does websense make sense? leah m. otto final project presentation mbc program university of st....
TRANSCRIPT
Does Websense Make Sense?
Leah M. Otto
Final Project Presentation
MBC Program
University of St. Thomas
Since 2004
New software on the market called Websense. Immediately hailed as important for business. Solved problem of Internet abuse in the
workplace.
Pre-2004 Internet Access at Work
Internet abuse in workplace. Employers struggling with how to monitor. Legal, HR, IS, Security concerned. Affected productivity and work environment.
How Websense Works
Reads key words. Blocks access. Bad content gone from workplace. Employers safe.
The Down Side
Websense reads words, not context. English words prone to double meanings. Work related content sometimes blocked.
Websense: The Problem
Websense confused by double meanings.– Breast cancer = pornography– Ads on Lottery site = gambling– Pop music lyrics = violence
Could Websense Affect You?
Nurses can’t find medical research. Most literature focuses on the employers’ point of
view. Workers need representation.
The vice president of Best Buy advertising noticed staff said unable to access work related Web sites.
How do we know it’s Websense?
User receives message from Websense.
Necessary Research Blocked
Types of Internet researchAd conceptsCelebritiesInternet ad analysis
Workers Frustrated, but,
IS: Websense prevents hacking. HR: Websense ensures politically correct
environment. Legal: Company at risk for lawsuits w/o Websense.
What We Needed to Know
How many people affected? How often? To what extent is work impacted? Would data support a business case for change?
Research Question
Does lack of access to Internet sites from the offices of Best Buy impact the work of its internal advertising department?
So I decided to…
Field study of 26 questions sent to 200 Advertising employees.
E-mail/Internet based survey. Conducted April 2006.
Response
97 respondents (48%) of the 200 workers on the distribution list.
Are you able to access the Web sites you’re looking for?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Usually 1/2 theTime
N/A
Ad Staff
How does Websense impact your work?
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
No Impact Adds Timeto projects
Adds Timeto
Workweek
ReducesQuality
AddsOperating
Cost
CreatesNeed for
More Staff
Ad Staff
Internet Research Conducted by Employees
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Employees
Photographers
Emerging Media
Best Buy Ads
Target Audience
Competitor WebUse
Results
25% able to access needed sites only half the time. 55% say blocks add time to projects. Over 63% say their Internet research has to do with
getting information about competitor Web use.
Outcomes:
May be only 25% of staff, but, the issues are high priority for the company.
Time added to projects is expensive.
Best Buy Outcomes
Two Websense-free work stations installed in February 2007. (About one year after the study.)
Usage monitored by IS. Advertising managers review usage reports each
month.
The Answer
Does lack of access to Internet sites from the offices of Best Buy impact the work of its internal advertising department?
Yes. - Not a majority, but, there is impact. - The impact is on high priority work.
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Q & A