Organizations used to make decisions based on their interactions with the environment. Information systems help managers by providing external information. However, most research on this topic is outdated. A recent study looked at how organizations get, share, and use external information. The study found that managers from all levels want external information, not just top managers. The type of information they want depends on their job function, not their position in the hierarchy. The study also found that managers don't always prefer the same ways of getting information as previously thought. These findings are important for people who design information systems.