Abstract:
Data Processing is recognized to be an industry where the price/performance ratio of computer hardware has reduced drastically and consistently over the last 30 years. Bigger and more powerful computers are becoming available at increasingly competitive prices. In a classic comparison now quoted quite frequently, it is said that "If the auto industry had done what the computer industry has done over the last 30 years, a Rolls Royce would cost $2.50 and give 2 million miles per gallon. "However, inspite of very significant advances in technology, the idea popular in the early sixties of having a single corporate information system capable of providing required information 'to all levels of management (strategic, tactical and operational) has remained a dream. In fact today Data Processing Managers in Western Europe and North America are confronted with very considerable application systems backlogs measured in several man-years of effort. Even though computers are now used extensively in business data processing, the slow turn around for systems development requests has led to considerable disenchantment with the magical' computer by both top management and operational managers whose day to day requests for systems implementations are placed in a long queue by Data Processing Department. This has often led users to press for and obtain approval for decentralised DP shops attached to and under control of user departments themselves. Decentralisation of Data Processing facilities and services has partially alleviated the user's immediate problems. However, this has resulted in much more serious problems such as data resource fragmentation, duplication and inconsistency. It is now recognised that data is a valuable corporate resource.
Page(s):
13-18
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Pakistan Steel Journal, Volume: , Issue: , Year: 1985