By Bryan Slvage, Editor
World Wide Web, Internet, web sites, web browser, server, hypertext, links, home page, e-mail, URL. Huh?
If you're stumped by the meaning of these words, you're either:
-- Not working on a computer.
-- Currently not a traveler on the information highway.
-- You're a relative newcomer to the world of cyberspace.
Don't be embarrassed if these words are unfamiliar to you; you're not alone. But on the other hand, it will become increasingly more difficult-particularly for smaller-sized packers and processors-to remain competitive if they do not use computers in their businesses.
Through computers, the ability exists to get instant access to market and business information from information services, not only in the United States but from around the world.
The rapidly growing range of information services can help packers and processors be more effective in the domestic marketplace, or in entering new international markets. They can help smaller businesses level the playing field against larger competitors. But just having a computer won't help executives; they must know how to take advantage of information technologies.
You're not alone
In a national survey of 1,000 American business managers in various industries (large and middle-sized companies), more than 90 percent say teamwork and technology will be critical to their companies' success in the global marketplace, according to a recent PR Newswire report. On the other hand, 80 percent of these executives believe they aren't well informed about the technologies they will use to improve teamwork.
Conducted by Roper Starch Worldwide on behalf of IBM-subsidiary Lotus Development Corp., the study uncovered:
-- Ninety-four percent of the managers believe that teamwork is "very important to their company's success."
-- More than 70 percent believe that technology can help overcome obstacles to good teamwork, such as lack of collaboration, unshared knowledge and personal biases.
-- Fifty-one percent of the managers believe technology's benefits have a greater impact on teams than on individuals, while just 29 percent believe the impact is greater on individuals.
-- Seventy-two percent of the executives want their teams to utilize technology more fully.
Although utilizing technology to improve businesses received high marks from these executives, less than one-quarter claim to "know a lot about" team technologies, such as on-line computer services (22 percent), computer networks (15 percent), and the Internet/World Wide Web (9 percent).
Costs were not identified as a major impediment to adopting and utilizing new technology. Only 27 percent of the managers said their "company can't afford the technologies associated with computer networks right now." Despite their lack of knowledge in this area, managers nationwide overwhelmingly agreed that many of today's new technologies will become pervasive in the future:
-- Ninety-one percent say they are likely to use computer networks in the future.
-- Eighty-five percent feel they will use on-line computer services.
-- Seventy-five percent will use the Internet/World Wide Web.
It's never too late to learn and utilize computer technology. It continues to get easier to use. If I can drag myself from the tar pits and learn it, anyone can.
Once you get your license to pull out onto the information highway, join us at The MEATing Place (http://www.mtgplace.com/). We'll continue to learn-and prosper-together.