Decision making is a very complex phenomenon. Modern decision makers must deal with very complex problems which are constantly changing and often ill structured, making modeling and analysis difficult. In order to provide support for the decision makers, computer-based information systems are designed to collect, store, process, and transport information. Recent advances in computer technol ogy, data communications, database systems, office automation, and knowledge engineering have made possible the design of very sophisticated information sys tems. However, rapid technological advances also create many problems, not the least of which is the lack of integration among the various disciplines in infor mation system design. Without such integration, a costly computer-based infor mation system is at best partially useful and at worst totally useless. The aim of this book, therefore, is to examine the various issues involved in designing man agement information systems, decision support systems, and office information systems for increasing productivity and providing decision support. This book is the outcome of the Workshop on Management and Office Infor mation Systems, which was organized by the Knowledge Systems Institute and held at Chicago, Illinois, from June 28 to 30, 1982. Twenty-seven papers from the working papers presented at that workshop were selected for inclusion in the present volume, which is organized into five parts: (I) organization structures and management, (II) decision support systems, (III) database systems, (IV) office information systems, and (V) systems and applications.
