managing Technology

IT Talent Wars: Hire and Retain Tech Workers

By Patricia Brown

Hiring IT

Staffing consumes a large portion of the IT budget for small and mid-size businesses, but in a competitive market it could cost you more to lose staff and have to replace them.

Since staff accounts for one of the largest segments of IT budgets for small and medium-size businesses, hiring correctly can be one of the most critical tasks for a business owner or executive. But finding and retaining top talent is not easy.

Time to Renegotiate Vendor Contracts?
With the economy in major slowdown mode, now may be a good time to try renegotiating some of those one-sided vendor contracts you entered into in better times. Everything really is negotiable -- even a contract you’ve already signed.
Human Resources: A Self-Service Application
Paper-based time off requests, beneficiary updates, and pay stubs are becoming a thing of the past. Technology has made HR a self-service function in the small and mid-size business sector.
Remote Support: A Must-Have for the Mobile Workforce
As the number of remote workers rises, businesses increasingly need to provide IT assistance from afar. New Web-based tools for diagnostics can help.
Do It Yourself
Searching for a new chief information officer? Take a look in the mirror.
Hiring IT Staff for Non-Techies
Creating a job description, offering an attractive work environment, and understanding what makes the techies tick are important when making IT hires.

Do Web-Based Email Programs Work for Business?
Free email services can save precious funds for a new business and provide access anywhere, but are these services safe and reliable?
Using the Internet to Increase Productivity
From knowing who is online at any given time to avoiding secretaries who guard the boss like an offensive lineman, the Internet is a boon for helping get business done.
Taskus Interruptus
Why interruption, distraction, and multitasking are not such awful things after all.
Software to Help You Set Prices
Business goes wrong when the price isn’t right. Can your company afford the high-end software that helps set prices? Can your company afford not to have it?
Does Certification Matter?
How to find a qualified techie? There are a jumble of certifications that exist and you need to consider before finding certified experts to help your business.