App Design for Use -- A Manager Perspective for In-Memory Technology

Information systems (IS) intended to help managers are known as management support systems (MSS). The present situation is favorable for a redesign that applies in-memory apps. Such apps promise to support managers with benefits ranging from reducing time for MSS data entry and analysis to new topics of analysis. Based on findings from a literature review and results from a workshop with an expert focus group validated with one-on-one manager interviews, we propose six guidelines for an app design that contributes to greater MSS acceptance: (1) A tile design for the entry-page. (2) A manager news ticker as starting point for self-service analysis. (3) An intuitive navigation known and appreciated from consumer IS. (4) A collaboration tool to foster joint managerial problem solving. (5) Exception reporting which includes personal exception limits and a push function. (6) In-memory apps should be evaluated by their capability to perform new types of analysis.