How to Protect Your Computer From Malware and Other Online ThreatsBy [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Paul_Morton_Langham]Paul Morton Langham
Spyware are computer software that collects information from your computer without your consent. The phrase spyware is often used interchangeably with adware and was first mentioned as far back as 1995 when the problem first started to arise. Adware, is software which displays advertisements to you on your PC screen. The two terms are collectively known as malware.
Personal information is obtained from you through a variety of means, like adware, spyware, key loggers, Trojans, active X configurations, scum ware, dialers, malware, parasites, toolbars, drive by download, tracking cookies, spyware registry keys , browser hijackers and BHO`s or by reading fields on your hard drive.
The spread of this malicious behavior - adware spyware - on the part of the few has led to the creation an entire industry which attempts to combat the practice. Adware spyware is a serious thing which can do you personally great damage and you should run software on your machine to guard against protect against possible invasions of your privacy and disruption to your PC.
Take this advice. Anyone, repeat anyone, who surfs the internet or has goes on-line is exposed to adware spyware -trust me you won't even realize that you are on most occasions - and should run some software on their PC to disinfect and protect against the issue. Check out the many available spyware protection resources available on my site.
What should a typical adware spyware protection free download be capable of doing?
The ultimate object of software is to locate, delete and remove all types of spyware. In essence, the objective is to cleanse and then protect your PC.
First and foremost your adware spyware software should be capable of running on a timed scheduler, or as a real-time blocking tool. Protection need sto cater for every eventuality so should include rollback and restore facilities and be capable of categorizing by severity the spyware or adware found on your machine.
If you find a product which does not deal with the above, then click on to the next one!
More functionality
These days any respectable company marketing adware spyware software on the internet should offer you an extensive FAQ, even an interactive knowledge base email and telephone support. If a company cannot offer you at least a good FAQ and email support then pass again.
The adware spyware threat and protect your PC in general from infiltration - how seriously should you take it?
A Spyware Protection survey carried out in 2004 by AOL they concluded that 80% of PC's contained some sort of adware spyware, more recently in 2006 Microsoft declared that over 90% of personal compters connected to the internet are infected with some sort of adware spyware, dialers or the like. This means that you need protection. if you don't get it, it will just be a matter of time before you suffer the consequences of an attack on your privacy and your own personal information.
How to spot Spyware?
Adware spyware, unlike a virus does not self replicate, you cannot send adware spyware to a friend or colleague via email. The methods of seeding the infiltrating vindictive spyware is normally surreptitiously downloaded from a web site you visit with out your knowledge. Protection software will block the downloading of malicious spyware in real time and keep your PC safe
Adware Spyware software - get it now with a free download.
If you or your children surf the internet or are on-line then your PC is at risk and you need Adware Spyware Protection. Even if you do not know whether or not your machine has been infected the chances are that it is. Do not be fooled into thinking Adware Spyware will not arrive on your PC it will and what's more you won't know that it is there. So do not delay any longer, get yourself a good and reliable package to clean up your PC and protect yourself on line.
Paul Langham runs http://www.adware-spyware.com a review website dedicated to the latest trends and approaches in combating Adware and Spyware.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Morton_Langham http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Protect-Your-Computer-From-Malware-and-Other-Online-Threats&id=1691205
Friday, July 17, 2009
The Mobile Society and E-everything
The Mobile Society and E-everythingBy [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=EM_Beck]EM Beck
Ongoing debates about cyberspace and e-commerce (EC) have suggested that the online world will somehow always be dramatically different from life in the analog world.
The advent of the early Arpanet/Internet was often characterized as a void that was impersonal and immaterial. It is true that as e-commerce continues to mature, national boarders become less meaningful, and the specific location of individuals and businesses do not matter that much anymore. It also is true that we are now seeing blogs, forums, discussion groups, social networks, and other influences emerging to re-socialize and form new e-tribal experiences on the Internet.
Technology is the great equalizer and almost always makes up for any lack and the supposed weakening of social structure. New technology always is eventually accepted and becomes an essential part of the fabric of society itself.
It seems that every day we are increasingly connected via interactive technologies - mobile phones, email, instant messaging - and these technologies are becoming more and more interconnected. Our society is transforming itself where the action of interaction is in itself mobile by its nature.
Even as we communicate on our cell phones, whether speaking, text messaging, or sending and receiving email or photos, we are also “mobile” in the sense that we can move freely while being in constant communication.
