The prince of project management tools
When computing is given substantial coverage in the mainstream media it’s often because an IT project has failed — and when that happens it’s usually a big failure.
Stories by Kirstin Mills
Executive buy-in and project success
Whenever I read about project management success, one piece of advice always seems to arise: get top-level management support for the project. But how do you do that if you’re not part of executive management — and if your project is worthwhile, should you even try? It seems opinion is split on the latter question.
Next-generation web not so hot, some say
Is Web 2.0 a great set of tools for business to embrace and remain competitive, or just a consumer fad that’s full of the of the same old IT hype and without a meaningful definition?
Disaster recovery is boring but essential
Business continuity planning isn’t not the sexiest of tasks for people in IT, but if a disaster strikes and there’s been no planning, it can make the headlines.
Coaching staff doesn't require expensive consultants
Plenty of money is made by experts who offer coaching advice to managers, but according Susan Cramm, president of Valuedance, an executive coaching firm in the US, there’s no reason why managers can’t get on and coach their staff without that specialist help.
Sorting out who does what brings benefits
Can the RACI model of allocating roles and responsibilities help avoid confusion when it comes to projects or are other models more effective?
Carr continues to cause controversy
Back in 2003 Nicholas Carr caused huge debate with an article, and later a book, contending that IT doesn’t matter. His argument was that scarcity, not ubiquity, made a business resource truly strategic. More than three years later, do his views still hold up — and does he still stand by them?
Putting projects in a portfolio works wonders
Using Project Portfolio Management (PPM) to have an of overview of all the IT projects in an organisation can eliminate duplication, save money and boost the standing of the CIO, according to advocates.
Swapping roles between business and IT
Job rotation schemes are quite rare, according to researchers, but companies that use them believe the benefits are invaluable.
Upside in shadowy world of ad-hoc computing
Does your organisation have a Shadow IT department with users taking IT into their own hands? If so, how do you control the big issues like security?
Chargeback systems can boost IT, proponents say
To people who are in favour of them, chargeback systems — which allocate costs for IT services to individual departments — help reduce costs. To people who are against them, they introduce an unnecessary level of complexity to an organisation.
Best practice not always a recipe for success
“Best practice in IT” is a term that is bandied around a lot, but can following the practices of others do more harm than good?
Strength required to admit job weaknesses
Ever been asked at a job interview about what failures you’ve had in your working life?
GPS could make pulling a ‘sickie’ tougher
When computing and consumer electronics firm BenQ UK ran an advertisement claiming that bogus sick days would be more enjoyable with its technology (showing a man lying in bed watching the soccer world cup on his laptop), it got told off by the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
How to avoid making career-limiting moves
A Career Limiting Move (CLM) has a lot in common with that one last drink at office party. It often feels very good at the time, even though a part of you is nagging you not to do it, and you may well regret it later.