What is the Right Amount of Automation?

His work went well, but when it came time to use the computer to fill out reports, that's when the cursing began.

I thought this was known for quite some time, A computer is not a silver bullet. It's only a tool. and a very dumb one at that, To the person who knows how to use it, its a time saver.(you do more work with it but it does'nt neccessary cut down on hours worked, more like increases it)

Whebn one specs out automation, you must first draw the line on what your comnpany needs are, to implement it and still be efficent and profitable.

I agree. Computers are only meant to be tools to get a process done - not a replacement for the WHOLE process.

Such transitions like this (in this case manual to automatic) can create more chaos than relief for those who don't know how to properly use the technology. You can see this with the switch from analog to digital electronics. People who have used equipment such as oscilloscopes and experimented with the knobs understands the oscilloscope and its functions. This person will fully understand digital readouts of an oscilloscope and what they mean than someone who has used digital electronics their entire life. Analog might have been the way of the past, but its hands-on features made it a more promising tool to learn from.

The company should offer a training program for the service techs to learn how to use the computer as he transitions over to automated processing from manual.

The training program would be tailored to suit the exoerience level of the technician. The "optimum mix" of training would be the one that brings the technician's experience level up to standard efficiently taking into account that the techs will learn at different rates.

Sound to me like the management needs to take some courses in "business administration 101".

Unless one is thourough with the concept of what one is doing and also with the manual system in totality, one will not be able to use the computer fully. So it is better to learn to use the manual system first, before sitting in front of the computer.

AMEN! If it ain't set up properly, it ain't a-savin' NO labor. At that point you really ARE better off with paper and a #2 Ticonderoga!

I thought this was titled "whats the right amount of ammunition". I'm not nearly as interested in this topic. I guess the right amount is the amount that helps after you've learned how to use it.

I am curious about what exactly the technician said to you, and then what he said to his boss, and then as well what the exact cause and then fix was. I no longer curse or yell when something goes wrong with a computer, even if it is something dear to me that is lost. In a way computers replicate the world of hardware and software, same as I need to have knowledge of materials when I buy things for the crew at the hardware store. I'm a piece of hardware, and what I know is the software, aye. Without a doubt computers are better writing machines than typewriters, but there is no substitute for a paper back up. I sometimes can't believe there are voting machines that do not have paper back ups, since it is one thing for me to lose a poem, and another for my vote to disappear. Further it is true that new systems and technologies are prone to refinements, as the unanticipated realities become apparent. Of course we also have to learn how to use any tool or system that is new to us. At this point in my working career I'm old and abused, and have difficulty adapting to what is new and improved. For every job there is of course an optimum mix of manual and automated work, systems and processes. What that balance is is specific to the work and the business and is why there are such people as Systems Anaylists, and Efficiency Experts.