[17] in sapr3-soft
Client/Server Research
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (csjohnst@unca.edu (Carol Shipman J)
Thu Feb 6 01:45:39 1997
To: sapr3-soft@MIT.EDU
Date: 09 Jan 1997
From: csjohnst@unca.edu (Carol Shipman Johnston) (by way of SAP Moderator <csjohnst@unca.edu>)
CLIENT/SERVER RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY
Has your organization transitioned to client server technology within the
last 24 months? Are you interested in participating in a study of
transition techniques? In return for your participation, YOU WILL RECEIVE
A COPY OF THE STUDY RESULTS.
I am a computer science student at the University of North Carolina at
Asheville. I am conducting a research project about transitioning to
client/server technology. I hope to identify some areas of
difficulty organizations have experienced in transitioning to
client/server technology and some of the techniques they have used to
achieve a successful transition.
Printed below this message is a brief questionnaire. Please take a few
minutes to report on the successes and difficulties you experienced in
your transition to client/server. Your name and the name of your
organization will be kept confidential.
Please return your questionnaire to me at the address below.
Thank you,
Carol Johnston
csjohnst@bulldog.unca.edu
************************************************************************
QUESTIONNAIRE ABOUT TRANSITION TO CLIENT/SERVER TECHNOLOGY
PART 1: DATA ABOUT RESPONDENT AND THE ORGANIZATION
Date_________________
Name_______________________________Title________________________________
Organization_____________________________________________________________
Address_________________________________________________________________
Phone______________________________E-Mail_______________________________
What is the nature of your organization's business?
PART 2: DATA ABOUT THE TRANSITION TO CLIENT/SERVER
1. a) Was the IS staff responsible for developing and implementing the
transition to client/server technology adequate in terms of:
l) number of staff? Yes_______ No________
2) level of expertise in client/server technology? Yes____No______
b) Explain.
2. Were those who were responsible for implementing the client/server
technology involved in:
a) the decision to transition to client/server? Yes________No________
b) the design of implementation strategies for the transition?
Yes_______No_______
3. a) Which of the following were used in your organization's
client/server system:
___________LAN
___________WAN
b) Explain, if necessary:
4. Check the appropriate category below to indicate the current status
of your organization's transition to client/server technology:
1)________just beginning
2)________about half complete
3)________nearly complete
4)________complete
PART 3: EVALUATION OF THE TRANSITION TO CLIENT/SERVER
1. a) Describe the factor which you feel had the greatest positive
influence on the transition to client/server technology.
b) Explain why it had a positive effect.
2. a) Describe the factor which you feel had the greatest negative
influence on the transition to client/server technology.
b) Explain why it had a negative effect.
c) Describe one strategy you used to counteract this negative influence.
d) Was this strategy (described in "c" above) successful? Yes____NO_____
Explain:
3. Rate the influence each of the items listed below had on the success
of the organization's transition to client/server technology. Use the
following scale:
0 - No importance
1 - Slightly important
2 - Moderately important
3 - Very important
Technological Issues
_____Selection of specific hardware
_____Selection of specific software
_____Integration of client/server/middleware
_____Capacity of system to support increased expectations in future
_____Transfer of data to client/server system
_____Response time of network
_____Integration of multiple platforms
_____Security of system (physical security and/or control of access)
_____Number of clients
_____Other -
Describe:__________________________________________________
_____Other -
Describe:__________________________________________________
_____Other -
Describe:__________________________________________________
Nontechnological Issues
_____Master transition plan
_____Support from management
_____Acceptance by IS staff
_____Acceptance by users
_____Training IS staff
_____Training users
_____Support of a change agent or transition management firm
_____Other -
Describe:__________________________________________________
_____Other -
Describe:__________________________________________________
_____Other -
Describe:__________________________________________________
4. a) Check which of the following you think had the greater influence
on the outcome of the transition?
____________Technological issues
____________Nontechnological issues
b) Explain.
5. a) Rate the overall success of your transition based on the scale
below:________
4 - Highly Successful
3 - Successful
2 - Somewhat Successful
1 - Unsuccessful
b) Explain.
6. Add any additional comments about factors which you think were
significant to the transition. (Optional)
