Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

Cooperative Information System
     
         (CIS) Networked computers which support
        individual or collaborative human work, and manage access to
        information and computing services.  Computation is done
        {concurrent}ly over the network by cooperative {database}
        systems, {expert system}s, multi-agent planning systems, and
        other software application systems ranging from the
        conventional to the advanced.
     
        (1995-05-11)