The administrative data processing department at Michigan State provides support to all colleges and departments, and designs, programs, tests, and implements university management systems. A steering committee determines priorities for development projects and provides a sounding board for long-range plans of information systems. (MLW)

The management information systems executive-in-charge, important to a management information system's success or failure, is examined. Successful and not-so-successful executive styles in the business world and their counterparts in higher education are characterized. (Author/MLW)

Executive management often holds a critical view of systems development. The reasons that systems development draws such negative attention are explored. The view of management can be reconciled with systems development--with attention to organizational continuity, cultivation of patience, development of sensitivity to people needs, etc.…

Suggests a methodology, enterprise process engineering, for rethinking business processes and applying them to higher education, either across the institution or at the department level. Nine steps for ensuring a successful effort are presented, followed by a discussion of critical success factors and the benefits of this method. (Author/MSE)

Many administrators are signing contracts for software products that leave their institutions completely unprotected in the event of a default by the vendor. It is proper for a customer to include contractual provisions whereby they may gain legal access to the program source code. (MLW)

With the current state of computing and data communication technology, connecting widely dispersed, multivendor computing resources is a complex and expensive undertaking. Network strategies and management issues are discussed. (MLW)

Improved data processing services have increased efficiency and productivity at Pacific Lutheran. By performing administrative tasks more efficiently, the university can maintain accurate records, report information promptly, and extend better overall service to the university community. (MLW)

With a unique organizational structure, the Rockefeller University's need for administrative information systems is different from most institutions of higher education. The financial reporting needs of the many different laboratories led the university to purchase a computer-based accounting system. (MLW)

The Division of Computer Services at the University of Wyoming is a combined academic and administrative installation. Administrative systems are developed through a team approach, with representatives from the user office, the Institutional Data Management group, and the Division of Computer Services. (MLW)

The role of information technology on college and university campuses continues to evolve. The direction the profession is heading and how CAUSE, as the association for the management of information technology in higher education, can help serve the profession and its members is discussed. (Author/MLW)

Carnegie Mellon University has leveraged its technological expertise with database management systems (DBMS) into joint technological and developmental partnerships with DBMS and application software vendors. Carnegie's relational database strategy, the strategy of partnerships and how they were formed, and how the partnerships are doing are…

With more and more users in colleges and universities relying on electronic information, the need for a contingency plan in the event of a disaster has become more pressing. Setting objectives, impact analysis, interim processing strategy, working with users, and a two-level approach are discussed. (MLW)

The appropriate information technology environment for the future of higher education is seen as centered on an institution-wide information network, based on broad access to personal workstations, enhanced by a diverse set of server facilities, and integrated through coherent software environment. (MLW)

The technology of integrating microcomputers into mainframe computing networks is difficult. The functional needs that users have for micro/mainframe linkage are discussed. (Author/MLW)

The need for information services offers institutional researchers with experience in systems design, data management, and analysis an opportunity to study the key issue involved in providing this service to the campus administrative community. The case of the University of Kansas is described. (Author/MLW)