Different approaches employed to automate the administrative recordkeeping processes within academic departments at three University of California campuses are contrasted: the University of California at Berkeley, the University of California at Los Angeles, and the University of California at Santa Barbara. The results are based on campus visitations and interviews with staff involved in developing and using automated recordkeeping systems for academic departments. These campuses shared a mutual goal of enhancing departmental administrative performance through automation, although there was considerable variation in the actual systems implemented. Eight common factors that influenced departmental systems development at each institution are considered in order of importance, based on the frequency they were mentioned by campus personnel: (1) awareness of departmental needs, (2) decentralization of fiscal responsibility, (3) availability of resources, (4) growth of computer literacy, (5) predisposition to computing, (6) management of contracts and grants, (7) philosophy of internal organization, and (8) legacy of past failures. Included are practical recommendations based on the collective experiences of the three campuses. (SW)