3. 3
Executive Information System (EIS)
• A computer-based system that serves the information
needs of top executives
• Provides rapid access to timely information and direct
access to management reports
• Very user-friendly, supported by graphics
• Provides exceptions reporting and "drill-down"
capabilities
• Easily connected to the Internet
• Drill down
4. The session may start with a graphs of the firm’s financial
and business situation. Key performance indicators are
clearly displayed.
The EIS will allow the executive to drill down from any
figure to see its supporting data.
The executive can select a level of detail (for example, sales
by state) if further investigation is needed.
This top down approach should lead to better decisions.
A Typical EIS Session
5. EIS in the Persian Gulf War
The Marine Aircraft wing had to plan its activities in a fast-changing
political and military environment. The commanding general and his
staff of about 110 needed large amounts of information, such as
personnel availability, logistics status, and weather conditions and
forecasts. Getting all this information via telephones and paper reports
was a slow and possibly inaccurate task.
Using RediMaster (from American Information Systems), a local area
network, and information downloaded from a mainframe or PCs, and
EIS was constructed that could provide the commanders with the
needed information in seconds. The EIS included e-mail, a calendar,
word processing, a spreadsheet, graphics software, and anything else
that could be used to support commanders.
8. 8
Soft Information Used in Most EIS
• Predictions, speculations, forecasts, estimates (78.1%)
• Explanations, justifications, assessments, interpretations (65.6%)
• News reports, industry trends, external survey data (62.5%)
• Schedules, formal plans (50.0%)
• Opinions, feelings, ideas (15.6%)
• Rumors, gossip, hearsay (9.4%)
Soft Information Enhances EIS Value
12. PITFALLS OF EXECUTIVE
INFORMATION SYSTEM
Cost: a 1991 survey showed an average
development cost of $365,000 with annual operating
costs of $200,000.
Technological limitations: the EIS needs to be
seamlessly integrated into the company’s current IT
architecture, so it is a formidable challenge to the
designer.
Organizational limitations: the organizational
structure might not be right.
13. The intelligent EIS: advances in AI technology will be
deployed in the EIS
The multimedia EIS: multimedia databases will allow
future integration of text, voice and image
The informed EIS: future EISs will make wider use of
data external to the company
The EIS of Tomorrow
14. Product Vendor
1. Command Center Pilot Software
2. Executive Decisions IBM Corp.
3. Focus Channel Computing
4. The SAS System SAS Institute Inc.
