IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO TERTIARY INSTITUTION

Modern universities thrive on the information gathered through well-managed information systems. The overall process of developing and maintaining Academic Information System (AIS) all within the university and without any external assistance is generally regarded as a mark of achievement. This chapter deals with various aspects of AIS such as requirements, development, testing, overall security, etc. Two major options, developing AIS from scratch and deploying a commercially available software solution, are discussed. Typical management strategies are suggested to combat possible resistance from users and to serve a wider-ranging user community in an effective manner. A strong case is made in favor of in-house development of AISs to reduce initial costs and maintenance expenditure. Importantly, the process of design, developing a functional prototype, and overall security aspects are presented in detail. Several recommendations are made to deal with various operational challenges through well-known practices.