Reducing Employee Productivity Essay, Research Paper
Reducing Employee Productivity
Loss, After Connecting to the Internet
Case Study
By
Ronald B. Burke
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of MI537
Data Communications and Networks
City University
February 16th, 2001
Overview
Today companies continually search for ways to improve efficiency, and Internet e-mail has helped to achieve this goal. One of the problems not foreseen in connecting the office to the Internet is the millions of Web sites that exist. Making it simple for workers to connect to the Internet allows users to waste time, money, and bandwidth, only to return with virus-laden files as souvenirs of their efforts. This report examines corporate need for effective Internet controls, and strong access policies.
Topics Covered
? Web Surfing Costs
? Unauthorized Access, Attacks, and Virus Contamination
? Network Security
? Creating a Network Use Policy
Web Surfing Costs
Costs are contained if employees use the Internet at work as intended. A “wired” workplace finds its productivity hampered as often as augmented due to employees having Internet access. The Internet is vast; the temptation to Web surf pursuing personal interests at work is hard to resist.
United States Department of Labor estimates printed in The Standard (2000), are wasted time cost corporations three million dollars a year per each 1000 employees. The article continues: “Where are employees wasting most of their time these days? It is not the water cooler”. Companies that want to improve efficiency are looking to rein in Web surfing workers.” In a Christmas 1999 article about electronic greeting cards, ZDNN (1999) reported: “There is rising corporate fervor against opening unnecessary files amid concerns about excessive personal usage among employees.”
Unauthorized Access, Attacks, and Viruses
Web sites proliferate as a means of corporate promotion, customer service, and commerce. Unauthorized Internet access in the form of Web site intrusions, breaches and viruses can lead to lost time, money, information, or worse.
Internet Hackers work to crack passwords, breaking into corporate networks believed secure. Thestandard (1999) reported Microsoft fell prey to a hacker attack on its network in October that year. The company says someone transferred its passwords to an e-mail account in Russia, where hackers posed as Microsoft employees.
Increasingly sophisticated viruses used against Internet sites endanger corporations everywhere. The 1999 Babylonia virus found by Symantec (1999) started its spread through Internet chat rooms. Unlike typical viruses, Babylonia updates itself automatically with files from the Web.
Network Security
Banning corporate Internet use to avoid problems is impractical. Too many companies are unaware of the dangers and need a more responsible strategy.
Network security should include:
? Protection against Information Loss
? Productivity Monitoring
? Maximizing Network Speed
Network speed is a function of connection, hardware, and software. Any effective Information Systems Department can achieve this easily. Virus protection and access protection software can prevent data loss or theft. Network-tracking tools exist for unobtrusive use monitoring.
Creating a Network Use Policy
Use polices must advise all employees their Internet access is being monitored. The policy must delineate what types of access the company deems acceptable.
Outline those practices unacceptable: personal interest surfing during business hours; visits to sexually explicit, racist, or terrorism promoting sites at any time. Policies should explain why limits protect time, information, and guarantee a pleasant work environment for everyone. It is important to specify penalties applied for any policy breaches.
Infoworld business technology architect Brooks Talley (1999) advised: “Communicate clearly the change in policy”. Be sure to enumerate the reasons for change, but also be sure to make it clear that if someone has a real need for service, you are committed to providing it.”
Conclusion and Recommendation
Internet connection when used for business purposes does give business a huge edge over companies that are not connected. Disconnecting from the Internet would not allow “instant communication” needed in today’s business environment. The best course of action at this time is to develop a clear network use policy, and implement network use monitoring. Review news, Internet, and professional journal articles, evaluating use trends and monitoring technologies. Information System Department representatives can attend technology symposiums to evaluate newly released technology,
Talley, B. (1999). Communicate Clearly the Change in Policy. [wwwworld]. URL: infoworld/cgibin/displayArchive.pl?/99/36/z02-36.70.htm
The Standard. (1999). Microsoft Fell Prey to a Hacker Attack. [thestandard/]. URL: thestandard/article/display/0,1151,19745,00.html
The Standard. (2000). US Labor Department Estimates on Employee Time Management. [thestandard]. URL:
thestandard/article/display/0,2125,17345,01.html
Symantec Anti-Virus Research Center. (1999). The 1999 Babylonia Virus. [symantec]. URL:
symantec/avcenter/venc/data/w95.babylonia.html
ZD Net News. (1999). Businesses Shun Electronic Greeting Cards. [zdnet]. URL: zdnet/stories/bursts/0,7407,2413458,00.html
Другие работы по теме:
Gangs 4 Essay Research Paper Gang are
Gangs 4 Essay, Research Paper Gang are stereotyped to be a bunch of “thugs”who walk around selling drugs, shooting, and participating in other criminal activity. To an
Hiring A New Employee Essay Research Paper
Hiring a New Employee “A company is only as good as the employees who work for It.” Seems to be the slogan driving most employers in today’s marketplace. Your employees are a direct reflection of
Economics Essay Research Paper FactsTaxpayers will be
Economics Essay, Research Paper Facts: Taxpayers will be reimbursed by the corporation for all out of pocket expenses incurred including transportation, and lodging expenses. However, taxpayers will not be reimbursed for costs incurred in the operation and maintenance of employee home offices.
