Page 40 - Remembering ISTEL

Remembering ISTEL

John Leighfield’s “Crisis in Systems” note

“Based on the evidence of the first 9 months of Leyland Cars and the
current crisis situation, the Systems function is approaching a point
of “collapse” in mid 1976. Such a “collapse” would be evidenced by:-

'

• the failure to maintain the operation of existing systems in

support of day by day production, payroll and cash
collection operations

• an inability to develop new systems or implement systems
changes to support the requirements of the business and
to enable the newly Integrated Division to operate.

The point has already been passed where sufficient development
resources can be applied to developing the systems necessary to

support business plans and enable business performance objectives
to be achieved.

All Divisions and Functions can now claim that they are receiving
inadequate Systems service and that this is increasingly
constraining their ability to operate effectively and meet targets.

The main contributory causes to this situation are:-

• the rate of leaving of systems development staff due to:-

• salaries which are some 20% below the market rates in
the £2000 to £4500 band

• a buoyant job market

• general morale and lack of confidence in the future of
Leyland Cars
• lack of management interest and support

• the failure to recruit experienced staff to replace lost skills

• the failure to recruit trainees and maintain the general
level of systems resources •
• the lack of outsourced programming support to enable

designed systems to be programmed and implemented

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