The Changing Character of Managerial and Technical Roles in the Information Technology Based Enterprise

In the shifting landscape of organisational computing, continuing developments in information technology have potentially major implications for managerial and technical roles, including the emergence of new ‘hybrid’ roles. As the emphasis in computer information systems shifts from relatively inflexible transaction processing systems to more flexible decision support systems, so the focus of attention has shifted from the effect of computerisation on workforce roles to the implications for managerial and technical personnel. Concerns with operational control and long‐range planning have given way to concerns with the integration of primary business functions and medium‐range ‘what if’ analysis, particularly in the information‐based sectors such as financial services, travel and tourism, and retailing.