Have you ever thought that your decision making would be a lot easier if only you could get the information you really need out of the MIS, not just the 'standard reports' that are on offer. Yes, I know all the systems promise simple ad hoc reporting but few seem to deliver in practice. Many of the managers I work with still need to rely on an overworked IT department to provide them with customised information.

The future may be better, according to this report. If, as the report suggests, Google – masters of simplicity – develop tools for managers to sort through the mountains of data stored in their systems, many more decisions might be made based on fact rather than feel. We'll watch with interest.