In order to understand why it is necessary to use the proper tools of the dictation/transcription industry, let's examine a theoretical situation:
A highly successful medical clinic is considering launching a satellite operation on the other side of town. Of the five doctors who sit on the clinic's Finance Committee, four are extremely outspoken about how they want to proceed with analyzing the costs, risks, and benefits of the proposed expansion.
- Dr. Jones wants to bring in his neighbor as a consultant. According to him, this person is an absolute whiz with numbers. This person is a very likable elementary school teacher who does all of her calculations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and long division) the way she teaches them to children: manually.
- Dr. Smith wants to bring in his best friend as a consultant. According to him, this person is an absolute whiz with numbers. This person is a college professor who performs all of his calculations with a slide rule.
- Dr. Hunter wants to bring in his college roommate as a consultant. According to him, this person is an absolute whiz with numbers. This person does private tax returns to earn extra money during tax season. He performs all calculations on a 10-key adding machine and can provide paper tapes to check his work.
- Dr. Glass wants to bring in his niece as a consultant. According to him, this person is an absolute whiz with numbers. This person does all calculations on a notepad computer using Microsoft Excel.
Because each of these doctors is determined to have his own way, the Finance Committee commissions all four people to study the situation. Dr. Allen, who is the head of the Finance Committee, provides each consultant with a matching set of facts and figures and asks for the findings to be presented in one week's time.
When the consultants arrive for their presentations, only Consultants#3 and #4 can offer substantial reports.
At this point Dr. Allen surprises everyone in the room by handing out a completely new set of facts and figures. He tells the four consultants that he wants them to revise their reports according to the changes he is distributing and have the finished findings -- with appropriate charts and tables -- on his desk after lunch.
Only Consultant #4 delivers the goods. Why? Because she is using a notepad computer with a powerful spreadsheet program.Although the doctors swore that each consultant was an absolute whiz with numbers, Consultant #4 was the only one who understood what needed to be done, was working in the proper medium (electronic data processing), had the proper tools of the trade at her disposal, and knew how to use them effectively.
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