Systems for the Support of the Company Management

Abstract

One factor that particularly affects the competitiveness of a retailing company in the market is the availability of current management-relevant information supported by an adequate information and communications infrastructure. Information is a critical success factor, and, nowadays, business success results primarily from an information lead over the competitors. Executives need precise information from all areas of the company and from its environment. The large volume of operative data in retail information systems can not be considered as suitable as basis for making management decisions without sensible conditioning and possibly coupling of these data with information from external sources. Managers must be able to recognize any problem areas and to analyze their creation as fast as possible through the availability of meaningful key figures. The same key figures should be used for the support planning. Special management support systems (MSS) are needed here.