Most UK universities can trace their current management information systems back to significant investments made in the 1990s, largely fuelled by concerns about the millenium bug and a change from character interfaces to graphical user interfaces following the introduction of the personal computer. It was during this period that institutions also moved away from predominantly in-house developed systems to supplier-led solutions. In essence, two models emerged: (1) Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP); and (2) "Best of Breed". The former is a model where an organisation's systems are sourced from one supplier and all aspects are theoretically fully integrated "out of the box". On the other hand, "Best of Breed" approaches are those where institutions select separate systems for each area of functionality according to individual specifications. Whether an ERP or Best of Breed, a university's administrative IT structure typically comprises three core systems: (1) student records; (2) finance; and (3) human resources, as well as a range of other specialist systems supporting the estate, facilities, residences, alumni, planning etc. Each individual system provides a multitude of functions. In this article, the author argues that disaggregation of systems into their component elements is essential to understanding opportunities and enabling efficiencies with new modes of service delivery such as shared services. The author presents examples that demonstrate how technological solutions may be adopted to enable new approaches to managing higher education institutions. A possible four-stage model of how to transition towards different service provision is also offered. The author closes the paper with some final reflections. (Contains 2 tables and 4 figures.)