It's easier to buy the equipment than to run and support it. Five years ago, local area networks were rare in Springfield. Today, there are 17 servers and over 500 PCs. It adds up to a lot of computers and networks to support. Besides lacking resources to support the escalating number of city computers, MIS must struggle with a procurement system that can't keep pace with the constantly changing prices of technology.
Training is another weak area.
High turnover among the city's clerical staff, most of whom now use computers, means MIS has to spend valuable time teaching new recruits the basics of Windows and various office automation software. If Springfield has any chance of keeping up with the changes and complexities of today's information technology, it will do so by sticking to the basics. One example is the mainframe computer. While PCs may crash and LANs slow to a crawl when network traffic peaks, Springfield's mainframe keeps cranking out everything from payroll checks and purchase orders to water bills and building permits. LANs just aren't able to handle the volume of transactions.