The issues of a mobile society, mobile computing, or other aspects of a ubiquitous society have often been deemed as sterile and seemingly lacking of the human element, a realm reserved only for savvy geeks, engineers and academics.
Accessibility to emerging technology has changed the notion that only technical elites or "wireless road warriors" can conduct business without a fixed base, operating from cell phones, PDAs, laptop computers, and wireless connections with little regard to traditional office essentials.
The reality is that “E-everything” is no longer a fad, nor even a trend, but now an important and accepted style of living and doing business both online and offline.
Michael Beck writes on marketing and business issues related to: Small Office & Home Office / Technology & Telecommunications / Product Reviews & Resources for The SOHO Online Professional. You can learn more by visiting these blogs: http://soho-quest.blogspot.com/ and http://digital-nomads.blogspot.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=EM_Beck http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Mobile-Society-and-E-everything&id=454934
Ongoing debates about cyberspace and e-commerce (EC) have suggested that the online world will somehow always be dramatically different from life in the analog world.
The advent of the early Arpanet/Internet was often characterized as a void that was impersonal and immaterial. It is true that as e-commerce continues to mature, national boarders become less meaningful, and the specific location of individuals and businesses do not matter that much anymore. It also is true that we are now seeing blogs, forums, discussion groups, social networks, and other influences emerging to re-socialize and form new e-tribal experiences on the Internet.
Technology is the great equalizer and almost always makes up for any lack and the supposed weakening of social structure. New technology always is eventually accepted and becomes an essential part of the fabric of society itself.
It seems that every day we are increasingly connected via interactive technologies - mobile phones, email, instant messaging - and these technologies are becoming more and more interconnected. Our society is transforming itself where the action of interaction is in itself mobile by its nature.
Even as we communicate on our cell phones, whether speaking, text messaging, or sending and receiving email or photos, we are also “mobile” in the sense that we can move freely while being in constant communication.
The issues of a mobile society, mobile computing, or other aspects of a ubiquitous society have often been deemed as sterile and seemingly lacking of the human element, a realm reserved only for savvy geeks, engineers and academics.
Accessibility to emerging technology has changed the notion that only technical elites or "wireless road warriors" can conduct business without a fixed base, operating from cell phones, PDAs, laptop computers, and wireless connections with little regard to traditional office essentials.
The reality is that “E-everything” is no longer a fad, nor even a trend, but now an important and accepted style of living and doing business both online and offline.
Michael Beck writes on marketing and business issues related to: Small Office & Home Office / Technology & Telecommunications / Product Reviews & Resources for The SOHO Online Professional. You can learn more by visiting these blogs: http://soho-quest.blogspot.com/ and http://digital-nomads.blogspot.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=EM_Beck http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Mobile-Society-and-E-everything&id=454934
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Resolving the Antivirus Issue
Resolving the Antivirus Issue
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jake_Foster]Jake Foster
The use of information technology has resulted in lots of innovation in the recent past. Due to these innovations the pace of life has become much faster. There are many companies in this world which are producing the soft ware stuff to support an efficient working environment not only for offices but also for individuals. These companies are producing soft wares which make working in an office easier. These soft wares are the specially written programs which can improve the efficiency of your work a whole lot. The soft wares are a very intelligent creation. These are some of the benefits of science and technology. But as there are benefits of using scientific techniques, there are many disadvantages as well. The evil genius minds create viruses which may be very damaging for the other soft wares in a computer. The viruses are the programs which are written and spread for the purpose of affecting the performance of the soft wares and the computer systems in general. The presence of such viruses may reduce the speed with which a computer works. It may also reduce the efficiency. Viruses are a major problem and antivirus is the solution to this problem.
Antivirus are those programs which are created with the sole purpose of detecting viruses present in a system and to block them. These antivirus programs are installed in a system to deny the viruses to access and enter the systems. There are many kinds of viruses. These viruses enter the computer systems and damage them. Antivirus technology can help the people to save their computer systems from the virus attacks. Antivirus solutions are made by many companies which are working in the field of producing soft wares and programs. This technology is capable enough to stop the viruses from attacking the computers. Many viruses enter a system from the internet. To tackle such viruses an antivirus technology is used which can keep the computer safe from such viruses. Similarly, these companies produce antivirus programs for all types of viruses. The antivirus not only detects the already existing viruses but they are also made to inform the user about any other possible virus attack. In today’s world of computer and technology antivirus is some thing very important.
