ABSTRACT
As development projects have grown more complex and ambitious, the demand for information and expectations about its utility for project decision making have risen accordingly. To develop an effective information system, project designers should identify the information requirements of each group of decision makers involved in the project. Managerial apprehensions can be overcome only if the project manager is actively involved in the design of the information system. To alleviate the managerial aspects of ineffective information systems, three tactics are recommended: overcoming managerial apprehension, overcomming staff apprehension; and participation by beneficiaries. Designers and implementers of development projects may choose to ignore the existing information base, particularly as it relates to previous development efforts. A realistic information strategy should be based on the prompt delivery of minimum, not maximum, amounts of data analyzed in a form that relates directly to the basic concept, assumptions, and development approach of the project.
