Re: [OT] Goodbye Debian
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
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