Much attention currently is being aimed at office automation. Proponents are recognizing its potential value to the manager as an information source, in addition to its initial focus on improved clerical operations. However, proponents are recommending office automation as an information system without citing any basis, theoretical or empirical, for their claims. The authors construct a theoretical framework that may be useful to the manager, or the system designer, in channeling office automation efforts in the right direction. The framework is based on Henry Mintzberg's concept of managerial roles, and is presented in the context of data gathered from five senior executives.
MIS managers generally have not stressed the marketing aspects of their operations. A more widespread concern is with the shortage of systems analyst and programmer resources. In an effort to learn how one group of MIS managers views their marketing responsibilities and practices in a shortage era, a study was conducted and the results were used to describe both short term and long term MIS marketing plans. These plans are developed by identifying critical areas in the organization in light of corporate objectives, user needs, and MIS resources.
Both the computing and word processing industries have grown to billion dollar size, but little real effort has been made to integrate them at the application level. The effort that has been expended to date has been directed at integrating word processing and data processing. What is needed is a serious look at the potential for integrating word processing into management information systems. One approach is to evaluate theoretical constructs of management information systems that indicate areas of potential word processing applications. Henry Mintzberg's concept of managerial roles and information flows is one such construct. The authors use Mintzberg's theory as a basis for a word processing and management information system integration that is being followed in a life insurance company. The company had recognized the logic of integrating word processing and data processing, but the potential for also involving information processing in the long range plan became clear only after an interpretation of the Mintzberg theory in light of word processing opportunities. The experiences of this company should be of value to others engaged in loosely-tied word processing, data processing, and management information system development programs.