Effort Devoted To Building Software
Studies show that more effort is devoted to software maintenance (including software enhancement, adaption to new technologies and bug fixing) than for software development activities...
Software Engineering then and now
Software Engineering is and will be the backbone and driving force behind the technological advancements that we enjoy and that will lead us to greater...
Comparing roles of a System Analyst and other IT professionals
A system analyst is a person of multifaceted role who has to deal with each and every function of a system. He is involved in...
Attributes of a Good System Analyst
A system analyst is a person who conducts a methodical study and evaluation of various aspects related to business to identify the desired objectives and...
Treating product requirements – The ideal way
Product requirements need to be treated with suspicion as if they really needed for the essential capability for a product release. Always prioritize product requirements...
Product Vision – Rule of Thumb – Simplicity
One would think that the a product’s success is directly proportional to the amount of complexity that it offers. In other words, majority of people...
Agile / Scrum methodology – Explained simple
Agile software development methodology is suitable for time-boxed iterative system development scenarios. The software product is released as various versions or releases, typically in time-boxes...
Reengineering Principles
The standard Reengineering principles are as follows – 1. Organize work around its end results, not tasks According to this principle, it is optimal to...
Why Companies Do Reengineering?
Companies are doing reengineering since they want to remain stable in the dynamic business environment while facing changing strategies, financial crisis due to weak /...
Reengineering an accounts payable function
Consider the case of approving a loan application. In the manual process, it takes 6 persons and considerable amount of time to accept the details,...
Creating Process based Organizations via Reengineering
While reengineering a business enterprise, we create a process based organization structure for the enterprise to avoid the inefficiencies and time wasting business process cycles...
Basic approaches to Reengineering
The three basic approaches to reengineering are as follows – 1. STREAMLIING 2. INTEGRATING 3. TRANSFORMING 1. Streamlining – Streamlining approach to reengineering the business...
Basic steps in Business Process Reengineering
We can generalize Business Process Reengineering (BPR) efforts as an eight step process as follow – Step 1: Formulate / Modify business visions, policies, objectives...
What is Re-engineering? Why companies are doing re-engineering?
Re-engineering or Business Process Re-engineering (BPR) is way of rethinking or redesigning the existing business systems both in technical and behavioral terms. The ultimate goal of...
Lack of Risk Management and an affected project
A classic example would be the project my company executed before the formal PM processes were implemented. The project’s core requirement was to generate reporting...
Managing the Managers – Showing importance of Risk Management
Suppose you called a meeting with your project team, various experts and the stakeholders, to start the risk planning process. One of the senior people...
Decision Tree / Expected Monetary Value model for risk analysis
EMV is a statistical concept (with a defined formula) which calculates average outcome when there is uncertainty in the final outcome (more than one possible...
Project size driving Project risk
Project size and Project Risk: Another interesting topic in Project Management world. From my experience with software development, I think that project risk increases with...
Addressing risk due to interpersonal issues and incorrect project communication
Interesting question as I wonder this situation (Risk of failure due to interpersonal issues) is often less addressed anywhere. I shall address the situation using formal...
Team Building/Motivation practices
What kind of team-building exercises and/or motivational practices have you used, or participated in? Would you recommend them for use by others? Have you been...
Sample Software Quality Issue
One of the major Software Quality issue that I experienced is with product xyz which my current employer deployed as the Version control and Change...
Quality considerations for software projects
Define one or two aspects of IT product quality that should be considered when planning software project activities. How can they be measured? What are...
Quality Program in a typical organization
What quality programs, formal or informal, have you experienced in your work? How well do you feel they were implemented? What was the level of...
Finding root cause of unsatisfactory Earned Value measurements
Describe how you would go about finding the root cause of unsatisfactory Earned Value measurements on a project, and what measures you might take to...
Time reporting for technology professionals?
How do you feel about the concept of such time accounting for technology professionals? (e.g. compared to just reporting progress via e-mail or a progress...
Need for better time reporting systems
System Background (circumstances):Most of the employers uses a web based time logging application that falls into the category of time attendance systems that we are...
Schedule Compression – Scenario#2 – Less Time at hand
I guess, since we have lesser amount of time left (6 weeks as opposed to 1 year), I would certainly let the sponsor know that...
Schedule Compression Determination
If you were managing a software development project that was a year away from completion and the project sponsor asked you to cut a month...
Importance of formal project planning
One of the projects that I executed for one of my employers was an internal employee goal tracking system. The system enables employees from CEO...
Importance of following well-integrated change control process (CCP) on IT projects
Change in IT projects’ life cycle is inevitable. This points at the importance of establishing means to identify, control and document change in a formal...
Project Scope Change And its Impacts
Project background: Developer xyz was in the middle of a project that went several scope changes while in UAT. The project is about implementing capability...
Mind Mapping Technique to Prepare WBS
I would prefer the mind mapping technique to arrive at WBS (work break down structure), due to my liking for problem solving by visualization and...
