in an organization?

    -Senior management is responsible for defining an overall vision, strategic planning, strategic organizing and staffing, strategic control, and crisis management within an organization.

  • How does an EIS support strategic decision-making?

    -An EIS supports strategic decision-making by providing information that is more strategic in nature and long-term, influencing what information is being used and how it is presented.

  • What is an executive dashboard and how does it relate to an EIS?

    -An executive dashboard is a tool that summarizes information in an easily understandable manner, often presenting key performance indicators (KPIs). It is an effective way to present summarized information as part of an EIS, allowing executives to quickly assess the company's status.

  • What is the purpose of a key performance indicator (KPI) on an executive dashboard?

    -The purpose of a KPI on an executive dashboard is to measure achievement towards a specific objective or the level of success of specific activities, providing executives with critical information for decision-making.

  • How can an executive dashboard help a CEO manage a large company with multiple locations?

    -An executive dashboard helps a CEO manage a large company by providing a quick glance at the company's performance through KPIs, allowing for timely adjustments and strategic focus without getting bogged down in details.

  • What is an example of how an EIS might be used in the context of an airline company?

    -In the context of an airline company, an EIS might be used to ensure the company has an outstanding safety record by monitoring the effectiveness of the safety inspection program, rather than focusing on the details of individual plane inspections.

  • How does the information from various information systems within an organization get integrated into an EIS?

    -The information from various information systems is extracted and then summarized in a meaningful manner within an EIS, often using an executive dashboard to present the data in an easily digestible format.

  • What considerations should be taken into account when selecting KPIs for an executive dashboard?

    -When selecting KPIs for an executive dashboard, it's important to choose indicators that are relevant to the organization's strategic objectives, easily understood, not overly detailed, and free from distractions to facilitate clear decision-making.

  • How does the management style of executives influence the design of an executive dashboard?

    -The management style of executives influences the design of an executive dashboard by determining the level of detail and the specific KPIs included. Some executives may prefer more detailed daily operations information, while others may focus on a few selected indicators.

Outlines

00:00

🛠️ Executive Information Systems: Enhancing Leadership Efficiency

The first paragraph introduces the concept of an Executive Information System (EIS) as a vital tool for CEOs and senior executives in large organizations. It highlights the challenges of managing a vast company with numerous locations and employees, emphasizing the need for an efficient system to track and process information. The EIS is described as a specialized decision support system that consolidates critical data from across the organization, offering a comprehensive overview for strategic decision-making. It is distinguished from other decision support systems by its focus on long-term strategic decisions and its ability to synthesize information into a coherent whole. The paragraph also introduces the executive dashboard as a user-friendly way to present summarized information through key performance indicators (KPIs), allowing leaders to quickly assess the company's status and make informed adjustments.

05:02

📊 Key Performance Indicators: Driving Strategic Insights

The second paragraph builds upon the concept of an executive dashboard by focusing on the use of key performance indicators (KPIs) to convey summarized information effectively. It underscores the importance of selecting relevant KPIs that align with the organization's objectives and activities. The paragraph uses the example of an airline company, where a KPI could be the company's safety record or the effectiveness of its safety inspection program. It also notes that the content of an executive dashboard should be tailored to the needs and preferences of the executive, with some preferring detailed daily operational insights, while others may focus on a few key indicators. The paragraph concludes by reiterating the role of an EIS in supporting senior-level decision-making by providing a strategic overview through a well-designed executive dashboard.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Executive Information System (EIS)

An EIS is a specialized information system designed to support senior-level decision-making by providing a comprehensive overview of an organization. It integrates critical information from various units within the company, enabling executives to make strategic decisions. In the script, the EIS is highlighted as a tool for CEOs and senior managers to maintain oversight without getting bogged down by detailed reports.

💡Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

KPIs are specific metrics used to measure the success or progress of particular activities towards achieving objectives. They are crucial components of an executive dashboard, offering quick insights into the organization's performance. In the context of the script, KPIs such as a company's safety record are used to monitor the effectiveness of the safety inspection program.

