Intricacy and Impacts of Computing Policies on University Campuses

T. C. Ting

• Introduction
• 1. An Interlocking System of Technology and Human Action
• 2. Planning Computer Usage for Educational Systems
• 2.1 The Issue of Planning
• 2.2 Conciliating opposing Viewpoints and Interests
• 2.3 Planning and Managing Change
• 3. Organizational Changes and Their Potential Implications
• 3.1 Organizational, Structural and Operational Changes
• 3.2 Potential Changes in Educational Programs
• 4. Conflicts Between the Individual’s Right to Privacy and the Organization’s Need to Process Information
• 5. Difficulties in Developing and Adopting Conventions and Standards
• 6. Summary

5. Difficulties in Developing and Adopting Conventions and Standards

The proliferation of computer hardware and software systems often leads the campus to technical difficulties, and potential economic and operational disasters. The balance between system efficiency and application flexibility is an extremely difficult issue. The relatively short but rapid development of computing history is, probably, one of the reasons for the lack of strong industrial standards. Standardization is as much a political as it is a technical issue. This becomes particularly important when distributed and network computing systems are introduced.

Why, what, where, when, and how standards should be introduced and adopted are critical problems. Such a problem has not been recognized on most campuses today. Very little assistance can be offered by vendors. In fact, it is dangerous to consult them, since they may push for a special set of standards which directly or indirectly relate to their own products. Standards have a strong influence or may set a limitation on future adaptations and expansions of new technologies, on the development and use of certain types of hardware and software systems, on computer purchasing policies and procedures, and on the economics of systems development and operations. One must carefully consider how a campus computing policy should address the issue of developing and adopting appropriate conventions and standards.

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