i vehemently disagree. *all*, and i repeat, 100% of all economic productivity is calculated in gdp without bastardizing the numbers... at least, nobody has made a cogent argument otherwise. here are some links to a lively discussion on the matter...
Some links <VBG> I was not referring to GDP or how it is calculated. I was just looking at the changes in my business over time. Soe employees use the computing to to a good extend beyond typing. Some can barely operate one. Our records regarding our inventory, piror sales to customers, etc. are far superior now than they were in the early 1980s. This translates into more dollars for because I can market more efficiently
I would say we are an extreme case particualrly as small businesses go. I love computers and continue to create internal uses to simply (speed up or at worst, improve) the quality of what we do.
We obliterated our local competition during the late 1980 through 1992 when we could direct mail using traditional mail to our active customer economically. Also, internal publishing is less expensive as is the creativity of print advertising (newpaper). Then there is sign making, label making, inventory shrinkage, communication imporovement including notes and reminders.
A case in point of huge human effor savings and in this case it is my effort that is saved. Prior to 1984, all sales were posted on a daily sales sheet in two columns for double entry accounting purposes. At the end of a business day during the holidays, I would be writing these numbers on mulitple sheets, then additing each column and if they did notmatch, see if I wrote the number incorrectly or added the column incorectly. Now a spread sheet takes it froma pont of sales, the columns are entered and added. A beeb occurs when they do not match so we look for the error. If I was still doing this by hand as I did in the early 1980s and mid 1970s, I would not be getting done at 3 -4 AM during the holiday season. I would not be able to keep up and I would need to higher about three the four more employees just to do this task. Onece these hand written cash receipts pages were done, the information was consolidated and moved onto a ledger and then added again. No more. We just run the Excel page that links to the totals and cash receipts are totaled and placed int heir respective accounts. |
