ABSTRACT

Once a SIS is started, the theories and data in a SIS are a potentially rich source of information for management. This information can be evaluated for understanding the past history, current state, or the likely future states of a target system. Understanding the current state and past history of a system helps identify problem areas that should be targeted by management. Being able to accurately predict the future effect of changes in the system helps management design appropriate interventions to either solve problems or optimize overall system performance. The use of a SIS to gain information is covered in the first section of this chapter.