The purpose of this research has been to make a contribution to knowledge about those processes and phenomena which influence the use of computer-based decision systems by senior managers for their own decision activities. In the course of the thesis, research questions are addressed which relate to the nature of the role of the directly-accessed computer in the working life of the top manager, and especially to the factors which influence computer adoption and use. A review of relevant literature enabled gaps in existing knowledge about senior managerial computer use to be identified, and indicated the potential value of exploratory research. A programme of interviews was devised and executed which enabled the exploration of the research problem across a sample of senior managers from private and public organizations. It is felt that the methodology of performing intra- and inter-organizational comparisons among computer-exposed managers was fundamental to achieving new insights into managerial behaviours. Following qualitative and qualitative analysis of the research data, a dynamic behavioural model of the computer adoption process in large organizations is proposed together with a description of salient behavioural features at key points in the process. This theoretical model contributes to an understanding of the nature and circumstances of the senior managerial behaviours associated with direct computer use.

The Hellenic Navy currently avoids the use of computers in all functional areas except for routine bookkeeping. Some individual, societal cultural and institutional military factors that influence this attitude are explored. To correct this situation, it is proposed that a staff Information Systems Officer specialty be established, capable of creating the interface between the decision maker and modern computer systems. A computer-assisted decision making system is proposed that can be used by I ,the Hellenic Navy decision maker. Finally, three representative problems are proposed and solved using such system, to demonstrate the power of modern computer-assisted decision making.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 1986. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 105-106). / Research supported by the Joint Directors of Laboratories through the Office of Naval Research. N00014-85-K-0782 / Philippe J. F. Martin. / M.S.

Thesis (B.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil Engineering, 1986. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 78-79). / Research supported by the National Science Foundation. SES84-19885 / by Anne-Claire Alice Louvet. / B.S.

Thesis (M.S.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 1993. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 113-114). / Supported by the National Science Foundation. NSF-ECS-8310698 / by Amy J. Troutman. / M.S.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 1997. / Cover title. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 132-138). / Supported by an ONR Fellowship, and ARO grants. ASSERT DAAH04-93-G-0169, DAAH04-95 Supported by a NSF grant. 9206379-NCR / Patek, S.D. / Ph.D.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 1997. / Cover title. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 205-211). / Supported by Office of Naval Research. ONR N00014-91-J-1004 BU GC123919NGD / Daniel, M.M. / Ph.D.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 1997. / Cover title. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 220-222). / Supported by Air Force Office of Scientific Research AFOSR F49620-95-1-0083 / Learned, R.E. / Ph.D.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 89-92). / Supported by the U.S. Army Research Office. ARO ASSERT DAAH04-94-G-0221 Supported by National Science Foundation. NCR-92036379 Supported by Advanced Research Project Agency. MDA972-92-J-1038 / Chiu, A.L. / Ph.D.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 1997. / Cover title. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 135-137). / Supported by MIT Lincoln Laboratory. / Aradhana Narula. / Ph.D.