Abstract
Modern time managers have access to many more data sources than managers of earlier times, and better instruments and resources to deal with large amounts of data. In principle, this means that they have a better command of facts and should be able to work out better assessments of their business environment. In reality, however, information overflow and problems with the quality and reliability of information complicate the picture.
We have a support system with intelligent agents to help managers conduct constantly active scanning and interpretation activities with hundreds of data sources. The system was built on a Java platform and has been enhanced and developed in several versions. The first implementation was at the Alko Group (the producers of the Finlandia vodka). The system is expected to provide mangers with a broad and comprehensive first approximation of environmental trends and events as needed, and will help them extract useful information from large volumes of data. (Originally presented at the ISDSS’99 Conference, Melbourne, July 19–22, 1999.)