Computing in the Tasmanian state service

There is no major study available of actual and projected investment in computing by Tasmanian Government sources. This Dissertation attempts to sketch a picture of the cost centres involved in Tasmanian Government computing investments and to identify trends and projected trends in that investment picture. Chapter 2 provides the historical perspective on the way in which computing has developed in the Tasmanian State Service. Chapter 3 examines in detail actual and proposed investment in computing from 1984/85. The majority of data is taken from the Tasmanian State Service Agencies EDP Strategic Plans, which are not published. Chapter 4 examines the administrative controls and management structures which have had an impact on the way in which Agencies have made computing investment decisions. The risks and exposures which these Agencies acknowledge exist, and those of which they appear to be unaware, are examined. In the final part of this Dissertation some proposals are made to reorganise certain administrative structures which impact on computing resources in the State Service. In addition, based on the trends observed in the investment picture and the risks acknowledged by the managers, certain proposals for staff development are made. The investment picture revealed from the examination of the unpublished data indicates that around $17.7 million to $19.4 million will be spent on computing activities in the Tasmanian State Service in 1986/87. Over the past three years, investment in computing has been mainly proportioned between capital equipment costs (18-33%), associated recurrent costs (34-14%) and staffing costs (31-40%). The study demonstrates that the trends in predictions regarding non-specialist users requiring access to computer systems will require significant improvements in staff development, software ergonomics and capacity planning by DP managers as well as policy redirections which appear to be largely unrecognised at present.