They say that knowledge is power, and maybe that is true — if that knowledge is organized and easy to digest. Sometimes information comes in the form of huge amounts of data that can easily overwhelm people who don’t have the proper training. That is why people who are familiar with the management of information systems (MIS) are so valuable in the job market.
Healthcare is one field that is always in need of skilled folks who can manage huge amounts of data, but there are plenty of other areas that are eager to snatch up qualified MIS experts. Here are a few examples.
Computer Systems Design
A business degree that qualifies a person in MIS will open up doors in the technology field. Tech-savvy people with MIS expertise may become web developers, programmers, system engineers, project managers, or technical consultants.
Of course, the above-listed jobs aren’t available only in companies that focus on technology. There is virtually no large organization that does not need a team of computer experts to help keep things running smoothly.
Finance
Financial information is data, and in its raw form, it can leave heads spinning. Financial institutions deal with millions of dollars’ worth of their clients’ money, and it is all spread out between dozens of types of savings accounts, retirement funds, stocks, bonds, and other forms of investments. Without a reliable way to manage all that data, chaos can quickly take over.
People who can find new ways of organizing data and generating reports are indispensable in finance. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 12 percent of computer and information systems managers work in the financial and insurance fields.
Government
Government organizations must handle progress reports, financial information, and other data that is essential to making decisions and moving projects forward. Robust MIS applications can present information in a timely and insightful way.
The public sector has a particularly poignant need for efficient information systems. As MIS Quarterly points out, “While most of the top public sector issues also appear on the top private sector issue lists, the rankings show a lag in public IS development as compared to the private sector.”
According to the BLS, about seven percent of computer and information systems managers work in government.
Larger Corporations and Other Businesses
Managers and executives within a business need reports on data that help them evaluate performance and brainstorm new ideas for projects. As is true in other fields, MIS experts who work for large businesses will keep hardware and software up to date and help develop applications, and they may do other tasks like create web pages.
Smaller operations might also have a use for people who know the ins and outs of MIS. A small insurance company, for example, could need someone to design a program that organizes statistics and helps the company figure out how to adjust its rates.
Management of information systems is a broad field of work that offers no shortage of job opportunities. In fact, projected growth for this career field is well above the average across all occupations. It is truly one of the careers of the future.