Expert systems are computer software packages that experts in specific fields enrich with their knowledge by distilling their expertise into a set of laws for the system. The development of expert systems and the contribution they can provide in banks, whereby financial experts can produce...

This paper describes a decision support system for once‐off facility acquisition decisions in a manufacturing environment. The system is based on the Kepner Tregoe Decision Analysis Technique and has been implemented in a high‐level language.

The incidence of US corporate marketing research departments peaked in the early 1970s; marketing research is increasingly involved in marketing planning and the two functions are sometimes merged, while the establishment of computerised marketing information systems is increasing. Questionnaire...

In the operations management field, where data are always second best to reality, the whole success of a computing scheme will depend on the motivation of the users. A scheme is presented, based on the idea of simplifying the task of supplying relevant information to operations managers with the...

In buying computers the businessman should adopt the same hard‐nosed techniques he would apply to any other purchase, not allowing computer mystique or a sense of his own ignorance in this field to prevail. Four main stepping‐stones can be identified in the buying process: definition of...

Preparatory to software purchases it is useful for the business to make out a document outlining the initial definition and agreement of what the computer is to be used for, examining all possible uses for the computer over a period of time and sorting these by priority into a phased project...

The successful use of the computer as a business tool depends on the adaptation of sensible business procedures. A plan should be formulated covering purchase and installation of equipment implemented by one person (a project manager, perhaps) who also ensures that adequate training in the...

There are two major organisational issues to be resolved with computer‐based information systems (CBIS): who is to be responsible for CBIS, and how is the systems function itself to be organised? The practical implementation of an internal reorganisation of the systems function within...

A case study, examining the installation of a micro network by a timber group to process their accounting operations, highlights the danger of using personal contracts to set up such a system. It also stresses that the plethora of available computer literature confuses managers with limited...

This article looks at an integrated and company‐wide decision support project and examines considerations such as the type of system to use, the characteristics it must exhibit and how to justify a substantial investment.