Does Websense Make Sense? Leah M. Otto Final Project Presentation MBC Program University of St. Thomas.

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