The dashboard that cost too much
A gym wants a dashboard (one screen of charts and numbers) so the owner can see class bookings live. The owner loves the idea. Then the quote arrives. It costs more than a year of profit. It also needs a developer, and the gym has none.
The idea is good. But is it feasible? That means: can it really be done?
Key words
| Word | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Feasible | able to be done in the real world | |
| Constraint | a limit you cannot easily change | budget |
| Productivity | how much work gets done in a set time | |
| Resistance to change | people not wanting a change to happen | |
| Disruption | something that interrupts normal work | |
| Reputation | what people think of an organisation |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can weigh the benefits, drawbacks, risks and limits of a digital project and give a reasoned verdict.
Starter: what you already know
Have a go
Starter: what you already know
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
Benefits and drawbacks
Benefits of a project can be financial savings, higher productivity, better communication, better security, new products and a better reputation.
Drawbacks include the cost of making the change. A change can also hurt work in the short term, or damage the firm's name if it goes wrong.
Benefits and drawbacks of one project
| Area | Benefit | Drawback |
|---|---|---|
| Money | Less paper and postage | A large cost to set it up |
| Processes | Faster work and fewer errors | Old habits must change |
| Communication | Staff share news in one place | New tool to learn |
| Security | Better control of who sees data | New weak points to guard |
| Products | Can offer a new online service | Needs skills the firm may not have |
| Reputation | Looks modern to customers | A failed launch is public |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Check: benefit or drawback?
Have a go
Check: benefit or drawback?
4 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.