Executive Information System

1
Executive InformationSystem
2

• Definition
• Executive Information System (EIS) is a
• structured, automated tracking system that
  operates continuously to keep management
• abreast of what is happening in all important
• areas. This tracking is accomplished by the
• system itself without management effort.

3

• Why
• Executive Information System (EIS) ?

4

• Information Needs

- More timely information - Greater access to
operational data - Greater access to corporate
databases - More concise, relevant information
- New or additional information - More
information about the external environment -
More competitive information - Faster access to
external databases
5

• How to Find Executives Information Needs

- Interview all senior managers to determine
what data they think is most important. -
List the major objectives in the short- and
long-term plans and identify their
information requirements. - Ask the executives
what information they would least like for
their competition to see. - Determine what
information from current management reports
is being used by the executives. - Use
prototyping
6

• EIS Improvements in Executive Job
• Performance Ability

- Enhanced communications - Greater ability to
identify historic trends - Improved executive
effectiveness - Improved executive efficiency -
Fewer meetings and less time spent in meetings -
Enhanced executive planning, organizing, and
control - More focused executive attention -
Greater support for executive decision making -
Increased span of control
7

• Reasons for Using EIS

Reason
Percentage of EIS Users Decision
making 50.0 Scheduling 50.0
E-mail 43.8 Electronic briefing 37.5
Tickler and follow-up functions
31.3 Other
6.3 Source Nord and
Nord 1996
8

• EIS in the Persian Gulf War
• The Second Marine Aircraft wing had to plan its
  activities in a fast-changing political and
  military environment. The commanding general and
  his staff of about 110 needed large amounts of
  information, such as personnel availability,
  logistics status, and weather conditions and
  forecasts. Getting all this information via
  telephones and paper reports was a slow and
  possibly inaccurate task.
• Using RediMaster (from American Information
  Systems), a local area network, and information
  downloaded from a mainframe or PCs, and EIS was
  constructed that could provide the commanders
  with the needed information in seconds. The EIS
  included e-mail, a calendar, word processing, a
  spreadsheet, graphics software, and anything else
  that could be used to support commanders.fast-

9

• Comparison of EIS and DSS
• EIS
  DSS
• Focus Status access,
  Analysis,
  
• drill down
  decision support
• Typical Users Top Executives
  Analysts, professionals,
• 
  managers
• Application Environmental
  Diversified areas where
• scanning, performance
  managerial decisions
• evaluation, ident. of
  are made
• opportunities
  

10

• More on Comparison of EIS and DSS
• EIS
  DSS
• Principle Use Tracking and
  Planning, organizing,
  
• control,
  staffing and controlling
• opportunity
• identification
• Dec. Support Indirect support Supports
  unstructured and
• for unstructured
  semistructured dec. making,
• dec. making and
  and ad hoc decisions
• policies

11

• EIS Characteristics

- Tracking and Control Tool - Excellent
Graphics - Very User-Friendly - Provides Rapid
Access to Current Information
12

• EIS Characteristics

- Problem Solving vs. Opportunity Assessment
13

• Representative EIS Software
• Product
  Vendor
• Command Center Pilot Software
• Commander Comsahre Inc.
• EIS Tool Kit Easel Corp.
• Executive Decisions IBM Corp.
• Focus Channel Computing
• LightShip Pilot Software
• The SAS System SAS Institute Inc.

14

• Comshares Commander

- Support for Multiple User Interfaces -
Multiple Methods for Locating Information -
Access to External Databases (e.g. Dow Jones News
Retriveal) - Interface to Other Software
(Excel) - Integrated Decision Support - Screen
Design Templates - Security for Data, Screens
and Systems - Support for Rapid Prototyping
15

• Research Issues
• How can the benefits of an EIS be assessed in
  advance?
• How does the software used in building an EIS
  affect the development process and system
  success?
• What are the major EIS data management problems
  and their solutions?
• How can EIS functionality be increased while
  maintaining its ease of use?