Management Information System (MIS) Practice Exam

Who is responsible for the maintenance of information systems?

1. A systems analyst

2. A database administrator

3. A programmer

4. An IS security manager

The correct answer is: A database administrator

The database administrator is primarily responsible for the maintenance of information systems, particularly those that involve managing databases. This role includes overseeing the installation, configuration, and ongoing management of database systems to ensure they operate efficiently and securely. The database administrator's responsibilities often encompass ensuring data integrity, backing up data, optimizing performance, and troubleshooting any issues that arise. In the context of an information system, the database is a crucial component where data is stored, retrieved, and manipulated. Therefore, maintaining the database is essential for the overall functioning of an information system, making the database administrator's role vital in this regard. While other roles, like a systems analyst, programmer, and IS security manager, play important parts in the broader context of information system management, they focus on different aspects. A systems analyst typically focuses on the overall system requirements and design, a programmer is focused on code development and software solutions, and an IS security manager is concerned with safeguarding the information systems from security breaches. Thus, the specific role of maintaining the operational integrity of databases solidly aligns with the responsibilities of a database administrator.