DEVELOPMENT IN MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS IN THE GLASSHOUSE HORTICULTURE IN THE NETHERLANDS.

Research of the so called 'Working Group Management Development'. (WMO) has proved that there exists a reliable relation between management quality and economic result of a firm.

On this basis the Dutch glasshouse horticulture organisation started activities to increase the management level of individual firms. One of the activities is directed to the improvement of the existing - and the development of new management information systems.

Systems developed through research were applied in practice. For example 'Bedrijfsvoering'. The relatively large amount of calculating and writing work however offers a mental barrier.

A necessary condition for any properly working management information system is the adequate recording of the actual firm data.

The importance of a good registration of firm data has been recognized by the growers (and others) in the last few years. Especially the possibility of exchanging experience with colleagues on the basis of solid data, attracts more attention to the firm registration.

With the increasing interest in firm registration there is also a growing interest in the automation of this registration. With a group of growers. members of the N.T.S. (The Dutch Studyclub organisation) a project is being carried out at the moment. The main goal is standardization of programs for individual registration with 'micro-computers.

Within the framework of this project starting points have been determined not only on registration but also for comparison and planning. The connection of this so called 'Bedrijfscomputer' with the (internal) process computer and (external) administration computers for data communication is part of this project.

The coordination of this project is in the hands of a committee of the growers organisation N.T.S. Research, advisory service and industry (auctions, auditing, bureaus) are partners in the committee.

At the same time research is going on about automation of the 'Bedrijfs Economisch Advies' given by the governmental advisory service to the individual grower. Also there will be some experiments with a new system called 'Management Advies'. The main goal of this system is to advise the grower about the possibilities of improving the quality of the management itself.

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