Problems in planning the information system.

Putting flesh on the concepts of planning is always a difficult thing to do, especially in a new and fast-moving area of activity like computer-based information systems. The author makes planning in this area more manageable by outlining the factors that a company must consider in developing its strategies. He also defines some administrative structures that have worked out well in practice--structures for developing the plans themselves and structures for planning control. Much of the information that is presented in this article has been gathered in recent studies of companies that have been effective in planning their systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]