Discuss the impact of computers and MIS on middle level management.

The Middle Level Management translates the management objectives into plans, arranges resources to achieve such objectives and goals as laid down by top management. Also it reviews the result of operations performed at the supervisory level. It thus acts as a bridge between the other two levels. The information provided by computer serves only limited purpose to middle management. Such information is quite effective for carrying out an analysis of the operations but has little impact on the formulation of organizational plans. Potential impact of computers and MIS on middle management level will be significant. It will bring a marked change in the process of decision-making. At this level, most of the decisions will be programmed and thus will be made by the computer, thereby drastically reducing the number of middle level manager's requirement. For example, In the case of inventory control system, computer will carry records of all items with respect of their purchase, issue and balance. The reorder level, reorder quantity etc. for each item of material will also be stored in computer after its pre-determination. Under such a system as soon as the consumption level of a particular item of material will touch reorder level, computer will inform for its purchase immediately. The futurists also foresee the computer and the erosion of middle management as the vehicles for a major shift to decentralization. The new information technology will enable management to view an operation as a single entity whose effectiveness can only be optimized by making decisions that take into account the entity and not the individual parts.