The paper presents a comprehensive framework for research in Management Information Systems (MIS). The necessity for a more comprehensive research framework is derived from a review of past research frameworks. The new framework is validated by mapping 331 MIS doctoral dissertations into its research categories. The dissertations are also classified by research methodology employed. The comprehensive MIS research model is useful not only in understanding and classifying MIS research but also in generating potential hypotheses for future research. Hypothesis generation using the model is explained and illustrated.management information systems: computers

While the use and costs of Management Information Systems (MIS) have become highly visible, tittle attention has been paid to assessing and communicating system effectiveness. Evaluation of system effectiveness is difficult due to its multidimensionality. its quantitative and quafitative aspects, and the multiple. and often conflicting, evaluator viewpoints. This article provides an overview of what system effectiveness means and how it should be measured. It is the first of two articles to appear in consecutive issues of the MIS. Quarterly. Starting with a definition of system effectiveness, this article examines evaluation of system effectiveness in terms of a conceptual hierarchy of system objectives. The hierarchy is used to discuss problems in, and recommendations for, evaluating system effectiveness, and to compare MIS evaluation approaches. The second article characterizes and compares the evaluator viewpoints on system effectiveness for decision makers in several functional groups involved in MIS implementation-user, MIS, internal audit, and management. The second article recommends several MIS evaluation approaches for incorporating multiple dimensions and multiple evaluator viewpoints into evaluations of information system effectiveness.

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Journals constituting the formal communication system for Management Information System (MIS) research are described and analyzed. Six measures of journal importance in communicating MIS research are developed based upon MIS expert opinions, published MIS articles, and citation analysis. Four strata of journals are proposed utilizing a composite indicator of journal importance. The research has implications for MIS researchers seeking suitable publication outlets, for academic administrators evaluating research efforts, for editors wishing to establish MIS coverage policy, and for librarians making MIS journal acquisition decisions.

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