The MSU began the change to a CS infrastructure knowing it would be a multi-year program crossing every department and operating unit of the organization. This was envisioned as a five or six year project when begun in early 1993, though it is now seen as extending up to nine years. First, an effort to upgrade key work processing and customer accounting systems. Second, a move toward a cost-accounting basis across departments and units. The technologists and their management knew complete solutions were not ready when they committed to the transition.
Technical changes are difficult, social and organ-zational changes are more difficult.
Much of the stress is due to unexpected organizational and social changes for which the technologists are not trained. This is a constant reminder of the differences in infrastructure. It'll be a few years. There are two types of users and they are both critical. End-users, those doing the work, are ambivalent about the new tools.