The Effectiveness of the Relationship Between User Groups and Data Processing Centers

Abstract

The article presents the findings of a study which analyzed the quality of the relationship between a data processing center and the user departments. The three departments are the University Book Store, the Financial Aids Office, and the Registrar's Office at Youngstown State University. In interviews, each user was asked to define the criteria by which he evaluates the effectiveness of his relationship with the data center. A model, based upon the work of Melcher, has been developed and applied to describe and explain user-data center relationships. The results generally support the hypothesized relationships, but additional testing is necessary to replicate these results and permit statistical inferences concerning our hypotheses.