Session 6

What common barriers to technology integration do you hear or see in your area?

In my line of work the main barrier to technology integration is money and bureaucracy of paper work to request anything not foreseen in advanced. The military budget usually allocates funds two years in advance. Major commands have to budget for many things. The subordinate commands have to deal with money given to them quarterly. Every section in the unit needs money to function. There are not much discretionary funds. Technology changes and upgrades very fast, the money and the paperwork do not catch up so fast.

Another barrier I hear about a lot is time. I believe this is a universal complain. But when I hear or give this reason myself I remember someone saying “Did you sleep? Then you had time.” The operation tempo of many military units is extreme to say the least. One has to be very creative to find the time to implement a new technology en mass.


Which are actual barriers and which are proxy or stand in for something else?

I will have to say that both time and money barriers are very real.

Actual barriers, what would you do to solve or get over the barriers so that technology is used more effectively in your location?

Leadership, creativity and perseverance are key elements for overcoming most barriers. Leadership at all levels is very important. In this case however, technology issues have to be important for the people in top leadership roles so they can make it a priority for all. Creativity is required of the implementers to make the best with the resources available. Perseverance is the quality to stay the course identifying and projecting future needs, coupling them with the tedious paperwork that goes with it.

Weekly Log
-Download and listen to Session 6 MP3
-Formulate Session 6 response
-Continue working on projects due
-Read classmates blogs
-Posts comments on classmates blogs