Management
Issue No. 49 - October/November 2009
Avoid sinking in IT flood
by Dr David Corkindale and Dr David Corkindale
I work in an industry sector populated by child-geniuses, wacky wunderkinds, tech-savvy geeks, propeller-heads and caffeine-fuelled techno freaks. This same world is inhabited by visionaries, highly skilled artisans, entrepreneurs and seriously smart business people.
Living on the fringe of this domain are the brilliantly practical engineers, number crunching programmers, graphic artists and the technical and creative specialists working in the digital realms of film, television and animation.
In this environment it rains every day. Some days, it pours, and when the deluge abates, those left swimming or clinging to life-rafts or floating detritus rendezvous in packs before the heavens open up again.
This is not rain in the literal sense. It’s a deluge of new ideas, innovative technologies and buckets and buckets and buckets of shiny, fresh product. What started in the not-so-distant past as a drizzle has become a storm. It’s a downpour with no respite in sight.
What is my point? Well, if the geeks can’t keep up, how can the business owners who don’t work in those environments possibly hope to keep up?
We all know technology is a vital ingredient in every business. We all deal every day with CRM software packages, productivity enhancing software, computers and networks, mobile, fixed-line and internet-protocol telephone systems. From a simple database tracking client interactions and sales, through to pan-organisation data networks linking people, product and services around the planet. Businesses of all sizes and kind rely on technology to maintain their market presence and competitive edge.
One of the most difficult tasks for any business professional is trying to keep up with these changes. Here are some simple strategies you can apply to help you keep up-to-date without feeling completely awash in new toys, systems, packages and processes.
Tip # 1: Learn the basics: Keeping abreast of what is going on in yo...
