an earlier time. Invariably, a priority job comes in that
must be run just when the shift is almost over. Being a
customer-oriented service, it is our job to get the
product out.
With system programs, three common reasons for
urgent change requests are special saves, changes to the
operating system, and system testing by NAVMASSO.
SUMMARY
Scheduling is the interface between the user, I/O
control, and computer operations. The scheduler’s job
is to follow the AIS facility’s scheduling procedures to
develop daily, weekly, and/or monthly production
schedules.
You will be depended on to effectively and
efficiently schedule the computer and other related
resources of your AIS facility to meet user processing
requirements.
Input/output control is an important AIS function.
It is the point of contact for AIS users (customers). Like
in any other business, customers must be treated with
courtesy, tact, and diplomacy. It is the I/O clerk’s job
to receive jobs from users; maintain logs, prepare jobs
to be run on the computer; make sure everything is
ready on time; communicate with users on job
requirements and problems; and check, prepare, and
distribute output products.
Each of the I/O control clerk’s tasks may involve
customer liaison. Maintaining good customer relations
is as important as processing the customer’s jobs.
We talked about different types of reports,
performance-tuning initiatives, application software
libraries, trouble reports and technical assists,
operational guidelines, and emergency change requests.
This is, by no means, a complete list. As you continue
in your career, you will be adding new skills and more
responsibilities to these. This chapter gives you the
foundation needed to build on, with the skills you have
and those you will learn.
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