  Despite the benefits of school management information systems (SMIS), the
concept of data-driven school culture failed to materialize for many
educational institutions. Challenges posed by the quality of data in the big
data era have prevented many schools from realizing the real potential of the
SMIS. The paper analyses the uses, features, and inhibiting factors of SMIS.
The paper proposes a five-phase conceptual model that assist administrators
with making timely, quality decisions. The paper enriches the theoretical
landscape of SMIS usage in the era of big data and lays a foundation for the
future by establishing an educational decision-making model.
