September 11, 2011
Cleverbot Proposes Marriage
September 10, 2011
Kamikaze UAVs
Kamikaze UAVs
Rising From The Ashes of 9/11
Rising From The Ashes of 9/11
September 9, 2011
Now You See It, Now You Don't
Now You See It, Now You Don't
Visualizing IT Security
Visualizing IT Security
September 5, 2011
The Irreplaceables
The Irreplaceables
September 4, 2011
9/11 - A Lesson In Risky Business
9/11 - A Lesson In Risky Business
September 3, 2011
Weeding Out The Servant-Leader From The Psychopath
Weeding Out The Servant-Leader From The Psychopath
September 2, 2011
Vizualize Yourself
I tried out this new visual resume online called Vizualize Me.
Vizualize Yourself
August 28, 2011
Best High-Tech Looking Couch
Best High-Tech Looking Couch
Can't Live With Them, Can't Live Without Them
Following the frequently dismal state of IT project performance generally, I'm beginning to think that way about technology projects.
- In 2009, the Standish Group reported that 68% of IT projects were failing or seriously challenged--over schedule, behind budget, and not meeting customer requirements.
- Most recently, according to Harvard Business Review (September 2011), IT projects are again highlighted as "riskier than you think." Despite efforts to rein in IT projects, "New research shows surprisingly high numbers of out-of-control tech projects--ones that can sink entire companies and careers."
- Numerous high profile companies with such deeply problematic IT projects are mentioned, including: Levi Strauss, Hershey's, Kmart, Airbus, and more.
- The study found that "Fully one in six of the projects we studied [1,471 were examined] was a black swan, with a cost overrun of 200% on average, and a schedule overrun of almost 70%."
- In other words there is a "fat tail" to IT project failure. "It's not that they're particularly prone to high cost overruns on average...[rather] an unusually large proportion of them incur massive overages--that is, there are a disproportionate number of black swans."
- Unfortunately, as the authors state: "these numbers seems comfortably improbable, but...they apply with uncomfortable frequency."
At the federal government level, implementation of such tools as the Federal IT Dashboard for transparency and TechStats for ensuring accountability have course-corrected or terminated more than $3 billion in underperforming IT projects.
Technology projects, as R&D endeavors, come with inherent risk. Yet even if the technical aspect is successful, the human factors are likely to get in the way. In fact, they may be the ultimate IT "project killers"--organizational politics, technology adoption, change management, knowledge management, etc.
- On the one hand we must focus on enhancing pure project management, performance measurement, architecture and governance, and so on.
- At the same time, we also need to add more emphasis on people (our human capital)--ensuring that everyone is fully trained, motivated, empowered and has ownership. This is challenging considering that our people are very much at a breaking point with all the work-related stress they are facing.
Can't Live With Them, Can't Live Without Them
August 27, 2011
Social Media, Fulfilling Our Every Need?
Social Media, Fulfilling Our Every Need?
August 26, 2011
Get Me Some Privacy
We all need some privacy at one time or another--that's actually one reason to love blogging (ah, some peace at last!)
Get Me Some Privacy
August 21, 2011
Deus Ex-Overtaken By Technology
Deus Ex-Overtaken By Technology
August 20, 2011
Cloud Second, Security First
Cloud Second, Security First
Social Media: Closer Together or Further Apart?
Social Media: Closer Together or Further Apart?
August 19, 2011
Supercookies Are Super Invasive
You're alone sitting at the computer surfing the web, you're looking up health, financial, entertainment, shopping, and other personal things.
Supercookies Are Super Invasive
Robot Fighters Coming Soon
Robot Fighters Coming Soon
August 15, 2011
Helping Employees Find The Right Job Fit
Helping Employees Find The Right Job Fit
August 14, 2011
Ten Years After 9/11
Ten Years After 9/11
Images, Alive And Profitable
Images, Alive And Profitable
August 13, 2011
Attacked And Then Some
Attacked And Then Some
August 12, 2011
Helmet Hair--Thanks Borat
I'd like to nominate this product for innovation award of the week.
Helmet Hair--Thanks Borat
To Follow Or Not To Follow
Twitter is a great streaming feed for news and information, but what you get depends on who you follow.
To Follow Or Not To Follow