Library and Information Science

The purpose of the paper is to define the real role and place of managerial functions in information systems.

The paper first defines and clarifies the concepts of “systems” and “information” which are conceptual components of information systems, with special discussion of the confusion which results because the both terms have multiple meanings in Japanese. Elements of information processes are then described including explanation of the capabilities of information sub-systems which may perform logical processes, such as information storage and retrieval, decision making, controlling. Such sub-systems are diagrammed as integral parts of an information system.

An analysis of information systems is made in terms of the responsibilities and roles of the components, whether human or material. As a result of the analysis, to light are brought the operational and designing functions of information systems, but not the managerial functions in them.

This leads to the last topic of the paper, which is concerned with processes of management infomation. The functions of the management in an information system are carefully examined and discussed to clarify its internal role. If we regard information systems processing information in storage and for retrieval, in planning or decision making, and in controlling, as sub-systems of an information system which handles management information, operation information and system design information respectively, we can see that a typical information system is a unified complex whole of three information sub-systems, handling management information, operation information and system design information respectively. It furthermore consists of information sub-sub-systems, each processing information in storage and for retrieval, in planning or decision making, and in controlling. As to the interrelation of the three information sub-systems, a hypothetical presentation is made that a distinct and separate dimension should be allocated to each of the three sub-systems. The concept of a hypothetical three-dimensional structure of a typical information system is schematically shown in the last figure in the text.