• about
  • about this podcast
  • contact us
• podcasts
  • upcoming episodes
  • archived episodes
    • 2009
    • 2010
    • 2011
• resources
  • interesting blogs
  • UDP travel blog
• advertising

40. manage your it may 12, 2010

Dr. Ramiro Montealegre.

As technology changes over the years so does the way urban planners and other design professionals do business. We use more computers for everyday work than 20 years ago. With these changes we have had to acquire additional knowledge along the way. We had to learn how to manage a single computer and a network of computers, and learn how to make decisions about upgrading or switching to new systems. Dr. Ramiro Montealegre is a specialist in Information Technology.

Information Technology cannot be separated from main operations of the business. Dr. Montealegre proposes for small firms to first analyze the overall picture of future information flow in their business. Figure out current and future needs of your business. Dr. Montealegre stresses how strategy, in the use of technology, is important for small business. After defining what you technological needs are for managing information for your business, then commit to a specific type of technology.

Dr. Montealegre reminds us that IT managers do not always know what your business strategy for technology is.  Upper management should always be involved in managing and developing technological strategy. Understanding and envisioning the bigger picture will help you to avoid buying technology just because it is popular, or because you think that this software will fix your immediate problem. Zara is one of the companies where they implemented this strategy.

Letters from Listeners

"If Apple ever gets enough of the market share where writers of malware and viruses decide it is worth writing for it, they will come in mass..... Macs are no less susceptible to viruses than your average PC"

This comment completely ignores the fact that Microsoft scripting software is available to anyone, including hackers and cyber-criminals, whereas Apple has strict licensing standards for its OS.

Were Apple to run an MS-based OS, they, too would be susceptible to malware, regardless of their market share.

John Cruet

It is naive to think that Apple's OS is any less hackable than any other systems. The engineers at Apple are good at locking down who and who cannot write applications for their OS, but all operating systems are hackable regardless of origin especially with the kind of "talent" that exists in that world.

The point of this discussion is that it really does not matter what OS you are using as long as you are being productive with it. If a particular OS helps in the delivery of professional services in a consistent manner, than there is no real benefit of one OS over any other. It is my preference to consistently deliver the highest level of service to the profession whether a computer is involved or not.

Jonathan Peiffer

There is no question that any operating system is hackable. But hackers are going to go after those systems which are the most vulnerable. And, ironically, they get lots of help from Microsoft! That is hard core fact supported by the fact that clearly the vast majority of malware attacks Windows-based systems. This in itself has spurned a huge IT industry since the typical businessman does not have the time to deal with this crap.

You have yet to prove, that the Windows OS has any such superiority over Apple. Your contention that one OS has no benefit over another is clearly ignorant of hard fact.

John Cruet

Your hard core facts are nothing more than personal supposition. I have never said that Windows OS is superior to Apple, it is simply different. You appear to fundamentally misunderstand the statements above.

Allow me to repeat:

The point of this discussion is that it really does not matter what OS you are using as long as you are being productive with it. If a particular OS helps in the delivery of professional services in a consistent manner, than there is no real benefit of one OS over any other. It is my preference to consistently deliver the highest level of service to the profession whether a computer is involved or not.

Jonathan Peiffer

Jonathan, you can repeat your deceptive statements until you are blue in your face. My point is that it Does indeed matter what OS you use, and I have proven it. If you are too brainwashed by MS to understand my point, that is your problem. With that, I'll cease following this discussion.

John Cruet

To add a comment that is relevant to the actual topic I concur with the statement in the original post:

Upper management should always be involved in managing and developing technological strategy. Understanding and envisioning the bigger picture will help you to avoid buying technology just because it is popular, or because you think that this software will fix your immediate problem.

As a business owner, it is imperative that I fully understand the technology my company is implementing so we can better focus on using technology as a tool to improve the delivery of our services rather than a crutch or, worse a hindrance, to our productivity.

Jonathan Peiffer

OK and fine.

Please explain the preponderance of over 60,000 pieces of malware a year which attack Windows machines and systems. I'm not going to waste my time and effort being an IT person maintaining the "industry standard."

John Cruet

It is hard to see how hardware brand is relevant to technology decisions. Understanding basic IT is simply universal whether it be MS, Apple, Unix, or anything based. Having a parent who in retirement is still active in IT after retiring from 28 years at Bell Labs, I'll quote his sage advice, "Computers don't makes mistakes, people do." That was the advice I got as a 12 year old when I managed to erase a 2000 line self programmed bit of code. The networks I maintain, whether in the office or at home are robust, secure and take minimal maintenance.

Jonathan Peiffer

If Apple ever gets enough of the market share where writers of malware and viruses decide it is worth writing for it, they will come in mass. The internal architecture of a MAC is now the same as a PC, just a different OS. Macs are no less susceptible to viruses than your average PC.

I look at IT knowledge as integral to my practice as it is just another bit of useful knowledge to have as the complete architect, such as knowledge of code, sustainability, accessibility, construction, etc. When I say minimal maintenance, I mean it. In the 7 years the current server has been running it has never once had any attack from the outside. Again, simple protections and little knowledge and the systems I work on are compatible with most everyone else's.

My first use of a Mac was with the SE and my daughter has a recent Macbook. Good machines when they work. Expensive machines when they don't. Again, OS is irrelevant as long as you are happy with it and it works for you. If the computer industry was smart, we'd all be running some Unix based machine as it still performs better than any low end PC OS on the market including Mac and MS.

If you like use of your Macs, that is great.

Jonathan Peiffer

"Understanding and envisioning the bigger picture will help you to avoid buying technology just because it is popular, or because you think that this software will fix your immediate problem."

AMEN!

That's why the best step to effectively manage your IT is to adopt an Apple-based practice, and take it from there. ;)

John Cruet

Follow us on Twitter

Skype 'arina.habich'

Join us on Facebook

Join us on LinkedIn

Contact the show