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TechTalk COLUMN:
February 2006
Overview Feb Mar
P
U B L I S H E D
theNOWnewspaper Business2Business
British Columbia, Canada
Is there a mouse in your business house?
by Rita Alterio, Professional Writers Association of Canada
Think of technology as your friend. Really. Not your saviour.
Computers will not save you from a disorganized desk, miraculously creating order. That new-fangled financial software program won't
transform
your losses into profits, painting everything from red to black. I remember the sneering words of the boss' assistant from my first job more than 20 years ago. With a gentle pat on a desktop monitor, she spit out the words, "You think this computer will organize him."
No, no, no. How many friends masquerading as jesus do you know? You take your friends to coffee, buy them birthday gifts and yes, put up with their idiosyncrasies.
So your friend the computer needs you to take the time to get to know it's bytes.
And this is where a problem often surfaces: Computers have their own language, which to many is a very foreign language. Misunderstandings and frustration ensue, and then -- war.
Given that computers are potentially such valuable allies in running a company, transforming them into enemies is just bad for business. Ever worked in an organization where fear and loathing of computers and technology reigned supreme? Ever notice how poorly those companies perform?
One small B.C. company I worked for focused on maintaining outdated and inefficient systems -- systems that were slowly strangling the organization. Yet the owner believed, firmly and absolutely, that technology was the enemy. A waste of time.
Tell that to RSM McGladrey Inc, a business consulting firm with 100 offices across the U.S.. Through technology, RSM consultants were able to service clients remotely and thus eliminate the need for expensive and time-consuming travel.
Technology a waste of time? Tell that to such companies as U.S. telecommunications giant Verizon and Great Canadian Casinos. Both companies use the software of Delta's Loki Management Systems. Without that software, scheduling 1500 staff would be a nightmare.
Yes, I hear those guffaws from you one-man (and nearly one-man) shows. But careful. Take a look around and you'll discover small companies like Tiretrends.com, which has used web technology to build a thriving business which ships tires across Canada.
Now these companies didn't just happen upon their technological solutions. They were well-thought-out components of planning. Praying to the technological gods didn't do it; going to war in an attempt to defeat the unintelligible and frightening computer didn't do it. Every company that has successfully used technology knows that it needs a mouse in the house -- the computer kind. That is what I will be exploring here month-to-month. Join me on the journey.
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