THE RISING DEMAND FOR ACCOUNTABILITY ON THE PART OF HUMAN SERVICE PROGRAMS IS NOTED, AS IS THE CONSEQUENT NEED FOR HUMAN SERVICE ADMINISTRATORS TO DEVELOP MANAGEMENT SKILLS, INFORMATION SYSTEMS, AND METHODS OF PLANNING, ORGANIZING, CONTROLLING, AND LEADING. DESIGN REQUIREMENTS FOR A HUMAN SERVICE INFORMATION SYSTEM ARE DISCUSSED, AND THE MANNER IN WHICH THE CRITERIA WERE APPLIED IN THE ORANGE COUNTY INFORMATION SYSTEM IS DESCRIBED. THE DESIGN REQUIREMENTS STIPULATE THAT A HUMAN SERVICE INFORMATION SYSTEM DEFINE HOW CURRENT RESOURCES ARE BEING SPENT, DETERMINE PATTERNS OF SERVICE DELIVERY, PROVIDE MONITORING AIDS FOR PROGRAM MANAGERS, PROVIDE DATA TO MEET THE MULTIPLE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS OF FUNDING AGENCIES, AND GENERATE DATA FOR PLANNING PURPOSES. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE ORANGE COUNTY SYSTEM COVERS FIVE COMPONENTS OF THE DESIGN PROCESS: ENVIRONMENTAL CIRCUMSTANCES; DEVELOPMENTAL PROCESS; OVERALL DESIGN; INPUT DOCUMENTS; AND OUTPUT REPORT. PROBLEMS IN DESIGNING AND OPERATING A MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM INCLUDE THOSE RELATED TO THE INVOLVEMENT OF SERVICE AND SUPPORT PERSONNEL, CONFIDENTIALITY, HANDLING AND ANALYZING DATA, MAINTAINING FLEXIBILITY AND RESPONSIVENESS TO INFORMATION NEEDS, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INFORMATION SYSTEMS AND RESEARCH, AND THE ROLE OF CONSULTANTS IN SYSTEM DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION. TABLES SUMMARIZE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION: THE TYPE, PREPARATION, AND CONTENT OF THE ORANGE COUNTY INFORMATION SYSTEM'S INPUT DOCUMENTS; THE TYPE, USE, AND CONTENT OF THE SYSTEM'S OUTPUT REPORTS USED IN MANAGEMENT DECISIONMAKING; AND THE DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, AND OPERATING COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN ORANGE COUNTY AND ANOTHER COUNTY. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)