Computing Procurement: Guidelines and Procedures

This book shows how to avoid costly and time-consuming errors in acquiring new computer systems. It describes the basic investment strategy, from the initial identification of needs and the specification of problems to the final bids, proposals, negotiations, and the decision to buy. The book assumes no specialized knowledge of computers and is especially written for individuals and committees in large organizations who are responsible for deciding what work can best be done by a computer and which system to buy. It clearly presents the issues involved, including practical examples, and is the first such work to concentrate on the problems involved in choosing a large computing system, as opposed to an individual microprocessor. The author has a great deal of experience in the area, having been Secretary of the Computer Board for the Universities and Research Councils in the U.K., where he helped to plan and coordinate the central computing facilities and their associated communications networks for all universities in the country. He now carries out a similar planning role for the computing centers in 50 institutions.