NCJ Number
64361
Date Published
1979
Length
27 pages
Annotation
ASPECTS OF MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS (MIS) EVALUATED FOR DRUG ABUSE PROGRAMS INCLUDE SUBSYSTEMS, INFORMATION PRESENTATION, AND IMPLEMENTATION. RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE MIS USE ARE INCLUDED.
Abstract
EXCEPTING SUBSYSTEMS PROVIDING INFORMATION ABOUT PROGRAM OPERATIONS, SERIOUS INFORMATION GAPS EXIST FOR DRUG ABUSE PROGRAM DECISIONMAKERS, ESPECIALLY ABOUT SERVICE NEEDS AND TREATMENT RESULTS. COUNSELORS RARELY RECEIVE USEFUL INFORMATION THROUGH CLIENT FILES OR OTHER MIS RECORDS. FISCAL SUBSYSTEMS, WHILE ADEQUATE FOR FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY, DO NOT HELP PROGRAM MANAGERS RELATE COSTS TO SPECIFIC SERVICES OR PROGRAM ACTIVITIES. FINALLY, PROGRAM STAFFS DO NOT RECEIVE ENOUGH INFORMATION ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH THEIR PROGRAMS FUNCTION. IMPORTANT TO MIS DESIGN IS DECISIONMAKERS' READY ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND FORMATS MEETING THEIR NEEDS. HOWEVER, IMPORTANT DATA IN MIS INFORMATION PRESENTATIONS ARE OFTEN OBSCURED BY LARGE AMOUNTS OF IRRELEVANT MATERIAL; MUCH DATA AVAILABLE IN PRINCIPLE TO DECISIONMAKERS AT THE COUNTY OR TREATMENT LEVEL IS NOT AVAILABLE IN FACT, OR IN A TIMELY WAY. ALSO DISCUSSED ARE DATA ACCURACY, QUALITY CONTROL PROCEDURES, SYSTEMS COSTS, AND THE NEED FOR AN MIS TO PROVIDE BROAD RANGES OF INFORMATION RAPIDLY AND IN NEW WAYS. DISCUSSION OF MIS IMPLEMENTATION COVERS MANAGEMENT AND USER SUPPORT, DATA COLLECTION AND DATA RECORDER SUPPORT, AND MANAGERS' FAILURE TO USE EXISTING MIS. RECOMMENDATIONS FALL INTO THE FOLLOWING CATAGORIES: INCREASING CONGRUENCE BETWEEN AVAILABLE INFORMATION AND DECISIONMAKING NEEDS, ENHANCING INFORMATION AVAILABILITY TO DECISIONMAKERS, REDUCING MIS REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR TREATMENT AND COUNSELING STAFF, AND INCREASING SUPPORT AT ALL LEVELS OF DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAMS. REFERENCES AND TABULAR INFORMATION ARE INCLUDED. (PAP)