In today’s businesses and institutions of higher education, computer centers or data processing centers play a vital role in supporting the daily operations of these organizations. In addition, they are used as tools or aid to produce their products and services. Computers are such an integral part of the business environment that they are not just vital to the smooth running of a corporation or institution. They are also a costly and precious resource, so the management of computer centers requires a variety of skills that previously did not exist. Its projection is that by 1980, $20 billion will be spent on computing by the nation. According to a recent survey, the average computing function receives an average of approximately six requests per day. It represents about 3% of the total budget of the company.
What is the meaning of the term computer center?
Computer centers or data centers are organizations or departments that are responsible for processing data in a systematic manner. This is in order to fulfill the needs of the organization. A computer is used for this purpose since it is equipped with the hardware and software necessary to be able to handle the processing. This type of computer works by connecting to the Internet and is usually interconnected to other computers through a network.
What is the nature of the work it does?
- In general, it refers to the department that is responsible for designing, creating, implementing, and maintaining the systems within a company. This is a special type of area that provides a particular direction to the rest of the dependencies so as to facilitate their work. One of the main responsibilities of this organization is to teach computer users, maintain computer equipment, and conduct feasibility studies on a variety of topics.
- This is a type of building or office where there would be a large number of computers and other equipment that would be kept. There are a number of large companies that have founded this company. These companies generally come from organizations that require a large amount of data to be stored and processed. There can be several computer centers at your company, depending on how big it is and how many employees you have. It is important to note that this kind of establishment is generally known for preserving its equipment on a physical level, which is one of its main characteristics. When it comes to building them, a very specific and careful design is used in order to accomplish this.
- The first thing that must be done is to select a geographical location in which to implement the project, which is based on several factors, for example:
“What is the general cost of the land as well as what is the cost of the different insurance policies that should be obtained; At present, the internet is the most important communication service for the area and in terms of how well it is connected to the internet and how well it is served by electricity delivery and other forms of communication services. - In the past, there have been many fires, floods, earthquakes, and all kinds of natural disasters, as well as robberies and other attack types that are typical of humans;
The height of the floor and the width of the doors are other factors that should be taken into account, as well as the means of protecting the equipment in the event of an accident, fire, flood, or any other incident threatening to threaten the safety of the building and the equipment within. Additionally, since a large number of computers are in constant operation in a place that is likely to have a wide variety of temperature fluctuations, it is imperative that an air conditioning system is installed in such a place in order to keep the center cool, and it is important that the building is oriented in a way that protects it from the sun. A situation like this is extreme when it comes to hot weather conditions. - The functions performed by computer centers are usually not highly complex; however, the data handled by them is usually of great importance to organizations, not state-of-the-art research laboratories. Furthermore, the people responsible for entering these data must spend many long hours of their lives tirelessly returning to the same simple and monotonous task over and over again. This task requires no particular level of skill, but rather an unshakable persistence and patience.
- During certain occasions, such as during elections, it may be deemed necessary to install this center, so that the voting process can be managed. These centers are where the votes are counted and the results are announced as soon as they are counted.
- During elections, this center serves as a large, central information system. It fulfills the four main functions of this type of computer system: transferring information from one server to another, storing the data on servers, processing the information (summation of votes, estimation of percentages, etc.), and outputting the information (in the form of an impression on a screen or a printed record).
Types of the computer center
There are three types of computer centers:
1- General-purpose computers,
2- Computers that are used for the processing of economic information,
3- Computers used for the control of manufacturing.
- The general-purpose computer center performs calculations involved in mathematics, scientific-technical, and economic fields, as well as issues related to programming problems, including the analysis and solution of problems. It also helps with the formulation, preparation, and implementation of problems in the organization. It also offers consultations with regard to questions related to the organization’s own computer centers or laboratories. Additionally, it is established to conduct scientific research in the field of automated programming computer programs. It is accomplished by using mathematical methods commonly used in the mathematical and technical operation of digital computers.
- As a central element of automated control systems for enterprises or sectors of the national economy, these centers are usually the center of the automating control systems and are administratively subordinate to the control bodies that create those systems (ministries, central boards, plant managers, etc.). These centers are usually responsible for regulating the planning, processing, and calculation of financial and bookkeeping calculations, as well as single calculations in the area of technology and economics. They also require large volumes of normative and reference data to perform their work (in the form of machine archives) and maintain them constantly. Information from enterprises is communicated via punched cards and tapes, magnetic tapes, or direct input to computers (for urgent operational issues).
- It is important to understand that computers are used to monitor and control production processes in real-time. The computers are receiving raw data from a number of sensors that automatically measure the parameters of the production process, and then they automatically send control instructions (in a strictly scheduled sequence) to running units (propulsion, heating, etc.). They are also obliged to meet special operational requirements related to speed and reliability of operation.
As a general matter, many of the problems related to computer center management are also related to management as a whole. In spite of this, there is some management issues found in these centers that are not found in other types of organizations. This is primarily because of the centers function within an organization. There are a number of issues related to education and industry, and we will discuss some of them.
What are the qualifications for a computer center manager?
- Most of the directors or managers of the centers in the past were highly technical experts, either in computer science or a closely related scientific discipline such as biology or physics.
- The majority of these center managers in higher education are faculty members. They have been given the responsibility of managing the center due to their recognized expertise in some fields. Some of them lack basic knowledge and experience in handling personnel, equipment, and money, or may not have any experience at all.
- It is common for a manager of a center to be promoted to the management of that center as a result of their recognized technical ability.
- There is no doubt that many of these individuals are lacking the training to be able to manage the center’s resources effectively. It can be challenging for managers to think in terms of their management rather than in terms of the technicians or the employees that they are responsible.
- In any environment, whether it is an educational institution or an industry, a computer center must produce and sell its services as a business. This is in order to be able to function as an educational institution or an industry. In order to accomplish this task, the center manager must be both a complete businessman, as well as a skilled data processing professional. This is because he must have a broad range of knowledge in both technical and managerial areas.
