Administrator's Corner
17. Is there a ‘train the trainer’ program
available for the technology?
18. Are any licenses involved in the use
of the technology? If so, are they
covered in the initial procurement
cost? Do they require renewal? If
so, will that become a prohibitive
cost due to the basis on which they
are given?
19. Is the provision of any hardware also
part of the procurement contract?
If so, will that require separate
licenses? If so, will that become a
prohibitive cost?
20. Are spare parts/routine maintenance
items/services covered in the
procurement contract? If so, will
they become a prohibitive cost?
21. Is supplier the original owner/
creator/manufacturer
of
the
technology?
22. Is the technology’s patent expiring
soon? If so, can the purchase be
delayed for a cheaper version/
better alternative?
23. Can the technology be easily
hacked? Are there any studies
available?
24. Are there any environmental
conditions
required
for
the
technology to work at an optimum
level?
25. Are there clearly identified minimum
and maximum level of operational
limits?
26. Can the technology be resold/
repurposed if it becomes obsolete?
27. Can the technology be integrated
with present systems in the school?
28. Can the technology be purchased
in modules and integrated with
better performing modules of other
competitors?
29. Is the cost of conversion to this
technology reasonable?
30. Will any current resources/assets
become obsolete as a result of
adopting the technology? If so, is
there a viable plan for their disposal?
31. Is there an alternative option
available
for
resourcing
technological support in case the
original supplier goes bankrupt?
32. Are there any customer testimonials
available with respect to the efficacy
of this technology?
33. Is there evidence that this
technology
positively
impacts
teaching and learning or the general
running of the school?
34. Are there any legal/regulatory
approvals required for utilizing this
technology?
35. Are there any upcoming/emerging
technologies that will be more
useful/better in catering to the
needs of the school?
36. Would the purchase of this
technology impede any strategic
growth initiatives of the school?
37. Are the best available online
protocols being used to address
security/privacy
concerns
for
using this technology, especially in
schools?
38. Can this technology be used/
secured offline?
39. Can this technology be operated
remotely?
40. Are there any countries where this
technology is banned/restricted? If
so, will that limit the school’s ability
to use this technology effectively?
41. Is the seller authorized to change/
update the technology remotely
without prior consent of the school?
42. Is this technology able to interact/
communicate with smart devices/
machines with the knowledge of the
school?
43. Is this technology able to interact/
communicate with smart devices/
machines without the knowledge of
the school?
44. Can the operational monitoring of
this technology be done through
mobile devices?
45. Can this technology be run on
different platforms? If so, are all the
major platforms covered?
46. Is the technology insured against any
lawsuits stemming from a security
breach/loss of data/information
leakage? If not, will the school have
significant legal exposure in areas/
regions/countries of operation?
47. Is this an AI-enabled technology?
If so, can the embedded AI be
overridden by human commands?
48. Are there clearly defined and
effective
remedial
measures
available from the owner/seller/
manufacturer in case the AI-
enabled technology refuses to
acknowledge or operate under
human commands?
The
path
to
accomplishing
extraordinary/unexpected feats in
terms of school success is generally
paved by the ‘mile markers’ of how
well ordinary/expected things are
being done, e.g., transparency and
streamlining of processes, minimal
employee absenteeism, low attrition
rates, timely corrective/preventive
actions, open and accommodating
communication channels, ingrained
improvement/innovative
practices,
preservation
of
psychological
contracts, placating and engaging
key stakeholders, effective talent
management, judicious leadership
development,
astute
succession
planning, etc.
Therefore, the impartial findings of the
thorough assessment done by utilizing
the aforementioned questions should
be meticulously analyzed for arriving at
a clear realization that the technology
on offer is the one that is ‘needed’
after precluding all other viable
alternatives and scenarios of internal
innovative capability, to effectively
manage without such technology.
‘Proactive Prudence’ will always prevail
over ‘Reactive Regret’ when taking
such decisions.
Murad Salman Mirza is an innovative thinker and an astute practitioner in areas
within and associated with the fields of Organizational Development, Talent
Management and Business Transformation. His LinkedIn profile can be viewed
at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/muradsalmanmirza/
Class Time
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May - Jun 2019
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