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Executive information system

An executive information system presents senior managers with information for strategic and high-level control decisions. It may combine internal performance measures and external indicators, allow users to examine exceptions and provide access to underlying detail where appropriate. Selection, timeliness, quality and secure access are important because senior users can be misled by an attractive but incomplete dashboard. The system supports judgement; it does not itself choose strategy or guarantee that forecasts and measures are reliable.

Worked example

A board reviews a dashboard of margins, cash and market indicators, then investigates the underlying figures before approving an expansion.

Common mistake

Assuming a dashboard for executives is a substitute for reliable source data and informed judgement.

Where it appears in your exams

QualificationExamRelationshipPeriod
ACCA PM Direct September 2026–June 2027