MIS failures can be expensive and bring bad publicity to all parties. They can arise due to:

·       Inadequate analysis  - problems, needs and constraints aren’t understood in the early stages

·       Lack of management involved in the design – wrong expectations of a new system / no-one understands the system

·       Emphasis on the computer system – Need procedures for handling input and output / select the right hardware and software

·       Concentration on low-level data processing – Information must be easily accessible and understood

·       Lack of management knowledge of ICT systems and capabilities – managers know what they want from the system but don’t understand the technology

·       Lack of teamwork – An ICT manager must co-ordinate the accounts, marketing, sales etc. departments and help everyone understand the benefits of the system

·       Lack of professional standards – All systems need clear documentation that all users can understand (not just the ICT literate)