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While avoiding evaluation or specification of individual companies, computer time-sharing commercial contract agreements are analyzed. Price and non-price contract elements are analyzed according to 22 evaluation criteria: confidentiality measures assumed by the vendor; consultation services available; package programs and user routines; languages supported by the system; availability and nature of documentation and user manuals; availability of instruction and training; existence of syntax check prior to compilation; advance notice of systems change; physical limitations of the programs; availability of storage; user file structure requirements; delay for user owned tape/disk mounts; number of users on the system; peripheral services; availability of immediate telephone assistance; availability of systems time; telephone network and location of computing equipment; back-up systems and excessive delays; systems crash recovery procedures; possibility of benchmark tests; preventative maintenance procedures; and history of the vendor, up-time, and customer references. A formula is presented for comparison of computer time costs. (Author/DW)

It is recognized that there is a major gap between the promises of large data bases and optimization and simulation models and their actual ability to solve real world problems. This document describes a Generalized Data Base Planning System (GPLAN), currently being developed at Purdue University, that is proposed as a system to bridge this gap. A number of systems contain some of the components of GPLAN, and a survey of each system is presented with details of its contribution to GPLAN design. Research on two systems at Purdue is directly leading to the development of GPLAN. One application is concerned with the development of a regional water pollution control planning system; the other is an interactive information system design package. The authors suggest that GPLAN is as much a major advance over a Generalized Data Management System (GDMS) as a GDMS is a major advance over application programs with formatted sequential files. A bibliography is included. Diagrams may reproduce poorly. (Author/DN)

Group structure is one of the important mediators between individual input and group output. The present study examines the effect of group structure on the following dependent variables: (1) change in the group member's evaluation of items evaluated before group interaction, (2) change in his subjective evaluation model as a consequence of group interaction, (3) group (collective) evaluations, and (4) group efficiency measured in terms of the amount of time required to complete the group task. The results of the study corroborate previous findings of the positive performance effects of decentralized group structures on complex tasks. (Author)