2007 Best and Worst lists clutter every type of media, including our Web pages. These are fun, but they don't help you directly unless you do some work on your own. Since you're in the office on New Years Eve and maybe even New Years Day, you have time to make your own lists.
Start with two lists: Technology Successes in 2007 and Technology Failures in 2007. These must be personal and honest. In other words, the successes and failures must be those from your company only, not the industry at large. Honesty demands you put the truth on the page. You won't ever show these lists to anyone in management, so you can be honest.
What technology failed you this year? Computer problems, like operating systems that were foisted onto the public before they were ready? Updates that did more harm than good? Software that didn't work as advertised?
Go beyond the obvious. Did the software not work because the users weren't trained properly? Did an idiot vice president buy incompatible hardware or software? Were processes lackadaisical or lacking completely?
Then look at where technology helped your business. Did some users save hours on certain tasks because of better technology? Did you track missing inventory fast enough to get the suppliers to fix their orders? Did your marketing efforts bring more customers through the door, whether virtual or physical?
Put the lists side by side, and decide how to make the list for 2008 heavier on the “Successes” side. Writing the lists down will help you see patterns. Training an issue? It is for many companies. Lack of processes an issue? That causes problems for even more companies. Make your new list of 2008 resolutions based on your first two lists, and 2008 will go better than 2007.
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