Computer Facility Centralizationecentralization: A Multiobjective Analysis Model

A multiobjective model is used to analyze the effect of computer hardware decentralization on: 1. revenue to the central facility, 2. staffing levels, 3. users remaining in the central facility after decentralization, and 4. the level of computer resources available to users. Goal programming is used as it facilitates the observation of the effect of model parameter modification on multiple goal attainment. A university is used in this example. Priorities of all groups concerned are considered. The problem is whether hardware should be decentralized. It is determined that revenue to the central system would decrease after decentralization and that to control revenue users with high inpututput, central processing unit usage must stay with the central system. The purpose of the model is not to make the final decentralization decision, but to observe the effects of each alternative. Future research in this area could address the nonlinear aspects of the model and the nonlinear behavior characteristics of users.