USE OF SYSTEMATICALLY DEVELOPED INFORMATION IN THE MANAGEMENT DECISIONMAKING PROCESS CAN TURN THE COMPUTER FROM A PRACTICAL TOOL INTO A PERTINENT MANAGEMENT ASSET. INFORMATION SYSTEM CAPABLE OF MANAGMENT SUPPORT REQUIRES MANAGERIAL DIRECTION DURING THE DESIGN PROCESS AND A TEAM EFFORT INVOLVING INPUT FROM PROGRAM DESIGN PERSONNEL, PROGRAMMERS, OPERATORS, AND USERS. FROM A MANAGEMENT POINT OF VIEW, DEVELOPMENT OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM CONTAINS A NUMBER OF PHASES. EACH DEVELOPMENT PROJECT STARTS WITH A REQUIREMENT FOR INFORMATION. THE USER PRESENTS HIS BASIC INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS TO MANAGEMENT. FOLLOWING STUDY, THE SYSTEM ANALYST PROPOSES SOLUTIONS TO THE REQUIREMENT, ESTIMATED COST, AND ASSUMPTIONS AND CONSTRAINTS AFFECTING THE PROPOSAL AS WELL AS ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS. THE MANAGEMENT TEAM REVIEWS THE FACTS AND MAKES A DECISION BEST MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE AGENCY. THIS PROCESS IS REPEATED AT THE END OF THE DESIGN PHASE AND AGAIN AFTER THE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE. THUS MANAGEMENT REMAINS FULLY INFORMED, MAKES THE CRUCIAL DECISIONS, AND ENSURES THAT THE SYSTEM WILL MEET MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES. A METHOD FOR ENSURING THE INTEGRITY OF THE INFORMATION IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A STEERING COMMITTEE WHICH APPLIES THE POLICY AND GUIDANCE OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE TO THE REQUIREMENTS EXPRESSED BY THE USER IN ESTABLISHING THE AGENCY INFORMATION PLAN. DEVELOPMENT OF A DYNAMIC INFORMATION SYSTEM PLAN IS RECOMMENDED AS A MANAGEMENT TOOL WHICH TIES TOGETHER AGENCY POLICIES AND OBJECTIVES AS THEY RELATE TO INFORMATION REQUIREMENTS. IT IS UP TO MANAGEMENT TO DETERMINE WHAT THE CONCEPT AND ORGANIZATIONAL STATUS OF THE AUTOMATED INFORMATION SYSTEM WILL BE: ONLY THROUGH EFFECTIVE CONTROL CAN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT EXECUTIVE BE A MASTER OF THE SYSTEM. THE QUALITY AND RELIABILITY OF THE INFORMATION IS AFFECTED DIRECTLY BY THE COMPLETENESS OF MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE DURING DEVELOPMENT. THE ULTIMATE GUAGE OF EFFECTIVENESS IS AN INFORMATION SYSTEM WITH THE QUALITY AND RELIABILITY NECESSARY FOR GOOD LAW ENFORCEMENT. (JAP)