Organising Computer‐based Information Systems Resources
| Published date | 01 July 1985 |
| Date | 01 July 1985 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb057407 |
| Pages | 11-16 |
| Author | Terry Goodyear |
| Subject Matter | Economics,Information & knowledge management,Management science & operations |
Organising
Computer-based
Information
Systems
Resources*
by Terry Goodyear
International Distillers and Vintners
(UK) Ltd, Harlow, Essex
Aims
The principal aims of the project were: to examine the pre-
sent organisation of computer-based information systems
resources in International Distillers and Vintners (UK) Ltd,
from there to establish the nature and extent of existing pro-
blems, to generate and evaluate alternative solutions and
to make recommendations based on these evaluations.
Introduction
To date, computer technology has been used primarily to
automate paperwork and process accounting-based
business transactions. However, the pace of technological
change is continually advancing and is heralding the dawn
of a new information age. In an era in which information
availability and new communication processes are having
a significant impact on management life, the question of
how to organise information systems resources arises.
There are two major organisational issues to be resolved
with computer-based information systems (CBIS): who is
to be responsible for CBIS and how is the systems function
itself to be organised?
This article addresses both of these issues, offering alter-
natives at the macro level for further consideration, follow-
ing a practical implementation of internally reorganising the
IDV systems function.
Grand Metropolitan plc
Grand Metropolitan plc (GM) operates in a number of
non-
durable consumer goods and services markets, chief of
which is the alcoholic drinks trade. It is ranked tenth on the
London Stock Exchange top 100 listing and, with a turnover
of £5 billion in 1984, is a major industrial organisation by
international standards.
The group is organised along geographic lines comprising
three major sectors:
— UK, covering brewing, foods and consumer services;
— US, covering consumer products and services, and
— International, covering hotels, and wines and spirits.
The management style in GM is such that authority is very
largely delegated to divisional level while only essential
strategic and financial controls are retained; each division
operates similar delegation of authority in relation to its sub-
sidiaries. Thus group management could be described as
being the business of hands-on portfolio management.
The benefits to IDV of being part of GM can be summaris-
ed as having operating autonomy, funding for growth and
inter-group synergy. The group has at its disposal a large
computer centre at Uxbridge, whose role is to promote the
effective and efficient use of information systems (IS) within
GM.
Grand Metropolitan Information Services (GMIS) is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of GM and was founded in October
1972.
At this time, a number of large organisations such as IDV,
Watneys and Express Dairy, were joining the group — all
with sizeable information processing requirements. GMIS
was formed in order to take advantage of the economies
of scale derived from centralising computer resources and
expertise. Today, it is considered to be the centre for
"technical excellence" within GM, providing a large range
of computer services to most group companies, including
IDV.
IDV (UK)
IDV sees its prime objective as the building of international
brands of spirits, liqueurs and wines in all world markets,
and IDV (UK) Ltd has traditionally been the cornerstone of
IDV worldwide. Its prime objectives are marketing and
sell-
ing a range of liquor brands, both agencies and brands
own-
ed by IDV. To support this, IDV (UK) are also involved in pro-
duction,
distribution, wholesaling and retailing.
The IDV (UK) management philosophy is congruent with
GM and IDV Corporate in that authority is delegated to each
*This article originates from a project carried out as part of an in-company
MBA programme.
IMDS • JULY/AUGUST • 1985 11
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