The computer is perhaps the most sophisticated tool mankind has yet developed but it has often been misused with man made to serve the tool rather than vice versa. This paper attempts to examine the genesis of this chaos, contrast the present situation with the ideal, and present a reasonable alternative. A humanized data service in education is…

While university researchers have long made use of the complex research-oriented applications of the computer and have discussed its utilization in the instructional process, in the early stages of computer use in higher education, two-year colleges made little or no use of its advanced research capabilities, and limited its use to business and…

The experience of Western Michigan University in the design and implementation of a combined information/decision support center is described. The center's design was in response to the outcomes of a long-range planning process, which helped identify unmet user needs. Three types of support were found to be required: education and consulting,…

Reasons for distributed systems (DS) of planning and design for information services for colleges are discussed. The methodologies and approaches from industry and academe are contrasted to show how the process of DS can be effectively managed to meet a variety of institutional needs. DS represent a natural evolution of the historic development of…

Several financial aid management software programs are now being marketed and many institutions are seriously contemplating purchase of one of them. Careful analysis of any proposal is essential. The experiences of the University of Oklahoma are described. Personnel preparation should receive considerable attention during the planning and…

To implement a computer software system successfully, a college development officer must learn all about it, control its development rather than let computer center staff take control, define the system needs and elements, study software contracts carefully before signing, reorganize the office to accommodate computing needs, and make necessary…

Steps that should be followed in choosing and implementing an administrative computer system are discussed. Three stages are involved: institutional assessment, system selection, and implementation. The first step is to define the current status of the data processing systems and the management information systems at the institutions. Future…

The review process conducted by the Information Processing Task Force at Northern Kentucky University is summarized, and eight recommendations are presented that resulted from data analysis, a literature review, information collected from vendors, and an assessment of related activities of other higher education institutions. The review focused on…

To estimate computer needs at a higher education institution, the major types of users and their future needs should be determined. In a large or complex university, three major groups of users are typically instructional, research, and administrative. After collecting information on the needs of these users, the needs can be translated into…

Britain's Further Education Unit (FEU) has continued to work in the areas of management information systems (MIS), particularly, computerized management information systems (CMIS), and their significance for curriculum management. Perceptions about the use of CMIS have been changed. Several reports have noted the limitations of existing systems in…

An institutional management systems development study examined the Management Information Systems (MIS) needs of 23 public institutions of higher education in Missouri. The result was a model framework for other institutions to develop MIS appropriate to their needs. One of five distinct structural development phases could be related to all…

A major concern in planning for and beginning the operation of the National Institute of Education is the organization's management information system (MIS). The kind of MIS needed by NIE is referred to in the literature as a "fourth generation" system--one which focuses on the decision process and which is developed in terms of maximum…

Developed in accordance with a legislative mandate, this master plan for Connecticut's regional community colleges provides baseline data on the current status of data processing; identifies issues, trends, and constraints; and sets forth specific plans for computing activities and services within the community college system. Introductory…