COMPUTER-BASED PERFORMANCE INFORMATION FOR EXECUTIVES IN LOCAL-GOVERNMENT

Performance information is crucial to effective management. Computer-b ased information systems (CBIS) now play a significant role in the eff ective delivery of information to senior managers. Executive informati on systems (EIS) are emerging as popular tools to assist organisations in their strategic decision-making processes. This trend has spread f rom the private to the public sector, and is now evident in Australian government organisations. This article draws on the findings of a sur vey into the uses and benefits of CBIS and EIS, from a sample of Austr alian local government organisations. The study shows that lessons fro m the private sector are being heeded by system developers in public o rganisations, leading to successful EIS projects, or at beast improved CBIS. The study indicates that EIS, which were originally developed f or profit-oriented private companies, are now seen as appropriate for many public sector organisations, providing effective delivery of info rmation to senior managers. Survey results indicate that improved info rmation systems give executives a more accurate picture of their organ isation's performance and so provide support for improved strategic de cision-making. In addition, EIS are seen by respondents as offering si gnificant benefits not only to managers but also to the rest of the or ganisation.