INDEX | ORGANISATION | TIME LINE | PEOPLE | STORY | RESEARCH METHOD | COMMENTARY | FINDINGS | HELP | BOTTOM

What affected the choice of systems architecture?: Image of PC LAN vs mainframe

On X's part there was a great desire to go for a 'dedicated PC system' (00697) possibly as a backlash against the 'nice IBM mainframe' (00695) or because they saw it as a way of getting control of their computing (00151). Viewed dispassionately, the decision between a mainframe and a PC should depend upon the power needed for the problem (RAM and mips), but there was this image that a mainframe will take longer (the earlier requirements study took one year) and would have difficulty coping with the complexities of multinational insurance whereas a PC would be fast, flexible and owned by the business (00189). There was also the feeling that you are either a mainframe department like XUK (00249) or a PC department like GIS (00250).

Social influence:
Technical influence:
IT environment: Existing systems

Commentary
Social influence
Technical influence

INDEX | ORGANISATION | TIME LINE | PEOPLE | STORY | RESEARCH METHOD | COMMENTARY | FINDINGS | HELP | TOP

© Clare Tagg 2000