Posts Tagged Information technology

Defining IT Project Failures

Posted by scottvandam in Technology on August 4, 2010

It has been almost a year that my good friend Paul Hart and I started the Waggware Strategy Lab Video Blog. Things have been quiet at Waggware on the V-log front but I thought I would re-publish one of our more popular video segments.

In my current role as Director of Sales & Marketing, I serve as a principle in the various projects that we run and am ultimately responsible if the project succeeds or fails. From my vantage point the biggest reasons for failure is lack of communication which leads to missing the mark on meeting customer expectations.

Managing all of the stakeholder’s expectations is critical and great care should be used in communicating often. This includes listening, asking for feedback and constantly asking each and every stakeholder what their overall goal’s of the software project are so that those expectations are met. The following video is a discussion on what defines an IT failure, perhaps it will give you some ideas on what to do to avoid an IT project failure.

#IT Fail – Defining IT Project Failure from Waggware on Vimeo.

What do you do to avoid IT Project Failures?

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How to Buy Enterprise Software

Posted by scottvandam in Technology on July 29, 2010

At Waggware (IT Services Firm) where I am responsible for all Marketing and Sales activities I have the opportunity to offer highly flexible, customizable and outside of the box solutions aimed at improving my customers business processes. The great thing about being in the consulting/services business is your not tied down to selling just one boxed solution but rather package together best of breed solutions that achieve results. However you need a plan and an approach to pull the best solution into play.

I’ve developed a 9 stage framework that I assist my customers with when looking to implement enterprise software.  Depending on the size of the engagement or software investment I often scale up or down on the level of activity I conduct during the selection phase.  I’ve embedded my presentation below for your use and review.

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Information Technology in the 13th Century

Posted by scottvandam in Technology on April 28, 2010

Often when we think of the history of Information Technology we consider the Gutenberg Printing Press. It was in fact the first time that content could be reproduced at a rapid pace.

13rh Century Clock - Photo care of RockN on Flickr

But what about Clocks?  As both a lover of history and technology I found myself pondering if the invention of the clock in 13th Century Europe is an example of an early Information Technology development.  The clock has allowed us to use information and accurately record and monitor what we do.

Here is a brief list of other benefits of the clock:

  • Accurately tell time and depend less on the sun and moon
  • Provide the possibility to order our day
  • Measure the cost of labor more effectively
  • Track the number of hours that go into a specific project

The clock gave us information that allowed us to make time a measurable value and it altered history forever.

What other older taken for granted Information technologies can you think of?

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Was served up some delicious brain food (Breakfast with the “Woz”)

Posted by scottvandam in Technology on August 17, 2009

:en:Steve Wozniak poses for a photograph at hi...
Image via Wikipedia

Having breakfast with over 700 “nerds” and “technology executives” is not only nourishing for the stomach but also for the brain. When Steven Wozniak appeared at the keynote at this mornings Tech-working breakfast in Waterloo you can be assured that everyone left feeling full of delicious advice.

Mr Wozniak (aka “The Woz”) offered up a buffet of advice on design,  and technology. Here’s  a summary of a few tips that I picked up.

  • Build products that behave and interact in a way that is intuitive by the way we move, touch and feel.
  • Try not to fit technology into a product because it exists – instead focus on making the experience intuitive (make it great)
  • Where do you get the best design ideas from?  Parachute into a project and try to re-engineer it.  Try to put yourself in the shoes of a person that has been parachuted into how computers work today with out having any prior knowledge or experience to the technology.  Are the way things are done really that efficient?
  • Don’t assume the way you’ve done it before is the best
  • Be an engineer that is also an artist – just make it beautiful!
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