Historical MIS development: H.P. Luhn (IBM) and Stephen E. Forth pioneered an early computer application known as “selective dissemination of information” (SDI). Which name best identifies their contribution?

Introduction / Context:
Selective Dissemination of Information (SDI) was an influential concept in the formative years of Management Information Systems and information science. The idea was to automatically match newly arriving documents or records against standing user profiles and then route only the most relevant items to each user. H.P. Luhn of IBM is especially recognized for this line of work; the system operationalized personalized current-awareness services decades before modern recommender systems.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are asked to identify the specific application name associated with H.P. Luhn and Stephen E. Forth.
• Candidate terms include broader fields (information retrieval, document retrieval) and organizational systems (management information system).
• The historically correct, named contribution is SDI.

Concept / Approach:
SDI differs from generic “information retrieval.” Instead of ad hoc querying, SDI maintains user interest profiles and continuously filters streams of new content. This turns information delivery into a proactive, personalized service. Luhn’s broader contributions (e.g., KWIC indexing) advanced the practical mechanics of text processing needed for SDI to work at scale.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Historical accounts of early IBM information science projects cite Luhn’s SDI as a hallmark of personalized current-awareness systems, predating today’s recommendation engines.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Management information system: an enterprise umbrella concept, not the specific Luhn project.
• Information retrieval / document retrieval: broad disciplines; do not name the targeted application.
• None: incorrect because SDI is explicitly listed.

Common Pitfalls:
Conflating the general discipline of information retrieval with a particular named system; overlooking the proactive, profile-driven nature of SDI.

Final Answer:
selective dissemination of information