OKIS Lecture 3

Management > Organisational Knowledge and Information Systems > What is information? > Generalised model > Simplified example > Uses of information > Problems to address

Problems to address

A definition of Management Information:

"All that relevant information, both internal and external, which a manager needs to establish, evaluate and adjust objectives; to measure progress and correct it when performance deviates from plan; and to evaluate results."

To make rapid and effective decisions, managers need timely and appropriate information.

This means that managers have to deal with the problems of information management:

• It can be difficult to define and determine its value now and in the future
• Its requirements may be unclear, as sometimes it is not known what information to use. This is particularly the case with tacit learning
• Data overload and strangulation may occur, as too much information is as bad as not enough
• Proliferation of multiple databases
• Islands of technology are bits of information which are not compatible, but are needed together, such as the lack of communication between departments
• There can be difficulty of interfacing with external databases

Information should be easily structured across the entire organisation, so it can be accessed by all levels.

Goals and questions

Recognition and administration