common sense

Track your competitors online

Judi Hasson — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:12:18 -0400

Maybe it's part of your job description, or maybe not. CIOs certainly have a lot on their plate, but a little business intelligence advice to the boss using today's technology may not hurt. Inc.technology points out that there are many high cost intelligence gathering services, and then of course there is the Internet and a little common sense. The magazine says that to save money, there are easy ways to obtain information on competitors. For one, use Google alerts. By putting in keywords and phrases, you can trigger an email notification and link every time that a word or phrase pops up on a site, blog, or news story.

You can also keep track of search engine and site analytics to see which companies in your niche are beating you in the rankings. If you work for a retailer, you might want monitor eBay for prices, brand colors and models to see what's happening in your line of products. It also might be wise to monitor Twitter, a social networking site that allows members of its community to send short, one to two line dispatches throughout the day updating what they're doing, talking about, thinking about.

"It is also increasingly a place where industry buzz starts,'' the article's author pointed out. Other advice includes keeping an eye on a competitors staff by reading the "About Us" page on the website, and monitoring their job postings.

For more on Internet snooping:
- check out this Inc.technology article

Don't stay in the dark on telecommuting

Thu, 22 May 2008 06:59:58 -0400

There are a number of basic common sense rules to follow for any company that allows telecommuting, but none of them will work without the assistance and technical support from CIOs and their IT departments.

Baseline Magazine outlines 10 rules for how department managers should handle remote workers. For the IT department, it will mean setting up systems for group teleconferences; making sure employees have adequate broadband Internet service in their homes; helping them connect to office systems; insuring they use a common IM client for all internal communications and are hooked up to headquarters VOIP PBX system that will serve as their main business line.

For more on telecommuting:
- check out this Baseline Magazine article

You can be an IT rock star

Mon, 05 May 2008 06:59:56 -0400

Getting ahead in the IT world is not always easy. Like any work environment, there are internal politics, changing conditions and sometimes few opportunities for advancement. CIOs and IT recruiters say that the basic requirements include technical proficiency, energy, enthusiasm and passion. But there is more to becoming an IT standout. CIO Magazine offers some common sense tips: Be good to your end users, don't make them feel stupid; become business-savvy by understanding how IT fits the end users' work processes; know what the top management values are and what to prioritize; and build trust with your boss by sharing both good news and bad.

For more on succeeding at the workplace:
- Check out this CIO Magazine article

How to avoid career suicide

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 06:59:56 -0400

Computerworld has some career advice that applies to IT professionals as well as anyone else trying to avoid getting in trouble with the boss when making use of the office computer. To stay out of the doghouse and protect yourself, don't send inappropriate emails that might contain off-color jokes or hasty, insulting replies and don't even think of sending emails putting down co-workers. Be careful not to contradict your CIO in public, approaching him privately and quietly if you think he has made a mistake. And for goodness sake, don't commit social blunders at a company event, being sure not to drink too much or say something that will come back to bite you later. And if the job in your IT department becomes too much to take and you decide to jump ship, don't burn bridges.

For more details on office etiquette and common sense behavior:
- See this ComputerWeek article

Security pros: don't forget common sense

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 07:59:58 -0400

You can run as much anti-virus software as you can afford, but that's still no substitute for common sense. Remember: today's cyber criminals are continuously updating the malware that they have managed to install on a victim's computer. No safeguard is good enough if the computer user does not remember to stay away from links or open attachments that arrive unexpectedly via email or instant messaging. Also, remember that anti-virus programs are the most effective when part of a layered security approach. That includes frequent software patching and using a (hardware and/or software) firewall. Every IT department should have a secure system, using the latest technology and making sure that computer users are properly trained.

For more on the best kind of security:
- See this Washington Post article

ALSO NOTED: Vista makes headway in the corporate world; Ten tips for technology management;

Wed, 09 May 2007 20:01:38 -0400

> Vista is gaining acceptance among U.S. IT managers. Article

> Ten tips for technology management. Article

> World CIOs talk about common transformation challenges. Article

> The CIO's guide to mobile security. White paper

> Updates to ITIL should benefit IT managers. Article

> Telecom expense management: the bane of the CIO's existence. Article

> Common-sense strategies for lowering TCO. Webcast

> Improve decision-making with spreadsheet optimization. White paper

> Keeping business partners in the loop. Article

And Finally… Careless emailing can cost executives their jobs. Article

Improving security on the cheap

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 20:01:36 -0400

Investing in expensive, complex security tools almost always pays off, but there are some much less expensive, common-sense steps you can take to improve security throughout the enterprise. First, periodically check for rogue wireless access points in corporate buildings. These access points give hackers an open door into the network. Second, enable Windows Update on all computers, but be sure to remember to verify that the systems are actually being patched. Third, don't allow HTML email through, because the text can open the door for security problems. Fourth, train users and IT staff on security procedures. Fifth, consider using Mozilla's Thunderbird and Firefox as possible alternatives to Outlook and Internet Explorer, because attackers tend to write malware for the latter software, not the former.

Read more security tips:
- read the article at InformationWeek

No more Mr. Nice Guy

Mon, 05 Feb 2007 19:01:39 -0500

Sometimes, it pays to say no. A new study from Microsoft has found that allowing users to buy what they want and use their PCs the way they want can cost a company big bucks. The study found, for example, that simple across-the-board rules like automating password resets, managing PC firewalls with a centralized and comprehensive security program, ensuring that users install only software sanctioned by the IT department and limiting the PC settings users can change manually can save companies a significant amount of money. The study, of course, encouraged companies to use Microsoft technologies but it really comes down to common sense. Give people the ability to use technology, but don't let them run amok.

Read more about standardizing IT use in the workplace:
- read the blog at CIO

The key to a successful job transition

Sun, 07 Jan 2007 19:01:35 -0500

Given the hype that this is the year for IT professionals looking to move on or up, it's only common sense that CIOs should bone up on making a career transition. As one career expert relates, no matter how rosy the employment outlook, a good majority of executives fail in making a big job move--nearly 50 percent--due to a poor transition period. The most critical aspect is listening and learning and trying to fight back the instinct to make something big happen during those first days on the job. One of the first things to do is figure out who the big stakeholders are and meet with them face to face. This establishes rapport and trust will go far toward building professional credibility in your new role.

For more on making the big job transition:
- read the column at CIO

What the analysts see coming in 2007

Thu, 21 Dec 2006 19:01:35 -0500

IT industry pundits spend their days talking with tech leaders and business executives about the current technology in play, new technology hitting the ground and the direction IT is headed in. Sometimes industry analysts get caught up in all the hype from vendors hoping to break new ground. Yet, while we all should be taking analysts' insight and guidance with a small grain of salt, their viewpoint remains valuable. That's why Gartner Research's expectations for the coming year caught my attention. Their list of predictions includes everything from outsourcing viability to the poor networking spend habits of many enterprises. Some are common sense--mobile technologies will obviously keep rolling out, user adoption will increase and yes, Virginia, IT security won't get any easier. But it's also interesting to hear what Gartner believes will happen with corporate social responsibility and how IT fits into that puzzle.

For more on what the analysts see in the new year:
- read the feature at eWeek