Enterprise should embrace HEROes
If you’re gonna flip flop, do it with gusto. Apparently, that’s the attitude taken by Forrester Research which has for years — credit for consistency — strongly advocated against Macs. Now, the enterprise consultant not only says Macs are good, they’re promoting digital diversity and have created an acronym to push the concept.
Back in the day, Forrester’s attitude on, nay, against the Macintosh was clear and unequivocal:
IT departments crave standardization, and Macs pose too many problems for IT departments. The verdict for enterprise-focused vendors is clear: Unless your market is a niche business group, Windows is the only desktop you need support.
But a funny thing happened when people started bringing their iPhones, iPad and Macs to work — they became more productive and happier. Fortune reports that Forrester has changed its tune.
“It’s time to repeal prohibition and take decisive action,” writes David Johnson in a new report made available to Fortune. “Mac users are your HEROes and you should enable them not hinder them.”
HERO is Forrester’s acronym for Highly Empowered and Resourceful Operatives. Yeah, they’re talking about the rest of us, “the 17 percent of information workers who use new technologies and find innovative ways to be more productive and serve customers more effectively.”
Been here, doing that…
What? Using the gear that gets the job done and helps customers — that’s a complete freaking revelation, brilliant.
“Most of the Macs today,” writes David Johnson, Forrester, “are being freewheeled into the office by executives, top sales reps, and other workaholics. Forrester believes this is the same demographic that we’re now calling the ‘power laptop user,’ and according to the latest Workforce Technology And Engagement Survey, power laptop users make 44 percent more money, use more collaboration apps, and carry an average of three devices wherever they go.”
Does any of this sound familiar, like the demographic characteristics of Mac users since just about the beginning? Freaking, duh!
“Stand in the way,” Forrester concludes, “and you will eventually get run over.”
Nevertheless, as shown in the graphic above, 41 percent of enterprises still won’t let Macs anywhere near their networks, not even e-mail or the Internet. Then again, that 40-odd percent probably doesn’t know what’s going on their networks — Mac heads have a way of getting things done in spite of IT.
So, where do you work — a company staffed by neanderthal or enlightened admins?
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