Humanizing Computerized Information Systems

The accumulation and control of information is a critical function for government and private, industrial and non-industrial organizations. Yet the role of information as an organizational resource is not very well understood, especially as it is related to the organization’s environment. What does appear is that computerized information systems have become a facilitating technology that interacts with organizational, historical, and environmental pressures and goals to shape not only the internal structure of an organization but also its interactions with society (1,2). There is little doubt that the computerized or automated information system is revolutionizing the management of most, if not all, systems by which goods and services are produced or information is accumulated. This should be a source of great concern.