Tech Talk: The "What Changed?" Effect
In the world of Information Technology, there is no cookie-cutter solution when setting up computer networks. Even when using the same hardware, the results from two network configurations can vary. So what happens when there is an issue? What do you do when it’s not working the way that it’s supposed to? This is where the “What Changed?” Effect comes into play.
No matter who is providing your IT support and services, whether it’s you, someone in your department, or a hired IT company, the first thing to ask is, “What changed?” These two simple words can be a remarkable tool for handling most technology issues. There are times when computers do go crazy and start causing issues, but most issues are centered on configuration changes that can be as large as changing out a router or as simple as moving a printer across the hallway.
I have seen countless time spent on troubleshooting that involved adding or removing software, replacing parts, and even system reloads when all it would have taken was two words, “What Changed?” If you can’t print to your printer, think about what changed. Were there any system updates, has the printer moved, did someone replace the printer? These initial questions can sometimes allow you to work through the problem on your own. If help is required, the first question that you should expect to hear from your IT Services provider is…you guessed it, “What changed?” It may seem insignificant, but when you compare 15 minutes of lost time to 3 hours of lost time due to chasing the wrong solution, you might change the way that you start approaching IT in general.
They key to troubleshooting, especially in IT, is to have an understanding of the issues that need to be resolved and to put a plan in place for resolving them. If you aren’t asking yourself or if your IT Services provider is not asking, “What changed?”, you could end up losing a lot of valuable time and money going in the wrong direction. You don’t want to find yourself reloading your installation of Windows, when all you had to do was plug in the printer that was pulled away from the wall for dusting.
Let me know if you have any comments, questions, or suggestions.
Write David W. Weatherholt at david@waconsult.com
907.360.9241 F. 907.344.4806 david@waconsult.com
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