In this scenario the use of computers and information technology related stuff is on a rise. Viruses are being made and released on the internet and the soft ware companies are producing antivirus programs which are being installed in the systems to protect them from viruses. There are many companies which are competing in this field. All of these companies produce antivirus which most often are good. Some antivirus programs are better than the other. If you want to save your computer form viruses, you must choose and use an appropriate antivirus. An antivirus can protect your computer.
Jake Foster writes [http://www.sxsecurity.com]Anti Virus Articles for [http://www.sxsecurity.com]SX Security Resources. Find more articles like this one at our website.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jake_Foster http://EzineArticles.com/?Resolving-the-Antivirus-Issue&id=526725
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jake_Foster]Jake Foster
The use of information technology has resulted in lots of innovation in the recent past. Due to these innovations the pace of life has become much faster. There are many companies in this world which are producing the soft ware stuff to support an efficient working environment not only for offices but also for individuals. These companies are producing soft wares which make working in an office easier. These soft wares are the specially written programs which can improve the efficiency of your work a whole lot. The soft wares are a very intelligent creation. These are some of the benefits of science and technology. But as there are benefits of using scientific techniques, there are many disadvantages as well. The evil genius minds create viruses which may be very damaging for the other soft wares in a computer. The viruses are the programs which are written and spread for the purpose of affecting the performance of the soft wares and the computer systems in general. The presence of such viruses may reduce the speed with which a computer works. It may also reduce the efficiency. Viruses are a major problem and antivirus is the solution to this problem.
Antivirus are those programs which are created with the sole purpose of detecting viruses present in a system and to block them. These antivirus programs are installed in a system to deny the viruses to access and enter the systems. There are many kinds of viruses. These viruses enter the computer systems and damage them. Antivirus technology can help the people to save their computer systems from the virus attacks. Antivirus solutions are made by many companies which are working in the field of producing soft wares and programs. This technology is capable enough to stop the viruses from attacking the computers. Many viruses enter a system from the internet. To tackle such viruses an antivirus technology is used which can keep the computer safe from such viruses. Similarly, these companies produce antivirus programs for all types of viruses. The antivirus not only detects the already existing viruses but they are also made to inform the user about any other possible virus attack. In today’s world of computer and technology antivirus is some thing very important.
In this scenario the use of computers and information technology related stuff is on a rise. Viruses are being made and released on the internet and the soft ware companies are producing antivirus programs which are being installed in the systems to protect them from viruses. There are many companies which are competing in this field. All of these companies produce antivirus which most often are good. Some antivirus programs are better than the other. If you want to save your computer form viruses, you must choose and use an appropriate antivirus. An antivirus can protect your computer.
Jake Foster writes [http://www.sxsecurity.com]Anti Virus Articles for [http://www.sxsecurity.com]SX Security Resources. Find more articles like this one at our website.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jake_Foster http://EzineArticles.com/?Resolving-the-Antivirus-Issue&id=526725
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Why Asus Laptop Computers Are Great
Asus laptop computers are great for anyone that is looking to buy a new computer. There are several reasons as to why this is true. The first reason as to why this is true is because it has an enormous hard drive. The fact of the matter is that almost no other laptop computer has a hard drive as large as the one in the Asus Computers. This large hard drive allows you to surf the Internet at blazing fast speeds. Most people do not realize the advantages of having a larger hard drive.
One of the major advantages of having a larger hard drive is that it provides you with tons of space to store your media files. The fact of the matter is that on other laptops you will often run out of space to store your media files. On an Asus laptop computer, you will never run out of space to store your media files. This large hard drive also allows you to upload your media files at blazing fast speeds.
If you like watching videos on the Internet then Asus Laptop computers will be great for you. Asus laptop computers are specifically designed to help people watch movies on the Internet. Their enormous hard drives and blazing fast processor allows people to watch videos at ridiculously fast speeds. Most people do not realize that the best computers on the face of the earth always come from Asus. If you want to purchase a great laptop computer then you should consider purchasing an Asus laptop computer today.
http://www.asuslaptopcomputers.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laurence_Girard
One of the major advantages of having a larger hard drive is that it provides you with tons of space to store your media files. The fact of the matter is that on other laptops you will often run out of space to store your media files. On an Asus laptop computer, you will never run out of space to store your media files. This large hard drive also allows you to upload your media files at blazing fast speeds.
