Treasury management information systems and the contribution of information technology

Abstract

Treasury management is a relatively new function in large corporations. It is a data-dependent activity requiring information systems support. Thus, many It-based products are available to treasurers. An exploratory study has revealed that corporate treasurers are concerned with five core activities in which they exploit a rich set of information sources. They appear to rely on personal and informal information processes as much as use more formal systems and It products. Paradoxically, most computer systems have focussed on external data collection where treasurers generally have developed their own effective intelligence networks. Conversely, internal data collection, which appears to be problematic in most corporations, so far has benefitted little from It. Treasurers' usage of It has been mainly confined to small, local or personal systems. These have been developed or acquired with scant involvement of in-house Mis departments. Better understanding of treasury managers' work and preferences therefore is a prerequisite for successful treasury Mis.