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79 A.B.A. J. 95 (1993)
The Futz Factor - Setting Software Standards Helps Reduce Unproductive Time

handle is hein.journals/abaj79 and id is 919 raw text is: The Futz Factor Setting software standards helps reduce unproductive time BY JIM MEYER According to a recent informal survey, computer users spend an average of 5.1 hours per week futzing with their PCs. That works out to 5 billion hours per year nationwide, a cost to business approaching $100 billion (nearly 2 percent of the Gross Domestic Product). In the survey, which was con- ducted by SBT Accounting Systems in Sausalito, Calif., futzing is de- fined as unproductive time spent tinkering on, playing with, or other- wise adjusting computer software. Among their findings: I Men tended to futz more than women. P Women were more inclined to obtain advice from experts and co- workers, while men were more likely to get help from software vendors. According to the survey, the top four time wasters are: P Waiting for programs to run, reports to print, or technicians to make repairs. P Checking computer output for accuracy and proper formatting. P Helping co-workers use their applications (an average of an hour a week). P Disk maintenance tasks-or- ganizing, deleting and clearing out files from cluttered disk storage. The folks at SBT recommend some simple steps to be taken to help tame the futzing demon. Whether you work in a large- or small-firm setting, these suggestions should prove useful. First, take a look at what is happening in your firm. Take an in-house survey (a sample form is included with SBT's report). Then, try not to blame employees for their unproductive behavior; after all, it's a national trend. Also, the PC is a personal tool and some futzing can lead to better understanding of how a computer works and, hence, greater productivity. The trick is not to overdo it. Encourage your workforce to make suggestions on becoming more effective. Set software standards. Try to get all employees to use the same array of programs. If you are not on a network, make sure all users can Jim Meyer is a free-lance writer in Santa Cruz, Calif , who specializes in technology-related issues. easily obtain the programs others use. Designate a key operator for each major software product your firm uses, and don't skimp on train- ing that employee. He or she should become the in-house expert and the first person other users approach with questions or problems. Create an answer book for every software title and every piece of hardware. Users should write down problems that have come up and record the solutions. Employees should be encour- aged to share experiences. Set up brown-bag lunch meetings to encour- age computer information-sharing and discuss different software products. Establish a PC users group at the company or department level. Incidentally, SBT predicts that by the year 2000 the number of PC consultants in the United States will be larger than the number of attor- neys, and computer experts will be subject to accredited regulation, sim- ilar to CPAs, to achieve professional status. (Copies of SBT's report, The PC Futz Factor: A Report on PC Produc- tivity, can be obtained by calling 800/944-1000). E ABA JOURNAL / AUGUST 1993 95 ILLUSTRAION BY WAYNE SLEZAK

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