Executive information systems, company libraries and the future of information services in business.

The aim of the study was to investigate the development of Executive Information
Systems (EIS) in twenty large British companies and to also determine what role,
if any, the company library played. Also investigated was the future of the
library and other corporate information systems as a provider of information
services to business. A multiple-case study methodology was adopted for
carrying out the research. Interviews were conducted with nearly 70 respondents;
these included librarians, EIS developers and senior manager users of the EIS, and
EIS vendors.
All three corporate respondent groups have poor perception of Information
Management policy, politics and culture. Most EIS are developed using
prototyping or CSF method without reference to any frameworks or strategic
business plan, and a lack of co-operation from senior managers.
EIS are developed because of internal pressures. Their main use is as an
operational tool and for monitoring/analysis. EIS has made managers more aware
of information as corporate asset but few request improvements to the system.
Most EIS are successful and percolate further down the management hierarchy,
but they have not lived up to their original expectations. EIS impact on both the
library and company is slight.
Most librarians know about EIS, mainly by chance. Only four company libraries
were involved in the development of EIS because most EIS are internal financial
systems, and the library is seen as irrelevant. However, they are more likely to be
involved if the library reports to a corporate strategy department, be physically
near EIS teams, and personally know the EIS developers. Libraries are consulted
because they are seen as extemal data experts; their main role is acting as external
information consultants or as a conduit for external sources directly into the EIS.
Despite many librarians being proactive many also have a pessimistic view of
their future. They believe they are seen by senior management as increasingly
irrelevant and targets for cost cutting, and as such few openly promote themselves
within the company. However, the study also shows that librarians may have new
roles to play as information becomes much more widely accessible in business
through knowledge management technology such as Lotus Notes and intranets.