The offices of Information Resource Management and Institutional Research at Virginia Tech developed a set of guidelines for information management. This article describes the historical evolution, the forces that motivated the development of the guidelines, and the consensus-building activities that led to the acceptance of the guidelines.…

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.…

User dissatisfaction with computer systems usually results from too little involvement of the user in the programing process. Defining information requirements satisfactorily and taking steps toward smooth staff acceptance of the system are important prerequisites to satisfaction with the system's design. (MSE)

In July 1984, alumni and development officials and computer specialists at the University of Chicago celebrated the result of a 5-year partnership that set up a computer system to coordinate five alumni and development offices. Features of the new system are described. (MLW)

Both academic and administrative computing as well as network and communications services for the university are provided and supported by the Computer Services Division. Academic services, administrative services, systems engineering and database administration, communications, networking services, operations, and library technologies are…