Measurement for Management Decision: A Perspective

Abstract

The process of measurement is examined from the viewpoint of management in this article. The manager is seen to have three dispositions toward the use of measurement: for the direction of his or her attention; for problem solving; and for scorecard keeping. In regarding organizations as purposeful systems, three levels of measurement for management decision are established: (1) organizational measurement; (2) individual measurement; and (3) societal measurement. The actual implementation of a measurement system for management takes the form of a management information system. Because measurement underlies each of the basic functions of a management information system, it is regarded as the sine qua non of foundations for a management information system design.