Haiti Essay Research Paper Globalization is not
Haiti Essay, Research Paper Globalization is not in the favor of poor countries like Haiti and only works to benefits the rich countries. I believe if they really wanted to help the Haitian people, they would help the peasants to get assistance from the government and other international organization that would give them appropriate technology such as fertilizers, tractors so they can increase productivity.
Dollarization Essay Research Paper Richard W Stevenson
Dollarization Essay, Research Paper Richard W. Stevenson s article Greenspan View on Wider Use of Dollar discusses a process he refers to as dollarization. According to Mr. Stevenson, A number of countries have been considering abandoning their national currencies and adopting the American dollar the accepted international benchmark of stability as a way of reducing interest rates, inflation, and exchange rate volatility.
Discrimination Essay Research Paper Most people think
Discrimination Essay, Research Paper Most people think the United States is a good place to live, however the United States has more discrimination problems then any other nation. By eliminating, or reducing discrimination the United States would make living here pleasant for all of its residents. As a result, stopping discrimination would, make people feel safe to be then selves, allow an equal opportunity for everyone, and expand U.S culture.
Retaining Employees Essay Research Paper An important
Retaining Employees Essay, Research Paper An important factor in retaining employees that is sometimes highly overlooked is making the employee feel that they make a difference, and the rewarding of exceptional employee performance. When searching for employment almost everyone looks for salary, benefits, and other perks but more recently another important factor is job satisfaction.
Proposals Essay Research Paper BackgroundThe University has
Proposals Essay, Research Paper BackgroundThe University has been looking to centralise card services for some time, recognising that the introduction of a single, multifunctional card would not only be more convenient, but also reduce the amount of work involved in managing the various cards required by different areas within the University.
Employee Benefits Essay Research Paper If you
Employee Benefits Essay, Research Paper If you have employees, than salaries, wages & benefits are a large part of your monthly expenses. You want to make sure you are getting the most productivity for your money.
Lab Determine Which Functional Groups In A
Substance Essay, Research Paper This lab used many test to determine which functional groups were present in certain substance. The Benedicts test was used to identify reducing sugars (glucose and fructose) based on their ability to reuce the Capric ions to cuprous oxide at high pH. The Cuprous oxide is reddish orange in color when shown to be at high levels by the test, and greenish when at low levels.
Obesity Essay Research Paper Obesityalso called CORPULENCE
Obesity Essay, Research Paper Obesity also called CORPULENCE, or FATNESS, excessive accumulation of body fat, usually caused by the consumption of more calories than the body can use. The excess calories are then stored as fat, or adipose
Business Leadership Essay Research Paper Parallel to
Business Leadership Essay, Research Paper Parallel to the evolution that has occured in the business world in decades past, is the evolution of views on participative leadership among managers. Participative leadership refers to the manner in which employers have come to treat their employees. This treatment has evolved from days of traditional, autocratic relationships in which employees were told exactly what tasks to do, without regard to their feelings or what intelligent input could be made to today s spectrum of treatment defined by two terms, human relations and human resources.
Smart Cards Essay Research Paper Smart cards
Smart Cards Essay, Research Paper Smart cards are transforming business around the world from reducing fraud and opening up on-line transactions in banking, personalizing services for mobile phone users, to securing access to PCs and corporate networks, and speeding transportation by using electronic ticketing.
Preschool Education Essay Research Paper Preschool education
Preschool Education Essay, Research Paper Preschool education has become a prevailing topic of interest in the United States. Questions have been raised regarding the reasons for this interest. Is it out of a growing necessity of preparedness for school, a
Cad Essay Research Paper Explain what is
Cad Essay, Research Paper Explain what is meant by a Current Account Deficit and why is it considered ‘bad’ to have an increasing CAD? The Current Account Deficit generally means that our nation is spending more than it earns. This means that we have to borrow from other countries in order to pay for the things we purchase (imports).
Affects Of Running On Your Health Essay
, Research Paper In this study, I investigate the affects that running has on reducing the risk of some health problems. I am doing this because I run about 40 to 60 miles per week, and my family has a
Identifying Carbohydrates Essay Research Paper Lab Report
Identifying Carbohydrates Essay, Research Paper Lab Report: #1 Identifying Carbohydrates Problem: To determine whether a substance contains reducing sugars and/or polysaccharides (two types of carbohydrates) by using Benedict s reagent and iodine stain.
