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“Technological change is the only constant in our work today.” - Unknown
Getting IT (Information Technology) right is most vital to effectively perform in this wired weird world. The advent of the internet in the mid-nineties and the subsequent emergence of email as the premier medium of communication in corporates have made IT more relevant to us.
People get IT wrong because they are awfully ignorant of the benefits it offers. It has revolutionized the way we work, do business and the way we communicate. The IT revolution never ends. It is evolving still throwing up new and novel solutions to tackle and solve old problems. The challenge for us is to have, at least, the basic understanding and make ourselves part of that revolution. This must be done in order to leverage the potential powers and capabilities of IT.
One of the biggest complaints of line managers against colleagues from IT is that they work to earn revenues for the organisation while the latter work to spend on technology and yet it is IT guys are most prized and get paid the most. It is a wrong notion prevalent among people to feel that spenders are more valued than earners. The basic premise here is that the higher you spend the better. For instance, contrary to belief, frequent problems in computer server due to data overload augur well for the company. It means that the volume of business is growing. The company is getting more customers!
For many IT means computer and a computer is viewed as nothing but a sophisticated typewriter! Or people jump to conclusions that implementing IT means replacing people. They have never understood the real potential power of a computer and how we can all reap the benefits of using them effectively.
Many people catch IT on the wrong foot. Two instances will suffice the state of affairs:
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A marketing head of a FMCG company attended a software product presentation. Hearing the vendor wax eloquent of the capabilities of the software to dish out reports on many parameters he suddenly got a brainwave and asked him, “Will this software give me competitor’s sales information?” It drained the energy of the exasperated vendor to explain that the software works on the principle called GIGO – Garbage in, Garbage Out. What you feed you get, albeit as you like in different formats of reporting. |
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Imagine how a computer techie working with a technical call center felt when he got a call from a lady who complained her computer got stuck. Initial enquiries proved nothing wrong with the system. The techie patiently heard her and probed further for clues. Finally he got it and helped her fixing it. All that the user had done was she had taken the CD drive tray for a coffee cup holder! |
You never know the wonders of the wired world. At first look, everything may look too technical, mumbo-jumbo, a strange world of bits and bytes. Once you get started you get hooked up. It will be an effort before your folks pull you away from the PC. Ask any corporate email user and see. They will vouch for the fact. Many have said later, “Oh My! Only if I had known earlier…” It will be your turn next. As you realize the potential of the PC you will agree that IT is fun!
Many have pre-conceived notions about IT like it is only for techies and not for non-techies. Actually, IT is for everyone.
How IT helps you? Ledgers have given way for sleek computers capable of storing huge data and retrieval is quick and easy. Better information management is possible with IT. You get things done faster in less time.
As a modern executive, IT is totally relevant for managing information in turbulent times.
The days of assistance from secretaries and stenos are gone. Every one has to stand in his own leg. ‘Do it yourself’ is the new refrain from bosses. Learn computer skills and adapt to the changed environment. Be c-literate – be independent.
As information gets crucial for timely and effective decisions, you will realize the importance of IT. Through IT excellent decision support systems can be established. He who has the information, wins. The ability to look forward is greatly enhanced by IT. It opens up a new world altogether. Your future lies in IT and IT is future.
IT goes beyond being a mere ‘sophisticated typewriter.’ The benefits you gain are immense. Approach to IT should undergo a sea-change. For IT helps us surviving in this competitive world.
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Gone are the days when change made not much difference. To illustrate how IT‘s impact is far-reaching the following incident which appeared in newspapers sometime back: In England, a high school student joined a publishing firm as summer intern. The company wasn’t doing well but had excellent titles in its kitty. Soon, the boy figured out what was wrong with the firm despite all the good stuff. Within a couple of weeks, he got the firm wired with the internet by designing a website containing information about their business, title catalogue, etc., No sooner had the firm went online than they received orders galore. Sales jumped and gave the company a new lease of life. The summer intern got appointed as the marketing head of the firm! |
Change with the times. Or else rivals change you.
Remember that the world’s most incredible computer is the human brain. Use it to the optimum to take advantage of the technological advancements happening around us.
Computers help in organising better, staying better informed and being more creative. To start with you must be at ease to surf the internet, send and receive emails, create a letterhead, write and print a business letter, design greeting cards and brochures, trouble-shoot small problems and get a hang of the computer babble, everything from start-up to shut-down. As you learn how to do these in your PC you will appreciate the power unleashed which will make life easier, enriched and simple.
Remember that for the first time in the history of mankind, man has gained riches not by war, looting, gold or oil; but by IT. Join the mainstream to share the spoils and get enriched yourself – personally and professionally.
So folks, like it or not, come what may, IT is here to stay. It is pertinent to take efforts – sincere and conscious to learn the IT skills so as to not get left behind in this race towards professionalism. IT is here to improve and help to make things better than before. It all depends on how best we take advantage that IT’s digital tools have got to offer and utilize it for better management of resources. And once you get started there is no looking back!
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