Gartner zum Einsatz von privaten Notebooks im Unternehmen

Laut dem IT-Marktforschungs- und Beratungsunternehmen Gartner gewinnen Programme, die es den Mitarbeitern erlauben, private Notebooks für die Arbeit zu nutzen, zunehmend an Popularität. Allerdings rufen Unternehmen diese Programme fälschlicherweise ins Leben, um Kosten zu sparen. Nach Angaben der Gartner Analysten sind die Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) für eine gut verwaltete virtuelle Maschine (VM), die auf dem privaten Rechner eines Mitarbeiters läuft, genauso hoch wie die eines gut verwalteten firmeneigenen Rechners. Allerdings sind die sichtbaren Kostenelemente größer durch den „Notebook Zuschlag“, ein Kompensationselement, das dem Nutzer bezahlt werden muss.

Immer mehr Mitarbeiter möchten private Laptops für die Arbeit nutzen. Einige Unternehmen kommen diesem Anliegen mit Programmen zum Einsatz von privaten Notebooks im Unternehmen entgegen, die die Regeln der Nutzung, technische Anforderungen und Prozesse für Wartung und Support festlegen. Das Feedback von Gartner Kunden seit 2006 zeigt, dass eine wesentliche Anzahl von Unternehmen bereits solche Programme hat, die aber nur von einer kleinen Gruppe von Mitarbeitern genutzt werden.

Stamford, Conn., June 16, 2008 — Programmes that permit the use of employee-owned notebook computers for work are gaining in popularity, but many organisations mistakenly pursue them in the hope of reducing costs, according to Gartner Inc. Analysts said that the total cost of ownership (TCO) for a well-managed virtual machine (VM) running on an employee-owned notebook is similar to that of a well-managed notebook provided by the employer, but the visible cost elements are greater due to the notebook allowance (an extra compensation element) that must be paid to the user.

Growing numbers of employees are asking to use personally owned notebooks for work. Some companies meet these requests through employee-owned notebook programmes, which define policies for use, technical requirements, and processes for maintenance and support. Feedback from Gartner clients since 2006 has indicated that a significant number of enterprises already run employee-owned notebook programmes, but only for a small subset of workers.

"Successful employee-owned notebook programmes have the potential to improve user productivity, create a clearer boundary around IT responsibilities and pass some IT costs to the user," said Brian Gammage, vice president and Gartner Fellow. "Conversely, poorly conceived and executed employee-owned notebook programmes can have the opposite effect."

A recent Gartner study compared the profiles of two typical workers: the "day extender," who is predominantly office-based and might take his or her notebook home once or twice a week, and the "travelling worker" who works outside the traditional office environment 80 per cent of the time.

For both user profiles, the total annual cost of a locked and well-managed VM on an employee-owned notebook was found to be broadly similar to the annual TCO of a well-managed notebook (2 per cent more expensive for a daytime extender, 1 per cent less expensive in the case of a travelling worker). However, in three other scenarios, where management of the VM on an employee-owned notebook ranged from "moderate" to 'base," total annual cost savings varied between 9 per cent and 44 per cent.

However, Mr Gammage maintained that the comparisons of direct and indirect costs reveal more-pertinent information. "Although total annual costs are typically equal to or better than for company-owned notebooks, the savings mainly occur in indirect costs," he said. "In all cases, the direct costs related to hardware, software and personnel are higher. This is driven by the additional compensation paid to the user in lieu of hardware acquisition and third-party maintenance and support."