Managing Computers in Large Organizations

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.
MANAGING MICROCOMPUTERS AND END-USER COMPUTING SOME CRITICAL
ISSUES
timesharing systems do not meet those objectives. They are slow, and good
software for end users does not exist or is not made available. In these
cases the end user will find the micro preferable.
• Mainframes are expensive because of the multiuser overhead and the
communications costs.
If we recognize that any micro can act as a terminal and do much more,
and that micros are not much more expensive than a terminal, microcomputers
will probably be the preferred solution in terms of benefits.
Three additional developments will clinch the micro's advantage over
terminals: the capacity of micros is increasing; the friendliness of micro
software is improving; and the facilities to transfer data between micro and
mainframe, preferably in a way transparent to the user, are becoming available.
Soon the micro, combined with communications to the sources of data in
the mainframe, will be the dominant solution. (This combination of
microprocessor and communication, accompanied by good software, is termed
by some a “workstation.”)
In addition to these policy and technical considerations, we cannot forget
the individuality factor in our culture and how it will affect the use of micros.
Taking away or refusing to allow someone to have a micro will be like taking
away or refusing someone the use of an automobile. That is unthinkable in a
country where we have a hard time preventing even drunks from using
automobiles.
End-user computing, largely supported by micros, is obviously valuable. If
there is some reason to slow down or suppress the use of micros it must be
because of other issues, such as security or administrative decisions.
Security is a critical issue: making a system secure may also limit its
flexibility and usefulness. Such limitations prevent or slow down the
distribution of capabilities that aid creativity. Therefore, the goal is to make the
security procedures easy to use yet relatively impenetrable. A single key is not
hard to use. A lock requiring two people and two keys gets to be a nuisance.
When I was designing systems I had little concern for safety. The auditors
were there to worry about that, and their specific suggestions would be
implemented. Security, however, was not allowed to get in the way of ease of
operation. Today I think
87
Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.