Douglas M Mcgregor Essay Research Paper Douglas
Douglas M. Mcgregor Essay, Research Paper Douglas M. McGregor Mr. McGregor theorizes that management views an employee s motivation toward work in two distinct ways Theory X and Theory Y. Theory X managers believe the following: (1) The average worker naturally does not like work and will avoid it whenever possible. (2) Managers must always control, motivate, and direct their employees to perform well. (3) Most workers prefer being directed, avoid responsibility, and seek job security.
Equity Theory Essay Research Paper Is equal
Equity Theory Essay, Research Paper Is equal pay the same as equitable pay? First you need to know the difference between the two. Equal pay would be a female doing the job of a construction electrician getting the same pay as her male counter part. Equitable pay is the perceived fairness when employee s compare pay from their job with other jobs in the company.
Op Essay Research Paper Article Critique
Op Essay, Research Paper Article Critique ? New Hotel Project The article talks about the possibilities of making ?One card, For Many Doors?. They are trying to make a room key with an internal credit card. Using a new system guests will be able to check in and issue a room key (double encoded) using their own credit card.
The Particular Features Of The Employmentsystem In
Essay, Research Paper The Particular Features Of The EmploymentSystem In Japan One of the unique and well known features of theJapanese employment system is permanent employment forworkers. Japanese corporations responses to recessionaryperiods provide an opportunity to sort out the myths from therealities of the Japanese permanent employment system.
Job Training Essay Research Paper Job TrainingPart
Job Training Essay, Research Paper Job Training Part I: The Importance of Training A new employee in the job of Banquet and Conference Services Manager will need training so that they can be as effective as possible in their job function. Although the new employee will come to the Statler with at least two years of experience in banquets or catering, there are still many skills to be learned or improved upon.
IMPROVING DOCUMENT PRODUCTIVITY Essay Research Paper IMPROVING
IMPROVING DOCUMENT PRODUCTIVITY Essay, Research Paper IMPROVING DOCUMENT PRODUCTIVITY My plan for improving my productivity in producing documents is to focus on time management and on work organization. If you can improve both of these factors, my overall productivity will be significantly higher.
Gain Sharing Essay Research Paper Gain SharingEmployers
Gain Sharing Essay, Research Paper Gain Sharing Employers are often faced with the challenge of looking for ways to boost productivity and profitability while at the same time, motivating employees to accomplish organizational goals. For many employers, variable pay plans have risen to meet this challenge.
Youth Curfew Laws Essay Research Paper Youth
Youth Curfew Laws Essay, Research Paper Youth Curfew Laws In this article about youth curfew laws from the journal, Crime and Delinquency January 2000 issue, they talked about how analysis of the subject provides extremely weak support for the theory that curfews reduce juvenile crime rates. Of the offense and victimization measures, only burglary, larceny, and simple assault arrests significantly decreased after cities adopted curfew statutes.
Reducing The Military Essay Research Paper With
Reducing The Military Essay, Research Paper With the end of the ?Cold War? America?s armed forces are too large and expensive to maintain while in an era of peace. The roles of the military has
Civil Liberties And CrimeThrough Reducing Crime Can
We Still Keep Liberty? Essay, Research Paper Do the ends justify the means? Upon first contemplation of how it could be thought that by reducing crime one takes away liberty, I was confounded. I couldn’t envision a situation where it would be necessary to remove liberty in order to reduce and possibly even eliminate crime.
New Employee Essay Research Paper Dear New
New Employee Essay, Research Paper Dear New Employee, Welcome to your new job! The position you have decided to undertake is one, which welcomes great variety on a day-to-day basis. The following information is meant to help you as you learn more about Best Buy and the things that make it run.
Logistics Essay Research Paper Logistics played a
Logistics Essay, Research Paper Logistics played a large role in Dow Chemicals competitive advantage by, by making sure that there products arrive just in time. The have an alliance with Union Pacific which helped a lot, and with there network of trucks, barges and ships they are able to reach it to customers.
Starbucks Coffee Company Essay Research Paper CONCEPT
Starbucks Coffee Company Essay, Research Paper CONCEPT PAPER COMPANY: Starbucks Coffee Company The purpose of the video program is to orient and inform employees about the goals and objectives of the company. In addition to this, the rules and benefits of employees will be featured. The video will employ a factual style in conveying its purpose.
Contemporary Performance Issues Essay Research Paper A
Contemporary Performance Issues Essay, Research Paper A Contemporary Performance Issue Commuting is a perfect example of a contemporary performance issue, traffic congestion can steal valuable time from employees personal lives (Wells par. 1). The typical employee is concerned with the time lost in commuting to work and not spent at home with their family.