Managers' Use of Information

William J. Bruns, Jr. is studying (with Sharon M. McKinnon of Northeastern University) managers' use of information in day-to-day and long-term management situations. The findings of this research-that managers develop and rely more heavily on personal information systems involving direct observation, relationships, and frequent contacts both within and outside their firms than on formal systems supported by elaborate technology-contrast sharply with the beliefs of many systems designers and traditional information providers. Bruns' research suggests that information systems designs should consider physical location, available communications channels and tools, measurement metrics, and frequency of information updates. Bruns is currently extending his work from the discovery stage to the development of parameters for system design and a search for organizations that have used such parameters in systems that have satisfied managers' information needs.