Computers as Tools for Management

This year the development of electronic digital computing machines has reached the point where American industry can turn from analysis and speculation to actual trial of the effectiveness of these machines in general business use. In these circumstances, it would seem necessary to look to the fundamentals right now, early in the growth period. Most of the business applications of computers, which we have planned up to this point, have led in one direction: greater speed in the processing of business data. To achieve this goal, we have aimed at more and more complete office automation. Probably that was a sound choice of a starting point. For business became interested in the electronic computer when it was pointed out that the machine can effect great savings in the processing of data. Hence this application of the computer was the foot in the door needed to get this industry off to a sound start financially.