Government Technology - June 2008 - (Page Intel3)

have to leave his seat, and he has control of that machine,” Ballard said. Previously the computer had to be onsite and the technician often had to make a desk-side visit to ﬁx a problem. With Intel vPro processor technology, issues can be handled remotely at a fraction of the cost. “An enterprise is really only as good as its employees, and you’re basically competing with private enterprise to attract and retain a world-class work force.” — Nigel Ballard, federal marketing manager, Intel Better Than Ever Notebooks are capable of more than ever before. That’s one reason U.S. sales of notebooks could surpass desktops for the ﬁrst time in 2008. “That tells you that the old paradigm — of the person schlepping in to sit at a great big, lumbering desktop machine — is now going away,” said Ballard. That’s because the old machine that’s been sitting on that desk for the last four years uses too much energy and works too slowly. With a new notebook, employees can run the same applications, and faster. And they’ll see many personal beneﬁts from teleworking. By not driving to work as often, employees save money on gas and insurance. With less wear and tear on their cars, they save on depreciation and maintenance. Their quality of life also improves because they spend less time in trafﬁc. Employees often feel a new sense of loyalty and trust when they can work from home, and are happier about the organization they work for. And many of them use the extra time to do more work. There are also beneﬁts for employers, who often report increased productivity and better job performance. And they’re certainly better prepared for disasters that could keep employees away from the ofﬁce. Employers also spend less on heating and cooling since there are fewer people in the ofﬁce. The environment also wins. There’s less wear on roads, less trafﬁc congestion and fewer pollutants in the air. Newer notebooks also use less energy than old desktop computers. With tangible beneﬁts in all these areas, it’s a sound technology investment to buy new notebooks and get rid of old desktops. world-class work force,” said Ballard. Job seekers want to know whether a position is telework-enabled. If it’s not, many will look elsewhere. Having a telework program also helps employers retain their employees. Without it, people are more likely to keep their eyes open for other opportunities. “As soon as they get comfortable, they start looking for the same kind of job that you’ve trained them to do, that’s twice as close to where they live,” Ballard said. Better Preparedness While telework proﬁciency is a positive, it can also help government be better prepared for emergency situations when workers can’t make it to the ofﬁce. In the event of a natural disaster, terrorist act, inﬂuenza pandemic or other emergency, governments must continue to function and provide services for the public. Continuity of operations during these times is critical. Intel’s Ballard gave a good example of how telework can save the day. “You’re sipping your coffee in the morning; you ﬂick on CNN; you’re just about to put your tie on and head to the ofﬁce,” he said. “You see guys in spacesuits putting HAZMAT tape around a building, which looks remarkably like the federal agency you were just about to commute to. The Best Employees Telework is also a huge aid to government in recruiting and retaining new employees. The recruiting process is now more critical for government than it’s ever been before. With baby boomers rapidly approaching retirement, governments everywhere need to replace those workers — and soon. For most young people entering the job market, the private sector is the ﬁrst place they look. “An enterprise is really only as good as its employees, and you’re basically competing with private enterprise to attract and retain a ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Government Technology - June 2008

Government Technology - June 2008 Contents Point of View The Last Mile Big Picture On the Scene Four Questions For... 3 Technologies That May Change Your Job ...And Your Life Loosening Medicaid's Grip Better Living Through Technology Immersive Itineraries Help Yourself Taking the Bait Shared Connection Up Close Spectrum Products Personal Computing signal:noise Digital Communities Contents Digital Tactics for a U.S. Recession E-Dilemma Stifling Community Innovation Leadership Interview Estonia Becomes E-Stonia If It Were Up to Me …

Government Technology - June 2008

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