This comprehensive overview of the history of computing and its industry, and of commercial applications of the computer also outlines the history of how computing operations were managed within American companies. Based on extensive research in the contemporary business literature, this work is one of the few which looks at computing as business history, and it is the first to look at the broad scope of computing from the perspective of the business historian. The work is also directed at business managers to help them appreciate and understand the uses of the computer in their firms.

JAMES W. CORTADA is a senior consultant with IBM Corporation and serves on the editorial boards of three journals. Dr. Cortada is the author of over a dozen books in the history and management of information.