How to make the most of technology  I love getting compliments on the quality and content of the journals we publish. In part we owe this to you, our faithful readers, who on a regular basis submit general comments and/or constructive criticism, thus providing us with guidelines on what is current and of interest to you.

One topic our readers have been requesting frequently is about CAD/CAM technology. I’m pleased to announce that starting from this issue of Spectrum dialogue we will be presenting a series of seven articles co-authored by R. Strietzel and C. Lahl, which will give us “ an overview of the current state of CAD/CAM technology used by dentists and dental technicians” and will more specifically address areas such as “... procedures, data acquisition choices, software and materials used.” Since we have a technology focus in this issue I feel we should look at the responsibilities we face in order to implement technology successfully in our business.

We are all aware that the information technology age has brought with it a host of new technologies and an overabundance of choices in personal life and in business. In the latter, managers are hard pressed to figure out what all those innovations do, let alone which ones to adopt and how to implement and integrate them into the existing business to ensure a strong viable future for all its stakeholders.

Too often, though, grand declarations about innovations are followed by mediocre results and innovations are quietly abandoned in cost cutting drives leaving us with costs and little or no return on the original investment. As owners and managers we all face the same difficult challenges- most of which stem from the tensions between protecting the existing revenue streams, critical to current success and embracing new concepts and technologies that may be crucial to future success. You face it in your clinic or lab, I face it in the publishing/media business. We must be aware that there is always the possibility that many of the so called advancements will not live up to our business expectations and will cause frustrations, delays and outright failures as a final result.

So, we could turn away from the advancements we face, but would we be selling our future success short? When we wear our executive hat we face three critical responsibilities when it comes to embracing technological advancements successfully.

We must choose technologies, using an inside out approach that keeps the needs of the business in mind. We must ensure the smooth adoption of those technologies, taking into account the resistance we might encounter from key employees or department managers. And finally we must oversee and encourage the successful implementation on the new technology by leveraging already present workflows so that financial and process benefits are evident.

What is most important is that we look beyond the short term view and select the broader picture of how technology will affect the long term development of our organization and in the end our lives.

In conclusion, different types of technology bring about different types of organizational change and managers should tailor their own roles accordingly. By categorizing technology in this manner we can determine which technologies to invest in and how they can assist our organization to make the most of it.

Ettore Palmeri, MBA, AGD B.Ed., BA