If you like watching videos on the Internet then Asus Laptop computers will be great for you. Asus laptop computers are specifically designed to help people watch movies on the Internet. Their enormous hard drives and blazing fast processor allows people to watch videos at ridiculously fast speeds. Most people do not realize that the best computers on the face of the earth always come from Asus. If you want to purchase a great laptop computer then you should consider purchasing an Asus laptop computer today.
http://www.asuslaptopcomputers.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laurence_Girard
Help My Computer is Obsolete!
What Makes a Computer Obsolete? The answer to this question will entirely depend on who you ask. Some will tell you that your computer is obsolete the second you remove it from the store, since newer models reach store shelves regularly. Although this thought was a prevailing one years ago, most consumers now know that this is not the case and some argue for extended use of computers.
You may need to think about a new computer if:
Your processor speed is too slow to manage the operating system you wish to run. Speedier processors will enable basic tasks, like surfing the Internet, word processing, and email.
Your RAM is slowing you down. Most current operating systems require a minimum of 1 GB of RAM; Vista needs 2 GB.
Your operating system limits your use of newer programs, if you require those newer programs. The error "Operating System not supported." will let you know that you've reached this point. If you do want one or more programs that are not supported by your operating system, it may be time to upgrade.
You want to use USB peripherals and your computer doesn't have USB ports.
You want to use the Internet or you require wireless connectivity and your current machine does not have these capabilities.
There is No Such Thing as Obsolete There a group of computer users who claim that there is no such thing as an obsolete machine. Machines that are running low on memory or RAM can be upgraded. If your needs are limited to word processing, simple games, and email, there are a wide range of machines that can effectively serve your needs. Just because increasing power is available, does not mean that your needs will be better served by investing in that power.
If your computer is only a few years old and is slowing down, there are upgrades that can keep you current:
Consider increasing your RAM. Most computers are sold with extra slots available for RAM. If your complaint is that your machine is slow, increasing the RAM is an inexpensive and easy way to increase its speed.
Update your security software and ensure that there are no viruses present on your machine. Operating systems and peripherals need to have their software updated regularly too. Think about it like getting an oil change for your car: your machine will run smoother and faster after these updates.
Space is at a premium on your computer. Consider a cleanup of old files. Store files that are important on CDs, DVDs, and other storage devices. Or invest in a new hard drive; with hard drives dropping in price, this is another easy fix for your computing woes.
ITXchange is the world's largest Secondary Market Computer Distributor. Contact ITXchange for information on the Lenovo Options Continuation Program.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_P_Powers
You may need to think about a new computer if:
Your processor speed is too slow to manage the operating system you wish to run. Speedier processors will enable basic tasks, like surfing the Internet, word processing, and email.
Your RAM is slowing you down. Most current operating systems require a minimum of 1 GB of RAM; Vista needs 2 GB.
Your operating system limits your use of newer programs, if you require those newer programs. The error "Operating System not supported." will let you know that you've reached this point. If you do want one or more programs that are not supported by your operating system, it may be time to upgrade.
You want to use USB peripherals and your computer doesn't have USB ports.
You want to use the Internet or you require wireless connectivity and your current machine does not have these capabilities.
There is No Such Thing as Obsolete There a group of computer users who claim that there is no such thing as an obsolete machine. Machines that are running low on memory or RAM can be upgraded. If your needs are limited to word processing, simple games, and email, there are a wide range of machines that can effectively serve your needs. Just because increasing power is available, does not mean that your needs will be better served by investing in that power.
If your computer is only a few years old and is slowing down, there are upgrades that can keep you current:
Consider increasing your RAM. Most computers are sold with extra slots available for RAM. If your complaint is that your machine is slow, increasing the RAM is an inexpensive and easy way to increase its speed.
Update your security software and ensure that there are no viruses present on your machine. Operating systems and peripherals need to have their software updated regularly too. Think about it like getting an oil change for your car: your machine will run smoother and faster after these updates.
Space is at a premium on your computer. Consider a cleanup of old files. Store files that are important on CDs, DVDs, and other storage devices. Or invest in a new hard drive; with hard drives dropping in price, this is another easy fix for your computing woes.
