ABSTRACT
New technologies have always been regarded with suspicion and mistrust by the societies in which they seek to assert themselves. It can be seen that the setting of aims for a data processing department is almost certain to be inadequately performed if the department remains in a single sphere of influence. It also appears that the data processing group is something of a misfit, an unwelcome and restless adopted child when placed in the care of conventional foster parents. Successful steering committees have nearly always owed their success to a good initial plan and an ability by all members to review events in the light of the total corporate plan. The dilemma is that data processing groups seem to need to be moderately isolated and yet fully involved, and the best means of achieving something of both will depend largely on the size and structure of the company they are serving.
