Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Death by ITIL: How IT departments streamline themselves into oblivion | IT Leadership | TechRepublic.com
Death by ITIL: How IT departments streamline themselves into oblivion IT Leadership TechRepublic.com: "It strikes me that many if not most departments fall victim to the same kind of fascination, when it comes to various frameworks and methodologies du jour. CMM and CMMI, PMBoK or Prince 2, ITIL and COBiT, Agile (I cannot bring myself to listing its gazillion flavors), TQM and Lean, Six Sigma, RUP, and all that crackle and pop ad infinitum. If you have been in this profession long enough, you know that every few years a new fad diet comes along."
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Ray Ozzie's view from the clouds | CNET News
An interesting interview. If he can pull off his vision, Microsoft will be a seriously player for a long time.
Ray Ozzie's view from the clouds Beyond Binary - CNET News:
"When Ray Ozzie penned his Internet Services Disruption memo back in 2005, he had a pretty good idea where the computing world was going. He just didn't know how Microsoft was going to get there. While many are ready to write off Microsoft as an declining icon of computing's last generation, Ozzie sees Microsoft positioned to leapfrog some of the companies that tend to be thought of as the leaders of the cloud computing world--names like Amazon, Salesforce and Google."
Ray Ozzie's view from the clouds Beyond Binary - CNET News:
"When Ray Ozzie penned his Internet Services Disruption memo back in 2005, he had a pretty good idea where the computing world was going. He just didn't know how Microsoft was going to get there. While many are ready to write off Microsoft as an declining icon of computing's last generation, Ozzie sees Microsoft positioned to leapfrog some of the companies that tend to be thought of as the leaders of the cloud computing world--names like Amazon, Salesforce and Google."
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
CleverWorkarounds » SQL God? No… I just know how to do a maintenance plan#more-936#more-936#more-936#more-936
CleverWorkarounds » SQL God? No… I just know how to do a maintenance plan: "A SQL Server without a maintenance plan is like the band Queen without Freddie Mercury. Sure it will keep going, but it will provide a sub-optimal user experience."
Monday, November 09, 2009
Millennials + Enterprise Software: Doomed to Fail | CIO - Blogs and Discussion
Millennials + Enterprise Software: Doomed to Fail CIO - Blogs and Discussion: "According to Schooley, 76 million Millennials were born between 1980 and 2000 (scary, I know) and are now infiltrating corporations everywhere—approximately 40 million already have, with an additional 35 million getting ready. 'They bring sharp technology skills, a desire for challenging work, flexibility, mobility and an ability to work well in teams,' writes Schooley. However, she adds, 'These new employees often meet a seasoned workforce that has very different work styles.'
When it comes to enterprise software today, just take out the word 'workforce' in that last sentence and insert 'application suite.' This unfortunate situation is going to be one of biggest challenges for old-school businesses with tons of legacy software and infrastructure. (Of course, it should help that the tech workers are going to be Millennials, too.)"
When it comes to enterprise software today, just take out the word 'workforce' in that last sentence and insert 'application suite.' This unfortunate situation is going to be one of biggest challenges for old-school businesses with tons of legacy software and infrastructure. (Of course, it should help that the tech workers are going to be Millennials, too.)"
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Introducing the Google Chrome OS
Official Google Blog: Introducing the Google Chrome OS: "Google Chrome OS is an open source, lightweight operating system that will initially be targeted at netbooks. Later this year we will open-source its code, and netbooks running Google Chrome OS will be available for consumers in the second half of 2010. Because we're already talking to partners about the project, and we'll soon be working with the open source community, we wanted to share our vision now so everyone understands what we are trying to achieve."
Monday, July 06, 2009
CleverWorkarounds » SharePoint ROI Slide Deck and Sample Scenario worksheet published
CleverWorkarounds » SharePoint ROI Slide Deck and Sample Scenario worksheet published: "Hot off the press (okay – well SlideShare magic), I’ve just posted by Best Practices Conference slide deck for the 'speak to your CFO' session, along with the ROI spreadsheet for the PMIS scenario that I used during the demonstration. Like the 'wicked problems' slide deck, slideshare conversion isn’t quite there, so just contact me if you want a pptx version."
Thursday, July 02, 2009
The Road to SharePoint 2010: News Coverage - SharePoint 2010 - Bamboo Nation
The Road to SharePoint 2010: News Coverage - SharePoint 2010 - Bamboo Nation: "Fresh from the pages of SharePoint Daily, your one-stop-shop for SharePoint news and comment, The Road to SharePoint 2010 is packaged exclusively for readers interested in tracking the path towards the release of Office 2010 in general, and SharePoint 2010 in particular. This page of news coverage will be maintained until the public beta. Found a story that we missed? Send it along for our consideration!"
