A guide to understanding the major environmental and procedural factors in planning state-level information systems is presented. Attention is directed to: assessment of the developmental environment (agency authority and role, institutional concerns), selection of a procedural approach to information-system planning, assessment of information needs generally, selection and evaluation of specific data elements, and assessment of resource requirements (staffing, computer and systems support, and institutional costs). The way that organizational and individual behavior affect information-system design is considered, along with the influence of the agency's planning environment and institutional relationships on the information-system planning process. Stages of organizational development, stages of individual development, and organizational decision-making processes are identified. The following environmental considerations are addressed: the state agency's managerial role, staff style, length of experience with state-level data reporting, and costs and benefits. Additional topics include the importance of documentation, a framework for information system planning, and identifying sources of data and definitions. Background information on the State-Level Information Base project is included. (SW)