One approach to plan and control data processing functions is to use a steering committee. This committee, composed of user, top management, and data processing representatives, is intended to bring a broad perspective to focus on systems issues. The empirical study described in this article examines the actual practices of companies in utilizing steering committees. Committee benefits are statistically tested. The results indicate that some major structural and operating alternatives lead to maximizing steering committee benefits whereas others do not. The article closes with an evaluation of the alternatives and the consequent strategies for using steering committees effectively.
This study attempts to validate the stages of growth hypothesis by analyzing data concerning the benchmarks that were prescribed by Nolan. Although the hypothesis was not validated using the entire set of benchmarks for each stage, individual benchmarks were related to various DP management issues. The joint relationship of user awareness and technology to various management issues was also assessed. In addition, the planning and control techniques that have been used in the stages of growth literature were factor analyzed. The factor groupings were compared with those groupings that the stages of growth idea associate respectively with early and late states of DP evolution.