SharePoint Worst Practices: 5 Common Mistakes to Avoid
meetdux.com - SharePoint Worst Practices: 5 Common Mistakes to Avoid : sharepoint, project management, pmp, best practices, tips, tricks, hacks:
SharePoint Worst Practices: 5 Common Mistakes to Avoid
Categories: SharePoint, Business
In my post 'Mr. Miyagi is Not a Direct Descendant of Superman' I mentioned that along with my colleague Mike Taylor, we presented: 'SharePoint Worst Practices: Five Common Mistakes to Avoid' at the recently concluded SharePoint Technology Conference in Cambridge, MA.
We explored common mistakes organizations commit when deploying SharePoint, namely:
1. Lack of Proper Planning
2. Showcase Features, not Building Solutions
3. Undefined Business Case
4. Poor Understanding of SharePoint
5. Unrealistic Staffing
More importantly, we discussed key strategies and techniques on how to avoid these mistakes. Want to learn more? Click here to download the slide decks.
Also, here's the 65 minute screencast that I recorded from our presentation. Enjoy!"
SharePoint Worst Practices: 5 Common Mistakes to Avoid
Categories: SharePoint, Business
In my post 'Mr. Miyagi is Not a Direct Descendant of Superman' I mentioned that along with my colleague Mike Taylor, we presented: 'SharePoint Worst Practices: Five Common Mistakes to Avoid' at the recently concluded SharePoint Technology Conference in Cambridge, MA.
We explored common mistakes organizations commit when deploying SharePoint, namely:
1. Lack of Proper Planning
2. Showcase Features, not Building Solutions
3. Undefined Business Case
4. Poor Understanding of SharePoint
5. Unrealistic Staffing
More importantly, we discussed key strategies and techniques on how to avoid these mistakes. Want to learn more? Click here to download the slide decks.
Also, here's the 65 minute screencast that I recorded from our presentation. Enjoy!"
Swing, Batter-Batter-Batter! « The Effective CIO
Swing, Batter-Batter-Batter! « The Effective CIO: "Swing, Batter-Batter-Batter! June 29, 2009
Posted by Chuck Musciano in Leadership.
Tags: Communication, Leadership, Teams
trackback
It’s easy to tell when a youth baseball team is struggling: they fall silent. If the silence persists for any length of time, the coach (or a parent in the stands) will yell out, “Let’s hear a little chatter out there!” This request hopefully refocuses the team as they start talking again."
Posted by Chuck Musciano in Leadership.
Tags: Communication, Leadership, Teams
trackback
It’s easy to tell when a youth baseball team is struggling: they fall silent. If the silence persists for any length of time, the coach (or a parent in the stands) will yell out, “Let’s hear a little chatter out there!” This request hopefully refocuses the team as they start talking again."
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Whose Fault? Yours. « The Effective CIO
Whose Fault? Yours. « The Effective CIO: "When people fail to get their jobs done as quickly and efficiently as possible, it’s our fault. Period. It doesn’t matter why they failed; we still own the problem. That’s a hard concept for some people in IT to grasp and accept."
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Motorcycle Safety Statistics: Crash, Fatal Bike Accidents
Motorcycle Safety Statistics: Crash, Fatal Bike Accidents: "Motorcycle Accident Causes and Factors
In 2006 about 4,935 people were killed riding motorcycles of different kinds (see above). A major Motorcycle accident study analyzed information from thousands of accidents, drew conclusions about the causes and looked for ways people can avoid accidents. The 'Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures,' was a study conducted by the University of Southern California, with funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, researcher Harry Hurt investigated nearly every aspect of 900 motorcycle accidents in the Los Angeles area. Additionally, Hurt and his staff analyzed 3,600 motorcycle traffic accident reports in the same geographic area. Below are some of the findings."
In 2006 about 4,935 people were killed riding motorcycles of different kinds (see above). A major Motorcycle accident study analyzed information from thousands of accidents, drew conclusions about the causes and looked for ways people can avoid accidents. The 'Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures,' was a study conducted by the University of Southern California, with funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, researcher Harry Hurt investigated nearly every aspect of 900 motorcycle accidents in the Los Angeles area. Additionally, Hurt and his staff analyzed 3,600 motorcycle traffic accident reports in the same geographic area. Below are some of the findings."
Monday, June 01, 2009
Official Google Blog: Went Walkabout. Brought back Google Wave.
