Executive information systems without executives

Executive information systems (EIS) are the most-recent computer-based information systems to have emerged with the intention of providing executives with the information they require to run their businesses. Some advocates of these systems see them as a panacea - the long-awaited moment when computing will provide meaningful and significant assistance to top management. However, others have questioned the extent to which these systems are suited to executive work, and see them as yet another passing fad in a field that has had more than its share of the same. This paper discusses some of the potential benefits to executives that have been identified in the literature as arising from the use of EIS. The results of a field study which investigated the extent to which EIS are actually used by executives are reported. The findings corroborate the now widespread finding that executives are not the main users of EIS. Some reasons for this are identified and possible remedies are suggested.