Technological Frames and End-User Computing

This present study is targeted at examining why end-user computing does not live up to its expected promises. Why is there this notion that end-users, MIS personnel and management are generally dissatisfied with end-user computing? We propose to investigate these questions based on the work that has been done on technological frames. The combination of inexpensive personal computers and easy-to-use software packages has resulted in the emergence of a phenomenon now known as end-user computing (EUC). The early 80's saw the rapid proliferation of personal computers in corporate computing. In the years since, the roles of both the producers and the consumers of MIS have changed dramatically; blending and intertwining until it is almost impossible to tell the two groups apart. Before the advent of PC's, the MIS department had full responsibility for the entire system: they were the producers. The end-users had little if any responsibility for the creation or design of the systems they ultimately used; they were the consumers. Today, the end-users can be responsible for all aspects of the systems they use; everything from choosing the software and the hardware, installing the package, and creating the system. The MIS department typically is now only involved in main frame applications, having little responsibility or involvement on systems running on PCs. This drastic change in roles has occurred in the relatively short time frame of 10 to 15 years. While the actual roles played by the two groups might have physically changed, the changes in the frames of reference they hold regarding their roles may not have changed at exactly the same pace. In addition to the changes in the roles played by the users and the IS department, another change has occurred in the skill sets and perspectives that are brought to the relationship by the two groups. In the old environment, the users possessed the business knowledge, and the IS department possessed the technical expertise. The partnership was based on the complementary nature of the two skill sets, and the results were systems that were built to the specifications of the users using the expertise of the IS professionals. In the new environment, many end-users come to the relationship with a significant amount