PDF | Print | E-mail

Wednesday, 24 March 2010 22:39

A business owner set out to update his computer systems and asked for the best new platform for his business. Both his computer and software were out of date, but given how much business information has been invested in the system, there was reluctance to migrate to new software. His fears were based on perceived risks and a desire to avoid the overhead of staff retraining.  What is the best platform for this business?

At first observation this is a business problem, not a technical problem. A detailed technical analysis will not help. The world is full of examples that prove that a particular proprietary platform or that “choose your flavor” Linux platform is best.  Do a Google search for “best business Linux” - the findings are interesting. Technical answers are well in the forefront, yet there exist few that addresses the bigger business problem inherent in migration from a legacy system to a new platform environment.

One article makes this assertion: “For IT decision makers in small and midsize businesses, Linux is all about having choices -- and all about making choices. That includes sifting through a seemingly endless list of distros, weighing a variety of service and support options, and selecting the most appropriate software for your company's business needs.” Source Link.

The question is, does the business owner have time and interest to pursue an evaluation of opinions from highly diverging technical reporters? Not likely. For the greater part, business owners and managers are time-constrained. In the absence of time and interest, most will find a trusted advisor to help resolve the matter.

The above article goes on to say that: “Most companies, however, will want to pick a mature, respected Linux distro with a solid track record.” Really? How often will a business want to do that? Very few business managers want anything to do with choosing an operating system. More often than not, a business owner or manager wants to know the following:

• Costs today and over the life-cycle?
• Will business information be retained?
• Will staff require disruptive retraining?
• What new capabilities will benefit my business?
• What risks do I need to be aware of?
• What is involved in installation and transition?
• How long will it last?

Those involved in the information technology business should take note that  we are paid to solve business problems. If we do that well, business owners and managers will trust our technical judgment and advice.