Theoretical foundations for the design of executive information systems in equivocal environments

The paper suggests enhancements to executive information systems (EIS) aimed at reducing equivocality associated with the managerial activities of scanning, communicating, and delegating based upon mathematical models from the field of semiotics. Prior research has shown that these activities are significant components of managerial behavior. They are similar in that each entails the use of abbreviated messages to transfer information which represents a much larger body of knowledge. This paper investigates factors affecting equivocality in these activities and constructs an upper bound on the degree to which they can reduce equivocality