Designing and managing intelligent information systems: a decision-oriented open systems approach

Organizations are approaching an era in which intelligent information systems and advanced technology can replace all human functions. The goal of information systems researchers is to develop theories that allow organizations to construct, implement and manage these advanced information systems so that organizational goals are achieved. In this paper, a way of viewing an organization is proposed that facilitates the design of intelligent information systems and that helps predict the growth and impact of such systems on an organization. The view suggests that an organization be modeled as relationships between decisions. It also suggests that decisions be considered as the primary product of an open system: an open system that must be managed, maintained, and adapted to its environment. An illustration highlights the strengths and weaknesses of the decision-oriented approach