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Cost-Effective IT: Tough Decisions

Cost-Effective IT: Tough Decisions, by Richard Sonnier

Houston Business Show "Advisor" Richard Sonnier, of the Information Technology Services firm Nimble Services, Inc., provides weekly information on our show about business technology issues. He can be reached at 281-445-4800 x250 or rsonnier@nimbleservices.com.

Last week, I reviewed IT planning. This week I will discuss some of the tough IT decisions facing businesses.

Personal Computer or Business Computer

Originally, computers were strictly business tools. IBM is International Business Machines not International Personal Toys. However, Microsoft and the PC industry created the PC as a tool for the individual, and the PC was a hobbyist's toy like HAM radio until IBM released its first PC. The PC has never given up its hobbyist's roots. Today, computer games on the PC are a multi-billion dollar industry.

When a business provides a PC to an employee, the employee tends to consider it his personal system and wants to load all kinds of software not necessary to its business function. The business faces a tough decision: allow the user to customize his PC so that he is happy or lock it down to its intended business functions. There is no easy answer. People get very frustrated either way. However, from a cost perspective there is no contest: locking down the PC is a big money saver. To see why consider the following analogy.

Suppose a business has a fleet of 100 delivery trucks. Which will be more expensive to maintain?
a. 100 of the same model truck
b. 100 different trucks
What happens to our maintenance cost if we allow all of our trucks drivers to make whatever modifications they wish to
each truck? Paint it a different color, hot rod the engine, or redo the interior; it would be crazy. The maintenance will be unique and different on every truck. The maintenance of PC's is no different. The more the user is allowed to change whatever he wishes, the harder it will be to maintain it and the greater the cost.

Internet Access: Freedom to Surf or Business Only

The Internet is a wonderful information source and tool for business. However, the Internet has much that is not appropriate to business and many of our clients find that employees waste time using it. If a staff member went to the library to do some market research but spent half the time reading popular novels, you would limit that person's library access right? The Internet is dynamic and it is very easy to get off the business task and onto something of personal interest. Does the business limit Internet access to just business or allow users the freedom to surf? It is a tough question and employees with freedom today will complain if there is a policy change. One of our clients did limit the Internet to only business usage and after an adjustment period it was successful. It seems to have improved productivity.

Next week, I will review IT policies and procedures.

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