Appropriate Technology

By Al Trellis and Paul Sharp

The personal computer revolution has had a major impact on the way everyone does business today, and that includes the building industry. Builders now use computers for accounting, scheduling, word processing and design.

But, like all new technologies, there is a downside. Computers can improve productivity, allow us to do things weve never done before, and provide better management information. They can also cause major headaches and suck up time like a black hole as we try to learn new programs and integrate new systems throughout the company.

So, what is the appropriate use of technology? When it leads to productivity increases. Today computers are easier to use and easier to learn. Paradoxically, as the technology becomes more complex, the user interaction becomes more transparent. However, despite the new user friendliness, computers are not for everyone. Not everyone has good typing skills, or enjoys opening and closing files, or sending information in and out, or dealing with software glitches. When the computer works as expected, its wonderful. When it doesnt, its a pain.

A good example of an appropriate use of technology is builder-management computer software. These are large, complex programs that integrate accounting, scheduling, purchase orders, and marketing management. By combining all these functions into one place, they increase efficiency by avoiding duplication of effort and by better managing the entire process of building a home.

This is, on the face of it, a good thing. But to get the full benefit of program integration, some of these applications try to computerize field operations as well. This may mean buying laptop computers for superintendents, and training field personnel to use the new program. Laptops are expensive, fragile pieces of equipment, not suited to the rough-and-tumble world of onsite construction. But the biggest cost is the time and effort in learning to use them. Superintendents are good at building houses and getting things done. They arent necessarily good at the skills needed for computer operations. Some superintendents, of course, will love the idea of having computers on the job site. Others will hate them and feel theyre a distraction.

Until people become proficient in the new technology, productivity will fall, rather than increase. Many builders have invested thousands of dollars in software, plus uncounted hours trying to master the program, only to give up in frustration and put the software back.

Wouldnt it be nice if computers adapted to the way we do things, rather than having to adapt our behavior to the way they do things? Now if we could just get the computer to fill out the forms and pound the nails, life would be great.

Al Trellis has 25 years experience as a custom builder, speaker, consultant, and columnist. Al speaks to over 6,000 builders a year. Paul Sharp is a writer and marketing consultant and, along with Al, one of the founders of Home Builders Network. This article was reprinted from the book Building with an Attitude - published by Home Builder Press.

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