Showing papers in "Information Systems Management in 1985"
TL;DR: The services, user decisions, problems, and successes of their information centers are investigated, which should prove useful to information center managers and MIS executives attempting to cope with the growth of end-user computing in their organizations.
Abstract: As end-user computing becomes increasingly important in all kinds of businesses, many organizations are responding by installing information centers. This study, based on a survey of 25 diverse organizations within a large metropolitan area, investigates the services, user decisions, problems, and successes of their information centers. The results should prove useful to information center managers and MIS executives attempting to cope with the growth of end-user computing in their organizations.
54 citations
19 citations
TL;DR: Mechanisms and procedures that MIS departments can use to discover clients' needs, inform clients about MIS services, and notify clients of actions taken to resolve reported problems, thereby increasing client satisfaction are described.
Abstract: An MIS department is essentially a service organization whose central mission is to meet the needs of its customers, or clients. Effective communication is essential to the fulfillment of this mission. This article describes mechanisms and procedures that MIS departments can use to discover clients' needs, inform clients about MIS services, and notify clients of actions taken to resolve reported problems, thereby increasing client satisfaction.
7 citations
TL;DR: This article presents time- and money-saving alternatives to traditional software development methods and provides guidelines for selecting the best alternative for a given application.
Abstract: As a result of the escalating demand for new applications and the ever-increasing cost of developing them, many MIS departments are besieged by backlogs as well as time and cost overruns. This article presents time- and money-saving alternatives to traditional software development methods and provides guidelines for selecting the best alternative for a given application.
7 citations
5 citations
TL;DR: A case study describes the application of prototyping to the development of a budget system and points out the approach's observed advantages and disadvantages.
Abstract: Prototyping is an emerging methodology with great potential for systems analysis and design. This case study describes the application of prototyping to the development of a budget system and points out the approach's observed advantages and disadvantages.
5 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examine the four stages in which technology is absorbed by society, noting the trend toward increasing dependence on computer systems and propose action on several fronts, including: • •Legislation to regulate the collection, storage and distribution of information in government and business • • education to inform the public regarding the nature of the problem • •standards developed by the computer industry to safeguard computerized information • •centralization of resources at the federal level to study the problem and recommend solutions • • individual vigilance.
Abstract: Information privacy has emerged as a key international issue among information systems professionals and society in general. In tracing the development of this concern, the author first examines the four stages in which technology is absorbed by society, noting the trend toward increasing dependence on computer systems. Important privacy debates in the international arena will then be reviewed in order to illustrate that information privacy is a fundamental right in a democratic society. To counter threats to this right, the author proposes action on several fronts, including: • •legislation to regulate the collection,storage and distribution of information in government and business • •education to inform the public regarding the nature of the problem • •standards developed by the computer industry to safeguard computerized information • •centralization of resources at the federal level to study the problem and recommend solutions • •individual vigilance.
4 citations
TL;DR: One company's application of a structured approach to productivity measurement is examined and it is found that this approach strikes some balance between efficiency and effectiveness.
Abstract: Productivity has rapidly become the watchword of the 1980s in MIS departments—the constant subject of systems-related periodicals and books, products, and services. Such emphasis gives rise to two major issues. First, productivity has meaning only within the context of corporate and departmental goal structures. Second, productivity must strike some balance between efficiency and effectiveness. This article explores these concepts and examines one company's application of a structured approach to productivity measurement.
3 citations
TL;DR: A DBMS package is the single most costly piece of software an organization ever purchases or develops, however, the probability of reaching the decision to develop this software is remote, and a practical methodology is needed to guide this process.
Abstract: A DBMS package is the single most costly piece of software an organization ever purchases or develops. Because of the increased cost of personnel, however, the probability of reaching the decision to develop this software is remote. As a result, the correct selection must be made the first time, and a practical methodology is needed to guide this process.
3 citations
TL;DR: These new modes of exchanging ideas and products between MIS staff and users are defined and a job rotation program is described along with its potential benefits.
Abstract: There are three forces behind the need for a well-designed job rotation program in which MIS personnel are systematically exchanged with others in non-MIS areas: a history of poor relations between the MIS department and the rest of the company, the rapid growth in the use of computers by non-MIS staff, and the development of new ways of exchanging ideas and products between MIS staff and users. This article defines these new modes and describes a job rotation program along with its potential benefits.
3 citations
TL;DR: Because network planning, implementation, and maintenance require skills not usually found in a batch-oriented DP environment, training is critical.
Abstract: Planning and implementing a data communications network is a complex task involving organizational as well as technical issues. The network design process must be integrated with the organization's business goals and strategies. Because network planning, implementation, and maintenance require skills not usually found in a batch-oriented DP environment, training is critical.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a survey of manufacturing plants in the U.S. and abroad that have already switched from human factory operators to robots, and many more are planning the switch.
Abstract: Several manufacturing plants in the U.S. and abroad have already switched from human factory operators to robots, and many more are planning the switch. Planning for robotics is not the sole province of manufacturing engineers and productivity experts, however; MIS managers will be called upon to integrate robot-controlling computers with management information systems.
TL;DR: In diversified companies, differences in products and information processing systems are justification for making each profit center carry full operational and investment responsibility for its own disaster recovery program.
Abstract: In diversified companies, differences in products and information processing systems are justification for making each profit center carry full operational and investment responsibility for its own disaster recovery program. At General Electric, commonalities in facilities and equipment led to a centralized, internal approach that conserved investments and vitalized each profit center's recovery plan.
