A possible starting point for developing a successful Eis is to leam from other
companies' experiences. One of the oldest, most successful systems is the Management
Information and Decision Support (MIDS) system at Lockheed-Georgia.
Houdeshel and Watson identified the following keys to the success of MIDS: a
committed executive sponsor, carefully defined system requirements, a team approach
to systems development, an evolutionary development approach, and carefully selected
computer hardware and software. Rockart and DeLong studied 30 Eis and
identified additional keys to success: an operating sponsor, a clear link to business
objectives, management of data problems, management of organizational resistance,
and management of spread and evolution.