I can see both sides, but I lean more toward Clyde’s original argument that management needs to be, at a minimum, proficient at basic application and PC operation. Primarily so that they can effectively use the IT resources at their disposal and reduce the time that they spend performing basic tasks.

 

Approximately 50% of level one help desk calls are user error. For a large company that is a huge amount of IT man-hours and dollars spent troubleshooting and fixing user errors. For a small company with one or two IT folks, who are responsible for everything from network admin, to security, to help desk type support, having them spend half of their time helping users with basic tasks prevents them from performing other functions that might better serve the organization and improve productivity.

 

A particular pet peeve of mine is the volumes of people and companies that use Excel as a data tracking tool when they have a database management application installed on their PCs (Access). You show me an Excel spreadsheet used for data tracking and I’ll show you errors (duplicate, missing, or invalid data). These are the kind of things that can cost a lot in man-hours from using the wrong tool for the job.

How old is your father?

 

He's 67.

I can see both sides, but I lean more toward Clyde’s original argument that management needs to be, at a minimum, proficient at basic application and PC operation. Primarily so that they can effectively use the IT resources at their disposal and reduce the time that they spend performing basic tasks.

 

Approximately 50% of level one help desk calls are user error. For a large company that is a huge amount of IT man-hours and dollars spent troubleshooting and fixing user errors. For a small company with one or two IT folks, who are responsible for everything from network admin, to security, to help desk type support, having them spend half of their time helping users with basic tasks prevents them from performing other functions that might better serve the organization and improve productivity.

 

A particular pet peeve of mine is the volumes of people and companies that use Excel as a data tracking tool when they have a database management application installed on their PCs (Access). You show me an Excel spreadsheet used for data tracking and I’ll show you errors (duplicate, missing, or invalid data). These are the kind of things that can cost a lot in man-hours from using the wrong tool for the job.

 

I guess I need to be clear. My point is not aimed at "management" or "owners."

 

That just happens to be the role of many of the people I deal with. They could be professional athletes, accountants, or truck drivers. My issue is with adults who make such asinine statements.

He's 67.

 

That's a bit different although my 68 year old dad has turned into a texting/facebooking fool in order to keep up with his grandkids.

There is a higher up at my work that will walk across the building to get someone to print him a report that he could click the mouse and get. I think he does not know that we know he has access to it. I have another older guy I work with that calls texting "faxing". HAHA

My father is 69 and he texts me daily. He was hesitant at first, but once we showed him how and started sending him texts, he now loves it.

Let me add that I use a lot of small businesses for t-shirt and hoodie sales (about $15,000 yearly) and for other fundraising products. I will not use a business that does not function via email, as I do not have the time to make phone calls during normal business hours. The main company I use is out of Little Rock. I've never spoken live with the owner/operator once, but I've emailed and texted him hundreds of times.

There is an attorney that will deal with some in a neighboring county that does not have a company for anyone at his office. I won't use them again unless I have to. He is not a bad attorney but very hard to reach when I need him.

I once worked with someone who liked his coffee every morning. I rarely drink coffee but the coffee maker was right outside my office door. One morning he says to me there isn't any coffee and asks if I know how to make it. I said sure, come over here and I'll show you how. He says, "No, you go ahead and make it. I don't want to know how to make it because then I'll be expected to make it."

Sorry tt CLOWN if I misread your quote that spoke of your "love of technology". When you said "I couldn't care less..... repeat, couldn't care less if I understand the latest worthless gadget that's on the shelf. " I must have been too busy on a teleconference or texting my kids (another reason to embrace technology) to interpret your message. For the record, I too develop customer relationships in a $30MM territory while keeping up with current trends which often help me do my job more efficiently and productively. Have to go now, got to get in my car than board a plane. I'll tell Henry Ford and the Wright brothers how much you appreciate what they did.

 

Have a nice flight techie. FWIW, there are a lot of worthless gadets on the shelf. That statement doesn't diminish my appreciation of useful technology that improves efficiency.

 

If you will be talking to Henry, Orville, and Wilbur, you must truly be on the forefront of technological advancement OR you expect your plane to come up short of its destination and are hoping to "see them on the other side".:idunno:

Sounds to me like Titletown has done well for himself and can pay someone to tie his shoes.

 

I wish!! Heck, I even cut my own hair (which is REALLY easy with my sparse hair). I just like to "talk it up" sometimes to stir the pot.