Manager’s choice: spend some time or spend money

All the software packages designed to do a certain task or job have differences in usage and looks. Buttons may be differently placed on the screen, workflow in some cases may differ from software to software, user interface will surely differ. But if they are mature applications they will certainly do the job they are supposed to do. All it takes is to learn how to use it.

When it comes to small packages, like for example a video player (Windows media player versus say Videolan) all things are quite easy as the main controls (Play, Stop, Rewind, etc.) are basically the same. So, using one or the other may be the same for a user. It becomes a bit more complicated when you try to manage advanced functions like playlists. There you will need a little more effort.

Same happens with larger software packages (for example an office suite like OpenOffice.org versus Microsoft Office suite) but at a different level of effort. Everybody who is used with one of them tends to say that the other is not doing the job. This is only because using an office suite implies more than 3 or 4 controls like in the case of video players.

An employee will, in most cases, argue that the office suite he or she is used to is easier and better than the alternative presented in a test-run before a migration. And managers, afraid of loosing money because of the possible slowdown in productivity due to software change will tend to listen to what employees have to say.

To state the obvious: being used to a certain software package does not mean it is easier to use or that it is better than the competition.

All the software packages have, aside from features, some bugs and lots of workarounds to avoid the problems in usage they have. By using them you learn those workarounds and in time you tend to ignore the bugs. But learning those workarounds requires some effort.

Migrating an organization from a software package to another means developing and using a strategy in minimizing this effort of transition and identifying and dealing with the problems either real or imaginary. At this step, in the OpenOffice.org office suite case consultants and community support may be of great help.

In times of economic downturn looking at software alternatives and taking the time to know them may make the difference between survival or bankruptcy, especially for small and medium enterprises.

Adoption of Free Open Source Software, like in our case the OpenOffice.org office suite instead of spending money on software licenses - can let you direct financial resources to other areas of your business. All you have to do is study a bit, know the new software and stay focused on your experience, not on what others say.

Today’s financial difficulties sent many businesses back to the drawing boards in an effort to rethink their future and find new resources. One of those boards is the “cutting costs board” and one of the solutions is rebuilding the company’s IT strategy on Free Open Source Software.

Managers: Back there when there was only one office suite, you had no choice but to learn it together with it’s problems. And don’t tell me it was easy to do it. But now there are alternatives (with their own bigger or smaller, real or fake problems), but certainly with important advantages like no licensing costs. Spend some time to get acquainted with them. It saves your business money.

Need more information on migrating from Microsoft Office to OpenOffice.org? Take a look at this migration guide.

Written by cdriga on July 1st, 2009 with no comments.
Read more articles on OPEN SOURCE WORLD and OpenOffice.org.