Management implications of job control language standardisation

The brief history of command language standardisation efforts is reviewed: time and cost savings are detailed as reasons for requiring a standard operating system command and response language (OSCRL). A model of an abstract computing machine environment is introduced as a desirable kind of environment and as a way for management to understand the standardisation process. Management involvement is seen as all important, not only to support standardisation but to guide the increased flexibility which standardisation brings. Finally, it is stressed that technical experts must get involved to ensure a competent and comprehensive result - even though an actual standard may be five or more years distant.