ITXchange is the world's largest Secondary Market Computer Distributor. Contact ITXchange for information on the Lenovo Options Continuation Program.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_P_Powers
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
The First Step to a Successful Computer Project - Put Fashion in the Back Seat
The First Step to a Successful Computer Project - Put Fashion in the Back SeatBy [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Bonnie_Huval]Bonnie Huval
To survive, your company needs a step-change improvement in its efficiency and productivity. Top management has decided upgrading the computer system is the ticket to that improvement--the company will scrimp elsewhere to fund it--and you are in charge of making it happen. The big boss says to bring in the latest and greatest.
Where should you start? By looking up reviews and ratings to find out which hardware and software are the best?
Sure, if you want an expensive failure. Maybe it will run, but it's likely to make everybody's lives miserable for years upon years instead of making the business run smoother.
Start by looking at the business. Determine what it needs to do--look hard, not just once over. Then look for the computer system best suited to helping accomplish it.
A Simple Example
Many years ago, when DOS was new and CP/M was popular, my mother's master's thesis required retyping a zillion times. My father decided to buy one of those new-fangled desktop computers so she could write her dissertation with a word processor. So far, so good.
But my parents thought they could take a short cut. During our next visit, they told me about this plan, then said, "So, which computer should we buy?"
I refused to name any. I told them to visit computer stores and "test drive" word processing programs. At the time, the programs worked very differently. Some used key combinations to embed formatting commands. Others used special syntax to distinguish formatting from text. My mother is a touch typist and had unusual word processing needs, so those differences would matter. When they found the program she liked best, then they should ask what machines could run it and buy one of those. My parents were... let's just say they were not happy with me.
I wouldn't budge, so they went to computer stores in the big city.
My mother's specialty is medieval British literature. Modern English does not have some of the alphabetic characters the language used to have. The missing characters are represented now by striking one modern letter and overstriking at a half-width offset with another modern letter. Back then, none of the word processing programs could do that. WordPerfect could be modified appropriately. Only two combinations of computer and printer were available that could run it.
They bought one and it did exactly what my mother needed.
Even Big Companies Can Do It Wrong
I have seen Fortune 500 companies make mistakes a lot like the one my parents escaped. The most common are:
Putting in a computer system to simply do everything the same way it was done before, with the new computer system involved wherever possible.Getting a computer system that a sales agent says will do everything they need, but that does not really fit, and then forcing the business to fit computer system.
Either mistake is costly. The first costs money to put in the new computer system, but misses the opportunity to make workflow more effective. It happens too easily because people who understand the flow of work in a business rarely understand what a computer could and could not handle. My mother did not realize overstriking with an offset of half a width might be almost impossible for word processors when it was easy on her typewriter.
The second mistake is worse. After costing money to buy the new system, the business has to distort its procedures to suit the convenience of a software vendor (typically at the expense of effectiveness). Productivity can actually decline!
Doing It Right for Your Business
You will not make these mistakes and others similar to them if you begin by getting a clear understanding of not just how your business is doing everything now, but what it really needs to do. Like my parents, you need to understand that thoroughly, not just at a surface level. Small details like the characters that are no longer part of English can be important.
Walk through what shop floor operators do to make your product, or what forklift drivers to do to load your trucks, or what agents do to start a new insurance policy for a customer--whatever your business does. Find the bottlenecks. Walk through revised versions of your business procedures until the new workflow is the way you want it and you know exactly what you want a computer system to do in that workflow.
Then, and only then, it is time to look at the hardware and software available, because at last you know what you want it to do. You are no longer an easy mark for a polished sales pitch. Instead, you will look at what the available systems can do with an eye toward how well that suits the ideal new workflow. You might find, as my parents did, that you have a choice between the latest and greatest, or something older with a solid track record that can do the same job at half the cost. Also like my parents, you might find that nothing on the market is a perfect match, but something you can buy "off the shelf" can be readily tailored to fit well enough without the need for entirely custom software.
Be driven by what your company really needs, not by the latest fashion, and your project can be a great success!
About the author: Bonnie D. Huval has been a consultant since 1992, helping companies make more money with their automation and transaction systems. Successful projects include cutting time to ship product from two days to two hours, and cutting downtime for product introduction by 40%. To get such consulting help for your firm, go to http://www.seneschal.biz/ Her USA and UK business interests also include real estate, property management and a restaurant. Go to http://www.makesureyougetpaid.com/ for her materials to help small businesses be more successful. Copyright 2009. This article may be reprinted only in its entirety, with full attribution.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bonnie_Huval http://EzineArticles.com/?The-First-Step-to-a-Successful-Computer-Project---Put-Fashion-in-the-Back-Seat&id=2386386
To survive, your company needs a step-change improvement in its efficiency and productivity. Top management has decided upgrading the computer system is the ticket to that improvement--the company will scrimp elsewhere to fund it--and you are in charge of making it happen. The big boss says to bring in the latest and greatest.
