Managing Computers in Large Organizations

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Managing Microcomputers in Large Organizations http://www.nap.edu/catalog/167.html About this PDF file: This new digital representation of the original work has been recomposed from XML files created from the original paper book, not from the original typesetting files. Page breaks are true to the original; line lengths, word breaks, heading styles, and other typesetting-specific formatting, however, cannot be retained, and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted. Please use the print version of this publication as the authoritative version for attribution. THE USER ERA 129 Communication protocols. The Army is committed to the Defense Data Network (DDN) protocols (based on the seven-layer reference standard of the International Organization for Standardization). Systems that do not satisfy DDN will not be purchased. Operating systems. The Army will establish as preferred standards CP/ M for 8-bit micros and both UNIX (version V) and MS DOS for 16/32 bitmicros, with UNIX preferred. Local area networks. The Army will initially use ETHERNET protocols (CSMA/CD), but recognizes that it is probably too early in the development of this technology to commit to a single standard. Without doubt, society is in the midst of major change in its use of computer technology. Clearly, the seminal force is the availability of ever more powerful technology at relatively low cost. Computer literacy has increased at an exponential rate. The pressure on the software industry for more software products for the professional has exceeded its capability to respond. However, the industry has made specific user-oriented software products available. To shape a program that benefits from these varied forces the Army has chosen to provide top-down planning and broad architecture; bottom-up, userinitiated development; a procedure for giving visibility to user-developed software; a definition of the relative roles of the professional and the user; and a set of preferred standards to increase compatibility and minimize the cost of software. The specific course of action the Army has chosen will clearly be iterative. In nineteenth-century England a band of workmen known as Luddites tried to prevent the use of labor-saving machinery by destroying it. Obviously, this was not a very successful response to technological change. Managing today's computer technology also requires the ability to implement change appropriately. Those organizations that remain static will be the Luddites of tomorrow. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Managing Microcomputers in Large Organizations http://www.nap.edu/catalog/167.html About this PDF file: This new digital representation of the original work has been recomposed from XML files created from the original paper book, not from the original typesetting files. Page breaks are true to the original; line lengths, word breaks, heading styles, and other typesetting-specific formatting, however, cannot be retained, and some typographic errors may have been accidentally inserted. Please use the print version of this publication as the authoritative version for attribution. PERSONAL COMPUTING, NOT PERSONAL COMPUTERS 130 Personal Computing, Not Personal Computers Norman M. Epstein* At E.F. Hutton we do not believe in personal computers, but we do believe in personal computing. This is more than a semantic difference. It affects the technology applied, the philosophy we adhere to, and the planning that went into our system. Although we think our approach is very obvious and logical one, apparently others do not. It reminds me of the famous story of Louis Pasteur and the maggots. In Pasteur's day people believed that maggots came from decaying meat because every place there was decaying meat there were maggots. But Pasteur, being a scientist, took decaying meat, put it in a large bell jar, and covered the bell jar with gauze. He came back three days later and found the maggots on top of the gauze, proving that maggots came from gauze. In short, the system has to suit you. And if you look around, no one is wearing the same suit. Our organization would seem to be a perfect candidate for personal computers. We have 400 branch offices around the world and a campus in lower Manhattan with 6,000 people in 12 buildings. We have 9,000 people in the field, 6,000 account executives, and 3,000 people in support positions. Our goal has been to automate the operation in the field. Therefore, * Norman M. Epstein is executive vice-president and director of E.F. Hutton Group and E.F. Hutton and Company, Inc., New York, New York. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
Page 1 and 2:
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/167.html
Page 3 and 4:
Managing Microcomputers in Large Or
Page 5 and 6:
Page 7 and 8:
Page 9 and 10:
Page 11 and 12:
Page 13 and 14:
Page 15 and 16:
Page 17 and 18:
Page 19 and 20:
Page 21 and 22:
Page 23 and 24:
Page 25 and 26:
Page 27 and 28:
Page 29 and 30:
Page 31 and 32:
Page 33 and 34:
Page 35 and 36:
Page 37 and 38:
Page 39 and 40:
Page 41 and 42:
Page 43 and 44:
Page 45 and 46:
Page 47 and 48:
Page 49 and 50:
Page 51 and 52:
Page 53 and 54:
Page 55 and 56:
Page 57 and 58:
Page 59 and 60:
Page 61 and 62:
Page 63 and 64:
Page 65 and 66:
Page 67 and 68:
Page 69 and 70:
Page 71 and 72:
Page 73 and 74:
Page 75 and 76:
Page 77 and 78:
Page 79 and 80:
Page 81 and 82:
Page 83 and 84:
Page 85 and 86:
Page 87 and 88: Managing Microcomputers in Large Or
Page 137: Managing Microcomputers in Large Or
show all

Managing Computers in Large Organizations

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?