Official Google Blog: Went Walkabout. Brought back Google Wave.: "Back in early 2004, Google took an interest in a tiny mapping startup called Where 2 Tech, founded by my brother Jens and me. We were excited to join Google and help create what would become Google Maps. But we also started thinking about what might come next for us after maps.
As always, Jens came up with the answer: communication. He pointed out that two of the most spectacular successes in digital communication, email and instant messaging, were originally designed in the '60s to imitate analog formats — email mimicked snail mail, and IM mimicked phone calls. Since then, so many different forms of communication had been invented — blogs, wikis, collaborative documents, etc. — and computers and networks had dramatically improved. So Jens proposed a new communications model that presumed all these advances as a starting point, and I was immediately sold. (Jens insists it took him hours to convince me, but I like my version better.)
We had a blast the next couple years turning Where 2's prototype mapping site into Google Maps. But finally we decided it was time to leave the Maps team and turn Jens' new idea into a project, which we codenamed 'Walkabout.' We started with a set of tough questions:
Why do we have to live with divides between different types of communication — email versus chat, or conversations versus documents?
Could a single communications model span all or most of the systems in use on the web today, in one smooth continuum? How simple could we make it?
What if we tried designing a communications system that took advantage of computers' current abilities, rather than imitating non-electronic forms?
After months holed up in a conference room in the Sydney office, our five-person "startup" team emerged with a prototype. And now, after more than two years of expanding our ideas, our team, and technology, we're very eager to return and see what the world might think. Today we're giving developers an early preview of Google Wave.
As always, Jens came up with the answer: communication. He pointed out that two of the most spectacular successes in digital communication, email and instant messaging, were originally designed in the '60s to imitate analog formats — email mimicked snail mail, and IM mimicked phone calls. Since then, so many different forms of communication had been invented — blogs, wikis, collaborative documents, etc. — and computers and networks had dramatically improved. So Jens proposed a new communications model that presumed all these advances as a starting point, and I was immediately sold. (Jens insists it took him hours to convince me, but I like my version better.)
We had a blast the next couple years turning Where 2's prototype mapping site into Google Maps. But finally we decided it was time to leave the Maps team and turn Jens' new idea into a project, which we codenamed 'Walkabout.' We started with a set of tough questions:
Why do we have to live with divides between different types of communication — email versus chat, or conversations versus documents?
Could a single communications model span all or most of the systems in use on the web today, in one smooth continuum? How simple could we make it?
What if we tried designing a communications system that took advantage of computers' current abilities, rather than imitating non-electronic forms?
After months holed up in a conference room in the Sydney office, our five-person "startup" team emerged with a prototype. And now, after more than two years of expanding our ideas, our team, and technology, we're very eager to return and see what the world might think. Today we're giving developers an early preview of Google Wave.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Podcasting Kit for Sharepoint - Home
Podcasting Kit for Sharepoint - Home: "What Can You Do With Podcasting Kit for SharePoint (PKS)?:"
- Listen and watch audio/video podcasts, anywhere on your PC or mobile device (Zune, SmartPhone, or any podcasting device)
- Share content by producing your own audio/video podcasts and publish them on PKS on your own.
- Connect and engage with podcasters via your integrated instant messaging program
- Find the most relevant content using the five star rating system, tag cloud, search engine and provide your feedback via comments.
- Get automatic podcast updates by subscribing to RSS feeds fully compatible with Zune and other podcasting devices
- Simple RSS feed based on a defined podcast series
- Simple RSS feed based on a person
- Dynamic RSS feed based on search results (will be implemented later in 2009)
- Play podcasts in real-time using Microsoft® Silverlight™ and progressive playback
- Retrieve instant ROI and metrics with the ability to track the number of podcasts downloaded and/or viewed, instant feedback via rating system and comments, and subscribers via the RSS feed
- Access the richness of SharePoint to extend the solution: workflows, community sub-sites, access rights, editorial and more
- Customize your own PKS User Experience
- Listen and watch audio/video podcasts, anywhere on your PC or mobile device (Zune, SmartPhone, or any podcasting device)
- Share content by producing your own audio/video podcasts and publish them on PKS on your own.
- Connect and engage with podcasters via your integrated instant messaging program
- Find the most relevant content using the five star rating system, tag cloud, search engine and provide your feedback via comments.
