*SIM Competition Paper:* The Management Information and Decisin Support (MIDS) System at Lockheed-Georgia

The Management Information and Decision Support System (MIDS) has been supporting senior executives at Lockheed-Georgia for the past eight years. MIDS combines off-the-shelf hardware with in-house developed software to provide a system with unique capabilities. MIDS’ benefits include better information, improved communications, an evolving understanding of information requirements, a test-bed for system evolution, and cost reductions,. It is a success as measured by an assessment of benefits, frequency of use, and user satisfaction. Factors contributing ot the success of MIDS include a committed senior executive sponsor, carefully defined systems requirements, carefully defined information requirements, a team approach to systems development, an evolutionary development approach, and careful computer hardware and software selection.