Technology does not replace humans

the users to collect critical information or decision supporting information.
The need for good IT systems have been blown out of proportion. Banks and insurance companies tend to change their systems after every three years.
The reason advanced is lack of systems capacity to handle their information requirements.

As outlined above, it is the failure of the human systems requirements, which leads to this.
For smaller companies, the challenge has been to understand the level of information they require.
Some invest in very sophisticated systems when all the data they require can be handled by a simple spreadsheet.
Information systems are determined by the structure of the information you put in there.

It is also important to safeguard information gleaned through new technological applications.
This comes in the form of electronic back-up. With all technologies, systems can crush or fail due to various reasons.
Back-up provides an insurance cover. It stores critical information that can be activated in the event of fire, theft or system failure.

Technology can only assist those with skills not the other way round. Technology does not replace the human element.
You get out of life what you put in it. You get out of a computer what you put in it.
Currently, the buzzword is creating websites for companies. Most Government departments in Zimbabwe are busy constructing their websites at the moment.
It is, however, sad to mention that most of the websites that I visited recently are not interactive.
This implies that you cannot transact on the website, which greatly reduced the effectiveness of these websites.

However, the cost of building a non-interactive and an interactive website is the same.
The cellphone is slowly taking over some key functions of a computer, and use of a diary.
If a census is going to be carried today I doubt if more 10 percent of our total cellphone users use more than 10 percent of the capacity of the cellphone.

Most of us only use phoning, receiving and sending messages functions only. To be frank, most of us are scared of technology. A cellphone or computer only assists those with skill.
The biggest challenge Zimbabwean companies are facing is not the ability to purchase computers but the resistance by the senior and middle managers to embrace technology as a partner to progress.

As much as they want to get the computers to assist them they do not want to invest time and energy to sweat these assets.
Somehow most managers believe that one day they will wake up enjoying the benefits of a system which works perfectly without putting adequate effort.
Some conveniently think that miracles will come from the IT department. So anything which concerns information must be the responsibility of the IT department.

So if managers pay lip service to the computer who is going to direct the collating of information?
Management scepticism in acquiring new computer skills is always going to be a thorn in flesh in this information age.
Skills are important in collating the data not the computer per se. Managers are employed to direct the company efforts, however, if the managers fear one of their key deliverables who is going to direct the company efforts.

Skill inadequacy is not only restricted to skills in using the computer but also skills to use the information they have.
Collected data is useless if the data collected is not converted into strategic information.
Some systems have data but there are no able people to use the data. Systems are just as good as the people who use them.

Any fool can collect data but only the wise can manipulate the collected data into information which will facilitate decision making.
The other common tragedy is the mistrust management has of computers. One common occurrence is the running of parallel manual and computer systems.
Data is entered in the computer and manual invoice is produced. This implies that the productivity of an employee in terms of doing useful work is halved.

The companies must make decisions on whether to trust their system or not. I agree there must be a fallback position (When the system is down).
The fallback must not be the main port of entry of data. The problem occurs in that manually recorded data will never be reloaded to the system when the system is up and running.
This creates loopholes, which makes companies susceptible to fraud due to incomplete records.

For instance, the up to date point of sale software at the supermarket should be able to do receipting, data entry, stock control and order management. If managed well, you don’t have stock out and subsequently no loss of revenue.

If computers are used properly they can provide a sea of relevant information and endless possibilities just like if a bass caster is properly used, it can give a fisherman a serious competitive advantage. Both computers and bass casters require a human mind to function.

Technology requires effort to learn. It’s a new skill set. It needs time and effort to learn.
Learning enables you to use it to its full potential.
The skill does not come naturally, it needs practice and learning.

Alan abandoned his bass caste because he did not take time to learn how to use this new innovation.
In a few years time there will be new innovations in bass fishing again. This implies that learning is now a continuous practice.

Learning is compulsory for survival. Most skills we acquired 15 years ago are now obsolete today.
Therefore, we have to continually update our skills if we have to remain relevant.