paper -
93 Statistical Approach to Lab Management Or how to add finesse to managing labs
John
Wilson, Oklahoma State University
James R. Lackey, Oklahoma State University
There are many responsibilities in managing computer
lab resources. Some of those responsibilities include determining operating
hours, labor and material expenses, number of seats, and operating system
preference.
This paper outlines an approach that uses quantitative
data to help make decisions about lab management. This approach lessens the
guesswork and allows the lab manager to make more precise determinations when
allocating resources. In addition, it gives the lab manager a factual basis on
which to base recommendations to upper management or committees that often have
to approve any changes made in the labs.
Recently, a faculty member requested the Student
Technology Committee, which approval changes in our labs increase the current
number of Macintosh computers in these labs. Even though this faculty member
assured everyone that there were not enough Macintosh computers in the labs,
all he had to support his position was anecdotal data. By contrast, we had
numerical data collected during the entire course of the semester. Our data
indicated that there were only 2 hours in the entire semester when all of the
Macintosh computers were in use. Unsurprisingly, these 2 hours were during
finals week. The data further indicated that most of the time, the Macintosh
computers were underused. Faced with choosing between an unsupported opinion
and an opinion backed by data, the committee, with little debate, decided not
to increase the number of Macintosh computers in the labs.
Another area where the data based approach been helpful is in determining how many different students use our Student Technology Fee labs and what college they attend. While some colleges were under represented in the Student Technology Fee labs and others were over represented, many students from colleges that do not participate in the Student Technology Fee also used these labs.