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Disaster Contingency Provisions within UK Local Authorities that have Downsized their Computer Facilities
Abstract
An empirical study was conducted to determine the degree of computer system downsizing and associated disaster contingency planning (DCP) within UK local authorities.A principle objective of the study was to examine the cultural changes associated with downsizing. These cultural changes relate to how system ownership can shift when downsizing moves away from central IT control. This change of ownership could seriously affect how or whether DCP is implemented or even considered.
A comparison was made between information technology (IT) specialist and user department groups with regard to the factors and attitudes relating to both downsizing and DCP The current level of IT penetration and its relationship to downsizing were examined together with the relative attitudes of both groups to the topic. The extent of downsizing and the relationship between it, DCP and disaster prevention was investigated with particular reference to the level of IT specialist staff involvement. A number of case studies were examined to see how specific local authorities had dealt with the issues. The study covered local authorities in mainland Britain, Northern Ireland and Eire.
A prime outcome of the study’s survey was the low awareness of issues relating to downsizing and DCP. Evidence of the evolution of disaster prevention in various forms of fault tolerance facilities was found. Fault tolerance is becoming a cost effective method of minimizing the risk of an IT disaster.
keywords:
- downsize, downsided, downsizing
- disaster contingency planning (DCP)
- disaster prevention
- local authority
- information technology
- rightsize, rightsized, rightsizing
- client server
- business continuity planning (BCP)
home page - Downsizing abstract