IP: Re: IT 'has failed to fulfil its promise'

[David Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>]

A comment. Back in the days of Computer Aided Software Design systems
(still about with less hype), CFG (http://www.cfg.com/) sold a very
successful system (PDL) which required a minimum in PC to run. Many of our
less "honest" prospective customers bought systems that cost more, were
less productive but which required powerful PCs with graphic cards and
color monitors. The result was machines that could play games better and
looked better and the use of CAD systems that failed to deliver what their
brochures promised while ignoring the simplier PDL that did deliver.


Dave




Date: Thu, 07 Aug 1997 11:17:11 -0400
From: Jason <crazyapple () ibm net>
To: farber () cis upenn edu


I do not believe that technology has failed.  I feel that in many cases
we have failed technology.


I've seen too many instances where properly deployed technology
drastically improved the functionality of a business.


I have a client with offices in New York city and  New Haven, CT that
switched over their entire system from an older VAX to a mixed
Novell/Windows NT environment.  I designed their network for
productivity and with return on investment as a chief goal.  I am
comfortable stating that they are easily more productive now than they
were two years ago.  Faxing from the desktop, version control document
management/checkout system, client inventory databases and databases of
all documents and whether they are on site or off site allows for much
less wandering around to find/convey information.  The financial figures
of this law firm reflect my statements and the principals agree that
streamlining the systems portion of their firm is a large factor in
these figures.


I believe that one problem that may contribute to the findings of
Stephen Roach (which I agree with to a point) is allowing people access
to software and hardware that is simply not needed for them to perform
their designated duties.  It's a running joke in many places (including
a recent IP article) how people will spend hours tweaking a presentation
with Powerpoint.  A presentation that will only be viewed by either
non-decision makers or a presentation in which visuals are simply
overkill.


I firmly believe that over-education of employees at a certain level is
as detrimental as under-education.


Cheers,
    Jason Grant