Sample Project Management Problem Resolution
Project description: Project for xyz that included development, maintenance and enhancements to the official web site and web-based intranet applications that supported integrated work flows...
Sample PM Day to Day Work
Project Management skill is very important in information management area. Let me paint a historical (early 2000) projet lead role where I was responsible for managing the...
Strategic alignment of IT resources – A case study in Grocery industry (Part 2)
Strategic alignment of IT resources – A case study in Grocery industry (Part 2) Japan UK Spain US Effect of economic situation The...
Strategic alignment of IT resources – A case study in Grocery industry (Part 1)
Strategic Alignment of IT Resources Grocery Industry Kathleen Chan, Deepesh Joseph, Raymond Jones, Paul Walleck Introduction To investigate how and why grocery companies are aligning...
Re-baselining of IT projects – Factors that makes it difficult and some recommendations
Before addressing the question, it would be beneficial if we understand what baselining and re-baselining is. Baselining is the common project management method where we...
Where are federal IT initiatives heading – Success or Failure – Lessons learned
GAO Cost Estimating and Assessment Guide is very extensive and gives us clear details of federal IT initiatives. The guide, together with OMB circular and...
Will Rohr’s Secular Writings About Government Change In The Present?
If Rohr would have written his book in the present year, it would have a clear shift from the focus on defining what a perfect...
Effect of State of Technology Available on Open Government Authors
This reading materials as listed in the Bibliography, sets the stage for deeply analyzing the origins of the most long lasting government setup of the...
Federal IT Dashboard
Federal IT Dashboard...
What measures need to be taken to make sure that offshore outsourcing does not adversely affect American jobs?
Offshore outsourcing is a highly debated topic. It would be nice if we reflect on the reasons that has lead to offshore outsourcing – 1....
What non-regulatory practices can users follow to reduce the incidence of spyware on their computers?
Some tips will be – 1. Make a point that one would not visit web sites such as mass advertising web sites as they are...
A revolutionary supposition – Advice for improved Education system
The educational system should revise the curriculum according to the current technology demands in the society and to build creativity of students. I think the...
Is there a more effective strategy for helping developing countries increase the computer and information literacy of their children?
Intel’s Maloney’s words – “It’s about the Web more than anything. I have young kids …….. doesn’t have access to the Web is overwhelming” –...
What can be learned from educational experiences where all students in certain school districts have been given computers?
The lesson learned should be lack of effective direction and control in implementing the plan. I remember from IST 601 that we should control technology,...
What implementation plans should countries make before entering into contracts to purchase low-cost computers?
Here is a nice article on what determines the usage of XO type laptops in developing countries – http://www.olpcnews.com/countries/india/ . The article can be used...
Is it likely that placing laptops in the hands of students will help developing countries overcome the digital divide?
I think OLPC program is making a sincere effort with a clear vision from Negroponte. The idea is that it is not the only means...
Should funding be available for social impacts research when it is not likely to lead to new innovations?
I think we should encourage funding on social impact research as it would lead us to explore and find answers to long disputed or rather...
Is there a need for languages (like Java/ActiveX) where a corporation controls the standard but can only modify it in public ?
Java (SunMicroSystems) and ActiveX (Microsoft) are two major technology platforms that has evolved itself a long way from years of R & D and support...
What protections should the public have regarding access to broadband networks for reception and/or transmission?
700 Mhz band is being developed and utilized with the intention of allowing entrepreneurs with less capital to establish broadband services, since it offers cheap...
Should carriers have the freedom through contracts and licenses to shape how their networks will be used?
Again this is an instance of protecting consumer rights and freedom in utilizing the digital medium. The carriers have a very important role in maintaining...
Should distributors be allowed to charge differently for different types of traffic?
This reminds me of the most common issue – when should government leave the publishing of information to the private?. Intended quality and convenience of...
Should broadband distributors be regulated as common carriers by the FCC?
From the literature and court cases, FCC is less obliged to regulate broadband distributors as common carriers, as “Computer network Information” services are not subject...
Modifying World Trade Organization’s TRIPS agreement?
Here is another analysis article on a widely asked question – “Should treaties like the World Trade Organization’s TRIPS agreement be modified so developing countries...
Should the Linux and Open Source communities be protected from software patent challenges?
Here is an short and to-the-point article on a most debated topic that I would want everyone to focus on now – “Should the Linux...
Impact of Software Patents on Innovation in the Software Industry
This article is a good resource for those who want to know more about the most raised question – What is the impact of software patents...
Need for Legal and Technological Protection Mechanisms
This article is a good resource for those who want to know more about the most raised question – Is there a need for legal and...
How can the intellectual property community protect their intellectual property without the DMCA safeguards?
This article is a good resource for those who want to know more about the most raised question – How can the intellectual property community...
Should the prohibition in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act against breaking intellectual property safeguards be modified?
This article is a good resource for those who want to know more about the most raised question – Should the prohibition in the Digital...