Top Management Problem Solving and Information Systems

This paper presents the results of a exploratory study of problem solvingby top management in a sample of firms. The purpose of the research is todetermine the nature of the information needed by top management and the roleof computer-based system in suppling it. The paper classifies problemsaccording to their nature and explores the information sources used to solvethe problems. It is clear that computer-based information can aid in thesolution of some of these top management problems, but probably throughunconventional systems. The implications of the study for systems design arediscussed