The development of management information systems in the British coal industry, c 1880-1947

The issue of how business decisions are made is an important one for business historians, but its analysis is by no means simple or straight-forward. In an attempt to provide some insights into this matter, this article examines evidence of the development of management structures and management information systems in British coal companies between about 1880 and nationalisation in 1947. The study concludes that increasing complexity of management structures was accompanied by greater sophistication of management information systems. Whether this resulted in improved decision making is a matter that requires further investigation.