Where should you start? By looking up reviews and ratings to find out which hardware and software are the best?
Sure, if you want an expensive failure. Maybe it will run, but it's likely to make everybody's lives miserable for years upon years instead of making the business run smoother.
Start by looking at the business. Determine what it needs to do--look hard, not just once over. Then look for the computer system best suited to helping accomplish it.
A Simple Example
Many years ago, when DOS was new and CP/M was popular, my mother's master's thesis required retyping a zillion times. My father decided to buy one of those new-fangled desktop computers so she could write her dissertation with a word processor. So far, so good.
But my parents thought they could take a short cut. During our next visit, they told me about this plan, then said, "So, which computer should we buy?"
I refused to name any. I told them to visit computer stores and "test drive" word processing programs. At the time, the programs worked very differently. Some used key combinations to embed formatting commands. Others used special syntax to distinguish formatting from text. My mother is a touch typist and had unusual word processing needs, so those differences would matter. When they found the program she liked best, then they should ask what machines could run it and buy one of those. My parents were... let's just say they were not happy with me.
I wouldn't budge, so they went to computer stores in the big city.
My mother's specialty is medieval British literature. Modern English does not have some of the alphabetic characters the language used to have. The missing characters are represented now by striking one modern letter and overstriking at a half-width offset with another modern letter. Back then, none of the word processing programs could do that. WordPerfect could be modified appropriately. Only two combinations of computer and printer were available that could run it.
They bought one and it did exactly what my mother needed.
Even Big Companies Can Do It Wrong
I have seen Fortune 500 companies make mistakes a lot like the one my parents escaped. The most common are:
Putting in a computer system to simply do everything the same way it was done before, with the new computer system involved wherever possible.Getting a computer system that a sales agent says will do everything they need, but that does not really fit, and then forcing the business to fit computer system.
Either mistake is costly. The first costs money to put in the new computer system, but misses the opportunity to make workflow more effective. It happens too easily because people who understand the flow of work in a business rarely understand what a computer could and could not handle. My mother did not realize overstriking with an offset of half a width might be almost impossible for word processors when it was easy on her typewriter.
The second mistake is worse. After costing money to buy the new system, the business has to distort its procedures to suit the convenience of a software vendor (typically at the expense of effectiveness). Productivity can actually decline!
Doing It Right for Your Business
You will not make these mistakes and others similar to them if you begin by getting a clear understanding of not just how your business is doing everything now, but what it really needs to do. Like my parents, you need to understand that thoroughly, not just at a surface level. Small details like the characters that are no longer part of English can be important.
Walk through what shop floor operators do to make your product, or what forklift drivers to do to load your trucks, or what agents do to start a new insurance policy for a customer--whatever your business does. Find the bottlenecks. Walk through revised versions of your business procedures until the new workflow is the way you want it and you know exactly what you want a computer system to do in that workflow.
Then, and only then, it is time to look at the hardware and software available, because at last you know what you want it to do. You are no longer an easy mark for a polished sales pitch. Instead, you will look at what the available systems can do with an eye toward how well that suits the ideal new workflow. You might find, as my parents did, that you have a choice between the latest and greatest, or something older with a solid track record that can do the same job at half the cost. Also like my parents, you might find that nothing on the market is a perfect match, but something you can buy "off the shelf" can be readily tailored to fit well enough without the need for entirely custom software.
Be driven by what your company really needs, not by the latest fashion, and your project can be a great success!
About the author: Bonnie D. Huval has been a consultant since 1992, helping companies make more money with their automation and transaction systems. Successful projects include cutting time to ship product from two days to two hours, and cutting downtime for product introduction by 40%. To get such consulting help for your firm, go to http://www.seneschal.biz/ Her USA and UK business interests also include real estate, property management and a restaurant. Go to http://www.makesureyougetpaid.com/ for her materials to help small businesses be more successful. Copyright 2009. This article may be reprinted only in its entirety, with full attribution.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bonnie_Huval http://EzineArticles.com/?The-First-Step-to-a-Successful-Computer-Project---Put-Fashion-in-the-Back-Seat&id=2386386
The First Step to a Successful Computer Project - Put Fashion in the Back Seat
The First Step to a Successful Computer Project - Put Fashion in the Back SeatBy [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Bonnie_Huval]Bonnie Huval
To survive, your company needs a step-change improvement in its efficiency and productivity. Top management has decided upgrading the computer system is the ticket to that improvement--the company will scrimp elsewhere to fund it--and you are in charge of making it happen. The big boss says to bring in the latest and greatest.
