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Occupational stress, attitudes, and health problems in the information systems professional
This study examines occupational stress among information systems personnel. A self-report stress and health behavior instrument was completed by 580 respondents in 18 large corporations in the midwestern and southwestern sections of the United States. The data indicate that various job factors are perceived as stressful by respondents. However, the stress levels reported by respondents are not as excessive as have been found in studies of other occupational groups.
Some realities of data administration
Little information exists on the practice of data administration, i.e., the management of data as an enterprise resource. A survey of data administrators at predominantly large enterprises was conducted to determine the extent of the existence of data administration and to assess its effectiveness as implemented. New insight into the realities of data administration, including its real-world objectives and perceived effectiveness, is presented.
Spelling correction in user interfaces
The feasibility of providing a spelling corrector as a part of interactive user interfaces is demonstrated. The issues involved in using spelling correction in a user interface are examined, and a simple correction algorithm is described. The results of an experiment in which the corrector is incorporated into a heavily used interactive program are described. More than one quarter of the errors made by users during the experiment were corrected using the simple mechanisms presented here. From this we have concluded that there are considerable benefits and few obstacles to providing a spelling corrector in almost any interactive user interface.
Turnover among DP personnel: a casual analysis
Four variables suggested by previous research were included in a proposed causal model of turnover among computer specialists. When tested using correlational analysis, three of the variables were significant inverse predictors of turnover. A fourth variable was also inversely related to turnover, but not significantly so. Path analysis supports the proposed causal model and suggest turnover indirectly through its influence on the other model variables.
Managing application program maintenance expenditures
Program maintenance represents a major portion of the total expenditures on application programs. Despite the attention this subject has received in the MIS literature, new guidelines to action in this area remain of great interest to practitioners. A large number of variables thought to be determinants of application program maintenance expenditure have been studied through the inspection of application portfolios and personal interviews with top computer executives and systems development personnel. Based on the results, recommendations are made on how to reduce application program maintenance expenditures.
Estimating file access time of floppy disks
Small computers often use floppy disks for storage. Since such disks are significantly slower than hard disks, the response time of a given application program is due predominantly to the time required to access data in files. Access time is dependent on three factors: hardware (disk drive and interface), the operating system in use, and the patterns of file access of application programs. A simple-to-use method of predicting access times with good accuracy is presented. The method makes use of simple calibration experiments that provide information related to the hardware and operating system characteristics of the system in use. This is combined with patterns of file access information for a given application program to predict access time for that program. Actual examples for several small computer systems are presented.
The management of end user computing
End users can be classified into six distinct types. Each of them needs differentiated education, support, and control from the Information Systems function. To support a large number of their applications a new computing environment, “the third environment” must be developed by Information Systems (I/S) management. Close attention must also be paid by I/S management to the need to involve “functional support personnel” (end users in each functional area who spend most of their time programming and aiding other end users) in the I/S end user management process.
The computer science research network CSNET: a history and status report
In 1981, the National Science Foundation started a five-year project totaling nearly $5 million to construct a computer science research network, CSNET, connecting all groups engaged in computer science research. For an NSF division with an annual budget of $25 million, the award represents an unusual commitment to a single project; only a handful of such large awards have been made. What is CSNET? Why is it receiving such attention? How will it benefit the community? When will it be completed? Who are the architects and implementors?
The measurement of user information satisfaction
This paper critically reviews measures of user information satisfaction and selects one for replication and extension. A survey of production managers is used to provide additional support for the instrument, eliminate scales that are psychometrically unsound, and develop a standard short form for use when only an overall assessment of information satisfaction is required and survey time is limited.
Toward friendly user MIS implementation
Recent management information systems (MIS) and computer science literature advocates the development of “user-friendly” systems as a means of overcoming implementation problems. However, implementation research suggests that it is not enough that the technology be friendly to the user. The user must also be friendly to the system. In formulating solutions to implementation problems, the field of organization development (OD) may serve as a knowledge base for practitoners and researchers. OD and MIS share common goals, common theoretical foundations, and common problems. Consequently, OD techniques may be useful in alleviating certain behavioral problems encountered in MIS implementation. OD concepts and techniques such as planned organizational change, survey feedback, group diagnostic meetings, communication training, role negotiation, and training labs may be used when implementing or changing systems. The premise is that use of these measures will lead to more successful MIS projects.
A quadtree medial axis transform
As printed
Quadtree skeletons are exact representations of the image and
are used because they are observed to yield space efficiently and a
decreased sensitivity to shifts in contrast with the quadtree. The
QMAT can be used as the underlying representation when solving most
problems that can be solved by using a quadtree. An algorithm is
presented for the computation of the QMAT of a given quadtree by
only examining each BLACK node's adjacent and abutting
neighbors.
Corrected Abstract (published as corrigendum in CACM 27, 2
(February 1984) p. 151)
The skeletal and medial axis transform concepts used in
traditional image processing representations are adapted to the
quadtree representation. The result is the definition of of a new
data structure termed the Quadtree Medial Axis Transform (QMAT). A
QMAT results in a partition of the image into a set of nondisjoint
squares having sides whose lengths are sums of powers of 2 rather
than, as is the case with quadtrees, a set of disjoint squares
having sides of lengths which are powers of 2. The motivation is
not to study skeletons for the usual purpose of obtainings
approximations of the image. Instead, quadtree skeletons are exact
representations of the image and are used because they are observed
to yield space efficiency and a decreased sensitvity to shifts in
contrast with the quadtree. The QMAT can be used as the underlying
representation when solving most problems that can be solved by
using a quadtree. An algorithm is presented for the computation of
the QMAT of a given quadtree by only examining each BLACK node's
adjacent and abutting neighbors. Analysis of the algorithm reveals
an average execution time proportional to the complexity of the
image, i.e., the number of BLACK blocks.
A practical tool kit for making portable compilers
The Amsterdam Compiler Kit is an integrated collection of programs designed to simplify the task of producing portable (cross) compilers and interpreters. For each language to be compiled, a program (called a front end) must be written to translate the source program into a common intermediate code. This intermediate code can be optimized and then either directly interpreted or translated to the assembly language of the desired target machine. The paper describes the various pieces of the tool kit in some detail, as well as discussing the overall strategy.
The Japanese approach: a better way to manage programmers?
With a turnover rate among computer programmers of 25%-50% per year, it's time somebody came up with a better way to manage computer professionals. One approach that holds promise is to create a Japanese-style Theory Z atmosphere in the firm, stressing lifetime employment, non-specialized career paths, collective decision-making, and other holistic matters.
A simple database language for personal computers
A simple database language for personal computers has been implemented by selecting a subset of the ANS MUMPS language and enhancing it so as to meet the requirements of microcomputer end-users who are unfamiliar with computers. This database language is named Micro MUMPS. Its database is based on a modified prefix B-tree having parameters for adjusting its data organization according to the requirements of space and time efficiency. Experience with Micro MUMPS has demonstrated a remarkable reduction in programming time.
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