Posted by Timothy Banning on November 27, 1999 at 00:53:20:
In Reply to: IT in the kitchen posted by Richard Nielsen on November 25, 1999 at 12:57:16:
I started using computers for the kitchen eleven years ago on an apple IIe writing recipes for a new Hotel. The apple was a labor saving device because I didn't have to do things in long hand, secretaries still had to transcribe my hard copy files because I was using 5 i/2 in flop pies and their MACs used only 3 1/2 in flop pies but I was able to build up a library of recipes.
Taking this library to a new job, I learned how work with spread sheets by studying the user manual, creating simple costing spread sheets and calculators.
At yet another Hotel I brought my apple along. I was able to scrounge a 286 PC and start buying from SYSCO using the computer. This 286 had lotus123 installed and I improved on my costing and scheduling spread sheets. When a New owner took over the hotel and put in a new network and reservation system I was able to scrounge cast off and "non-working" parts I put together a working 386 system. At this time I transcribed all my recipes to MS word and removed the ailing apple IIe from my office. Still I was using the 286 for ordering.
I started to use Excel for spread sheets developing ever more complex spread sheets for Scheduling, costing, inventory and budgeting. Not having to rewrite from scratch cost sheets and schedules constantly was a joy. I was able to have much more control menu development because I could write them myself with out going through a third party. Menus, recipe and costing could be developed at the same time with out the hand writing and calculating. The spread sheets were time saving devices for me and I was able to create some interesting reports but mostly management saw my computer use as a novelty. Some were technophobes and saw it as a threat.
Another owner took over the food operation of the hotel and bought me (at the time) a very modern 200 mhz pc and I was able to combine all function into one pc. MY current employer sees the benefits of my having and using and computer. While he conceptualizes the need for IT the details are still fuzzy to him.
The struggle still continues. Most end users are only comfortable using their machine in a very narrow way. To most it no more than a typewriter with a tv screen. When ever new sales people are hired I ask if they are computer savvy and the answer is always yes. But in the end their skills don't go much beyond typing. Any offers of aid are met with passive aggressive responses, unwilling or unable to see that a little more work now would be a great time saver in the future.