Here's a sure-fire way to improve business productivity and cut IT support costs: make sure you and your staff know how to use office software and operating systems properly, then engage an IT support partner to proactively manage the truly tough stuff.
Pam Martin is director of Xtra Mile Training, a company that specializes in basic office and operating system training for people of all ages. She says small business owners and their employees often think they know more about using office software like Microsoft  Word, Excel and Outlook than they actually do. As a result, they miss out on the productivity benefits of the extra features lying just beneath the surface of these applications.
"You don't know what you don't know. We talk about a skills shortage, but part of it is actually a logjam. There are very experienced and capable people who won't change job or go for promotion because they know their poor computer skills will let them down," says Martin.
As for young people, confidence doesn't always equal competence -- school and university leaders may be a whiz at computer games, social networking and digital editing, but not have the IT competence needed for the work environment, says Martin.
"There is a multimillion dollar industry based on training and support for small businesses and yet there is generally no mention of the need for knowledge of basic computer software."
Adam Dunkerley, director of IT support company Need A Nerd, says some of the downsides associated with a workforce with low technical literacy include unproductive, frustrated and unhappy staff.
"This has a flow-on effect on morale which is particularly dangerous in customer-facing staff. How often have you had to wait on the end of a phone while someone complains to you, the customer, that the system is 'down'?" says Dunkerley.
He says small business staff should know how to troubleshoot basic technology problems without causing major issues.
Martin says one of the biggest needs is for better training in the use of Microsoft Outlook -- if people don't know how to properly manage their inboxes -- how to set up rules, how to use tasks, the calendar and other features -- contact and time management benefits are lost. Proper use of Microsoft Word is also important because of its prolific use for business documentation, email, and business information and reports. And Excel is probably the office application least forgiving of a DIY approach to teaming. (continued...)
© 2009 NZ Business. All rights reserved.
© 2009 Top Tech News. All rights reserved.
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