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Real Techies Don’t Speak ‘Klingon’
Understand exactly what that office
technical guru is trying to
tell you
BY FRED ODE
It’s a typical scenario in companies
all across the country, throughout
nearly every industry (except perhaps
those located in Silicon Valley).
The boss has a simple question regarding
a technology issue. The
question is phrased something like,
“How do I send some job data over
the internet to a subcontractor?” The
company’s tech expert gives this
answer in reply: “ Just ftp your SQL
data backup using a GUI application
that can be downloaded. Prior to
backup, make sure that your Login is
on the correct ACL. You may need to
modify your firewall, however, because
we’ve seen some TCP session
hijacking lately via IM Worms.”
What the boss heard is, ”Blah,
blah, blah. Techno babble, techno
babble.” Sound familiar? So how do
we bridge this enormous communication
gap, you ask?
As the technology expert for this
publication, I feel an obligation to
address this jargon divide. I am frequently
challenged to explain brand
new technologies to people who
know little about them or infrequently
use them. There are several things
that you can do, and should be doing,
to facilitate communication with your
internal and external IT (information
technology) resources. Your business
cannot operate independently of
technology, and you must make sure
you do not either. The following tips
may help to minimize the “intimidation
factor” and raise your understanding
of the ever-changing world of business
technology.
Learn the basics
There will always be a debate of just how much technology
the business owner or executive should
know. After all, shouldn’t that be left to the expert?
Of course. But you would never make an uninformed
decision either. It is the responsibility of decision
makers to know enough about technology to know
what it can or cannot do.
For example, consider the lesson learned by an
electrical construction firm with annual revenues of
approximately $5 million. With no internal tech expert
to consult, this company relied on the advice of
outside vendors and ended up with three successive
accounting software programs over a six-year period.
Nothing fit the business needs of the company
or met their accounting objectives until their fourth
and final purchase of our system. Good technical
advice from the start, from someone knowledgeable
about software AND the practical applications needed
by this company, probably could have prevented
a long, exhausting “trial and error” search.
Find a tech guru who speaks English
Believe it or not, there are techies out there who are
not out to confuse, frustrate or intimidate the so-called
technologically challenged. You don’t need to
find the world’s greatest communicator, just someone
who can articulate technology concepts into
non-technological terms.
The fact that so many people today are terrified
by technical terms and aggravated by acronyms is
no surprise really. Consider this fact: Nearly one in
four new words added to the latest edition of the
Merriam Webster Collegiate Dictionary are those
derived from or describing technology. Many of
these words were yesterday’s jargons (defined as“technical terms for which the meanings are known
only to a select few.”)
In most cases, technical people use jargon not to
appear intellectually superior (okay, some do) but
because it most accurately describes a term and
has no reasonable substitute. Therefore, make sure
your technical expert not only can explain topics in
clear, precise language, but also is willing to define
each and every acronym and jargon until you hold up
your hand and say, “By George, I think I’ve got it.”
Understand what you have and what
you’re looking for
First and foremost, come to understand what your
current technology strategy is…and if it is successfully
supporting your overall business strategy. Before
a new strategy or purchase is even considered,
current technology should be evaluated based on
company objectives. If business goals are not being
met, define specifically what is needed to achieve
these goals. Even if you don’t know much about the
specific technologies available, articulate to your
tech expert the goals you hope to achieve.
Ask Questions
As with our undefined “boss” above, if your unassuming
question is met with an unintelligible answer,
demand a definition. Hopefully, you’ve done your
homework and know the basics of which they
speak. Simply keep asking questions until you are
satisfied. After all, you need to know not just if your
goals are achievable, but if they are realistic and
affordable as well.
Be open to new technology
When it comes to technology, it’s best to remember
that you are never “finished.” Just when you think
you’ve got the newest and fastest product available,
you could safely gamble that an even newer, faster
one has come on the market.
Thankfully, you don’t need to consider every
brand-new technology, only the new technologies
that could have a positive impact on your business.
And to take advantage of those opportunities, you
need to keep yourself informed and educated. Build
on that budding relationship with your tech support
person. Learn the basic jargons and buzzwords that
matter to your business. Soon, you’ll both be speaking
an effective mix of English and “Klingon” as you
enjoy frequent and on-going discussions about our
changing world of technology.
Frequently misunderstood
acronyms and tech jargon
FTP: Short for File Transfer Protocol, or the format used for
sending files on the internet.
SQL: Abbreviation of Structured Query Language and pronounced
either “see-kwell” or as separate letters. SQL is the “language” for
requesting information from a database.
GUI: (pronounced “GOO-ee”). Stands for Graphical User Interface
but all you need to know is that this is the program interface that
makes today’s computer so much easier to use. Microsoft Windows
is a GUI that allows novice pc users to avoid the complexities of
DOS commands. GUI components include such things as pointers,
icons, and mouse and windows.
ACL: Short for Access Control List. This is simply a set of data
that determines who (either individual or group) has access to what
information (such as directory or file).
Firewall: Picture a brick wall between your company’s
computers and every outside system, protecting your firm from
dangerous computer bugs and viruses. Firewalls screen all
information that enter and exit via the Internet so that company
security is maintained.
IM worms: Worms are actually self-replicating programs
designed to wreak havoc on a computer or network. (And therefore
should probably have a more menacing name like “maggot” or“slime ball.”) IM worms are particularly nasty because they spread by
accessing the user’s instant messaging address book, or buddy list.
Unlike traditional “worms,” which need to scan the Internet looking
for vulnerable IP addresses, an IM worm simply identifies someone
who is currently online and then spreads itself by taking names from
the user’s address book.
To help you achieve a basic understanding of anything
technical, check out the following online reference sites. They
contain valuable definitions and encyclopedic topics to everything
related to computer science and information technology:
www.whatis.com, www.pcwebopedia.com.
Fred Ode is the founder and chairman/CEO of Foundation
Software, Inc. Ode developed a construction-specific
accounting software, Foundation for Windows,
that suits a range of trades. For more information, visit
www.foundationsoft.com or call 800-246-0800.
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