Temporal scope of MIS outputs: An MIS can provide which time-oriented categories of information to managers?

Introduction / Context:
Managers rely on historical trends, current status, and forecasts to make decisions. A robust Management Information System supports all three time horizons by combining data warehousing, real-time feeds, and analytical models. The question probes whether MIS is limited to one temporal view or spans all of them.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Past information: historical reports and trend analyses.
• Present information: real-time or near-real-time operational dashboards.
• Future information: projections and forecasts generated by models.

Concept / Approach:
MIS integrates transaction logs and external data to produce time-series analyses (past), monitors KPIs through streaming or frequent refresh (present), and uses forecasting models or planning tools (future). Each horizon plays a role: past for learning, present for control, future for planning.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Map MIS components to time horizons: data warehouse → past; operational reporting → present; DSS/analytics → future.Acknowledge that effective management uses all three together.Select “All of the above.”

Verification / Alternative check:
Architecture diagrams often show OLTP → ETL → warehouse → BI (past), plus operational BI (present) and planning modules (future).

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Limiting MIS to any single time frame would omit critical managerial needs.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing MIS with only historical reporting; modern MIS includes operational dashboards and predictive planning.

Final Answer:
All of the above