Acquisition of an Interactive Computing System for Academic Use: A Case Study

The acquisition of a large-scale computer system is a complex and important task that universities face periodically. The large capital expenditures and the always expanding need for computing services ensure an increasing importance. Virginia Tech recently made such an acquisition. This paper describes the evaluation procedures leading to the acquisition, beginning with needs assessment and concluding with system selection. The acquisition of a computing system, in this instance a system primarily for interactive instructional support of undergraduates, is a decision that is subject to a variety of influences technical, managerial, political, and personal. This paper describes the authors' attempts (as then Associate Director of the Computing Center and then Head of the Computer Science Department, respectively) to deal with these influences through the use of quantitative techniques, behavioral analysis, and common sense.