TL;DR: Widespread use of microcomputers, especially when coupled with their ability to communicate with larger systems, requires early formulation and implementation of security and control procedures that differ substantially from those established in mainframe environments.
Abstract: Despite their many benefits, microcomputers can dramatically increase the vulnerability of an organization's information system. As these devices are integrated in an organization, computer hardware, software, and data become widely dispersed, enabling more individuals to access information. Widespread use of microcomputers, especially when coupled with their ability to communicate with larger systems, requires early formulation and implementation of security and control procedures that differ substantially from those established in mainframe environments.
TL;DR: The challenges in building good search engines are discussed and the PageRank algorithm efficiency for different density gr aph (representing analyzed part of www) coefficient values is analyzed.
Abstract: In this paper the challenges in building good searc h engines are discussed. Many of the search engines use well-known information re trieval algorithms and techniques. They use Web crawlers to maintain their ind ex atabases amortizing the cost of crawling and indexing over the millions of queri es received by them. Web crawlers are programs that exploit the graph structure o f the Web to move from page to page. Paper analyses the PageRank algorithm one of th se Web crawlers. The results of the impact of the PageRank parameter value on th e effectiveness of determining the so-called PageRank vector are considered in the pap r. Investigations are illustrated by means of the results of a some simulation experiments to analyze the PageRank algorithm efficiency for different density gr aph (representing analyzed part of www) coefficient values.
TL;DR: The MIS manager who understands the dynamics of software engineering can foster a software environment that will successfully support the objectives of his or her client base.
Abstract: Although advances in computer technology have given organizations greater, more reliable, and less expensive information processing capabilities, developments in software have generally not kept pace. The MIS manager who understands the dynamics of software engineering, however, can foster a software environment that will successfully support the objectives of his or her client base.
TL;DR: Every software system, whether designed for commercial or noncommercial use, must be documented, and it should be geared to users' needs and knowledge.
Abstract: Every software system, whether designed for commercial or noncommercial use, must be documented. Documentation must be geared to users' needs and knowledge; it should be neither too technical nor too simple. The quality of documentation is a major determinant of how well a system is received and how widely it is used.
TL;DR: How the information center can provide users with an increasingly wide range of support services and offers guidelines on their controlled implementation is described.
Abstract: Once the information center has been successfully established, its services can be expanded and its number of users increased. This article describes how the information center can provide users with an increasingly wide range of support services and offers guidelines on their controlled implementation.
TL;DR: Fourth-generation languages can dramatically reduce the applications backlog plaguing today's MIS organizations, but like any tool, these systems may not generate the payoff originally expected.
Abstract: Fourth-generation languages (4GLs) can dramatically reduce the applications backlog plaguing today's MIS organizations. These languages represent the foundation of a complete, integrated data base environment designed for sophisticated users and programmers. Like any tool, however, these systems may not generate the payoff originally expected.
TL;DR: The normalized approach to data base design provides for data bases that satisfy user needs and establish a logical design done only once regardless of the DBMS or computer system that will subsequently use the data.
Abstract: Today's users want to access their data through fourth-generation languages, or 4GLs, and microcomputers. More flexible data bases are required to satisfy this growing need. These data bases must be based on the data as perceived by users, not as viewed by a system—the normalized approach to data base design provides for this. Data bases can be built that satisfy user needs and establish a logical design done only once regardless of the DBMS or computer system that will subsequently use the data.
TL;DR: Office automation has the potential to recruit each and every worker to use the technology in order to ask, “How can I do my job better?”
Abstract: Staying competitive in an uncertain, rapidly changing environment is a challenge for even the best-managed companies. Therefore, the energy and creativity of every worker must be enlisted to this end. Office automation (OA) can encourage this participation faster and more effectively than almost any other mechanism—and at a lower cost. OA has the potential to recruit each and every worker to use the technology in order to ask, “How can I do my job better?”
TL;DR: The requisites, compares candidate sources, and a decision matrix for establishing a user-oriented office automation function are described.
Abstract: The MIS manager has a vested interest in helping to establish and staff a user-oriented office automation function The ideal candidate for heading this function must possess the right combination of technical and management skills This article describes the requisites, compares candidate sources, and presents a decision matrix for establishing this organizational function
TL;DR: Through the development and use of an application systems plan, MIS management can improve user relations while effectively managing the backlog of new user requests.
Abstract: The activities of the MIS organization can profoundly influence the effectiveness and efficiency of the user community. Through the development and use of an application systems plan, MIS management can improve user relations while effectively managing the backlog of new user requests. This is accomplished by providing the focus and direction necessary to solve the right problem in the right sequence with the right resources.
TL;DR: The major benefits and pitfalls of the microcomputer-mainframe link are identified and several rudimentary configurations are outlined.
Abstract: Although the microcomputer-mainframe link offers benefits that make it an inevitable consequence of microcomputer use in large- and medium-sized organizations, severe managerial and technological impediments must still be overcome before microcomputers can routinely access mainframe data and software. This article identifies the major benefits and pitfalls of the microcomputer-mainframe link and outlines several rudimentary configurations.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss compatibility versus connectivity in local area networks. But they focus on the compatibility of the local area network and not on the connectivity of the network itself.
Abstract: (1985). Local Area Networks: Compatibility Versus Connectivity. Journal of Information Systems Management: Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 87-90.