Managing the Computer Resource: A Stage Hypothesis Based on the study of expenditures for data processing, a descriptive stage hypothesis is presented. It is suggested that the planning, organizing, and controlling activities associated with managing the computer resource will change in character over a period of time, and will evolve in patterns roughly correlated to four stages of the computer budget: Stage I (computer acquisition), Stage II (intense system development), Stage III (proliferation of controls), and Stage IV (user/service orientation). Each stage is described and related to individual tasks for managing the computer resource. CACM July, 1973 Nolan, R. L. computer management, computer budget, computer expenditures, stage hypothesis, planning, organizing, control, computer resource 2.41 2.43 3.50 CA730701 JB January 23,1978 1:23 PM 2485 5 2485 2485 5 2485 2485 5 2485 2977 5 2485 2985 5 2485 3011 5 2485 3035 5 2485 2075 6 2485 2302 6 2485 2345 6 2485 2485 6 2485 2485 6 2485 2485 6 2485 2485 6 2485