The authors argue that recent events have given rise to a need for a new class of information related to strategic decisionmaking. They describe some of the characteristics of "ideal" systems to meet this need and suggest a program for building sophisticated systems that will develop toward that ideal. (Author)

Oversight information systems provide data to oversight agency managers that enable them to: (1) monitor the operations of agencies for which they are charged oversight responsibilities; (2) compare performance data against set performance criteria; and (3) identify exceptions that occur outside performance tolerance parameters. This research…

It is claimed that, properly organized, management information systems not only can contain all the data within a total organization, but can refine and arrange the information so that it becomes meaningful to the decisionmaker. At present their functions are virtually restricted to middle management, operational control levels. However, the rapid…

An institutional management systems development study examined the Management Information Systems (MIS) needs of 23 public institutions of higher education in Missouri. The result was a model framework for other institutions to develop MIS appropriate to their needs. One of five distinct structural development phases could be related to all…

Progress in realizing the full potential of computerized data processing is being hindered by costs and by the spread of a multitude of small, independent computer facilities. There is a need for some uniformity of specifications among the various systems. The result would be a compatibility that could help to reduce costs more rapidly because of…

Large school systems bring various administrative problems in handling scheduling, records, and avoiding making red tape casualties of students. The authors review a portion of the current use of computers to handle these problems and examine the range of activities for which computer processing could provide aid. Since automation always brings…

It is suggested that much thought should be given to choosing an appropriate computer language for an institutional research office, considering the sophistication of the staff, types of planned application, size and type of computer, and availability of central programming support in the institution. For offices that prepare straight reports and…

Sophisticated managers know that reams of data cannot take the place of important information. Planning is necessary to ensure that what is being reported in an organization is necessary and useful and that data are not assembled just because the computer makes it possible. (MLF)

Perspectives on facilitating the use of quantitative tools in higher education decision-making are offered. Suggestions are directed to those in the institution who will be working with decision-makers, with a focus on how such individuals can assist the decision-maker in the development and use of computer-based tools. The instigators of computer…

Through a discussion of research on institutions using computer-based planning models, this question is addressed: How does the institutional decision maker make decisions using state-of-the-art computing tools without neglecting nonquantitative realities? (MSE)

This paper examines the proposition that management information systems (MIS) for colleges and universities are not achieving their original objectives of supporting better management decisions by providing more and better information in a more timely manner. As a consequence, the MIS activity should be reduced in scope, and standardized to…

Technological innovation in the form of the introduction of a formal information system represents change to the people within the organization. This paper (presented to California Educational Administrators participating in the Executive Information Systems program of Operation PEP--Prepare Educational Planners) is directed to those managers who…

This report describes a project designed to provide a cost effective centralized data collection, analysis, and retrieval system to handle all data on adult basic education (ABE) clients and staff personnel for all adult learning sites in Massachusetts for reporting, research, and evaluation purposes at local and State levels. This report is…

Complete but concise picture of the California Education Information System, how it developed, its current status, its basic features, and a description of its contents. Covers design, developmental history, business subsystem, pupil subsystem, and a summary. (Author)

The size, cost, and complexity of quantitative modeling in the social and physical sciences demand that modelers focus attention on premodeling phases of analysis, specifically on formulation and definition of problems. This is especially true in the areas of futures research and technology assessment. At the problem-defining stage of modeling, a…