- Get automatic podcast updates by subscribing to RSS feeds fully compatible with Zune and other podcasting devices
- Simple RSS feed based on a defined podcast series
- Simple RSS feed based on a person
- Dynamic RSS feed based on search results (will be implemented later in 2009)
- Play podcasts in real-time using Microsoft® Silverlight™ and progressive playback
- Retrieve instant ROI and metrics with the ability to track the number of podcasts downloaded and/or viewed, instant feedback via rating system and comments, and subscribers via the RSS feed
- Access the richness of SharePoint to extend the solution: workflows, community sub-sites, access rights, editorial and more
- Customize your own PKS User Experience
Monday, May 04, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
The GL 1800 as tow truck
The GL 1800 as tow truck: "Cool, the Honda Goldwing GL 1800 disguised as a tow truck!"
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Saturday, April 04, 2009
Zach Mathe
Zach Mathe
Singer-guitarist. Saw him at the local coffee shop (The Bean Factory). Good guitar, decent voice, good melodies, all original songs.
Singer-guitarist. Saw him at the local coffee shop (The Bean Factory). Good guitar, decent voice, good melodies, all original songs.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
April Fools
To date, I have had only one good April Fool's day prank. At my former company, we had a large long, 4 story building. The morning of, my partner in crime and I put up signs on all the doors (over a dozen) that said (paraphrased) "Roof Spraying Work Today, please park away from building to avoid overspray". As we watched from our office window (the building had a curve to it so we could see 6 of the doors), people would walk up to the door, pause, and then turn around and go back to move their cars. About a quarter to a third of the people moved their cars to the far side of the lot.
Friday, March 20, 2009
YouTube - 40 Inspirational Speeches in 2 Minutes
YouTube - 40 Inspirational Speeches in 2 Minutes
this is really cool. Try to watch it w/o getting goosebumps....
this is really cool. Try to watch it w/o getting goosebumps....
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Facebook | 10 Privacy Settings Every Facebook User Should Know
Facebook | 10 Privacy Settings Every Facebook User Should Know: "Everyday I receive an email from somebody about how their account was hacked, how a friend tagged them in the photo and they want a way to avoid it, as well as a number of other complications related to their privacy on Facebook. Over the weekend one individual contacted me to let me know that he would be removing me as a friend from Facebook because he was “going to make a shift with my Facebook use - going to just mostly family stuff.”"
Friday, February 06, 2009
SLAs: A CIO's Guide to Success
SLAs: A CIO's Guide to Success:
"The work doesn't stop once all the SLAs are in place, either. The agreements
require constant discussion and renegotiation as the needs of the business
change. Untended SLAs can lull IT into a false sense of security about the level
of existential happiness among its customers. E-mail response time and network
availability statistics may look great to IT, but the business may actually be
seething about a wholly unrelated issue. To be effective, SLAs require more
thoroughness and vigilance in measuring customer satisfaction so that
dissatisfaction not reflected in the SLA metrics will reach IT before a real
crisis hits.
Yet despite the trouble and expense, SLAs provide
invaluable performance metrics to IT and create more informed customers. 'The
biggest benefit of an SLA in my mind is it makes the business aware that there's
a relationship between support and dollars,' says Tim Parsons, senior vice
president for IT at Interstate/Johnson Lane Inc., a brokerage firm based in
Charlotte, N.C., that created an SLA for help desk support. 'If they can
understand the relationship between cost and the level of support, then they can
make a better business decision about what support is required and how much it
will cost.' Without lining up customer expectations with IT's ability to
realistically meet those expectations, IT stands little chance of breaking out
of the first circle of 'service bureau hell': unrealistic expectations matched
to limited resources."
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
Friday, January 09, 2009
Monday, January 05, 2009
InternetNews Realtime IT News - Work Ethic 2.0: Attention Control
InternetNews Realtime IT News - Work Ethic 2.0: Attention Control:
"The need for 'attention,' rather than 'hard work,' as the centerpiece of
the new work ethic has arisen along with the rise of distractions carried on the
wings of Internet protocol. In one generation, we've gone from a total
separation of 'work' from 'non-work' to one in which both work and play are
always sitting right in front of us.
Now, we find ourselves with absolutely nothing standing between us and
a universe of distractions -- nothing except our own abilities to control
attention. Porn, gambling, funny videos, flirting, socializing, playing games,
shopping -- it's all literally one click away. Making matters worse, indulging
these distractions looks just like work. And it's easy to work and play at the
same time -- and call it work. These new, increasingly compelling distractions
get piled on to older ones -- office pop-ins, e-mail, IM, text messages,
meetings and others.
Kids now grow up with the whole range of distractions, from big-screen
TVs to video games to cell phones to PCs in their rooms. They're addicted to
screens before they even start high school. Their attention spans have been
whittled down to seconds, and their expectations for constant amusement are
highly developed.
In a world in which entire industries bet their businesses
on gaining access to our attention, which value leads to better personal
success: hard work or the ability to control attention?"
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