ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the computer section itself. It discusses the significant trends in the growth of these sections, enumerates the staffs and skills employed in them, assesses sources and methods of recruitment, and describes training methods and staff career patterns. The chapter provides future changes in the employment of computer staff. The work of the computer sections falls into four main areas. These are, first, the planning of future developments in co-operation with user department staff and assessing the computer facilities required; second, analysis and implementation of selected applications; third, computer operation and maintenance, and fourth, data preparation and computer input and output control. Widespread use of computer networks in the public services is still some years away. Any easement in staff demand that might follow cannot be expected until these networks are operating. Most public organizations, on setting up their computer sections, looked to their existing staff to provide the bulk of recruits for the new sections.
