Collaboration

Keep your CIO in the loop

Judi Hasson — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 15:57:08 -0400

This week's Computerworld has some troubling advice--what to tell your CIO and what not to tell him. There are plenty of things you must do these days in any kind of IT position, but there is only one piece of advice in this article worth repeating: Never say anything bad about your colleagues. Think before you point a finger, because bosses generally don't want to hear about it. And keep your CIO up-to-date about what is going on with your projects. If the CIO is left out of the loop, he may one day leave you out, too. - Judi

Study: Some virtualization works

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 06:59:58 -0400

Forrester Research has found high value in some virtualization technology, but believes not everything makes business or technical sense. It has found server and client virtualization mature enough to pay off in the short term, but suggests that the value of application storage virtualization is questionable.

Forrester also thinks some other virtualization technologies aren't quite ready for prime time, but lists some that it says are in the "survival phase" that could develop in the next few years. These include network performance services, virtualized network security and out-of-band storage virtualization.

To read more:
- see this CIO.com article

For more tech articles from the FierceCIO network:
> Yahoo goes with Google. Article
> Web browsers put to the test. Article
> Apple unveils 3G iPhone. Article

Paying attention to the next generation

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 07:00:00 -0400

An article at Networkworld.com tells how IBM is trying to close the IT skills gap, launching a web-based resource to better help prepare college students for job opportunities. IBM says it no longer can afford to spend as much time and money with on-the-job training as it has in the past, and expects young workers to be productive sooner. It hopes that increased collaboration with the university community and making a direct connection with students will help. All this makes a good deal of sense, and the article is worth a close read because it offers insight into the types of skills companies like Big Blue are looking for in their hires. These include service science management and engineering, database technology, Web 2.0 development, web server technology and enterprise systems. Are you prepared for the present, and the future? - Judi

IBM cultivates students for next generation IT

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 06:59:59 -0400

Always seeking ways to find and develop new IT talent, IBM has expanded its web-based Academic Initiative by adding a new section for students that supplements the current program for faculties who teach IT and IT-related courses. The new student section includes tutorials, games, skill assessments and online forums that can be incorporated with regular university courses.

"Our key concern is the skills pipeline," said Kevin Faughnan, director of the company's Academic Initiative. He said IBM and the entire industry need "young workers who have the skills to continue innovating," and who are "ready to contribute from day one."

For more on the IBM program and needed tech skills:
- check out this NetworkWorld.com article

IT certifications losing value

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 06:59:58 -0400

There was a time when IT certifications were worth their weight in gold--evidence of special skills and a way to improve job security. No more. David Foote, a management consultant,tells eWeek there has been a loss of value in certifications because of the shift away from purely technical roles in IT departments.

"Certifications were created by vendors to sell products. Once people were trained, these companies ended up with all of these specialists out there that didn't work for them but advocated for them," said Foote. Today, he added, the hiring focus in IT is "less about pure technology and more about technology instinct, the ability to get stuff done and develop solutions that can be used down the road."

For more on the change in IT:
- check out this eWeek.com article

It may be time to rethink your career

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 06:59:56 -0400

For CIOs who are seeking a change because of career stagnation, or find themselves heading out the door because of the weak economy, consulting may be the answer. Brian Kilcourse spent 10 good years as CIO of Long Drugs before retiring in 2002, and then founded two IT consulting companies for the retail industry.

"I remember sitting in a system requirements meeting and realizing that I'd been in almost the same meeting with the same people discussing the same problem in 1985," he told Baseline Magazine. "The only thing that had changed was the technology. That's when I knew it was time to get out."

Susan Cramm, who was a CIO at Taco Bell, and now provides training and advice to IT executives, said she has found that major changes in direction can enhance and extend the careers of CIOs by increasing their experience in business disciplines and different markets.

For more on new CIO career paths:
- check out this Baseline Magazine article

Lawsuit tries to block HP-EDS merger

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 06:59:59 -0400

There are many questions regarding the announced sale of EDS to HP, including what it means for their respective tech staffs, the direction of the new merged company and the new shape of global IT services landscape. But some people are trying to put a stop to this marriage before it is even consummated.

The Utah-based Intermountain Ironworkers Trust Fund has filed suit alleging the sale is unfair to EDS shareholders. A similar suit by an EDS shareholder has been filed in Delaware. It remains unclear how the lawsuits will develop or whether they will slow or impact the merger in any way.

For more on this merger:
- see this silicon.com article

Five steps to better security

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 06:59:58 -0400

With the number of data breaches always a concern, CIOs must make sure their IT staffs are efficient and nimble in guarding against those who want to steal or destroy enterprise data and assets.

CIOupdate.com offers some basic tips for ensuring top security that includes collaborating with business partners, defining how internal IT systems are accessed and granting appropriate access permission. It requires developing a strategic plan, assessing current levels of security and picking the right vendors and consultants.

To get the full story:
- see this CIOupdate.com article

For more tech stories from the FierceCIO network:
> Did HP cripple its own BIOS password security? Article
> Intel launches new desktop chipsets. Article
> 2008: Year of nettops and netbooks. Article

When to pull the plug on an IT project

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 06:59:58 -0400

After enormous time, effort, money and personal capital expended, it is often hard to come to grips with the realization that an IT project is not working and needs to be abandoned. Pulling the plug is never easy, but letting a badly conceived or poorly implemented project drag on can be a heavy weight for any CIO.

"The problem when you bury, ignore or lie about the state of a project is that you either look dishonest or incompetent,'' said Bruce Webster, an IT management expert. Webster and other experts have offered a series of tips on how to get out of a bad IT project, recommending that CIOs should never delay the inevitable, and be sure to get senior management on board.

For more advice on shutting down bad projects:
- see this baselinemag.com article

For more tech stories from the FierceCIO network:
> Comcast site hacked. Article
> Barracuda wants to buy Sourcefire. Article
> Via open sources laptop design. Article

Watch out for inaccurate web costs

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 06:59:58 -0400

With the business climate uncertain, CIOs may be looking to cut costs and considering reducing their IT departments' training budgets. But an online survey conducted by Zoomerang on behalf of Safari Books Online, a web-based digital library geared toward technology professionals, found that technology staff reported needing access to good training and reliable online content to do their jobs efficiently and to prevent costly mistakes.

The survey found that 85 percent of respondents spend up to two hours a day searching the web for code samples, product reviews, answers to questions about troubleshooting applications, and other key issues. At the same time, 45 percent said they have used information from the web that they later found was incorrect.

To read more:
- Check out this ComputerWorld.com article