|
|
InfoTech: Tech for reaching '08 goals
1 Jan, 2008 By: Tyler Whitaker Landscape ManagementI really don't believe in New Years resolutions, unless it involves food, fun and a warm beach somewhere in the Pacific. I think the problem with resolutions is that losing weight, growing sales revenue and increasing net margins are fulltime jobs requiring constant attention and effort. Unfortunately that sounds like too much work. This month, I want to share with you some technology ideas that may help take the work out of your 2008 goals.
Let everyone know
Start by getting your goals out in the open where everyone can see them. If you have an internal company Web site, post your goals front and center on the home page. Consider posting them on your blog too. And if you're really serious, add them to your email signature. A public declaration of your goals will solidify your commitment and gather support.
Next — get organized. Break your goals into manageable chunks or milestones. And then break up those milestones into tasks. Several great technology solutions out there can help you manage your task lists. One of the simplest and most readily available tools is Microsoft Outlook. You can setup tasks with due dates and reminders. Simple online tools Tadalist.com and Voo2do.com will also help you manage your task list. Prioritizing your list can be a pain. These tools should make that job a snap.
Sometimes your goals include a partner, team or your entire business. For larger projects consider using BaseCampHQ.com. It has the ability to manage larger multi-person projects. You can assign tasks to people, share documents, post notes on virtual white boards, and chat online. Basecamp minimizes the overhead of project management, leaving you with more time to get things done.
More online aids
Once you've organized your goals into easy-to-manage tasks, get to work. Use the tools above to collaborate with your team and track your progress. Also check out Twitter.com an online communication tool that lets you both send and receive short messages via the Web or your cell phone. It's great for status updates between project team members when they're in the field.
And then there's Google Calendar that works like any other calendaring program. But since it is Web based you can share your calendars with others regardless of their location or software preferences. By allowing your team to edit and update your project's shared calendar, you can avoid a lot of busy work trying to avoid scheduling conflicts. Keeping everyone on schedule is a key to success.
Yogi Berra once said, "If you don't know where you're going, you'll end up someplace else." Make 2008 the year that you achieve your goals. Just remember that a little technology used in the right way can make all of the difference.
— The author is a freelance technologist focusing in business automation. Contact him at 801/592-2810 or visit his blog at
www.tylerwhitaker.com.
Please send any technical comments or questions to our webmaster.