In an effort to shed light on the questions surrounding the use and impact of computer-based information systems, the Special Projects Division of the Minnesota Educational Computing Consortium undertook a field-based study of a computer-based information system that can process and produce information dealing with students, curriculum, personnel, facilities/equipment/supplies, and finances. The system is made available through Total Information for Educational Systems (TIES), a cooperative developed and operated by 50 school districts in Minnesota. Indepth interviews were held with 134 employees in eleven of the 50 districts. The employees perform a wide variety of functions categorized as dealing with strategic planning, management control, and operations control. The pervasiveness of the more observable and tangible benefits (timesavings, more accurate and timely data, the capability to schedule classes more flexibly, the capability to decentralize budgetary development and control, and easier reporting to external agencies) and the potential for realizing the more intangible benefits (better decision-making, better long-range planning, more effective resource management, more time to work with people, and better educated students) lead to the conclusion that the investment of time and money in a computer-based information system yields very worthwhile returns. (Author/IRT)