NCJ Number
158144
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 62 Issue: 10 Dated: (October 1995) Pages: 18,20,22
Date Published
1995
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Police agencies must effectively manage their agencies' computer technology to avoid costly mistakes, a huge decrease in efficiency, and embarrassing public relations.
Abstract
Computer technology is supposed to make life easier for managers and result in higher productivity for the organization. However, the opposite is often the case, as organizations become frustrated and confused and the technology is unused or misused. Nevertheless, many agencies consider computer technology an essential tool. To ensure the effective use of computer resources, police managers should use standard equipment, make a commitment to the future, budget for software and training as well as hardware, provide for physical security and data security, and ensure that the equipment is available to the people who need them. Removing the games supplied with the computers and establishing a policy prohibiting their reloading are effective ways to remove the temptation for employees to play computer games surreptitiously. Police agencies should also develop and enforce written policies regarding computers and their use. Talking to the managers of other agencies, taking courses at local colleges, reviewing books, hiring consultants, and obtaining training from police academies and management training institutes can assist the process of developing a computer policy.