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The Panel was pleased to find that CityU has developed a series of very effective management information systems. In particular, the Executive Information System (EIS) is the major vehicle for providing all levels within the University with up-to-date management information covering budgets, staff, students, admissions and performance indicators. Functional applications for the system are developed in discussion with users and user surveys are conducted annually to access information about user requirements and feedback on the system. A user group for the EIS has also been established and meets periodically.
Information on EIS is available to all line managers, heads and their delegates. The main application is budget management and budget controllers are provided with budget information as at close of business the previous day. Ledger and payroll information is downloaded at the close of play each day to ensure that the information held on the EIS is up-to-date and accurate. EIS also shows projected commitments for the next 3 year period. Other applications on the EIS are updated as the source of information changes (e.g.. student numbers, staff statistics). Users can interrogate the EIS to meet their own needs and generally appear to be happy with the service provided. In addition to the above, each non academic department is given devolved authority to develop the most appropriate operational system for its purposes with support provided by the Computing Services Centre (CSC).
The Panel commends CityU for its considerable achievement in developing management systems which are effective in meeting the diverse needs of different users. However, it noted that CityU has not yet developed a wider MIS strategy across all areas of its academic and administrative activities and there is only limited co-ordination and integration across different offices. The Panel hopes that the recent establishment of an IT Working Party (convened by the Vice-President for Planning and Information) to prepare a MIS strategic plan will address this.
Lastly, the Panel was pleased to note that the University has completed an inventory of all central University computer and other equipment and is satisfied that there is no serious risk of the University being affected by the Year 2000 issue. The CSC has issued guidelines to faculties, departments and non academic departments to examine their own systems to ensure year 2000 compliance.
The Panel commends CityU for its considerable achievement in developing a series of very effective management information systems. However, it noted that CityU has not yet developed a wider MIS strategy across all areas of its academic and administrative activities and there is only limited co-ordination and integration across different offices. The Panel hopes that the recent establishment of an IT Working Party (convened by the Vice-President for Planning and Information) to prepare a MIS strategic plan will address this.