Donald F. Norris|Kenneth L. Kraemer
Mainframe and PC Computing in American Cities: Myths and Realities
much pcs aid city management article based 1993 survey compares computing cities use personal computers pcs computing cities use central computer systems authors found claims pcs would speed automation governmental functions substantiated central system cities widely automated widespread use among staff likely deploy leadingedge computer technologies pconly cities moreover respondents central cities positive computer impacts satisfied computing pconly cities edge centralsystem cities reported fewer problems computers test statistical significance showed weak relationship authors argue pconly cities reliance ad hoc solutions outsourcing computergurus results failure develop ongoing support capabilities contrast centralsystem cities developed enhanced capabilities time thereby providing greater support computing function stab1e technology platform elected officials professional managers local governments believe value computers especially personal computers pcs work work government various academic studies demonstrated belief years eg dutton kraemer 1979 perry kraemer 1980 norris 1989 1992 yet policy makers continually confronted claims computing find difficult assess occasionally defy rationality example within recent memory claimed privatization outsourcing would take computing problem hands local officials less cost geographic information systems would enable officials make solomonlike judgments important matters landuse planning eg richter 1991 loh venkatraman 1992 public technology inc 1991 recent claims clientserver computing new lowcost way governmental automation gagliardi 1994 desktop computers means increase employee productivity empower workers deliver better services citizens greisemer 1983 1984 one persistent claims least decade history pc effectively replace larger central computer systems local governments ie mainframes minicomputers example frequently asserted unlike mainframe computing introduction pcs easy lowcost solution automation government believed adopting pcs latecomers computing leapfrog braindead mainframe minicomputer technologies still gain benefits earlier cumbersome technologiesand needed basic investment technology empowerment workers use technology jobs need management information systems mis departments help make transition train users new technology see example greisemer 1983 1984 voss eikemeier 1984 pcs may small local governments even small units within larger governments need conduct business however extremely unlikely even powerful sophisticated pcs market today solve automation needs local government indeed recent studies lifecycle cost pcs actual experience pcs recent reports pcbased clientserver computing call several assertions question example initial cost pcbased clientserver computing shown lower mainframe minicomputer alternatives 20 30 percent fiveyear costs pcs found two three times great per employee nolan norton company 1992 miller 1993 ambrosio 1993 clientserver 1994