Why computing standards?

By Cherry Li-Bugg

June 2004

            Computing standards are well practiced in all types of organizations including institutions of higher education..  However, it has been just recently that Los Medanos College has begun to wrestle with the whole notion of computing standards.

            As we prepare to re-examine LMC's IT strategic plan, it is important to note, that the identifiable IT priorities set forth in this document to support instruction, administration and information access will consume a significant amount of the College's limited resources. Consequently, faced with reduced resources and increased demand for support (universal access, greater resources to integrate technology into the curriculum, more online services and greater efficiency in administration), the LMC's IT Department has no choice but to institute and consistently apply a set of computing standards pertaining to hardware, software and platforms.

            Advocacy of computing standards follows several organizational benefits. First, support costs are reduced – a uniform IT environment means that support can be provided more efficiently and cost effectively with a reduced staff.  Second, the use of computing standards increases the capacity of the organization to share information – in LMC's case, that means end users will be better able to communicate with each other, work more collaboratively, and build upon successes intra- and interdepartmentally. Third, a full set of computing standards applied to all products (not just platforms), will make it easier to create a seamless workflow from one computer product to another. And, lastly, implementation of these computing standards will provide LMC with the means to exercise stewardship of public funds earmarked to support the education of LMC's service area.

            Understandably, the successful implementation of computing standards will be met by two primary obstacles: personal preference and its relative, resistance to change. In both cases, the respective obstacles yield to reason that new network tools are cost-effective and will allow the College to maximize its finite IT resources while providing increased support to end-users.

The IT department's primary mission is to develop tools and support structures that foster faculty, staff, and students' collective access to information technologies. To that end, I am recommending that the adoption and implementation of computing standards be an integral part in accomplishing this mission.