Final answer:
The initial step for a laboratory manager selecting an LIS is to decide on the services needed for the lab.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first step a laboratory manager must take in the selection of a laboratory information system (LIS) is to decide on services needed.
This involves determining the system of interest and identifying the requirements of the laboratory, which is analogous to identifying what information is given and what quantity is to be calculated in problem-solving steps.
Before sending out a request for proposal (RFP), selecting a computer vendor, or selecting an LIS team, it is essential to comprehensively understand the services the laboratory needs, which will inform all subsequent decisions.