Abstract
This presentation will contrast current client/server euphoria with a review of concerns that an informed management strategy needs to consider. Detailed concerns reviewed will include: budget planning (cost assumptions, myths and hidden costs); product and tool selection issues; issues involving "systems integration" consultants; software development staff transitions (who can and can't make the transition and how to plan for the difference).Examples of successful and failed client/server applications will be provided. Presentation will be based upon the presenter's first-hand experience with: a bank's eight-state networked "distributed processing" application; previous work at two other colleges; and current observations about two in-production Dartmouth College client/server applications (DCIS and BlitzMail). A summary of many successful or failed client/server projects, acquired from a review of current literature and colleagues in higher education and the business community, will be provided.