Where should you start? By looking up reviews and ratings to find out which hardware and software are the best?
Sure, if you want an expensive failure. Maybe it will run, but it's likely to make everybody's lives miserable for years upon years instead of making the business run smoother.
Start by looking at the business. Determine what it needs to do--look hard, not just once over. Then look for the computer system best suited to helping accomplish it.
A Simple Example
Many years ago, when DOS was new and CP/M was popular, my mother's master's thesis required retyping a zillion times. My father decided to buy one of those new-fangled desktop computers so she could write her dissertation with a word processor. So far, so good.
But my parents thought they could take a short cut. During our next visit, they told me about this plan, then said, "So, which computer should we buy?"
I refused to name any. I told them to visit computer stores and "test drive" word processing programs. At the time, the programs worked very differently. Some used key combinations to embed formatting commands. Others used special syntax to distinguish formatting from text. My mother is a touch typist and had unusual word processing needs, so those differences would matter. When they found the program she liked best, then they should ask what machines could run it and buy one of those. My parents were... let's just say they were not happy with me.
I wouldn't budge, so they went to computer stores in the big city.
My mother's specialty is medieval British literature. Modern English does not have some of the alphabetic characters the language used to have. The missing characters are represented now by striking one modern letter and overstriking at a half-width offset with another modern letter. Back then, none of the word processing programs could do that. WordPerfect could be modified appropriately. Only two combinations of computer and printer were available that could run it.
They bought one and it did exactly what my mother needed.
Even Big Companies Can Do It Wrong
I have seen Fortune 500 companies make mistakes a lot like the one my parents escaped. The most common are:
Putting in a computer system to simply do everything the same way it was done before, with the new computer system involved wherever possible.Getting a computer system that a sales agent says will do everything they need, but that does not really fit, and then forcing the business to fit computer system.
Either mistake is costly. The first costs money to put in the new computer system, but misses the opportunity to make workflow more effective. It happens too easily because people who understand the flow of work in a business rarely understand what a computer could and could not handle. My mother did not realize overstriking with an offset of half a width might be almost impossible for word processors when it was easy on her typewriter.
The second mistake is worse. After costing money to buy the new system, the business has to distort its procedures to suit the convenience of a software vendor (typically at the expense of effectiveness). Productivity can actually decline!
Doing It Right for Your Business
You will not make these mistakes and others similar to them if you begin by getting a clear understanding of not just how your business is doing everything now, but what it really needs to do. Like my parents, you need to understand that thoroughly, not just at a surface level. Small details like the characters that are no longer part of English can be important.
Walk through what shop floor operators do to make your product, or what forklift drivers to do to load your trucks, or what agents do to start a new insurance policy for a customer--whatever your business does. Find the bottlenecks. Walk through revised versions of your business procedures until the new workflow is the way you want it and you know exactly what you want a computer system to do in that workflow.
Then, and only then, it is time to look at the hardware and software available, because at last you know what you want it to do. You are no longer an easy mark for a polished sales pitch. Instead, you will look at what the available systems can do with an eye toward how well that suits the ideal new workflow. You might find, as my parents did, that you have a choice between the latest and greatest, or something older with a solid track record that can do the same job at half the cost. Also like my parents, you might find that nothing on the market is a perfect match, but something you can buy "off the shelf" can be readily tailored to fit well enough without the need for entirely custom software.
Be driven by what your company really needs, not by the latest fashion, and your project can be a great success!
About the author: Bonnie D. Huval has been a consultant since 1992, helping companies make more money with their automation and transaction systems. Successful projects include cutting time to ship product from two days to two hours, and cutting downtime for product introduction by 40%. To get such consulting help for your firm, go to http://www.seneschal.biz Her USA and UK business interests also include real estate, property management and a restaurant. Go to http://www.makesureyougetpaid.com for her materials to help small businesses be more successful. Copyright 2009. This article may be reprinted only in its entirety, with full attribution.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bonnie_Huval http://EzineArticles.com/?The-First-Step-to-a-Successful-Computer-Project---Put-Fashion-in-the-Back-Seat&id=2386386
To survive, your company needs a step-change improvement in its efficiency and productivity. Top management has decided upgrading the computer system is the ticket to that improvement--the company will scrimp elsewhere to fund it--and you are in charge of making it happen. The big boss says to bring in the latest and greatest.
