Executive information systems (EIS)

Executive information systems (EIS) are a class of information systems which support
the work of senior management by providing effective access to timely internal and
external information (Houdeshel and Watson 1987, Rockart and DeLong 1988, Wallis
1989, Armstrong 1990, O’Leary 1990, Paller and Laska 1990, Volonino 1992).

Most of the studies of EIS development and use have been of organisations in
Western industrialised countries. Many developing countries are investing heavily in
information technology. In particular, the newly industrialised countries of South-East
Asia depend upon information technology to support rapid economic growth and their
position in an extremely competitive commercial hemisphere. It follows that many large
organisations in developing countries will have implemented or are considering
implementing EIS to support their senior executives. “Are these systems successful? Are
they different to Western EIS? Are they developed differently?” are three fundamental
questions that have not been addressed by previous studies but are the subject of this
paper.
In this paper we describe EIS development in Thailand. Thailand has been used as a
representative developing country for this study. Thailand has a population of 60 million
with a per-capita income of $US2040 compared to the USA with US$24 750. Economic
growth is around 8.5% per annum. First, we present the research method used in this
study followed by a discussion of the nature of the Thai economic and political systems
and summary descriptions of EIS in four large organisations. The EIS development
processes are discussed in terms of political and economic pressures, development
strategies, EIS teams and technical constraints. Finally, some general observations are
made regarding EIS practice in developing countries.

Executive information systems (EIS) are a class of information systems which support
the work of senior management by providing effective access to timely internal and
external information (Houdeshel and Watson 1987, Rockart and DeLong 1988, Wallis
1989, Armstrong 1990, O’Leary 1990, Paller and Laska 1990, Volonino 1992).

Most of the studies of EIS development and use have been of organisations in
Western industrialised countries. Many developing countries are investing heavily in
information technology. In particular, the newly industrialised countries of South-East
Asia depend upon information technology to support rapid economic growth and their
position in an extremely competitive commercial hemisphere. It follows that many large
organisations in developing countries will have implemented or are considering
implementing EIS to support their senior executives. “Are these systems successful? Are
they different to Western EIS? Are they developed differently?” are three fundamental
questions that have not been addressed by previous studies but are the subject of this
paper.
In this paper we describe EIS development in Thailand. Thailand has been used as a
representative developing country for this study. Thailand has a population of 60 million
with a per-capita income of $US2040 compared to the USA with US$24 750. Economic
growth is around 8.5% per annum. First, we present the research method used in this
study followed by a discussion of the nature of the Thai economic and political systems
and summary descriptions of EIS in four large organisations. The EIS development
processes are discussed in terms of political and economic pressures, development
strategies, EIS teams and technical constraints. Finally, some general observations are
made regarding EIS practice in developing countries.

Executive information systems (EIS) are a class of information systems which support
the work of senior management by. Providing effective access to timely internal and
external information (Houdeshel and Watson 1987 Rockart and DeLong 1988 Wallis,,,
1989 Armstrong 1990, O ', Leary 1990 Paller and, Laska, 1990 Volonino 1992).

.Most of the studies of EIS development and use have been of organisations in
Western industrialised countries. Many developing. Countries are investing heavily in
information technology. In particular the newly, industrialised countries of South-East.
Asia depend upon information technology to support rapid economic growth and their
position in an extremely competitive. Commercial hemisphere.It follows that many large
organisations in developing countries will have implemented or are considering
implementing. EIS to support their senior executives. "Are these systems successful? Are
they different to Western EIS? Are they developed. Differently? "Are three fundamental
questions that have not been addressed by previous studies but are the subject of this. Paper
.
.In this paper we describe EIS development in Thailand. Thailand has been used as a
representative developing country. For this study. Thailand has a population of 60 million
with a per-capita income of $US2040 compared to the USA with US $24 750. Economic.
growth is around 8.5% per annum. First we present, the research method used in this
.Study followed by a discussion of the nature of the Thai economic and political systems
and summary descriptions of EIS. In four large organisations. The EIS development
processes are discussed in terms of political and, economic pressures. Development
strategies EIS teams, and technical constraints. Finally some general, observations are
made regarding EIS. Practice in developing countries.