CIO Sanity Savers

View as list
View as grid

TR Videos

Online video from TechRepublic features quick peeks at new technologies and hot products, tips and hacks for improving IT and digital living, and technology news and analysis from ZDNet.

Five things we have learned from Bill Gates

December 10, 2008, 10:22am PST | 21 | Latest comment by dougbrong@...

Whether or not you're a fan of Bill Gates, it's impossible to deny the role he has played in spreading computer technology across the planet during the past three decades. His retirement as a full-time Microsoft employee in June 2008 marked the end of an era -- and it's one worth looking back on. This Sanity Savers for I-T executives discusses the five of the most important lessons we've learned from the meteoric and often turbulent career of the world's most famous IT professional.
The top five reasons why projects fail

December 10, 2008, 9:50am PST

Most organizations are trying to get better at project management because they recognize that there is a lot of value associated with efficient and successful project management. So why are so many organizations still so bad at it? This episode of Sanity Savers for IT executives lists the top five reasons organizations struggle to manage their projects effectively.
Four obstacles to implementing VoIP

December 3, 2008, 11:00am PST

Voice over IP is growing in popularity because companies are attracted to its potential for saving money on long distance and international calls. Still, fewer than half of all businesses are using VoIP because of a few drawbacks. This episode of Sanity Savers for IT Executives discusses the biggest obstacles standing in the way of widespread corporate adoption of VoIP.
See why Verizon's new BlackBerry is stirring up a Storm

November 19, 2008, 9:04pm PST | 7 | Latest comment by BillGibson

Research in Motion's BlackBerry Storm has been one of the most widely anticipated IT products of 2008. In this special episode of Sanity Savers for IT Executives, get a look at the hits and misses of the Storm and see how well it stacks up against the iPhone as a business device.
What role does IT play in privacy protection?

November 12, 2008, 4:40am PST

One of the side effects of the information age is that personal privacy has become a major concern for average citizens. And IT often bears much of the responsibility for safeguarding privacy and protecting personal information. This episode of Sanity Savers for IT executives discussed some of the ways that privacy concerns are influencing the standard operating procedures of the IT organization.

What IT leaders need to know about virtualization

November 5, 2008, 10:28am PST | 1

Virtualization is having a major impact on IT infrastructure, and its influence will likely grow in the next 5-10 years. Thus, there are some basic principles about virtualization that all IT leaders should understand, as this episode of Sanity Savers for IT executives explains.
Dumb business decisions that can take down your company

October 29, 2008, 11:53am PDT

Big egos and a lack of foresight kill lots of companies — both small and large. However, IT leaders can learn from their misguided decisions and glean a some important lessons to keep their IT departments -- and ultimately their companies -- from suffering the same fate. This episode of Sanity Savers for IT executives discusses some of the most common bad decisions that can hurt good companies.
How to make a difficult conversation a little easier

October 15, 2008, 7:26am PDT | 2 | Latest comment by NexS

It's the conversation we all dread: Talking to an employee whose behavior is having a bad effect on the team. Whether the issue is punctuality, work ethic, or worst of all, hygiene, the conversation is rarely pleasant. This episode of Sanity Savers for IT executives offers a few tips that will help you make these tricky conversations more comfortable and effective.
How to successfully work with an offshore team

October 15, 2008, 7:23am PDT | 3 | Latest comment by hugomesser

As companies try to get the most for their IT dollar, they may consider using offshore resources for some of their IT needs. But having part of your team on the other side of the world can be challenging, to say the least. This episode of Sanity Savers for IT executives sets aside all of the political and career debates involved with offshoring and provides some practical advice for those who have to make it work. This includes some tips and strategies you can pass along to your project managers to help them prepare for an offshore relationship and be more effective in their interactions.
Take control of your day with these time management tips

October 8, 2008, 6:12pm PDT | 1

Have you ever started the day with great ambitions and then realized at the end that you didn't get anything done? It happens to everyone, but it happens to some people more often than others. That's where time management skills come in. This episode of Sanity Savers for IT executives shares some popular tricks for making the most productive use of your day.
What's the difference between CIO and CTO

October 1, 2008, 9:21am PDT

When you talk about IT leadership career tracks, the question that almost always comes up is, "What's the difference between the CIO and the CTO?" Though the two roles sound similar, there are some clear distinctions between them. This episode of Sanity Savers for IT Executives explains the differences in goals, mandates, and skill sets for CIO and CTO.
Five things to know about VoIP over wireless

September 24, 2008, 11:45am PDT

Voice over IP can provide substantial savings on your telephone service by allowing you to use an IP network to make phone calls. You can also run VoIP over Wi-Fi, but you need to be aware of certain limitations. This episode of Sanity Savers for IT executives highlights the key issues to help you prepare for wireless VoIP.
Five ways to make your meetings more effective

September 17, 2008, 7:12am PDT

When you find yourself walking out of a meeting feeling energized by the ideas that emerged and the issues that were resolved, you should realize that someone took the time to define a purpose for the meeting and to manage the process effectively. This episode of Sanity Savers for IT executives explains how to plan, organize, and conduct successful meetings.
Four ways to reduce energy costs and environmental impact

September 10, 2008, 7:56am PDT

Green IT is one of the hottest trends in the technology industry. The idea is to provide computing services in an environmentally conscious way. Most green IT methods involve significant changes to an organization's server and storage infrastructure and can even extend to the desktop. This episode of Sanity Savers for IT Executives shows how to start the process of lowering your energy consumption and making your IT infrastructure a little greener.
Does Green IT matter for business?

September 3, 2008, 7:43am PDT

You've probably run across "Green IT" at industry trade shows and in the media. Although the concept is a little vague, Green IT is making its influence felt across the IT landscape. This episode of Sanity Savers for IT executives explains what green IT is, why it's important, and how it may affect your organization.