Corporate War- -Rooms: Rooms: Corporate War The Computer and - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Corporate War- -Rooms: Rooms: Corporate War The Computer and “ “Total Systems Total Systems” ” in in The Computer and Business, 1959- -1968 1968 Business, 1959 Tom Haigh – thaigh@sas.upenn.edu 1

The Closed World The Closed World � Cultural history of Cultural history of � the SAGE air the SAGE air defense system and defense system and the SDI project the SDI project “The Closed World: The Closed World: “ Computers and the Computers and the Politics of Discourse Politics of Discourse in Cold War America” ” in Cold War America 2

A “ “Semi Semi- -Automated Ground Environment Automated Ground Environment” ”! ! A � SAGE itself was an anti � SAGE itself was an anti- -bomber air bomber air defense network in 1950s & 1960s defense network in 1950s & 1960s � Highly automated system � Highly automated system � Collects data from huge network at central Collects data from huge network at central � command posts command posts � Decisions made very rapidly Decisions made very rapidly � � Enormously expensive � Enormously expensive � Most important single project in history of Most important single project in history of � computing computing 3

My Topic: My Topic: � Construction of the computer as the � Construction of the computer as the corporate system of centerpiece of a corporate system of centerpiece of a command and control command and control � During 1960s, cold war military systems � During 1960s, cold war military systems support this project by providing support this project by providing � Technology demonstration Technology demonstration � � Rhetoric and cultural assumptions Rhetoric and cultural assumptions � � A visual demonstration A visual demonstration… … � 4

5 Dr Strangelove Dr Strangelove

The Corporate War Room… … The Corporate War Room � “ � “the war the war- - room room atmosphere atmosphere is growing is growing up fast” ” up fast ( The The ( Corporate Corporate Command Command Post , 1968) , 1968) Post “one by one , the same applications that are one by one , the same applications that are “ pioneered and proven in military use ultimately pioneered and proven in military use ultimately find their way into business” ” (1968) (1968) find their way into business 6

…a Utopian Vision a Utopian Vision … “a more relaxed, leisurely management environment. The uneasiness will be replaced by a feeling of confidence in the completeness and timeliness of information and in the decisions based on that 7 information….”

The Links are Explicit The Links are Explicit “A historical pattern in information systems has A historical pattern in information systems has “ developed in which systems, applications and developed in which systems, applications and equipment used in advanced military… … equipment used in advanced military applications presage commercial developments. applications presage commercial developments. [this] permits business to obtain valuable [this] permits business to obtain valuable insight into… … concepts that will eventually concepts that will eventually insight into become commercially feasible… …. The command . The command become commercially feasible control center is an example, with its many control center is an example, with its many parallels to the integrated management parallels to the integrated management system” ” system John Diebold Diebold (prominent consultant), 1963 (prominent consultant), 1963 John 8

Management Information Systems Management Information Systems � “ � “Totally Integrated Management Totally Integrated Management Information System” ” Information System � From 1962 to 1970 � From 1962 to 1970 – – dominant idea for dominant idea for correct role of the computer in correct role of the computer in management management � All information, instantly, all managers, All information, instantly, all managers, � whole firm whole firm � System include models, forecasts, System include models, forecasts, � projections projections � Used directly by top executives Used directly by top executives � � Real Real- -Time, On Time, On- -Line Line � 9

Striking but Circumstantial Striking but Circumstantial � “ � “Wow! But really, how did this Wow! But really, how did this happen?” ” happen? � To answer this � To answer this � Rewind to late 1950s Rewind to late 1950s � � Identify social groups within the Identify social groups within the � corporation responsible for creation and corporation responsible for creation and propagation of these ideas propagation of these ideas � See how these huge, vague cultural See how these huge, vague cultural � themes play out in practice and ideology of themes play out in practice and ideology of particular groups particular groups 10

The “ “Systems Men Systems Men” ” The � Systems and Procedures Association � Systems and Procedures Association � Chartered 1947 (informally 1944) Chartered 1947 (informally 1944) � � Spread very rapidly in early 1950s Spread very rapidly in early 1950s � � Managerial Technicians � Managerial Technicians � Corporate Corporate – – many with accounting many with accounting � background (unlike Office Managers) background (unlike Office Managers) � Staff role Staff role – – advisory, not supervisory advisory, not supervisory � � Aspire to true managerial power Aspire to true managerial power � 11

Who Were The Systems Men? Who Were The Systems Men? � World War II was genesis of movement � World War II was genesis of movement � Administrative innovation for wartime production Administrative innovation for wartime production � � Seek to apply rational, scientific, systems approach. Seek to apply rational, scientific, systems approach. � Look up to RAND, McNamara, etc. Look up to RAND, McNamara, etc. � Thrive with shift to multidivisional organization Thrive with shift to multidivisional organization � � Self � Self- -consciously modern group consciously modern group � Mostly originating in accounting departments Mostly originating in accounting departments � � Apply new and exciting Apply new and exciting “ “systems engineering systems engineering” ” ideas ideas � of Cold War to sleepy world of corporate of Cold War to sleepy world of corporate administration administration � Mostly parallel but separate to industrial Mostly parallel but separate to industrial � engineering. engineering. 12

Great dreams… … Great dreams � Management Generalist Management Generalist � � Technocratic mandate Technocratic mandate � from top executive from top executive � Audit departmental Audit departmental � effectiveness effectiveness � Reorganize departmental Reorganize departmental � structure to unlock structure to unlock efficiency, “ efficiency, “re re- - engineering and engineering and replanning the entire the entire replanning system” ” system (1958 presidential address) (1958 presidential address) 13

… but limited respect but limited respect … � Write manuals Write manuals � � Improve clerical � Improve clerical procedures procedures � Design forms � Design forms 14

Management Engineers Management Engineers � Find a niche, but a constraining one. � Find a niche, but a constraining one. � Boundaries between engineering and � Boundaries between engineering and management set in Progressive era. management set in Progressive era. � Authority of engineers clearly limited to Authority of engineers clearly limited to � “technical technical” ” sphere sphere “ � Systems men claim management itself � Systems men claim management itself as their technical sphere as their technical sphere � Attempted renegotiation draws on power Attempted renegotiation draws on power � of “ “systems systems” ” as universal expertise in Cold as universal expertise in Cold of War culture War culture 15

16 Enter The Computer Enter The Computer

The Computer as Showpiece The Computer as Showpiece “a computer a computer “ installation can installation can have have tremendous tremendous public relations public relations value for a value for a company” ” company Management and Management and Business Business Automation - - Automation 1960 1960 17

Its work was quite mundane Its work was quite mundane � Payroll, accounting, invoicing � Payroll, accounting, invoicing � Taking over jobs from existing punched Taking over jobs from existing punched � card machines card machines � Slow evolution hardware of hardware, Slow evolution hardware of hardware, � practice practice � Intended to automate clerical work � Intended to automate clerical work � Success means replacing clerks Success means replacing clerks � � Justified on basis of lower operating Justified on basis of lower operating � costs costs � Guarded by � Guarded by… … 18