FOR THE MIS MEET OBJECTIVES OTHER THAN REPORTING REQUIREMENTS IN THE MENTAL HEALTH FIELD, IT SHOULD BE VIEWED AS MORE THAN AN INFORMATION PROCESSING AND REPORTING SYSTEM. THE MIS IS ONE COMPONENT OF A COMPLEX ENVIRONMENT CONSISTING OF BOTH PHYSICAL REFERENTS AND HUMAN BEHAVIOR. IT COLLECTS, PROCESSES, AND OUTPUTS DATA, BUT THE SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM MUST MONITOR THE RELIABILITY OF THE INFORMATION REPORTED AND MEASURE THE CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE REPORTED DATA AND ACTUAL EVENTS. BEFORE A FUNCTIONAL MIS CAN BE SELECTED FOR A HUMAN SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEM, PROCESS AND PRODUCT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES MUST BE CLEARLY DEFINED. THE PRODUCT DESIRED (PARTICULAR BEHAVIORAL CHANGE IN CLIENTS, FOR EXAMPLE) SHOULD BE THE MEASURABLE OUTCOME OF CERTAIN PROCESSES (TREATMENT MODES). AN MIS SHOULD PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT WILL ENABLE DECISIONMAKERS TO DETERMINE IF THE INTENDED PRODUCT IS FORTHCOMING AND IF THE PROCESSES DESIGNED TO PRODUCE A CERTAIN OUTCOME ARE BEING ADEQUATELY FULFILLED. THE MIS CAN ALSO HELP IN DETERMINING WHETHER PARTICULAR PROCESSES DO IN FACT PRODUCE CERTAIN OUTCOMES. IF THE MIS DOES NOT SERVE THESE ENDS, ITS IMPACT UPON DECISIONMAKING, EVALUATION, AND ACCOUNTABILITY WILL BE LIMITED. COST CATEGORIES FOR THE MIS INCLUDE IMPLEMENTATION COSTS, DATA COLLECTION COSTS, MECHANIZATION COSTS, AND INFORMATION ACCURACY COSTS. THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN MIS IS DESCRIBED FOR A LARGE MENTAL HOSPITAL. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)