This paper outlines several considerations relating to the preparation of information systems for educational managers. College and university managers must have clearly stated needs for planning and management information and the potential uses to which such information could be put. Information systems should be created to satisfy operational reporting demands placed on the institution as well as to provide knowledge of the institution to support rational decision-making. Specific suggestions include that the managerial strengths and shortcomings of institutional decision-makers be identified before the information systems are developed and implemented; the difference between operational and managerial uses of information systems must be identified; and the uses of decision information must be identified. Challenges to the system developer to better understand the information needs of the institutional decision-makers include becoming familiar with the decision-making styles of the institutional managers; helping initiate changes in operational reporting systems to enhance their utility in providing management information; and recognizing that integrating management information considerations with the needs for operational reporting systems is an inevitable compromise that causes the data system to be less than perfect for some of its users. (JMF)