COBOL, A Vehicle For Information Systems

“Any information system, no matter how simple or complex, is driven by a computer program,” Robert T. Grauer, author of COBOL: A VEHICLE FOR INFORMATION SYSTEMS, remind us. “It follows, therefore, that adequate coverage of generalized system concepts without concrete programming experience is impossible.

“This is not to say that every business school graduate should be a trained programmer. Most assuredly not. A manager should, however, be able to interact with data processing, and this can happen only with some firsthand knowledge of programming.

“What is needed,” he continues, “is an integrated approach to information systems in which a programming language becomes the vehicle for presenting systems concepts. Hence the lofty objective of this book”

Although Dr. Gauer might describe this objective as lofty, his style is a down-to-earth, clear, logical, and practical. Early chapters discuss a user’s view of the computer, introduce COBOL, and present concepts of program testing and debugging. Requirements of a Human Resources Information System (HRIS) are developed for use as a unified case study throughout the book.

Subsequent chapters expand on the application of COBOL, codes and table processing, sorting and merging, use of the completed Human Resources Information System, and sequential and nonsequential file maintenance. All COBOL examples are structured and adhere to the ANS 74 standard.

An appendix offers a series of 10 integrated class projects for a Student Information System, which parallels the text development of HRIS.