Planning an information system that will meet the information needs of an organization is a difficult task. Thr process of formulating the plan is not well-defined in the information system literature. This article proposes a three-stage model for planning the Management Information System (MIS). The three stages are strategic MIS planning, organizational information requirements analysis, and resource allocation. This model clarifies many ill-defined issues of MIS planning. Several methodologies that have been proposed for MIS planning are surveyed and classified to the stage of the MIS planning model in which they are useful. Recommendations are made for applying the model.