Here is another perspective on Figure 1.3 and Figure 1.6 by Nolan and Wetherbe, two heavyweights in the MIS area. The key point of the framework is that the five elements of an MIS, the hardware, software, database, procedures, and personnel, all work in an integrated effort to convert inputs into outputs. The "most important" element is the personnel. When most people think of an MIS, they think of computer types: programmers, analysts, operators, and networking technicians. These people are indeed part of the personnel, but the most important personnel are the business' managers and users. These are the end users (pg. 12) for whom the MIS exists. As the text author states on page 20, all information systems exist solely to SUPPORT the organization.