Infrastructure for Modern Technology

Infrastructure is the physical and organisational structures and facilities an organisation needs to operate. It includes buildings, networks, devices and systems.

Modern technology can improve infrastructure, but managers must compare the benefits with the drawbacks before investing. You should not assume new technology always makes things better: it can add setup costs, training needs and ongoing maintenance.

What modern technology adds

The infrastructure required by modern technology includes:

• communication technologies — tools that let people communicate and share information
• devices — the equipment staff use
• local or web-based platforms — software installed on the organisation's own equipment or used online

It is more than a purchase

Introducing modern technology is not just buying equipment. An organisation must:

1. train staff so they can use the new technology confidently
2. implement and test it before it is used for real work
3. maintain it so it keeps working and stays secure
4. pay running costs, such as subscriptions, support and energy

For example, a community sports club might replace a paper sign-in sheet with a tablet-based sign-in system. The benefit is that coaches can see who has arrived straight away. The drawbacks include buying tablets, training volunteers, testing the system and paying for a monthly support plan. Organisers should weigh these up before going ahead, because modern technology does not always improve infrastructure; it can also add cost and complexity.