The Value of Information and Communication Systems in Research and Education

Abstract

This paper empirically examines the potential productivity gains received by introducing an office automation system based on communicating high-performance PCs respectively local workstations in an educational and research environment. This is done by presenting the results of a case-study at the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration. The method used is based on the “Hedonic Wage Model”, a calculation method that quantifies the shift in the work profiles achievable through the use of computers. In the first part of this paper we describe the situation at the University of Economics and Business Administration, so that the reader can understand the problems and recognize how much of the solution’s relevance can be mapped on to the situation he faces. The main motivation for this investigation was the uncertainty one of the authors faced as head of the university computing center in the judgement of the utility for supporting the university’s staff by introducing an office automation systems. Then we describe the impact of office automation systems on organizations in general and introduce the hedonic wage model which is also contrasted with information flow and document volume-oriented analysis techniques, utility index techniques and the time savings/ time salary approach. Finally we present and discuss the empirical results obtained.