Where should you start? By looking up reviews and ratings to find out which hardware and software are the best?
Sure, if you want an expensive failure. Maybe it will run, but it's likely to make everybody's lives miserable for years upon years instead of making the business run smoother.
Start by looking at the business. Determine what it needs to do--look hard, not just once over. Then look for the computer system best suited to helping accomplish it.
A Simple Example
Many years ago, when DOS was new and CP/M was popular, my mother's master's thesis required retyping a zillion times. My father decided to buy one of those new-fangled desktop computers so she could write her dissertation with a word processor. So far, so good.
But my parents thought they could take a short cut. During our next visit, they told me about this plan, then said, "So, which computer should we buy?"
I refused to name any. I told them to visit computer stores and "test drive" word processing programs. At the time, the programs worked very differently. Some used key combinations to embed formatting commands. Others used special syntax to distinguish formatting from text. My mother is a touch typist and had unusual word processing needs, so those differences would matter. When they found the program she liked best, then they should ask what machines could run it and buy one of those. My parents were... let's just say they were not happy with me.
I wouldn't budge, so they went to computer stores in the big city.
My mother's specialty is medieval British literature. Modern English does not have some of the alphabetic characters the language used to have. The missing characters are represented now by striking one modern letter and overstriking at a half-width offset with another modern letter. Back then, none of the word processing programs could do that. WordPerfect could be modified appropriately. Only two combinations of computer and printer were available that could run it.
They bought one and it did exactly what my mother needed.
Even Big Companies Can Do It Wrong
I have seen Fortune 500 companies make mistakes a lot like the one my parents escaped. The most common are:
Putting in a computer system to simply do everything the same way it was done before, with the new computer system involved wherever possible.Getting a computer system that a sales agent says will do everything they need, but that does not really fit, and then forcing the business to fit computer system.
Either mistake is costly. The first costs money to put in the new computer system, but misses the opportunity to make workflow more effective. It happens too easily because people who understand the flow of work in a business rarely understand what a computer could and could not handle. My mother did not realize overstriking with an offset of half a width might be almost impossible for word processors when it was easy on her typewriter.
The second mistake is worse. After costing money to buy the new system, the business has to distort its procedures to suit the convenience of a software vendor (typically at the expense of effectiveness). Productivity can actually decline!
Doing It Right for Your Business
You will not make these mistakes and others similar to them if you begin by getting a clear understanding of not just how your business is doing everything now, but what it really needs to do. Like my parents, you need to understand that thoroughly, not just at a surface level. Small details like the characters that are no longer part of English can be important.
Walk through what shop floor operators do to make your product, or what forklift drivers to do to load your trucks, or what agents do to start a new insurance policy for a customer--whatever your business does. Find the bottlenecks. Walk through revised versions of your business procedures until the new workflow is the way you want it and you know exactly what you want a computer system to do in that workflow.
Then, and only then, it is time to look at the hardware and software available, because at last you know what you want it to do. You are no longer an easy mark for a polished sales pitch. Instead, you will look at what the available systems can do with an eye toward how well that suits the ideal new workflow. You might find, as my parents did, that you have a choice between the latest and greatest, or something older with a solid track record that can do the same job at half the cost. Also like my parents, you might find that nothing on the market is a perfect match, but something you can buy "off the shelf" can be readily tailored to fit well enough without the need for entirely custom software.
Be driven by what your company really needs, not by the latest fashion, and your project can be a great success!
About the author: Bonnie D. Huval has been a consultant since 1992, helping companies make more money with their automation and transaction systems. Successful projects include cutting time to ship product from two days to two hours, and cutting downtime for product introduction by 40%. To get such consulting help for your firm, go to http://www.seneschal.biz Her USA and UK business interests also include real estate, property management and a restaurant. Go to http://www.makesureyougetpaid.com for her materials to help small businesses be more successful. Copyright 2009. This article may be reprinted only in its entirety, with full attribution.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bonnie_Huval http://EzineArticles.com/?The-First-Step-to-a-Successful-Computer-Project---Put-Fashion-in-the-Back-Seat&id=2386386
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