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Conference bulova::decw_jan-89_to_nov-90

Title:DECWINDOWS 26-JAN-89 to 29-NOV-90
Notice:See 1639.0 for VMS V5.3 kit; 2043.0 for 5.4 IFT kit
Moderator:STAR::VATNE
Created:Mon Oct 30 1989
Last Modified:Mon Dec 31 1990
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3726
Total number of notes:19516

3147.0. "Workstation Justifications" by MARX::WALSH () Mon Jul 30 1990 19:09

Does anyone know of any notes, articles or information about productivity 
gains through the use of a Workstation or DECwindows(X).  Our users are looking
for justifications to go out an purchase vt1000s or workstations and need
some data to back them up.  Any info or pointers would be appreciated.

Dan
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3147.1ptrROYALT::GONDADECelite: Pursuit of Knowledge, Wisdom, and Happiness.Tue Jul 31 1990 15:145
    check out
Marketing Issues		NODEMO::MARKETING			     820
Digital style of working	HUMAN::DIGITAL				     819
    both of them have had discussions sometime or another on this topic.  
    Do a dir/tit=workstations or dir/tit=productivity and see what comes up.
3147.2Another pointerWINDY::SHARONSharon StarkstonTue Jul 31 1990 17:3110
More in CURIE::CASE

People frequently ask for this and it's tricky to do.  The conferences have
heated discussions that should give you a feel for how to quantify it to a 
customer.  You will not find something definitive that says you will produce
code or documents 300% faster if you use X terminals.

The best way is to use a workstation yourself - you will soon understand and
be able to communicate precisely why they want to move to a multi-window, 
graphically driven display.
3147.3No magic bulletSTKMKT::SWEENEYPatrick Sweeney in New YorkTue Jul 31 1990 21:267
    Computing has become a necessary tool of business.  If you can justify
    a telephone for an employee, you can justify a personal computer.
    
    If by "justifying", you mean creating a business case in terms of
    return on investment that a UNIX or VMS workstation or VT1000 is better
    than a personal computer for business computing, then I claim that such
    a context-free justification cannot be created.
3147.4MARX::WALSHWed Aug 01 1990 13:199
First of all I work on a workstation all of the time, so I know the benifits.  
Our users were looking for more of a justification then just "some engineer from
Littleton says workstations are great".  I'm not looking for justifications of
workstations over micro's,  I'm interested workstations over terminals.


Thanks for the pointers.  I'm looking into them.

Dan
3147.5CSC32::B_KEMPX'ed out TopFliteWed Aug 01 1990 16:0716
     This has been a subject of heated debate here with one of my coworkers.  He
has stated that workstations do not necessarily increase productivity in the 
marketplace.  He has a good point.  As I am sure you are aware, most of the 
applications in the 'real' world are database applications with a bunch of data
entry people updating the database.  If you try to push improved productivity
through workstations on this type of environment, you will get one sale and then
lose that customer's confidence.  There is little need for more than what a terminal
will do in that environment.  If you are talking about development/engineering/
customer support type environments where the user is juggling many applications 
and possibly multiple systems, you bet workstations will help productivity.  The 
right solution for the problem should be arrived at based on the analyzing the
problem first.  I wouldn't rabbit hunt with a tank and I wouldn't bear hunt with
slingshot although, the tank salesman will sure try to convince me that an expensive
tank is a more productive tool than a slingshot. 

Bill
3147.6Get it if you have need for it..FUEL::grahamprimal screamsThu Aug 02 1990 20:418
All depends on what kind of work the user is doing.

Here in New York, many people have workstations...including
secretaries.  They use DECwrite, Interleaf and other support
tools needed to support their various groups

Kris...
3147.7Digital just isn't representativeSTKMKT::SWEENEYPatrick Sweeney in New YorkFri Aug 03 1990 00:524
    Something that runs a "word processor" WYSIWYG, on a bitmap display for
    laser printer output, has become a necessary tool for secretaries.
    
    Justify that it be a workstation rather than a PC...