Organization and management of the information center: case studies

ABSTRACT

This paper provides case studies of thirteen St. Louis based information centers. The objectives of the paper are to describe the responsibilities of information center professionals, to identify tools and resources for end user computing, to describe users and user-developed applications, and to identify policies relating to end user application development. The findings reflect the growth of information center resources and staff in response to rising demand for support of end user computing . Most user-developed applications were queries, reports, and analyses of production data extracts, as well as microcomputer based applications involving personal and departmental data. Informal policies and guidelines for user applications have been defined, but as yet most of these applications have not impacted the application development backlog.

REFERENCES

• 1: James Martin, Application Development without Programmers, Prentice Hall PTR, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 1982
• 2: Ibid, pp. 83, 84.
• 3: Chester Mills, "The Information Center," DRS Journal, V. i, No. 1, 1983, p. 4.
• 4: lbid, p. 7.
• 5: "Future Effects of End User Computing," EDP Analyzer, November 1983, V. 21, No. 11, p. 4.
• 6: Ibid, p. 3.
• 7: "Coping with End User Computing," EDP Analyzer, February 1984, V. 22, No. 2.
• 8: John F. Rockart , Lauren S. Flannery, The management of end user computing, Communications of the ACM, v.26 n.10, p.776-784, Oct. 1983 [doi>10.1145/358413.358429]
• 9: "User Driven Technologies: Personal Computers, Information Centers, and Fourth Generation Languages, (Port Jefferson Station, NY' FTF Technical Library, 1983). Reported in EDP Anal z~, February 1984.
• 10: E.R. McLean, "End Users as Application Developers," MIS Quarterly, V. 3, No. 3, December 1979, pp. 42, 43.
• 11: Robert Rosenberger, "The Productivity Impact on an Information Center on Application Development," Proceedings GUID__~E, No. 53, Dallas, Texas, November 198}, pp. 918-932.
• 12: McLean, p. 44.
• 13: Suzanna Rkvard and Sid Huff, "User Developed Applications: Evaluation of Success from the DP Department Perspective," MIS Quarterly, March 1984.
• 14: Tor Guimaraes, "The Benefits and Problems of User Computing," Journa____~l of Information S~stems Management, V. 1, No. 4, Fall 1984, pp. 8, 9.
• 15: i SRockart, P. 784.
• 16: Mills, pp. 42-46.

INDEX TERMS

Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.6 MANAGEMENT OF COMPUTING AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS
      K.6.1 Project and People Management
          Subjects: Management techniques (e.g., PERT/CPM)
      K.6.2 Installation Management
      K.6.4 System Management
          Subjects: Management audit
  K.7 THE COMPUTING PROFESSION
      K.7.1 Occupations

General Terms:
Documentation, Human Factors, Management