Management information systems are a combination of a wide array of databases that belong to different departments in an organization. An MIS is successful if all users are able to easily operate the system to do their jobs. Operational viability is the ease of use the system offers to all users within the organization. An MIS may be irrelevant or unsuccessful if users are having difficulties using it to manage information.
All users of management information systems need the ability to collate and exchange information, and communicate effectively. Information collated by the system is useless unless it is effectively communicated to the proper departments. The MIS needs to allow departments to collaborate to make important decisions.
Organizations deal with large quantities of information and are at the risk of information overload. The MIS must manage obsolete information and create space for new data. An effective MIS is also one that reduces downtime within the organization because it works too slowly or is clogged up with obsolete data.
The involvement of the management in the planning and implementation of an MIS is essential to the system's success. A company's main decision makers can assess how well the system is serving the organization's information needs. Cooperation from the management makes it easy to allocate resources to upgrading and maintaining the system. A lack of interest and cooperation from the management may mean the company is less productive with a poorly functioning MIS.