A management information system can give a business a competitive edge, since its managers have a better grasp of how the organization operates and can adjust faster than competitors.

A management information system is a computer system that collects data and aggregates it into information that supports managerial decision making.

The baseline system typically contains a prepackaged set of reports that are constantly updated and which authorized users can access at any time.

A more advanced system includes a query capability that allows users to create their own reports and conduct “what if” simulations.

A management information system can be used to address specific problems that pop up in an organization, or to support tactical or strategic changes.