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> graphics department (PowerPoint) You started the paragraph with the word "workload," but here the load is about as close to zero for the average employee as

> graphics department (PowerPoint) You started the paragraph with the word "workload," but here the load is about as close to zero for the average employee as one could get without being pedantic about it. People aren't using virtual brushes and learning color theory to digitally paint their PowerPoints, or even composing their slides effectively in the visual space provided as a graphic designer would in Photoshop. They are writing and revising their drafts in PowerPoint, often using the default templates or perhaps 2-3 minutes of trying out different themes. That ends up smearing all the costs and benefits of default PowerPoint look-and-feel across the audience for all these boring presentations. But I claim the cost to the employee's time and education due to them technically having taken on the responsibilities of a graphic designer are, on average, effectively zero.

TeMPOraL 3y ago
Maybe I named the department wrong, but my point is, back before PowerPoint, in the era of more analog presentations, large companies had a separate group of people you would ask to prepare charts and graphics for your presentation. Nowadays, you have to do it yourself. My point is that all of us are constantly distracted by random, intermittent tasks outside our specializations, which previously were done by dedicated specialists - people who could afford to become proficient at that work. This is a huge productivity hit for everyone.
- reaperman 3y ago
  A few corporations still have a separate department dedicated entirely to generating things like PowerPoints. McKinsey for example. The consultants are good at creating PowerPoints if they need to, but they can just outline it or flesh it out as much as they like and toss it over the fence to the "PowerPoint department" which will complete it overnight based on the instructions/outline/information/draft sent in by the requesting consultant.
  - klysm 3y ago
    Yeah but slide shows are a core competency for McKinsey.

TeMPOraL 3y ago

Maybe I named the department wrong, but my point is, back before PowerPoint, in the era of more analog presentations, large companies had a separate group of people you would ask to prepare charts and graphics for your presentation. Nowadays, you have to do it yourself. My point is that all of us are constantly distracted by random, intermittent tasks outside our specializations, which previously were done by dedicated specialists - people who could afford to become proficient at that work. This is a huge productivity hit for everyone.

reaperman 3y ago
A few corporations still have a separate department dedicated entirely to generating things like PowerPoints. McKinsey for example. The consultants are good at creating PowerPoints if they need to, but they can just outline it or flesh it out as much as they like and toss it over the fence to the "PowerPoint department" which will complete it overnight based on the instructions/outline/information/draft sent in by the requesting consultant.
- klysm 3y ago
  Yeah but slide shows are a core competency for McKinsey.