Computers Before the widespr_考试试题_职称英语

Computers

Before the widespread use of computers,managers could not make full use of large amounts of valuable information abouta company's activities. The information either reached managers too late or wastoo expensive to be used. Today, managers are facing a wide range of dataprocessing and information instruments. In place of a few financial controls,managers can draw on computer-based information systems to control activitiesin every area of their company. On any kinds of performance measures, theinformation provided by these systems helps managers compare standards withactual results, find out problems, and take corrective action before it is toolate to make changes.

The introduction of computerized informationsystems has sharply changed management control in many companies. Even aneighborhood shopkeeper may now use computers to control sales, billing, andother activities. In large companies, electronic data processing systemsmonitor entire projects and sets of operations.

Now, there are about 24 million microcomputersin use in the United States —— one for every 10citizens. It is estimated that by 1996, 61 percent of American managers will beusing some sort of electronic work station. In order for managers to be surethat the computer-based information they are receiving is accurate, they needto understand how computers work. However, in most cases they do not need tolearn how to program computers. Rather, managers should understand howcomputerized information systems work; how they are developed; theirlimitations and costs; and the manner in which information systems may be used.Such an understanding is not difficult to achieve.

One research found that business firms weremore successful in teaching basic information about computers to businessgraduates than they were in teaching business subjects to computer sciencegraduates.

16 Today, conventional financial controls arestill exercised in some minor areas such as billing and vocational training.