Computers have helped engineers and planners improve productivity and perform tasks that are impossible for manual operation. Development in computerized information technology will certainly affect engineering operations. One of the emerging issues in the information profession is the downsizing of information technology. The scope of the downsizing is defined, the status and the pros and cons of downsizing are reviewed and evaluated, and finally, the possible impact on engineering operations is pointed out. An attempt is made to bridge the gap between the engineering and the information technology professions.

What is downsizing of information technology (IT)? In many journal articles, downsizing is defined as converting large computer systems to smaller ones. Peri (J) of Computer Support of North America, Inc., defines downsizing by identifying six downsizing strategies: from mainframe to personal computer (PC) local area network (LAN), from a mainframe to a UNIX host, from a mainframe to a hybrid PC LAN with UNIX hosts, from a mainframe to a hybrid PC LAN with mainframe relational data base management system, from a mainframe to a cooperative PC LAN with AS/400, and from a mainframe to a less expensive mainframe. Some consider downsizing to go beyond just using smaller equipment. Klein (2), the president and founder of the Boston Systems Group, a systems development firm, defines downsizing as" a gradual transition to the dispersed usage of computer based information systems by groups of multiple individuals to support unique and specific business responsibility"(2, pp. 2-7). He suggests that downsizing has three dimensions: equipment, systems development, and decision making. The process of downsizing will change the centralized environment to a decentralized one. It converts the large centralized equipment to distributed smaller ones, and it changes centralized systems development activity and decision making to a decentralized activity that involves users. In this paper, downsizing is defined as having three dimensions:· equipment, systems development, and decision making, as suggested by Klein (2). Downsizing activity will generate more benefits if it is conducted with these three components. Considering the interdependency of hardware, software, and applications, it is necessary to include factors other than equipment. There are several synonyms for the downsizing of information technology." Client/server computing" and" distributed computing" environment are frequently used to describe the same concept with a different emphasis. The term client/server computing is used when the