MobileThe
Mindset
From desktops to pockets, computer
power is on the move—giving project
managers more ways to sort avalanches
of data efficiently and sustainably.
BY STEVE HENDERSHOT
s anyone who’s ever had to send back the wrong order at a restaurant
can attest, poor communication drives all sorts of inefficiencies. The
disconnect can be especially costly in the workplace. For example,
if a software project team misinterprets a client’s request, then
spends dozens of hours building a program that doesn’t meet its
intended purpose, that time and money is wasted.
Mobile technology can dramatically reduce communication gaps, helping organizations run projects more sustainably and efficiently, and transforming the way they do
business. These new technologies have the potential to help project managers
collect data, lead teams and operate equipment at maximum efficiency, based
on insights gleaned almost instantly from sources in the field.
The effects are being felt across industries and regions, from manufacturing
in the United States to farming in Africa.
Still, the mobile tech currently in use only scratches the surface of what’s
possible, says Jose Donizeti Borges, an IT director in research and development at asset-management firm Sigga, Belo Horizonte, Brazil. He expects the
next few years to yield “revolutionary products that will lead us to the next
level of possibilities.” As batteries become more efficient, devices consume less
energy and processors improve, mobile devices will more powerful. As that
happens, he expects mobile devices to boast features such as enhanced voice
recognition, faster video processing, better hologram interaction and new
ways to interact with ATMs and payment machines.
Here are several ways that mobile technology can and will enhance
project teams’ work by enabling decision-makers to act before resources
are squandered.
