In-Depth
Six ways to stay the course
- By Johanna Ambrosio
- May 1, 2005
1. Have an implementation roll-out plan that starts small
and grows gradually. Don’t be too aggressive—this is a highly visible
application, often used first by the corporate higher-ups. Problems that result
from poor planning reflect on the IT department.
2. Stay strong. Have guidelines for job types that require
wireless access and stick to that framework. Sure, this won’t keep the
division president away, but it will slow the hordes of other would-be wireless
users.
3. Make sure that whatever product you choose can support
the creation of multiple images. That way you can still install department-specific
software, if necessary, but still minimize the IT support burden.
4. It makes more sense to standardize on a device, but if
you decide to support more than one brand or type of PDAs or smartphones, plan
accordingly.
5. Look out over the next two years and think about what your
company might want to do with wireless devices. E-mail and calendar are sure
bets. But what else?
6. Choose your wireless applications wisely. The technology
is best used for tasks that require only a few screens of information and limited
data entry.
Back to feature: Wireless
Handhelds Connect to Enterprise Apps
About the Author
Johanna Ambrosio is a freelance writer based in Marlborough, Mass., specializing in
technology and business. Contact her at [email protected].