Management information systems for corporate planning and control

Abstract In this article, R. N. Kashyap, Principal of R. N. Kashyap & Associates, explains the role that management information systems play both in the development of corporate plans for a business enterprise and in the control of the activities of the enterprise. He maintains that a well designed and properly implemented management information system offers management tremendous opportunities for improving the quality and effectiveness of corporate plans and for achieving much sounder control of the business activities at all levels within the organization. He indicates some of the steps that need to be taken for harnessing the advances that are being made in the field of information technology for developing effective information systems to aid management in their planning and control decisions, Mr. Kashyap mentions that careful consideration has to be given to a number of factors including organizational arrangements for design of MIS, determination of the degree of sophistication of MIS and estimation of system costs vs. system benefits in order to ensure the successful development of information systems for management planning and control.