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Tech Decision Maker
Toni Bowers
TechRepublic Staff
Toni Bowers

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The most famous paradigm you've probably never heard of
What would you think if someone told you some of your most cherished assumptions are actually the source of the biggest roadblocks you face? Even though it would be mighty unsettling, it'd...
Posted by John Ricketts | November 28, 2007, 6:10 AM PST | Latest comment by cd613@...
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Use these techniques to build a high-performing team
High-performing teams are a magical, but rare, convergence of the right people, processes, and environment. They work much more effectively and have a much higher productivity rate than most...
Posted by Tom Mochal | November 27, 2007, 6:30 AM PST | Latest comment by mark@...
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Tuning up your perspective.
Since I am writing this pre-Thanksgiving and you are probably reading this while the leftover turkey is still good, I thought I would take the time to appreciate some of the things in my work...
Posted by Ramon Padilla | November 26, 2007, 5:18 AM PST | Latest comment by Tig2
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What causes a great performer to go sour?
A lot - maybe most - of my work for companies has to do with "remedial" coaching. In HR-speak, this translates to something like, " He/she was really good for a while; but now they just aren't...
Posted by John McKee | November 21, 2007, 8:30 AM PST | Latest comment by bbenda@...
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Tips for utilizing metrics on your project
Identifying, gathering, and leveraging the right mix of metrics is a way to gain better control of your large project. The value can be quantified in a number of areas, including: Improved...
Posted by Tom Mochal | November 19, 2007, 8:17 AM PST | Latest comment by jdubin
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Preparing for the audit boogeyman.
The hooded figure approached the door ever so slowly, as if he wanted each step to cause insufferable pain. As he reached his bony hand to ring the bell for admittance into the sanctum, his scythe...
Posted by Ramon Padilla | November 18, 2007, 6:52 PM PST
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Why you should worry about the "Google phone"
One of the worst kept secrets of the past year has been that Google intends to create a new model for mobile phone users. Pundits expect to see something available in early testing stages from...
Posted by John McKee | November 16, 2007, 8:55 AM PST | Latest comment by DadsPad
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Is stress impacting your team?
It is generally understood that stress can be both good and bad. Positive or good stress can help make life interesting and helps us do a good job. Stress can be a source of positive...
Posted by Wayne L. Anderson | November 13, 2007, 3:47 AM PST | Latest comment by Alex.Rehm@...
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5 laws for CRM success
Purchasing a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) System? Here's some bad news:Â you'll probably fail. It may very well be a disappointment. You could be wasting your money. At best, you may...
Posted by Gene Marks | November 12, 2007, 11:18 AM PST | Latest comment by domanconsulting@...
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A five-step model for configuration management
There are two meanings for the project management process of configuration management. 1.     It can be used for the process of identifying, tracking, and managing of all the physical...
Posted by Tom Mochal | November 12, 2007, 10:32 AM PST | Latest comment by Lost_in_NY
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Does seniority equal entitlement?
I was speaking with a colleague the other day about a recent reorganization we were aware of at another company that essentially replaced the head of a department with that person's subordinate....
Posted by Ramon Padilla | November 11, 2007, 9:05 PM PST | Latest comment by CharlieSpencer_Palmetto
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Most IT managers are at risk
Most of today's managers in the IT sector do not have the training or the aptitude to properly do their jobs. I know that's a contentious statement - especially for readers of this blog. But I...
Posted by John McKee | November 8, 2007, 12:53 PM PST | Latest comment by paul.martinello@...
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8 techniques to get your project back on budget
On most projects, actual expenditures are tracked and reconciled on a monthly basis, since most companies only provide accounting reports monthly. Let's say you've been doing that but that you've...
Posted by Tom Mochal | November 5, 2007, 8:30 AM PST | Latest comment by jacobsonder
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Why Human Capital Management is insulting
Human Capital Management. Do those words irritate you? Perhaps I'm in a prickly mood but I just received a flyer in which a company offers to train me to do a better job in Human Capital...
Posted by Ramon Padilla | November 5, 2007, 5:15 AM PST | Latest comment by jeff.cowell
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Management Blunder of the Month: October
Anyone can make a mistake, right? Misunderstanding a situation, shooting ourselves in the foot, failing to take action as or when required - these things happen occasionally. It comes with the...
Posted by John McKee | November 1, 2007, 11:56 AM PDT | Latest comment by CharlieSpencer_Palmetto
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Find errors as early as possible on your project
Project teams generally use three types of quality management activities: Quality planning Quality control Quality assurance The purpose of quality assurance is to prevent as many errors...
Posted by Tom Mochal | October 29, 2007, 12:38 PM PDT | Latest comment by iansoady@...
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Are you having an "energy crisis?"
Last week, I wrote on the lifestyle and consequences of being an "always on" employee -- prompted by an article that I read in CIO magazine called, "The Extreme CIO." I also came across an article...
Posted by Ramon Padilla | October 28, 2007, 5:57 PM PDT | Latest comment by Boomslang
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The survey says.....
There’s a lot of bad news nowadays. Large companies are getting their profit lines beaten up due to a vast number of things caused by both internal and external factors. That leads,...
Posted by John McKee | October 25, 2007, 4:38 PM PDT
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Master the art of procrastination
Many IT leaders procrastinate unconscientiously. I think this is a mistake. If you are going to procrastinate-like any other activity that is worth doing-you should conscientiously know what...
Posted by Wayne L. Anderson | October 24, 2007, 4:07 AM PDT | Latest comment by grogo67@...
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Are you always on?
