This document, part one of a two-part report, on the development of executive information systems was distributed to the California Educational Administrators participating in the "Executive Information Systems" Unit of Instruction as part of the instructional program of Operation PEP (Prepare Educational Planners). The framework described in this paper provides a comprehensive outline of the efforts involved in Management Information Systems' (MIS) evolutionary development. The particular focus in this part is on organizational problem-finding. The conceptual framework scopes the process of MIS planning and development, from need recognition to evolving MIS operational capabilities. An outline of the steps in MIS development is identified and the discussions associated with these steps indicate how the problem-finding and subsetting process can be tailored to the time and funds available. (Author/SG)