💡Executive Dashboard

An executive dashboard is a visual interface that displays summarized information from various sources, helping executives quickly grasp the company's status. It includes critical data such as KPIs, which support strategic decision-making. The script compares it to a vehicle dashboard, providing necessary information at a glance without overwhelming the user.

💡Decision Support System (DSS)

A DSS is a computerized system used to support decision-making processes. Unlike an EIS, which offers a strategic overview, a DSS typically aids in making specific, detailed decisions. The script uses the example of an airplane maintenance DSS that assists safety inspectors with individual inspections, contrasting it with the broader scope of an EIS.

💡Strategic Planning

Strategic planning involves defining an organization's direction and making decisions on allocating resources to pursue this strategy. It is one of the key responsibilities of senior management supported by an EIS. The script emphasizes how an EIS aids in strategic planning by providing a holistic view of the organization's operations and performance.

💡Crisis Management

Crisis management refers to the processes by which an organization deals with a disruptive and unexpected event that threatens to harm the entity or its stakeholders. The script mentions this as a critical function supported by an EIS, helping executives manage and mitigate crises effectively through timely and comprehensive information.

💡Summarized Information

Summarized information is the condensed version of detailed data, presented in a way that highlights key points and trends. An EIS relies on summarized information to provide executives with an overview that is both comprehensive and digestible, enabling quick decision-making. The script notes that this approach is essential for maintaining focus on strategic issues without getting lost in minutiae.

💡Management Style

Management style refers to the way in which a manager makes decisions, relates to employees, and handles responsibilities. The script acknowledges that the content and detail of an executive dashboard may vary depending on the executive's management style, whether they prefer detailed operational data or high-level performance indicators.

💡Safety Inspection Program

A safety inspection program is a systematic approach to ensuring that all safety protocols and procedures are followed within an organization. In the script, this program is used as an example of how an EIS can integrate various units' information, such as the outcomes of individual plane inspections, to ensure overall safety performance is up to standard.

💡Critical Information

Critical information refers to the most important data that executives need to make informed decisions. In the script, critical information is what an executive dashboard aims to display, ensuring that senior management has access to the essential insights required for strategic planning and crisis management without unnecessary details.

Highlights

An executive information system (EIS) is essential for effective leadership in a large company with multiple locations and employees.

EIS supports senior-level decision making and strategic planning.

EIS is also known as executive support systems (ESS).

EIS is designed to support various activities such as strategic planning, organizing, staffing, control, and crisis management.

EIS is a type of decision support system (DSS) with unique characteristics.

EIS combines critical information from all areas within the organization for a complete overview.

EIS supports strategic and long-term decisions, unlike typical DSS designed for specific decisions.

The information used in EIS is presented in a summarized manner for quick understanding.

An executive dashboard is a popular approach to present summarized information in EIS.

A dashboard provides critical information at a glance, similar to a vehicle's dashboard.

The executive dashboard should contain key performance indicators (KPIs) for strategic decision-making.

KPIs in an executive dashboard are selected to measure achievement towards specific objectives.

The content of an executive dashboard varies between organizations and depends on management style.

EIS extracts and summarizes information from various information systems within an organization.

EIS is not for managing daily operations but for ensuring the company's strategic direction and performance.

The executive dashboard should be free of distractions to focus on strategic decisions.

An example of a KPI for an airline company could be the company's safety record.

EIS helps senior management to monitor the effectiveness of programs like safety inspections.

