Infosys Design and Development

General and functional managers differ from end users in the following ways:

• General and functional managers are individuals within an organization who are in charge of a team, business unit, functional area or the entire organization. End users are the people that directly interact with software applications in order to perform specific activities (they can include general and functional managers).  
• General and functional managers are ultimately responsible for making decisions (such as the selection, implementation, support and maintenance of information systems as well as information systems resourcing) within an organization. End users are not responsible for this decision making (although as the users of the system their opinions could be solicited and taken into consideration during the decision making process).
• Since general and functional managers are responsible for making information technology decisions, it is important that they possess certain organizational focused skills and knowledge (such as the ability to work in partnership with information systems and technology professionals as well as some reasonable information technology knowledge) in order to do so. End users on the other hand often only require personal skills that enable them use the information technology i.e. the ability to proficiently use a computer.

The purpose of managers in regards to information systems is outlined below:

• Given as information systems often play a role in the successful implementation of an organization’s goals and objectives, it is important that managers are involved and knowledgeable about it so they are able to make informed decisions on its use to the benefit of the organization. This will ensure that information systems being implemented meet the organization’s needs.
• Since people are often resistant to change, it is not uncommon for employees to be opposed to the idea of adopting new information systems. As such, it is important that managers are involved in information systems. By partnering with the information systems professionals within the organization, managers are showing their support for the information systems which can help encourage subordinates to adopt the system.
• By being involved in the design and development of the information systems, managers can ensure that the system includes all the necessary features so that it is not seen as unusable or a failure by the end users.
• Managers are responsible for providing information systems resourcing and training within the organization.

Hi Jason

Thanks for your response.

In differentiating the use of information systems by both managerial and non managerial end uses, I would like to add that while non managerial end users, managers use information systems for such tasks as those considered to be operational and routine in nature, managerial end users make use of information systems for tasks that aid with decision  making