Question

I need what will become a 5 to 7 PowerPoint slide presentation on the merits of technology standards and to analyze and assess the merits of those standards. Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

The Benefits of Technology Standards :

Experience has shown that good things happen when the right set of end-user technology standards are appropriately planned and applied. Tangible benefits can be realized across a broad spectrum, ranging from improved IT service quality, to lowered technology management costs, and more (as the list below demonstrates):

1. By limiting the variety of hardware and software products in use, IT departments will have the opportunity to develop focused, in-depth product expertise, thereby improving the quality and responsiveness of essential technical support services.
2. By limiting the variety of products in use, IT departments can better test and manage product compatibility, thereby reducing the number of platform conflict problems.
3. Standardization can lower technology acquisition costs through volume purchasing, bringing discounted pricing, as well as greater leverage to negotiate more favorable maintenance and training contracts.
4. With a focus on a specific set of technology products, the end-user community will have the opportunity to develop in-depth product expertise - to enhance operational productivity and maximize technology utilization.
5. Standardization can minimize the risks associated with an uncontrolled technology portfolio, facilitating disaster recovery planning, software licensing management, and security management.

This list is impressive, but by no means guaranteed. Standardization is not the answer to every problem, and the best standards will amount to little more than "bureacracy" if not properly designed and implemented. Under certain circumstances, standards can also backfire, creating more problems than they solve. When standards are created simply for power and control, lacking sufficient flexibility, and without full consideration of business needs, in all likelihood, they will be bypassed. This help no one - not the business, not the end-users and certainly not the IT department.

I think these point would be fairly enough for preparing a 5 to 7 slide presentation, if you like this answer, please leave an up-vote, it is highly appreciated. Thanks in advance.