Discussion Assignment 1

Assume you are a technology manager of a small company. The company is a successful marketing company but must watch every expenditure to remain so. You are looking at your technology budget and have become concerned. Your employees are constantly requesting upgraded equipment and the latest versions of mission critical software and operating systems. They also are requesting software not currently used by the company stating that this particular software will help them do their jobs better and more effectively. The employees are sincere about their requests. Unfortunately, your staff is being stretched thin trying to support all this software and hardware. You feel you must standardize.

Your job is to advise the technology manager. How do you ration resources? How do you decide who gets what? How do you decide it is time to upgrade software or hardware?

In this discussion, present just one idea that you think will help the manager make these difficult decisions. Try to be original. Also, read the ideas of your fellow students. Comment on at least two. Do not say "Good idea" but say why this idea is important to our manager.

Why this question??   After you finish school, you may find yourself managing a budget. The situation described above may be a problem you will face and have to answer. Right now, at PJC, we're faced with this issue. How do we replace outmoded computers. When does a computer become obsolete? When do we upgrade operating systems and software? We have requests for approximately 10 times the amount of money we have to spend.

This assignment is worth ten points.   Please post your suggestion to the manager in our Discussion area of WebCT entitled Sept 6 Discussion 1 Question.  Assignment is due midnight Sept 12