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Management Information Systems (MIS), originally developed in the areas of accounting, management science, and computer processing, are now being applied to decision-making in educational settings. Definitions of MIS are numerous and often vague, but management systems (as distinguished from other information systems) should promote real-time management, incorporate computer-assistance, and support the decision-making process. Real-time management refers to management that occurs throughout all stages of an activity or program with feedback occurring continuously. Computer-assistance is essential to this process, and all activity should be designed to support decision-making. Most community colleges have utilized computers solely in operations functions--payrolls, student records and financial transactions. MIS can also be successfully utilized to implement administrative decisions and policies (control function), as well as aid in long-range planning and policy development (management function). The development of complete management information systems that can handle all these administrative areas--management, control and operations--requires joint effort of management personnel and systems analysts to identify goals and objectives and design a system adequate to meet those goals. (DR)