The client/server computing model defines the way successful organizations will use technology during the next decade. It is the culmination of the trend toward downsizing applications from the minicomputer and mainframe to the desktop. Enabling technologies, such as object-oriented development and graphical user interfaces (GUIs), will liberate the users and owners of information to use technology personally and directly. Users will no longer need continual assistance from professional information systems (IS) personnel to create and store their business data.