Abstract Résumé

The information needs of fiscal and operating management differ in many ways. Historically, the problems of information system design for fiscal accounting and operating control functions have been treated separately. This paper describes the development of integrated information systems meeting both requirements. Examples include actual installations in the United States, Europe, Middle East and Latin America.

In addition to simultaneously meeting both fiscal and operating needs, these systems are:

  1. Designed for communication with on-line data acquisition and controlequipment.

  2. Designed to serve as a foundation for supervisory control systems.

  3. Designed on data base organizational concepts, and

  4. Self-organizing and correcting.

Les besoins d'information de la Direction en matière de comptabilité et de fonctionnement diffèrent à plusieurs points de vue. Jusqu'à présent on a traité séparément les problèmes liés aux systèmes d'information pour la comptabilité d'une part et pour le contrôle du fonctionnement d'autre part. Cet exposé décrit le développement de systèmes d'information combinés pour traiter les deux problèmes simultanément. Les exemples cités portent sur l'installation actuelle de certains de ces systèmes aux Etats-Unis, en Europe, au Moyen-Orient et en Amérique du Sud.

En plus du fait qu'ils satisfont les besoins de la comptabilité et de la conduite du fonctionnement, ces systèmes sont créés

  1. pour communiquer avec la ligne de recueil de l'information et avec l'équipement de commande,

  2. pour servir de base aux systèmes de contrôle de supervision,

  3. pour fonctionner d'après les principes d'organisation et d'utilisation des informations, et

  4. pour s'organiser et se corriger automatiquement.

INTRODUCTION

In examining the needs of fiscal and operating management as they relate to the development of information systems, we find frequent conflicts in objectives and methods. In recent years these conflicts have become important as a potential handicap in the development of complete information systems serving both groups. This paper will discuss the nature of these conflicts and indicate not only how they may be resolved, but show substantial secondary benefits to both groups from their resolution. The implications of this paper are not confined to operating and fiscal management alone, but may be extended to other areas such as marketing, supply and distribution, and exploration.

NEED FOR DEFINITION OF TERMS Reference is made to information systems, management information systems, general information systems, total information systems, information and control systems, and so on, with no real understanding or concept of what these terms mean or how they differ.

Therefore, before we can discuss the conflicts between fiscal and operating needs in the development and use

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