Using a systematic, formal assemblage of components that performs data processing operations for any, or all, of the following purposes: meet legal and transactional data processing requirements; provide information to management for support planning, controlling, and decision-making activities; and provide a variety of reports, as required, to external constituents.
A formal information system includes some, if not all, of the following: data entry and preparation devices; data storage devices; telecommunications equipment; data processing equipment; terminal devices; procedures, programmes, methods, and documentation; data manipulation models (e.g. for accounting, budgeting, costing, inventory control etc); decision rooms with graph display boards and charts; duplicating devices; and personnel.