I just finished reading a very interesting article in CIO magazine that details the condition of the "always on" employee. Although the article, "The Extreme CIO," focuses strictly on CIOs, its...
Posted by Ramon Padilla | October 21, 2007, 10:31 AM PDT | Latest comment by Ivy Clark
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Windows XP: If it ain't broke...
Although XP has less than one year of official support remaining from Microsoft, many organizations have no plans to replace it. What's going on?
Posted by Patrick Gray | May 3, 2013, 5:25 AM PDT | Latest comment by willis0966@...
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Does IT have a problem with women?
If we can shed some of the industry's juvenile past, while maintaining this merit-based culture, IT will attract all comers, regardless of gender.
Posted by Patrick Gray | April 24, 2013, 6:03 AM PDT | Latest comment by duckboxxer
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The business value of Google Glass and wearable computing
Wearable computing is an emerging technology that's affecting both the consumer and enterprise space.
Posted by Patrick Gray | May 15, 2013, 4:52 AM PDT | Latest comment by rexrich2k
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How large IT departments waste time and effort
Is your IT department being efficient? Here are some ways you could be wasting time and effort.
Posted by Carlo Pandian | April 22, 2013, 5:34 AM PDT | Latest comment by Tony Hopkinson
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Want to motivate your team? Here are 20 things to start doing now
Ilya Bogorad shows you how to create a dynamic, exciting, motivating environment in an otherwise unexciting, underperforming or stodgy organization
Posted by Ilya Bogorad | November 28, 2011, 4:21 AM PST | Latest comment by jkameleon@...
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Amazon to develop 3D smartphones. Why?
Amazon has plans to develop 3D smartphones. Somebody please give me a reason why this is a good idea.
Posted by Toni Bowers | May 21, 2013, 7:40 AM PDT | Latest comment by Henry 3 Dogg
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6 essential elements for a winning business case
The vast majority of unsuccessful projects fail not because of poor project management, but because of poor decisions with respect to the choice of projects. A good business case helps to make...
Posted by Ilya Bogorad | July 28, 2008, 3:31 AM PDT | Latest comment by rajeshamith
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Why critical path is critical to project management
If the PMBK definition of critical path has you puzzled, read Dr. Andrew Makar's explanation of this project methodology in real-world terms.
Posted by Andrew Makar | September 10, 2009, 1:02 PM PDT | Latest comment by Tony Hopkinson
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Infographic: Which E-Commerce platform is best?
This infographic compares Magento, osCommerce and OpenCart.
Posted by Toni Bowers | February 25, 2013, 5:24 AM PST
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Manual vs. autoscheduled tasks in Microsoft Project 2010
Microsoft Project 2010 gives you the option of scheduling tasks manually or letting Project use the scheduling engine. Andy Makar explores these options for project managers.
Posted by Andrew Makar | March 23, 2011, 5:23 AM PDT | Latest comment by MickeyBlueOwl
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Hiring a programmer? Ask these questions in the interview
Routine interviews for programmers often offer tests that evaluate rote memorization that the modern development environment doesn't require. Here are some better questions to ask.
Posted by Justin James | February 18, 2010, 4:11 AM PST | Latest comment by youareyouyou
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Create the Timeline View in Microsoft Project 2010
If you use PowerPoint or Visio to create milestone reports, find out how using Microsoft Project 2010 Timeline View instead can save you time and a lot of hassle.
Posted by Andrew Makar | January 20, 2011, 5:24 PM PST | Latest comment by lbostic@...
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Best practices for software license management
Organizations spend a fortune on licenses every year, and a lack of management around it can result in heavy fines. Here are some best practices to follow.
Posted by Abhinav Kaiser | November 5, 2012, 4:33 AM PST | Latest comment by secureoncloud
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15 great leadership questions
In this article, Executive and leadership coach John M McKee shares questions any leader can use to improve results and morale.
Posted by John McKee | February 23, 2010, 11:13 AM PST | Latest comment by Grants Man
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Are your tender requirements killing your IT project?
Plenty of organizations have well-formed procedures for procurement on large projects, but when the projects are small, the contracts are short-term, or the budget is low, those same procedures...
Posted by Ben Evans | May 20, 2013, 6:23 AM PDT | Latest comment by Slayer_
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IT Training Policy now available
Download TechRepublic's IT Training Policy. It's free to TechRepublic Pro subscribers, or can be purchased by non-subscribers.
Posted by Teena Hammond | May 2, 2013, 6:55 AM PDT
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Download this project status report template
Download this template, created by project management guru Tom Mochal, to effectively communicate project status to stakeholders and keep everyone on the same page.
Posted by TechRepublic Staff | March 10, 2009, 12:10 PM PDT | Latest comment by Mammoun
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View the critical path in Microsoft Project
Learn how to view the critical path in Microsoft Project and interpret the data by reading this tutorial by Dr. Andrew Makar.
Posted by Andrew Makar | September 15, 2009, 1:24 PM PDT | Latest comment by vilansmit
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Don't put off making your web site mobile friendly
It's been a while since a tech development has gained traction like the mobile movement. If you want to stay in the game you're going to have to adjust your web site. Here are some options to...
Posted by Toni Bowers | April 1, 2013, 7:04 AM PDT | Latest comment by sohelmahfuz
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Big Data and the cloud throw down the guantlet for IT department
IT/business alignment has gone from something you should consider to further your IT department to something you should do to keep your IT department employed.
Posted by Toni Bowers | May 12, 2013, 7:25 AM PDT

































