Challenges Of Management Information System in Supporting Decision Making In Indonesia

Challenges of Management Information Systems in Supporting Decision-Making in Indonesia

Amir A. Kasim / Postgraduate Student, Non-Reg. Class IIID, UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung

The development of information technology in Indonesia over the past decade has experienced significant acceleration, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic, which pushed almost all sectors to shift to digital services. The observable phenomenon is the abundance of data from various fields, ranging from population administration, online education, digital health, to application-based economic transactions. The assumption is that the more data collected, the better the quality of decisions made by the government and educational institutions. However, in reality, large volumes of data do not always produce accurate information. There remains a gap in the form of overlapping data among institutions, lack of system integration, and low data validity. As a result, strategic decisions are often not fully based on reliable information. This article aims to elaborate on the concepts of facts, data, and information, and to highlight the challenges of management information systems (MIS) in supporting decision-making in Indonesia.

First. Facts are real events that occur in daily life. These facts serve as the initial foundation for the formation of data. In the Indonesian context, facts are often not properly recorded, such as duplicate or outdated population data. This condition affects the quality of the data produced. O'Brien and Marakas (2011) emphasize that facts are raw materials that still require further processing to be used as meaningful information.

Second. Data are representations of facts in the form of symbols, numbers, or texts. Data collected in large quantities are often referred to as big data. In Indonesia, this phenomenon can be seen in education systems, healthcare, and digital transactions. Unfortunately, much of the data is not integrated across institutions, making it difficult to use for decision-making. Stair and Reynolds (2018) describe data as a collection of unorganized facts that require processing in order to have meaning.

Third. Information is data that has been processed, organized, and given context so that it becomes meaningful. Quality information must be relevant, accurate, and timely. In practice, Indonesia often faces problems when existing data fails to generate information that meets the needs of decision-makers. Laudon and Laudon (2020) assert that information is data that has been processed to be useful for users in strategic decision-making.

Conclusion
Management information systems in Indonesia face major challenges, namely data integration, validity, human resource limitations, and information security issues. Yet, accurate decision-making greatly depends on the quality of information produced. Therefore, it is crucial for both government and educational institutions to strengthen information systems, enhance digital literacy, and ensure data security. By doing so, MIS can function optimally as a key instrument in supporting information-based decision-making.

This paper is derived from the course module Management Information Systems, taught by Prof. Dr. H. A. Rusdiana, Drs., M.M.