Dotan Cohen wrote this on Tue, Feb 26, 2008 at 02:53:51PM +0200. My reply is below.
> If using a portable app makes no permanent changes to the machine, > why should it not be allowed? This is the old, old End-User Programming argument, isn't it? ... so let's say you are a clerk (flunky) who knows a thing or two about running spreadsheets on a PC. You design, code, and test your own spreadsheet that duplicates a corporate application. You propose your department adopt it and drop corporate IT's application program. Here are your arguments for doing so: o It's quick. There's no lag time in getting results. o You can work offline. That's your parochial (tactical) point of view: Get your job done and get on to something else. IT, on the other hand, has a company-wide (strategic) attitude. They are a cost center, not a profit center. Their job is to minimize costs for the whole organization, not just one department. Here are reasons why they may figure it's their job to say, "No:" o Spreadsheet software (even open source) is not free. It takes resources to keep the programs up-to-date and to train End-Users. (This is not a strong argument. Usually spreadsheet software is already supported for reasons other than the issue at hand.) o If you can work offline, you can take work home. This opens the organization to claims for compensation for time spent "off the clock." o If work leaves the office, other people (the Family) may see it (inadvertently). This makes you individually responsible for data security, a responsibility most induhviduals are not cut out for. o If work is hauled around, it may be lost or stolen. This makes you and the company liable to the shareholders (owners) for any inappropriate release of privileged information including insider trading, loss of proprietary secrets, and identity theft. Also portions of the work may be irrecoverable; the data may become incomplete. o By trying to duplicate corporate calculations, you may inadvertently introduce subtle mistakes that magnify your misunderstanding. Thus, the data may become wildly (or worse it may become slightly) inaccurate. o You may not be able to keep up with approved changes in corporate calculations. o When you leave the organization (or die of natural causes or are shot), nobody else will have a clue what you were up to. By my count that six arguments anti to two pro. IT wins! -- .. Chuck Rhode, Sheboygan, WI, USA .. Weather: http://LacusVeris.com/WX .. 20° — Wind NNW 17 mph — Sky haze. -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
