Computer installation accounting

Administering the allocation of a computer resource can be segmented into several responsibilities, with fairly well defined subjects of common concern: the policy of the parent organization and strategies to realize the overall objectives by allocating computer resources and assessing results; tactics of users to maximize value per unit price; control functions to demonstrate compliance with externally imposed regulations; planning and assessment within the computer facility; and technology of load measurement. It is possible to design an installation accounting package that does much to decouple these varied functions. We have described an implementation that is quite successful in this regard.