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The company that you work
for – GHI Accountancy Training – has no integrated computing strategy. It
employs a large number of well-educated administrative and managerial staff, who use
computers for paperwork and communication.
It employs also a large number of professionally-qualified developers, who use computers
for producing reports and course material. It has a small data processing department with
a large development backlog.
You have been asked to plan and implement a strategy that promotes end-user computing,
empowering individual staff to fulfil their own data processing needs.
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(a) List and explain
the likely benefits of end-user computing.
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[4] |
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The
likely benefits of end-user computing:
- reduced application backlog: users can do some of the
development themselves (1 mark)
- improved requirements determination: users are aware of
their own needs
(1 mark)
- increased acceptance level: involvement of users means
that acceptance is more likely (1 mark)
- increased individual performance: greater involvement of
users in computing activity may increase their productivity (1 mark)
In each case, a
few words of explanation are required: no explanation = no mark
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(b) List and explain
the problems associated with end-user computing.
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The
problems associated with end-user computing:
- no independent review: there are no independent sources of
problem analysis or alternative solutions (1 mark)
- lack of standards and controls: end-user developed systems
may be created rapidly without due process, and without standards and quality procedures
(1 mark)
- difficult data integration: different departments may
develop data files in different formats without considering the needs of other departments
(1 mark)
- private systems: departments may produce systems that are
not shared, are not documented, and are difficult to maintain (1 mark)
- duplication of effort: similar applications may be
developed in different parts of the company (1 mark)
- problems with cost control: costs may be hidden in
departmental budgets, making monitoring and planning difficult at the organisational level
(1 mark)
Any four of the
above. In each case, a few words of explanation are required: no explanation = no mark
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Your strategy
will involve establishing an Information Centre within the data processing
department.
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(c) What services will this
centre provide?
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The
services:
- product support: evaluate new products, produce list of
supported products for users to select from (1 mark)
- technical support: maintaining equipment, diagnosing
problems, making repairs (1 mark)
- consultation: advising users on computerisation, helping
end-users to evaluate proposed systems (1 mark)
- training: training users in the user of supported
products, procedures, and methodologies (1 mark)
- resources planning and justification: helping in analysing
present activity and identifying future needs (1 mark)
- auditing: analysing user expenditure and checking
compliance with rules and standards (1 mark)
Any four of the above. In each
case, a few words of explanation are required: no explanation = no mark
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(d) List and explain the steps or stages that might be involved
in implementing an information centre.
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[4] |
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The
steps involved in implementing an information centre:
- inventory present position: determine present hardware,
software, networking expertise, and user base (1 mark)
- develop a plan: identify the strategic steps or phases of
the implementation, and establish a timescale for each (1 mark)
- conduct pilot study: start the IC slowly, build staff and
test ideas (1 mark)
- full implementation: establish standards and emphasise
training (1 mark)
In each case, a few words of explanation are required: no
explanation Þ no mark; the other steps (maintain and grow,
phase in) are not needed here
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The company does not –
at present – intend to change its line of business: it will continue to develop and
teach courses in accountancy practice. However, the technology of education is always
advancing, and there is a constant flow of new products, applications, and techniques to
promote learning.
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(e) Suggest and
explain two ways in which the effectiveness of the information centre can be
maintained.
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[2] |
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Ways
in which the effectiveness of the information centre can be maintained:
- align IC to organisational growth; all activities should
be conducted with the organisation in mind (1 mark)
- develop new products for the users: take initiative in
developing new applications (1 mark)
- conduct training programs: to keep users up to date;
revise programs as necessary (1 mark)
- establish IC as central source of information: a source of
objective, impartial advice (1 mark)
- keep users informed: maintain the profile of the IC and
help the users to plan (1 mark)
Any two of the above; in both cases, a few words of
explanation are required
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(f) Once
end-user computing has reached an acceptable level of maturity within your company, will
the information centre become unnecessary? Explain your answer.
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[2] |
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The
information centre may become unnecessary if end-users are sufficiently capable, and the
nature of the data processing task remains relatively constant (1 mark) or the end-users
are capable of tracking, integrating, and taking advantage of any new products in the
field (1 mark). or
The information centre will remain
necessary as end-users have other jobs to do, and will be unable to keep up with advances
in data processing (1 mark). Unless it is preserved, there will be considerable
duplication of effort as uncoordinated change takes place throughout the organisation (1
mark). It is needed to maintain standards (1 mark).
up to two marks for a good answer and explanation; this is
intended to challenge the more able candidates. |
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