Mark,
        I would suggest going to talking to your university.  While the university
works on a more corporate level, it has a similar problem, students and
departments often have different computers and different programs.  The
university has to make decisions about support issues and upgrading.  Why
not also look at how the university deals with its infrastructure, these
institutionalized policies tend to range the whole gamut of possibilities
and may also provide you a template through which to evaluate and determine
processes.

- Adam Brin

_______________________________
[log in to unmask]
http://www.netspace.org/users/abrin


-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Mark McClane
Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 1998 4:33 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Information Technology - IS Challenges


I am a graduate student working on a thesis topic and need help from
msuem professionals.  I would appreciate comments.

Thesis statement:

Small museums have computers -- many acquired randomly,
not systematically. This raises the question, how can museums
organize and centralize information systems, how do they make
decisions regarding the use of technology, and how can museum
staff understand the impact on their institution.  I propose a planning
process for small museums to determine how to use technology for
more efficient and ineffective internal communication.  This process
might culminate in the hiring of an IS manager to maintain, overseeing,
develop/evolve this technology as the museum grows and technology changes.


Your comments on the previous and following statements/questions
would be appreciated:
 There are many nonprofits that do have jerry-mandered,
 out of date systems and don't have the resources or skills
 to replace them or develop a system for evaluating them.

 The big challenge is always funding--money is very, very
 hard for infrastructure.

 Are there still directors of small museums who are resistant
  to what technology can do for them?  Consensus is that pretty
  much everyone agrees on the merits of information systems.

 Who would be the decision maker on how to go about
  integrating or acquiring technology, the director?

 The feeling that an analysis of what can be done, rather than
  a need to convince people that it needs to be done would
  be useful.

My current thinking is to stick to the "how to" analyze the current state
of affairs and oppose the "why."

My interest is in small museums with staff under fifty.

Thanks