HCPC's piecemeal Macintosh systems had been running for many years but were beginning to create real problems for the organization. As with any conservation organization, communication is vital, yet their systems were just not up to the task. The office manager struggled with an LCII, the Executive Director had all but run out of hard drive capacity and the new Conservation Director didn't have a machine at all. HCPC clearly needed new equipment, but their recent growth also necessitated a new way of doing business.
Effective collaboration requires, among other things, a common and reliable medium of communication.
Internally, HCPC needed a reliable network of new equipment that would enable the sharing of resources like files, printers and the Internet connection. While Macintosh products will support this infrastructure, HCPC felt the need for better consistency with their external communications. After careful consideration and significant planning, we decided to go ahead with a full migration to the Windows platform. The training, of course, is critical. We spent two to four hours with each staff member talking about skills like file management, Windows customization, maintenance and troubleshooting, efficient use of email and searching the World Wide Web.