Scandinavian Sparks Blog

Dual Core, Quad Core, 64 – Bit computing? Will the advances in computer technology ever come to an end? Lets take 64- bit computing for example. The problem here is many retail consumers don’t even begin to understand the benefits.

And in the case of IT managers and Computer Support staff, do they really need 64-bit operating systems on their or their users Pc’s or do they really need specialist CAD workstations?

Whilst many firmly ignored the advent of the arrival of a commercially available 64-bit systems because of driver support under Windows XP, now that Vista is firmly entrenched (there’s no getting away from it) IT support staff and business owners really do need to understand what this means to their power users as opposed to ignoring it which many still are.

This is not a knock at IT support staff in general because typically when they are managing a corporate or even a small business environment they are more often driven to provide efficient IT management across the board to a fixed budget which can be counter productive.

Rarely will they be tasked or have the remit to increasing business productivity. So more often than not hardware supply is aimed at office user level and if an employees needs are greater tough, there pleas for better equipment will be ignored!

I can say this through years of experience of seeing this lack of understanding in IT support departments in both small businesses, multi-nationals and government bodies, and even in some very large IT support corporations.

Equally where there is an understanding or even a willingness to listen, there is often lack of interest to do anything about it as it will upset the status quo or will be an extra drain on the IT budget that has not been provisioned for.

Specialist users have specialist requirements and there needs do need to be addressed, as companies have to work hard to recruit these software specialists and if they feel that their input is not being taken seriously they’ll start looking for a better employer.

In most environments getting a project to market a week or a month earlier can impact success by putting if not thousands, tens of thousands on to bottom line profitability.

Equally being as a little as a week late can incur serious and costly contractual penalties in many businesses.

If your business or the business you support is involved in Digital Content Creation (DCC), Mechanical CAD (MCAD), Electronic Design Automation (EDA) etc. then it is vital (if you care about beating the competition) that you understand your IT policy may be seriously undermining the productivity and effectiveness of the business.

Any good business owner will understand the return on investment that an increase in productivity or a reduction in costs and penalties will give them. And given a reasonable justification why would they not want the business to be more profitable?

If you have specialist users in the business and you have not done so already then, you need to break down the IT budget to meet the needs of two very different types of users to make sure you can effectively support the business.

So why then do so many companies expect their designers and specialist to perform when they are restricted to using hardware that in many cases is less powerful that that used by their children to surf the internet?

Quite simply for company bosses it is more often than not a simple case of a lack of understanding or a lack of information!

Often where IT support staff are told there is nothing else in the budget they will accept that and do the best they can given the restrictions. But bear in mind their focus will then be about minimising costs (which sometimes can be a bad thing).

If you tell them that there is nothing else in the budget unless there is a justification for investment, then IT support staff will naturally focus on providing the most efficient and productive IT environment, and will not be afraid to come forward with positive and productive ideas.

64 – bit computing does not offer much for the mainstream user, but for business the technology can be vital to success, so the message if clear. If your unsure ask the experts and don’t second guess, it could cost a business a small fortune.

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