Using EIS to respond to dynamic business conditions

Abstract

Early research on executive information systems (EISs) focused on distinguishing EISs from other types of support systems and identifying the attributes of their successful design and implementation. Recent research has shifted to a broader, more profitable focus on examining how EISs can be applied to solve challenging business problems. The shift signifies the deemphasis of EISs as elitist applications and the positioning of EIS as a versatile technology for every managerial level. This paper extends that new perspective by investigating how EIS technology can be used to respond to major business problems being intensified by global recessionary and competitive forces — adaptability to changing customer requirements, quality improvement, and cost-containment. To do so, an EIS must be flexible enough to support diverse classes of business data (e.g., external, internal, structured, and unstructured) and distinct classes of users (i.e., executive as well as non-executive users). We examine the current problems confronting organizations and the changes in organizational structure and managerial activities that are being undertaken to mitigate those problems. Then we discuss how emerging technologies and software development tools can redefine the utility, desirability, and economic viability of EIS technology with a focus on the special needs of executives.