The perceived value of management information systems in a South African public institution

Background: Management Information Systems (MISs) act as support units that store, process, and organise information for organisations. However, poorly maintained MISs can adversely affect an organisation’s success or survival due to the inability to make quality decisions. Many public institutions face challenges in implementing MISs, making it essential to investigate the value derived from using MISs and the challenges associated with their implementation and use. Objectives: The objectives of the study were to determine the benefits of adopting a MIS in a public institution, identify the challenges of MIS utilisation, and address the difficulties experienced by the institution when using the MIS. Method: The objectives were addressed through a literature review and semi-structured interviews with 25 interviewees in the institution. Results: The MIS employed contributes positively to information sharing among managers, provides accurate data and helps with routine tasks. The challenges included that the MIS did not have all the desired features, such as filtering and the MIS is not always accessible and tends to break down when most managers simultaneously login to obtain information. Recommendations to address these issues were also provided. Conclusion: Although various challenges are experienced when using the MIS, it plays a vital role in enhancing the managers’ roles in the institution. Contribution: The study contributes to the information management body of knowledge by clarifying the challenges and benefits of implementing MISs in public institutions. Furthermore, it provides recommendations for overcoming these challenges, offering insights for other public institutions to consider before implementing an MIS. Keywords: management information systems; MIS; information management; public institutions; decision-making.