Library and information managers rarely engage in fundamental systems design. Increasingly, the library and information manager is not designing a system, but rather selecting the most appropriate system or software package and then tailoring a hardware configuration and a system to a specific application. This is a role that managers in other areas will also increasingly encounter. This overview reviews the applicability of existing information systems methodologies for library systems. A unique hierarchical structure and coding system has been developed applicable to all drug activities.
Online searches are possible enabling retrieval of data hitherto obtained with difficulty.
Side effects profiles can be predicted or determined. Drug strategies and research programmes can be planned efficiently since it is also possible to obtain molecular structure details. Drug activities which have been abandoned are also easily accessed so that negative research avenues can be avoided. The components of IIS as conceptualized are discussed and a functional structure of IIS is suggested.