IT Issues

• 1AA stand-alone computer(s) or a computer connected to a network system
• 1A1Is that stand-alone, a network system or both?
• 1A2Are those computers laptops, desktops or a combination of the two?
• 1A3Do you have access to a computer at home that you use for business purposes?
• 1BOne or more e-mail addressess
• 1CA high-speed connection
• 1C1Do you have a dial-up Internet connection?
• 1DInternet telephone, VOIP or Voice Over
• 1EMobile broadband, such as WiFi
• 1FA business Web site
• 1F1Is your Web site capable of conducting e-commerce, that is, accepting orders over the Internet and letting customers pay with a credit card through a secure Web connection?
• 1F2Do you use a Web hosting company OR do you host your Web site on your own server?
• 1F3Did someone in your business develop your Web site or did you hire someone on the outside to develop it for you?
• 2Do you have one or more employees on your staff who spend at least half of his or her time on Information Technology or IT-related matters, such as installing and fixing computer hardware and software, fixing network problems, managing a Website, teaching and training employees how to use the equipm...
• 2aHow many employees spend at least half of their time on IT related matters?
• 3Who has the most expertise on your firm's computer, computers or computer system?
• 4How comfortable personally are you with IT issues, problems, opportunities, etc.?
• 5A(IT problem) E-mail downtime
• 5B(IT problem) Internet connection too slow
• 5C(IT problem) Nowhere to ask basic IT questions
• 5D(IT problem) Filtering spam from e-mail
• 5E(IT problem) Updating security on your computer
• 5F(IT problem) Back-up and/or data loss
• 5G(IT problem) Teaching employees to use the software you use
• 5H(IT problem) Installing and testing new computer hardware and software
• 5I(IT problem) Getting timely or prompt service when you have a problem
• 5J(IT problem) Online audio or video streaming ties up your system
• 5K(IT problem) Keeping up with the speed of technological advances in IT
• 5L(IT problem) Computer hardware crashes
• 6Are most of your IT problems primarily associated with hardware, software, or both equally? Would that be a lot more or a few more?
• 7Are your most serious IT problems primarily associated with new purchases, their installation and employee training in their use; with maintenance and operation of existing purchases; or with both equally? Would that be a lot more or a few more?
• 8Do you have a contract with a service provider or consulting firm to handle your IT maintenance and any network, hardware, or software problems your businss may encounter?
• 8aHow did you find that services provider?
• 8bAbout how long have you had this contract, including contract extensions?
• 9Do you have a non-contractual on-going relationship with an IT service provider or consulting firm to handle your IT maintenance and any network, hardware, or software problems your business may encounter?
• 9aHow did you find that services provider or consulting firm?
• 10Who teaches or trains new employees on the IT equipment and software you have?
• 11Who teaches or trains existing employees on any new equipment or software you purchase?
• 12Would your business realize much greater, greater, modestly greater or no greater long-term benefit by increasing its use of IT (information technology)?
• 13A(constraints for greater use of IT) Budget or finance considerations
• 13B(constraints for greater use of IT) Management discomfort with IT
• 13C(constraints for greater use of IT) Employee discomfort with IT
• 13D(constraints for greater use of IT) No time to explore new IT products and their use
• 13E(constraints for greater use of IT) Lack of trusted, knowledgeable IT advisor

Volume 7, Issue 5, 2007
ISSN 1534-8326

Ayman El Tarabishy
The George Washington University