Getting the Most out of Your PC

8. Staff and PCs

PCs are only as good as the people who use them. If you are going to introduce PC-based systems, you must also involve employees.

8.1 Discuss your plans. Involve:

• Employees who will use the system, and who understand what the issues are.
• Customers and suppliers who will be affected.

8.2 Plan the rollout.

• Introducing too many changes at once can be chaotic.
• Starting with relatively simple software (or gradually implementing more complex systems) usually works best.
• Although you may be introducing more software over time, plan how the whole system will work from the outset.

8.3 Arrange training.

• Plan a gradual development of skills, focusing on the most important tasks.
• Encourage continuous learning on the job, rather than just a one-off training course.

8.4 Learn from problems and mistakes.

• If an individual continually has problems, consider additional training.
• If a system continually causes problems, change it if necessary.