Page 479 - Using MIS

damage the corporate network? But I know they add pro- accident? Or what if I quit? Or they fire me? Will they wipe
grams of their own to it as well. all the programs off my mobile device then? Will they take
That part makes me nervous. I heard that one com- my own programs?
pany installs key loggers, you know, a program that records Right now, I’m at a standstill with my employer. They
all the user’s keystrokes into a file. The IS department don’t trust the programs I put on my mobile device, and
regularly checks what owners are doing with their own I don’t trust them to install programs on it, either. Maybe
devices. Plus, on the committee, I’ve learned one plan is to this BYOD thing isn’t such a good idea after all. Maybe they
install a program that IS can use to remotely wipe all the should just buy me the computers they want me to use at
programs off mobile devices, at their command. They say work. I’ll still bring my mobile device to work, but I’ll use my
they need it in case we lose our devices. OK, I get that. But own wireless network, not theirs, and I won’t do work with
what if someone makes a mistake? Wipes out my device by it. Is that why my boss wants me on this committee?

DisCussion Questions

1. The obvious reason for the IS department to sponsor a device. How can a BYOD policy break this standstill? If
user committee to help set up BYOD policy is to learn you think it’s impossible, say why.
what users do and don’t want. What other reasons might 7. Using approximate but realistic numbers, estimate the
the department have for setting up this committee? cost of hardware and software for a company of 450 em-
2. Justin has to work (unpaid) overtime to make up his reg- ployees. Assume computers last three years, and that the
ular work when he attends the BYOD meetings. He says annual cost of supporting users is 40 percent of the hard-
he meets interesting people. What are other benefits that ware and software costs. Assume half of the employees
he receives by attending these meetings? can do their work with mobile devices and, of that 50
3. Rather than in-person committee meetings, the IS de- percent, assume that 80 percent will do so. Finally, as-
partment could set up a social media presence to gather sume the cost of supporting a mobile user is $350 per
user feedback. Name the facilities (wiki, survey, etc.) year.
that you think such a presence should have. Summarize a. What is the total annual cost for hardware, software,
the advantages and disadvantages of in-person versus and support assuming no mobile devices are used?
social media for this purpose. b. What is the total annual cost for hardware, software,
4. Clearly, over the past 50 years, organizations have lost and support assuming mobile devices are used as
considerable control over their data. What are the poten- indicated in the question?
tial consequences of this loss? Which of those potential c. Are the savings of allowing employees to use their
consequences do you see as real? mobile devices worth the data security, network, and
5. In your opinion, which is the greater threat of mobile other risks?
devices at work: the data the employees take out or the d. What other benefits accrue to organizations and em-
programs they bring in? Explain your answer. ployees when mobile devices are used?
6. Summarize the reasons that Justin is at a standstill with e. Formulate your own statement on the desirability of
his employer regarding their configuration of his mobile employees using their own mobile devices at work.

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