The concepts of need and needs assessment are examined in the context of information needs for college administrators. A description is included of the conceptual framework underlying the Needs Assessment Information System (NAIS), which was developed by the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems. Attention is directed to: (1) establishing the goals and objectives for a needs assessment study; (2) identifying the audiences for the needs assessment study; (3) determining the information requirements for the study (including who will determine need, whose needs will be examined, and the kind of needs that will serve as the focus); (4) selecting sources of information for collecting and/or compiling the required needs information; (5) collecting and compiling information; (6) analyzing the needs information that has been collected and/or compiled; (7) reporting the needs information to the audiences for the study; and (8) using needs information in the management process. For each of these topics, exercises are included to assist an institution to design their own NAIS. Comparison sheets also allow examination of alternative sources, methods and personnel for collecting and compiling needs information, methods for analysis, and methods for reporting needs information. A five-page bibliography is included. (SW)