The College Information Management System (CIMS), a comprehensive, integrated office automation and student data system in the College Office of the School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania, is described. The system has revitalized the advising process by supporting better tracking of student progress. (Author/MLW)

As new information technology options are made available, office automation systems are being introduced and along with campus networks, and management information service requirements are evolving. Eight common strategies found in 10 American institutions are reported. (Author/MLW)

Identifies a set of objects that is genuinely indigenous to management information systems and constructs a simple model based on them. The model's four basic entities, which define the scope of information theory, are data, information, knowledge, and wisdom. (Contains 46 references.) (KRN)

A decision support system integrates individuals' intellectual resources with computer capabilities to improve decision-making quality. This paper presents the theoretical aspects of decision making and decision support and shows how the theories can be applied in developing an operational management decision-making support system for room booking…

Pennsylvania State University's award-winning electronic approval system allows administrative documents to be electronically generated, approved, and updated in the university's central database. Campus business can thus be conducted faster, less expensively, more accurately, and with greater security than with traditional paper approval…

Describes an image storage system for contract documentation in the Engineering Directorate of Thames Water Utilities (England) which uses optical disc storage and a relational database for indexing and retrieval of nearly 500,000 pages in compressed image format, and provides end user access through 7 workstations. Requirements, feasibility…

Issues that colleges and universities must address in implementing the Financial Accounting Standards Board's Statements of Financial Accounting Standards 116 (concerning contributions received and made) and 117 (for nonprofit organizations) are outlined. The overall objective is to present a financial statement in a format that tells the…

One elementary school located in a depressed area (Norfolk, Virginia) created a computerized service directory and referral system providing immediate, accurate information on available children's services. The principal or counselor accesses the database by indicating individual student characteristics, such as low achievement or family problems,…

Data-based decision making is a process of inquiry, analysis, and decision making that draws inferences from the interplay of school input/process and output variables. A case study involving a Connecticut district's response to falling SATs illustrates the need for fast, sophisticated information technology systems. (MLH)

Certain guiding principles ensure that information technology becomes a value-added investment: using well-designed management and operating processes and fact-based decision making; examining document core processes and business practices; rethinking and redesigning processes, policies, and practices before integrating them into a system; and…

Explores ways that information professionals can help to "bring content to the table" and expand their role with these new technologies and with Management Information Systems departments in organizations. Discusses metadata, search engines, and information retrieval agents. Presents experiences of an information professional working in…

In this study, the authors reviewed the development of Russian business education in the past decade. This development, fueled by historic changes in Russian society, has affected all aspects of business education, including its organizational structures, demand in different business areas, and mode of teaching. In a short period of time, Russian…

School administrators face one of the most daunting challenges in history--providing quality learning environments during a tremendous financial crisis. The crisis may seem overwhelming, but web-native operations management technology offered by SchoolDude.com can help them overcome these challenges. The Internet makes technology more affordable…

The employment of administrative tools for effective management is evaluated in this article. Using an administrative tool like a Palm[R] handheld computer and appropriate software can make the difference. For anyone running a single school or an entire district, managing data is the key to maintaining an efficient organization. Many…

Metadatabase modeling and design integrate process modeling and data modeling methodologies. Both are core topics in the information technology (IT) curriculum. Learning these topics has been an important pedagogical issue to the core studies for management information systems (MIS) and computer science (CSc) students. Unfortunately, the learning…