Formal and Informal Information

Formal information system is used primarily for analysis, preparation and transfer of information. One of many tasks of managers is development of various types of presentation of the facts of any field of activity, reports, analyses, draft decisions. More on this topic: Management information system or Structure of strategic information system

Formal information system is composed of:

information resources (archives, databases),
information users (internal or external to the organization),
information needs of users (employees or managers),
communication subsystem (technology).

It is characterized by the following features:

performs the functions of identification, diagnostics, and problem solving,
resources and information needs of users are thematically related to various fields of management (for example: finance, human resources, production),

It is located in the organizational structure of the company as a IT division or IT department, but it can also function in a distributed system. Informal information system covers all areas of the organization that is not described by the formal organizational structure (organizational chart, procedures, work descriptions, organizational documentation). Any contact between employees, customers or suppliers which are not described in operational procedures enforced in the organization is a manifestation of the informal information system. Examples of such informal communication may be:

casual conversation
rumors about employees
customers
competitors
exchange of news on topics unrelated to work
messages in social media and blogs
conversation over coffee or lunch Both formal and informal information system coexist in the organization and are essential to its smooth functioning.