> If I install Notepad++ because it allows me to work faster, am I using or abusing the computer?
This, and all of your examples, would be considered abuse if your corporate policy stated you were not allowed to install any software without IT's permission. It is that simple, really.
> if employees have local administrator rights, they are expected to manage their system themselves
This sort of thing really only occurs at small businesses with little-to-no internal IT support, or with very special cases (such as a developer, which would have special approvals by the company to do so).
> If your employees cannot be trusted to manage their machine, why do they have administrator rights in the first place
Well, they shouldn't, and they don't at most companies.
In the end, you signed a usage agreement. If you deliberately break that agreement, don't be surprised by the consequences.
This, and all of your examples, would be considered abuse if your corporate policy stated you were not allowed to install any software without IT's permission. It is that simple, really.
Except that two of my examples did not involve installing anything.
> This, and all of your examples, would be considered abuse if your corporate policy stated you were not allowed to install any software without IT's permission. It is that simple, really.
Well in that case any sane person would try to avoid working for a company with such draconian and controlling policies.
This, and all of your examples, would be considered abuse if your corporate policy stated you were not allowed to install any software without IT's permission. It is that simple, really.
> if employees have local administrator rights, they are expected to manage their system themselves
This sort of thing really only occurs at small businesses with little-to-no internal IT support, or with very special cases (such as a developer, which would have special approvals by the company to do so).
> If your employees cannot be trusted to manage their machine, why do they have administrator rights in the first place
Well, they shouldn't, and they don't at most companies.
In the end, you signed a usage agreement. If you deliberately break that agreement, don't be surprised by the consequences.