In the world of business, software development vendors have garnered a bad name for themselves. Client’s often feel that vendors are only out to take money and time from them. Several factors have contributed to this poor reputation over the years, but the one I want to focus on is collaboration. Time has proven that …
If you’re considering making an investment in software, an easy way to determine whether you need either custom or package software is to examine how it relates to your hedgehog. Your hedgehog represents your Unique Value Proposition—the aspect of your business that gives you your advantage and specialization. Generally speaking, if your hedgehog is, or …
The last three years have been quite a challenge for businesses. The financial crisis has forced most of us to be creative and careful with every dollar we spend, just to stay in business. Companies can no longer afford the risk of investing in anything that isn’t certain to bring a good return. Fortunately, even …
In this blog we’d like to address an important technology that we have yet to discuss. It’s a system called the AS/400. The AS/400 is a server with a long and reputable history. Despite the fact that it’s based on an old and largely unchanged technology, it has managed to evolve and stay relevant in …
I coach my six year-old son’s soccer team soccer. It actually feels more like herding cats than anything. A couple weeks ago we finished a game with a big win. To celebrate, one of the parents suggested having lunch at a Chinese restaurant in China town. When we got there the line was at least …
I was recently asked to start blogging for Integrant. When I first received this request, I thought what a great opportunity it would be. After all, I love to talk! So, over the last few days I have been racking my brain trying to come up with an interesting debut topic. But, I decided that …
One of the most challenging parts of running a business is knowing how your customer feels about your product or your service. About a week ago I went to my dentist for a quick check up and cleaning. When I got to the counter to pay, the lady asked for $150 more than my normal …
A couple years ago a client of mine called to complain about some work we had done for him. Unfortunately, we had mistakenly programmed bugs into our last deliverable which caused major business issues and cost his company thousands of dollars. I listened to his complaint over the phone, and then asked if we could …
A colleague recently shared an interesting article from CIO.com titled “7 Essential CIO Leadership Skills that Get Results.” The article was basically a summary and commentary on a new book called, The CIO Edge: Seven Leadership Skills You Need to Drive Results. I now have it on order from Amazon.com! According to the article, the …