Quality and programmer productivity are more than the latest buzzwords. Quality is demanded by the customer and productivity is essential in competitive procurements. To that extent, the selection of the computer system should be a management issue as well as a technical issue.

This paper is directed towards managers who have previously limited their role as the decision maker in the world of computer selection and now see the need to take control of a business area that is a significant cost driver.

There are two major areas of interest in evaluating a computational system. These major areas are:

1. Evaluation of computer performance

2. Program development environments.

Within each area of discussion/ the results of research and management guidelines will be presented as applicable.