The first computer used by the City of Edmonton was in 1954. An increasing population, growing civil service, and improvements in technology spurred the growth of computers used for data processing. In the beginning computing related functions were decentralized, and occurred in several different departments. For example, management of the early computerized information systems development process was done first by the Budget and Research Department (1974-1976), then by its successor the Management Studies, Systems and Budget Department (1977-1983). Procurement of computer equipment was done by the Mobile Equipment Services Department (1974-1978), then by a branch of the Central Supply and Services Department (1977-1982). This latter department was also responsible for all data processing in the City for a time.

In 1980 the Computer Systems and Development Department (the first department solely dedicated to computing technology) was established. It was responsible for developing computer systems in other departments. In 1983 it was reorganized and became the Computing Resources Department. With advances in technology and changing business needs, The General Manager of the Computing Resources Department oversaw a number of ever-changing branches. Between 1988 and 1989 there was an Administration Branch, a Client Services Branch, an Applications Support Branch, and a Computer Operations Branch. In 1990 a Systems Integration Branch was added, and the Applications Support Branch was divided into the Corporate Applications Branch and the Department Applications Branch (the second of which only survived one year).

In 1993 and 1994 there were four separate branches: Systems Integration, Corporate & Financial Applications, Software Support, and Production Services. In 1996, despite the downsizing of a few years earlier, the department had nine branches: Financial Services, Humans Resources/Administrative Services, Outsourcing Management Branch, Customer Services, Production Services, Systems Management Mainframe, SRP Coordination/Distributed Systems Management, Infrastructure/New Directions, and Strategic Infrastructure Planning.

In 1994 computing services were decentralized and the Computing Resources Department was downsized. It continued operations until 1997, when the City '97 reorganization dissolved the department and moved its function to the newly created Information Technology Branch of the Corporate Services Department.