The integrated information system element of the management information system concept has practical applications for management in the areas of both information analysis and decision-model building. Four basic options for achieving integration in operational data systems are: a default option, the coordinated file option, the distributed processing option, and the data base option. Arizona State University (ASU) has chosen a data base management system (DBMS) to coordinate disparate existing systems and eliminate extensive manual integration of data from the various systems. However, raising a budget for the project is not a simple matter. Difficulties also arise in convincing the diverse elements of a university's bureaucratic hierarchy to cooperate on a DBMS. At ASU, a Data Base Review Committee, representing major administrative areas, has been set up to encourage effective management/technical interaction and inter-departmental cooperation in data base development. (Author/LS)

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