Job Description
MIS Managers are responsible for installing, upgrading and troubleshooting the information systems of their employers. The most common duties necessary for completing this responsibility are listed below.
Develop and Maintain Organization Network and Databases
MIS Managers are responsible for creating and managing the various databases used by their employer, which requires proficiency with database management software. They are also responsible for maintaining network connectivity for the various machines used within the organization.
Ensure Stable Operation of Organizations Network and Databases
MIS Managers are in charge of developing and implementing the first line of defense against critical malfunctions. They do this through creating consistent schedules for updates and functionality tests, and then implementing these schedules through their team.
Implement Software and Security Updates
Data security is one of the primary concerns of MIS Managers. Not only does this involve protecting proprietary data, but also the data of the organizations customers or clients. This is why implementing regular software, security and operating system updates are so important.
Troubleshoot and Fix IT Issues
Even the best preventative plans cannot avert every critical issue. When these issues happen, it is the MIS Manager who is responsible for diagnosing the root cause of this issue, and then formulating a repair strategy.
Manage IT Staff
Managing IT staff is a task that blends with all of the other responsibilities of MIS Managers. They are responsible for delegating tasks in a way that doesnt sacrifice efficiency. This requires knowledge of each team members strengths and weaknesses.
MIS Manager Skills
MIS Managers predominantly rely on their technical skill set to complete their duties. With that being said, any kind of manager needs soft skills to manage a team of employees. IT professionals arent typically thought of as great communicators, but MIS Managers rely on their communication skills to build healthy working relationships with their team members. They also have to be a leader who gets their hands dirty by working alongside their team when major IT issues arise.
The following skills are the core skills MIS Managers use most in completing their daily duties.
Critical Thinking Skills: MIS Managers call upon their critical thinking skills when troubleshooting issues with software, hardware, networks and databases. They also use their critical thinking skills when formulating update schedules.
Systems Analysis Skills: MIS Managers use their systems analysis skills to understand how the parts of a given information system affects the functionality of the whole. This is necessary to create successful fixes for critical IT issues.
Complex Problem Solving Skills: MIS Managers call upon their complex problem solving skills to work through issues by which they are stumped.
Management Skills: MIS Managers use their management skills in everything they do. This involves knowing which tasks to delegate, and to whom they should be delegated. It also involves diffusing inter-employee conflict and addressing employee performance issues in a way that inspires improvement.
Communication Skills: In order for MIS Managers to be effective Managers, they have to have good communication skills. They must be able to build relationships with employees in order to keep them inspired and productive.
