|
|
|
|
|
|
We are a small company that was founded in 1989 with the mission of
rendering services to a client base in the New England area after
spending time working in Education, Health Care, and Nuclear Security.
Through all these fields we found common threads leading to both
successes and failures. Many companies had the words right as they
talked about Total Quality Management, ISO certifications, and the
"importance of the need for a more holistic operational and financial view of IT".
Phrases like "increased IT complexity," "out-of-the-box thinking," "workforce optimization,"
"demand management and
infrastructure management adaptation" and others were poured out and
empty. We worked with both ends of the spectrum from dysfunctional
management teams to progressive well trained senior managers, but often
the end results were affected by the human interactions more than any other factor.
We all have been in an interview where people said the right thing
and appeared well polished, but after the first few minutes you feel this
is not someone that fits with your organization. On paper they have
every experience and skill needed, and
display the ability to impress
the Senior Management with all the latest the technology terms. Often
the best move is to hire the person that will fit well, and help
increase their skills in the needed areas. Situations like this made a
lasting impression on all of us and helped us plan how we would work
with other organizations.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Here is an example of the babble of terms people use to describe these area:
"Provide pro-active analysis and recommendations pertaining to the optimization and enhancements of
infrastructure systems in order to improve performance, increase efficiency, and reduce costs."
Due to this we have some central ideas we work within to help us stay
on track:
Can we work together?
Each time we talk to a possible client we don't charge for the phone call or any time spent on
the first site visit. We don't work on all Server OS's, or with all
hardware and software available. We don't design websites, or work
with companies that use software illegally or produce any products that
we feel are not ethical. We do work with individuals and corporations
that look at technology as a tool that can help them be more profitable
or create a better product in less time. We enjoy working with
non-profits that attempt to make positive changes for people and the
environment that we share. We also break bread with our clients so we
can understand what directions they are moving in and what tasks we can
improve on. To put it simply, we want to work with people that think
like we do.
Fairness for all parties involved!
We don't expect someone to pay us more for a product then they should.
Companies should check prices and be aware of slight differences in
products that make them operate differently. Our income comes from
labor, not hardware and software. The only reason to purchase those
items through us is to pay less, or ensure the correct product arrives
at the right time. We don't expect to work for free and don't expect
our clients to pay for labor they should not be responsible for. We
track our time in 1 second increments from the time we walk in the door
to the time we stop working. We also bill at rates as they relate to
the type of labor -- we don't feel it's fair to bill for travel at the
same cost per hour as a Server installs or a phone conference.
We don't know everything
We will never expand past a handful of staff because we always want a personal
connection with our clients. Follow-up should always be with the same
person, and no one wants to explain the same problem multiple times as can happen
when you call a large organization for help. We help clients choose,
install and configure new technology ranging from Palm-based cell phones
to workstations and servers on LANs - MANs -WANs and for
individuals. We also help clients interview and manage other firms
that supply expertise with phone systems, VPNs, document management
and other areas we don't cover to ensure stable integration. We also
feel work should be scheduled during times that will not decrease
production and with ample time in case a "roll back" is necessary. And yes, we
do train your support personnel and end users as requested (sometimes as
new products are installed or often during new employee orientation).
Thinking forward
We all know systems will fail, we all make
mistakes, and sometimes things happen. When we use cutting-edge
technology it's in a non-production environment. We move to new
desktop and server OS's after other's have paid the costs of downtime
and lost data. We feel stability of systems and backups must be
central to success. For most clients, a well-trained employee takes on
the role of the "Go To" person managing the backup process and answering
basic questions before requesting more help. Documentation on system
setup is also a necessity and needs to be reviewed each quarter for
updates and should be stored off-site with the backups. We also work
with clients to create workable budgets for the short term and the long term.
Although the direction may change as needs and environments
change, goals are needed to keep moving ahead.
|
Photography by Burtt PC Consulting, Inc. staff.
Designed by office@thearchstudio.com
© 2006 Burtt PC Consulting, Inc. |