Grosch's law: a statistical illusion?.

In this paper a central law on economies of scale in computer hardware pricing, Grosch's law is discussed. The history and various validation efforts are examined in detail. It is shown how the last set of validations during the eighties may be interpreted as a statistical misinterpretation, although this effect may have been present in all validation attempts, including the earliest ones. Simulation experiments reveal that constant returns to scale in combination with decreasing computer prices may give the illusion of Grosch's law when performing regression models against computer prices over many years. The paper also shows how the appropriate definition of computer capacity, and in particular Kleinrock's power definition, plays a central role in economies of scale for computer prices.Law;

An econometric analysis of the desktop computer hardware market

The purpose of this study was to compare six competing econometric models which depict the relationship between hardware characteristics and machine cost for the desktop computer market. The Box-Cox methodology and multiyear data were used to facilitate this comparison. The analysis validated that the Box-Cox methodology is a viable means for evaluating competing model formulations within the field of information systems research. The results were consistent with past research that suggested a double natural log model formulation for representing the functional relationships among variables when modeling machine cost as a function of hardware attributes. Further, the more complex power transformation model formulations suggested by the Box-Cox methodology did not significantly outperform the more traditional and simpler double natural log model. More specifically, the results indicated that variables related to primary memory and microchip tedinology have the largest impact on machine cost. Additionally, variables related to madiine connectivity, machine expandability, and year of observation were also found to be significant explanatory variables for machine cost

Centralized vs. decentralized computing : organizational considerations and management options

The long-standing debate over whether to centralize or decentralize computing is examined in terms of the fundamental organizational and economic factors at stake. The traditional debate is examined and found to focus predominantly on issues of efficiency vs. effectiveness, with solutions based on a rationalistic strategy of optimizing in this tradeoff. A more behavioralistic assessment suggests that the driving issues in the debate are the politics of organization and resources, centering on the issue of control. The economics of computing deployment decisions is presented as an important issue, but one that often serves as a field of argument that is based on more political concerns. The current situation facing managers of computing, given the advent of small and comparatively inexpensive computers, is examined in detail, and a set of management options for dealing with this persistent issue is presented

THE ECOLOGY OF MIS RESEARCH: A TWENTY YEAR STATUS REVIEW

The debate concerning the legitimacy of MIS as a field of research has endured over the last decade. The absence of theories and lack of a cumulative research tradition have been areas of particular concern. The research reported in this article provides evidence on these important issues. The study systematically analyzed MIS articles in seven core journals over the period 1968-1988. The resulting database, consisting of 792 articles, was analyzed for themes and topics, and on the basis of type of article (empirical/non-empirical). The findings indicate that MIS research efforts have refocused in some areas, while much remains to be done in others. This study provides the opportunity to pause and reflect on the last twenty years of research in MIS and to take stock so that the research of the coming twenty years will extend and build upon the existing foundations

Design issues in distributed management information systems.

Thesis. 1978. Ph.D.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Alfred P. Sloan School of Management.MICROFICHE COPY AVAILABLE IN ARCHIVES AND DEWEY.Includes bibliographical references.Ph.D

Estimating and controlling the cost of extending technology: A revision and extension

When firms undertake new development projects, there is considerable uncertainty as to the amount of cost that will eventually be incurred. This study tests hypotheses concerning the relationships between extensions in technology and costs, and provides approaches for estimating and controlling costs. The study begins by examining the techniques currently available for measuring the state-of-the-art of technology. Next, methods for quantifying the incremental progress represented by a particular project are reviewed and extended. Third, relationships between technology measures and development time and development costs are formulated and tested. Fourth, variance measures related to development cost are specified. Fifth, relationships between the scope of the development phase of a program and subsequent production costs are examined. Finally, the idea of a development cost premium, used to relate development costs to production costs, is introduced and tested. The workability of the approach for cost prediction and control is tested and demonstrated by using technological and cost data from 18 satellite programs. (kr)Prepared in conjunction with research conducted for Naval Sea System- Command Cost Estimating and Analysis Division and funded by the Naval Postgraduate School.http://archive.org/details/estimatingcontro00moseO&MN, Direct FundingApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited