To assist the formation of IMS (Instructional Management System) configurations, three categories of characteristics are developed and explained. Categories 1 and 2 emphasize automation, and the necessity of forming workable configurations to carry out instructional management for Southwest Regional Laboratory developed instructional and/or learning mastery systems. Category 3 delineates IMS school structural, test structural, and report structural characteristics. A wide range of criteria, in whose context the interaction of these characteristics is to be assessed, are also described, including cost-benefit, physical realizability and availability, reliability, maintenance, flexibility, and security. (SK)