The effects of information centers on the growth of end user computing

The role of IC in the growth of EUC in several organizations in Bahrain is evaluated. Some of them established ICs to guide and support EUC, while others adopted a sink or swim EUC strategy. The ICs standardized on the hardware and software environment; provided training and technical support to end users. The organizations are yet to introduce control procedures to monitor EUC activities. The study revealed that the EUC activities did not appear to have substantially affected the strategic orientation of the business processes. However, the EUCs helped to improve user productivity, operational efficiency, local decision making capabilities, etc. The paper discusses some critical EUC management issues-such as resources procurement, application development by users, decentralized support services, and control through line management. These will enable the management to face the challenge of EUC, to fulfill, through EUC a portion of organizational computing needs and finally redesign the business process.