Abstract:

This paper deals with information systems in a department store environment (as a large retailer). Management information is mainly concerned with short-range problems, since retailers in general and department store retailers in particular manage in a fast changing environment. The typical systems structure of a retail organization is shown and then some of the more important, computerized internal information systems are discussed:- investment budgeting as an important tool for decision making in a fast growing industry; -money budgeting and control systems as the predominant basis of running the daily business; -merchandise unit control systems, the upcoming instrument for better merchandising decisions. Special emphasis is given to some technological questions like data capture and the advance of distributed computing intelligence.