Are data scientists really necessary?
Are data scientists really necessary or should your average knowledge worker be able to perform big data analytics?
Survey: In 5 years, most software purchased will be open source
It's not surprising that most enterprises are interested in using open source software these days, but did you realize that most executive decision-makers can see themselves working with competitors one day soon to improve open source?
MetLife unites disparate data using NoSQL
If your company's got a lot of customers and you offer them many different ways to interact with you, it's challenging to get a complete customer view because of the diverse systems and data sources at play.
How hackers orchestrated a $45 million ATM heist
For a highly readable overview of the $45 million ATM heist that was revealed last week, take a look at an article by Adrianne Jeffries at The Verge. Jeffries connects the dots between the dozens of thieves who simultaneously ripped off ATMs around the world and the computer hackers who are suspected of setting up the scam.
Failed IT plan compounds bank's troubles
The shares of the United Kingdom's Cooperative Bank were downgraded to junk bond status by Moody's last week, as the financial institution grappled with the fallout of a failed IT system and other major losses, reports Gary Flood at InformationWeek.
Are you the best CIO in the world or are you managing the store?
When you've got business users whining incessantly about their technologies or lack thereof, do you ever have the urge to just toss them the newest, shiniest gadget as a means of distraction?
How project failure can be good for you
IT project failure is an evergreen, ever-depressing topic, but here's a new spin: Projects that fail don't have to constitute a net loss if they prompt changes in attitudes about management and experimentation.
Software is getting sloppier
Software has never been very secure, they say, but it may be getting even less so. An analysis by security firm Veracode recently found that 70 percent of applications fail to comply with security policies, beating out last year's 60 percent.
Stop trying to make all the decisions for your team
Wouldn't it be great if your team would take more initiative in making decisions without waiting for direction from you?
Barclays Wealth tests out voice biometrics
Barclays Wealth, the private banking unit of the London-based financial services firm, is using voice recognition to authenticate customers who dial its call centers.
Finding the sweet spot between hardware and software
As complex mechanical goods become increasingly networked and feature-driven, software may comprise a larger part of their overall value.
Feds run 'quantum network' at Los Alamos National Labs
For more than two years now, the United States government has known how to transmit perfectly secure messages via a "quantum Internet" at Los Alamos National Labs, reports MIT Technology Review.
Tales from the dark side of audits
Auditors are on the front lines of the compliance wars, and they have seen it all.
Data analytics reveals cost of stressful travel
How much productivity is lost because of the travel mishaps endured by your road warriors week in and week out? What is the financial cost of the stress and suffering inflicted by canceled flights, officious airline employee and lost luggage? At one time it may have been hard to quantify this expense, but that was before big data.
Can training, culture replace leadership?
Leadership is mostly about interpersonal skills--knowing how to build relationships and knowing how to communicate effectively. But is this still true with a highly dispersed, global workforce?
3 steps to connect with the C-suite
If you are one of the many CIOs having trouble connecting with the C-suite these days, the problem, according to some recent research, is that CEOs don't think you understand their issues or help solve business needs.
Make change management a constant
Change management is one of the toughest parts of a technology roll-out, according to both anecdote and analysts. People are simply set in their ways. And when they're not, they're usually busy defending turf or failing to communicate. While this seems like a problem for HR or business unit managers, the reality is that IT is central to solving it.
Insurance firm makes quantum leaps with process improvement
In the wake of Super Storm Sandy last fall, Crawford & Company sent more than 500 insurance adjusters out into the field and processed nearly 50,000 claims. Natural disasters are business as usual for the insurance claims management firm, and it must be prepared to scale up rapidly when they strike.
4 budget management principles to get them eating out of your hand
Larry Bonfante, CIO at the United States Tennis Association, regularly reminds the board of directors that his IT operations are delivered at about half the cost of the industry standard.
Should you trade your services contract for an informal agreement?
Conventional wisdom says that a clear, thorough contract is at the root of a successful outsourcing relationship, but not everyone agrees.