Transcripts

play00:02

let's say you are the chief executive

play00:04

officer of a large company you have 35

play00:07

locations in 12 countries with 20,000

play00:10

employees how do you keep track of

play00:12

everything that is going on in the

play00:14

company in order for you to be an

play00:16

effective leader what information are

play00:19

you going to need you don't have the

play00:21

whole day to read through dozens of

play00:23

reports or listen to a series of

play00:24

presentations what you need is an

play00:27

executive information system an

play00:29

executive information system or EIS is a

play00:33

specialized information system used to

play00:36

support senior level decision making an

play00:38

EIS is not only for the CEO but for any

play00:42

senior manager or executive making

play00:44

strategic decisions to improve the

play00:46

long-term performance of the

play00:48

organization he is is also referred to

play00:51

as executive support systems or ESS

play00:56

senior management is responsible for a

play00:58

number of different tasks within an

play01:00

organization including defining an

play01:02

overall vision strategic planning

play01:05

strategic organizing and staffing

play01:07

strategic control and crisis management

play01:10

an EIS is designed to support these

play01:13

various activities an EIS is a type of

play01:16

decision support system or DSS but is

play01:20

unique in a number of ways first in many

play01:23

organizations there may be a number of

play01:25

different DSS's in place to support

play01:27

specific decisions by individual units

play01:30

an EIS on the other hand combines

play01:33

critical information from all areas

play01:35

within the organization so senior

play01:37

management gets a complete overview

play01:39

second a typical DSS is designed for one

play01:43

specific decision an EIS supports

play01:46

decisions that are more strategic in

play01:48

nature and long-term these differences

play01:51

influence what information is being used

play01:53

and how it is presented consider the

play01:56

example of maintaining an airplane there

play01:58

are numerous critical parts to an

play02:00

airplane that have to be carefully

play02:01

inspected after a certain number of

play02:03

flight hours a DSS could be used to

play02:06

assist safety inspectors and making sure

play02:09

no critical parts get missed and that

play02:11

any issues that come up are dealt with

play02:13

appropriately senior management

play02:16

not specifically interested in the

play02:18

one-time inspection of a single plane

play02:19

they are interested however in making

play02:22

sure the company has an outstanding

play02:23

safety record and they need to know that

play02:26

the inspection program is working

play02:27

effectively so the safety inspection

play02:30

program as one unit would be part of an

play02:33

EIS but the details on individual plane

play02:36

inspections would not Annie is typically

play02:40

extracts information from the various

play02:42

information systems used in an

play02:44

organization this information needs to

play02:47

be summarized in a meaningful manner one

play02:49

popular approach to do this is to use an

play02:52

executive dashboard the term dashboard

play02:54

is used to indicate the various panels

play02:56

inside a vehicle while you're driving

play02:59

you need to keep your eyes on the road

play03:00

but your dashboard provides critical

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information you can see with a quick

play03:04

glance driving speed gear information

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fuel level oil temperature things like

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that

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depending on your vehicle the dashboard

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may also include a navigation system

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audio system and more detailed

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Diagnostics for your vehicle now instead

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of you driving a vehicle you are CEO

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running a company you need to keep your

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eyes on the road which means you need to

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focus most of your time on actually

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running your company but once in a while

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you glance at your executive dashboard

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to see how the company is doing and you

play03:35

make adjustments accordingly

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you probably get the idea of a dashboard

play03:39

it should contain the critical

play03:40

information needed to make decisions and

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it needs to be easily understood it

play03:46

should also not be too detailed you

play03:49

don't want to spend too much time trying

play03:50

to figure out what all the information

play03:52

on your dashboard means the dashboard

play03:54

should also be free of distractions so

play03:57

you can focus on strategic decisions an

play04:00

executive dashboard typically shows key

play04:03

performance indicators or KPIs these

play04:07

indicators are carefully selected to

play04:09

measure achievement towards a specific

play04:10

objective or to measure the level of

play04:13

success of specific activities in the

play04:16

case of the airline company one of these

play04:18

key performance indicators could be the

play04:19

company's safety record or some measure

play04:22

of its safety inspection program there

play04:25

is no one-size-fits-all for what should

play04:27

go on an executive dashboard

play04:29

this will vary between organizations and

play04:31

will also depend on the management style

play04:34

some executives may want quite a bit of

play04:37

detail on the daily operations while

play04:39

others want to focus primarily on a few

play04:41

selected indicators an executive

play04:46

information system is a specialized

play04:48

information system used to support

play04:51

senior level decision making an EIS

play04:54

combines information from various units

play04:56

in the organization to provide a

play04:58

strategic overview an executive

play05:01

dashboard is an effective way to present

play05:04

summarized information in the form of

play05:06

key performance indicators

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Related Tags
Executive Information SystemStrategic DecisionsSenior ManagementKey Performance IndicatorsOrganizational OverviewDecision Support SystemExecutive DashboardSafety RecordStrategic PlanningManagement Style