{"id":6713,"date":"2013-08-20T09:21:30","date_gmt":"2013-08-20T14:21:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mrc-productivity.com\/blog\/?p=6713"},"modified":"2022-11-22T10:57:01","modified_gmt":"2022-11-22T16:57:01","slug":"7-things-every-it-leader-should-know-about-mobile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mrc-productivity.com\/blog\/2013\/08\/7-things-every-it-leader-should-know-about-mobile\/","title":{"rendered":"7 things every IT leader should know about mobile"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Education\"Can you believe that smartphones (as we know them today) have only been in existence for slightly over 6 years? Yet, despite their relatively short existence, user adoption in the U.S. has already surpassed 50%<\/span><\/a>. That sort of growth is absolutely incredible. <\/p>\n

The mobile trend isn\u2019t confined to the consumer world either. Over the past couple of years, we\u2019ve really seen mobile usage and mobile apps gain traction in the enterprise. This will only increase in the coming years.<\/p>\n

The explosive growth of mobile puts CIOs and IT leaders in a tricky spot, as they\u2019re forced to adapt to this major trend on the fly. They’re stuck figuring out how their companies can best capitalize on the advantages of mobile while avoiding the drawbacks. <\/p>\n

So, what must IT leaders understand about mobile? Today, I\u2019d like to help answer that question. I\u2019ve compiled a list of things every IT leader should understand about mobile, which you can find below:
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

1. You don\u2019t have a choice<\/h3>\n
\n\"Mobile\"
\nphoto credit: blakespot<\/a> via photopin<\/a> cc<\/a><\/i>\n<\/div>\n

The rise of mobile reminds me of the rise of the web. Some companies recognized the potential immediately, and moved toward the web. Others waited to see if it would catch on. Those who waited struggled to catch up once they realized the importance of the web. Mobile is the same way: You don\u2019t have a choice. It\u2019s here to stay.<\/p>\n

What does that mean? Does that mean your company must build native mobile apps? No. As I\u2019ve mentioned before<\/span><\/a>, native apps aren’t always the best approach for business. <\/p>\n

That being said, you must address the fact that we now live in a multi-screened world. You must recognize that people will increasingly access your web site and web apps using mobile devices. These days, you must consider mobile when building web apps and\/or web sites for your business.<\/p>\n

How? We\u2019ll cover that in the next section.<\/p>\n

2. Responsive\/Adaptive design is the future<\/h3>\n

You\u2019ve probably heard about the concept of \u201cresponsive design\u201d. If not, you certainly will in the coming years. Responsive (and adaptive) design is the future of business web site and web app design. But, what does it mean?<\/p>\n

\nJames Carlson, Chief Product Officer at Questis<\/span>, explains the concept and importance of responsive design: \u201cResponsive web design allows your business to create and publish content in a way that adapts to every screen size. This means a single website can be published, updated and accessed on televisions, desktop computers, tablets and phones while providing a great user experience. Mobile devices accessing the internet grew 55% in 2012 and mobile device access is expected to eclipse desktop access before 2015. Not only does building a responsive website today mean that your business is prepared for the future, but it also gives you more time to focus on what matters: responding to your customers.\u201d\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Adaptive design is similar, yet slightly different. While responsive design creates a single HTML page that adapts to every screen size, adaptive design delivers a different HTML page depending on the device. For instance, a single web application may have 3 separate presentation (HTML) layers: One for PCs, one for tablets, and one for smartphones. Logic placed in the application identifies the user\u2019s device and displays the correct layer. For example, visit this web app<\/span><\/a> from different devices and notice how it looks and acts different.<\/p>\n

3. Security risks are evolving<\/h3>\n
\n\"Security\"
\nphoto credit: ePublicist via photopin<\/a> cc<\/a><\/i>\n<\/div>\n

A study released by Checkpoint<\/span><\/a> highlights some startling facts about mobile security. The study finds that:<\/p>\n