Third Generation Computer Systems
ACM Computing Surveys (CSUR)
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We certainly need to talk about problems associated with the role of the operator in large scale, complex computer environments. The specialized role of operator has emerged as other roles have become similarly specialized in response to the increasing scale and complexity of computers themselves as well as the range and complexity of computational problems to be solved. Mr. Branton's paper discusses the need for enhancing the professional requirements for operators suggesting that more complex decisions are required in the operation of large systems. He advocates the establishment of a complete career path within operations and favors elimination of the notion that advancement for operators can be available only through entering the programming group. His justification for more pay and more professional recognition for operators is that the operator's job requires more complex decisions than before and correspondingly more training in today's large computer system. As he describes it, “complex decisions” seem to boil down to scheduling and resource allocation.