Outsourcing presents many benefits to schools that have
historically not been able to pay the going rate for qualified
technical support. It can also bring a wealth of technological
expertise at a fixed expense, which can easily be justified to
administrators and school boards.
The addition of a help desk staff is not always easily understood and
accepted, especially by taxpayers who are more amenable to
brick-and-mortar expenses or dollars spent to improve student-teacher
ratios. Outsourcing can make a slice of the technology budget a
fixed-cost item. This benefits those who submit and approve school
budgets, as well as those who are attracted to line items that don't
change.
Outsourcing is also efficient. Help desk technicians are experienced
in handling a variety of technical inquiries. A representative who
deals with the same hardware inquiry several times a week will be
more effective in resolving that issue than a school employee who
deals with the problem once during a school term. Not having to
troubleshoot day-to-day problems also frees school staff to
concentrate on tasks of critical local importance.
Would you like to comment?
Join Diigo for a free account, or sign in if you are already a member.