Switching the Enterprise to the Mac
You don’t have to be a technology pro to know that most companies don’t use Macintosh computers. But could these machines actually increase corporate productivity?
The team at Forrester recently published a report which contains a surprising statement. But first, here’s a graph that won’t shock anyone. As of this year, 41% of IT departments shut out anyone who tries to use a Mac:
That’s not exactly surprising. Windows-based PCs are the computer of choice in most environments. The conventional wisdom is that corporate productivity depends on this operating system. But the author of the study says that organizations could actually be more competitive if they considered the alternative platform:
Most of the Macs today,” writes Johnson, “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% more money, use more collaboration apps, and carry an average of three devices wherever they go.”
Corporate productivity depends on three factors: culture, tools and people. What’s most interesting about this advice is that the firm is advocating increasing employee freedom to increase corporate productivity. They aren’t saying that the Macintosh is a better machine, just that people who try to do their own thing tend to get more done.
Here’s the final message:
“Stand in the way,” Forrester concludes, “and you will eventually get run over.”
It’s difficult to imagine a clearer statement about corporate productivity. Ultimately, it’s what we try to prevent that is our undoing. If we want an overall increase in employee effectiveness, we need to get out of the way.
Learn more about improving corporate productivity. Contact the team at Slaughter Development. We’d love to help you learn to be more efficient, more effective and more satisfied—regardless of your platform of choice.
January 10th, 2012 at 8:54 pm
Switched over from PC to a Mac over 4 years ago and my productivity has skyrocketed! I could write about all the great stuff the computer can do, but just one thought is that I have only had down time on my Mac for ONLY 1 hour in four years ( which was due to the windows side of my Mac) . I have had one lost day of work when I upgraded my hard drive ( ran out of space) but that was it.
My Mac has increased my productivity 10 fold at least…. Highly recommend!
January 11th, 2012 at 6:31 pm
Thanks for the comment!
It’s truly amazing how much having your OWN CHOICE in technology can impact productivity.
January 18th, 2012 at 8:40 am
I can’t imagine the inability to use a Mac in this setting. Especially now that we are not so much in the “age of information” but the “age of mobility.” The technology that matters most now is the tech that we can carry. When it comes to this type of technology, eReaders and smart phones, Apple owns a considerable amount of market share. To say that these computers or devices are off the table makes little sense at all.
Besides…the MAC OS has been very consistent, fast, and bug free for me (And I used to hate Macs just a few years ago). When you compare the stability of the Windows OS’s and the Mac OS’s over the past 5-10 years I have a good guess which one will come out on top as having the most potential for productivity.
January 20th, 2012 at 11:41 am
Bryan, your comments are spot-on. It’s not really a debate about which technology platform is superior. Rather, it’s a question of whether or not you want to support your employees and encourage them to use whatever tools make the most sense!
So much of our corporate culture is about locking down, blocking out, and making policy that prevents people from getting things done!