tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-200171682024-03-13T18:53:26.227-05:00mrc's Cup of Joe BlogSave money, time, and increase business productivityjoestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.comBlogger681125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-74649028416521590032010-12-03T16:50:00.000-06:002010-12-03T17:00:01.252-06:00This blog has moved!This blog has moved! The Cup of Joe blog's URL is now: www.mrc-productivity.com/blog. We’ve moved it off the blogspot platform and are now hosting it in house. From a reader perspective, this helps you in a number of ways:
It's mobile ready! The number of people reading this blog on mobile browsers has increased dramatically, and that will only continue. Now, when you joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-16642581255499250642010-12-02T16:48:00.003-06:002010-12-03T16:59:21.744-06:00Top 15 free tools for every Windows desktopIf you work in an office, you probably spend most of your time using a computer. If that computer uses a Windows operating system and you enjoy saving time, I’d like to share something with you. Infoworld.com recently published a nice article listing 15 free tools for every Windows desktop. These tools "help Windows users work faster and free up time for more important things." Who doesn’t joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-66454897265074321152010-12-02T16:46:00.000-06:002010-12-03T17:00:30.899-06:00The key to business dashboard integrationI’ve recently noticed more and more companies asking this question: “Can you integrate this dashboard with Sharepoint?” While it seems like a basic question, it highlights an underlying trend. I’ve noticed a shift in the business dashboard landscape. Business dashboards are no longer good enough. The question is not, “Do you have a dashboard?” Now, the question is, “Where can you integrate/accessjoestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-17956246095638365422010-11-29T13:52:00.007-06:002010-11-29T15:28:02.200-06:00Build-A-Web-App WorkshopCreating powerful enterprise-level Web (and mobile) applications doesn't have to be complicated.
Here, you can create a custom, live, lightning-fast, portable and flexible database-driven Web application in just a few minutes with your current skill set. What's more, you can just as easily create mobile apps.
Enter our Build-A-Web-App Workshop.joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-6531649776092768992010-11-26T13:58:00.004-06:002010-11-29T15:27:54.500-06:00The risks of application modernizationYou probably know the benefits of application modernization - more capabilities, decreased maintenance cost, increased integration with web services, etc… All in all, most companies stand to gain more than they lose from modernization.
If that’s the case, why isn’t every company rushing to modernize? Well, as with any big undertaking, there are risks, and these risks hold many back. However, joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-17572972744457192392010-11-25T13:55:00.004-06:002010-11-29T15:27:46.916-06:0012 amazing productivity boostersI just read an interesting article on pcworld.com entitled, "12 amazing productivity boosters." While I think it lists some good productivity tools, it got me thinking: What makes you productive?
For example, does a good to-do list make you productive? What about a calendar? While those are most often associated with productivity, I think the productivity gains from a better to-do list or joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-82323749276118833852010-11-22T13:53:00.009-06:002010-11-22T14:45:47.028-06:002010 Thanksgiving recipe: Pistachio SaladI’d like to share a great Thanksgiving recipe with you. For those wondering why I’m sharing a recipe on a tech/business blog, it’s sort of become a tradition. A few years ago, I shared a recipe with my readers around the holidays, and your feedback was extremely positive. So, I’ve done it every year since. After all, who doesn’t enjoy a good recipe around the holidays?
Now, this recipe isn’tjoestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-7387058815143507282010-11-19T13:42:00.001-06:002010-11-22T14:45:38.631-06:00Data transfers made easyI’d like to highlight another great (and free) template over in the m-Power Project Exchange. In case you’re unfamiliar with the Project Exchange, check out this page. If you’re unfamiliar with m-Power’s template-based approach to development, check out our build-process page.
Today, I’d like to highlight a simple, yet useful template that you might find useful: The CSV Report Template. As joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-70500129817801139892010-11-18T14:04:00.003-06:002010-11-22T14:45:29.901-06:00IT’s 6 biggest money wastersAs I’ve mentioned many times in the past, technology offers plenty of money-saving potential for businesses. That being said, technology can also have the opposite effect if left unchecked.
In what ways might technology waste money? I just read a very interesting article on Infoworld.com entitled, "IT’s 6 biggest money wasters." While a couple of the items listed fall more into the “Ways IT joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-72008247573012327972010-11-15T14:45:00.001-06:002010-11-15T15:28:40.312-06:00How companies fail with their dataAccording to Eric Schmidt (CEO of Google), “We now create in two days as much information as humanity did from the beginning of recorded history until 2003.” This growing data trend applies to business too--Gartner predicts that enterprise data in all forms will grow 650% over the next 5 years.
I recently reviewed the results of a business data survey covering 543 executives in 17 countries. joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-52800819964042634982010-11-12T14:42:00.001-06:002010-11-15T15:28:32.212-06:005 tips for avoiding management mistakesAs a manager, do you sometimes have trouble with employee performance? Do you sense dips in motivation from time to time? Before confronting them, first analyze your management methods. Leaders have an enormous effect on employee productivity.
How can leaders negatively impact their employees? I recently read a great article in techrepublic.com that lists "5 tips for avoiding management joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-89434219893127242932010-11-11T14:38:00.006-06:002010-11-15T15:29:57.314-06:002011 IT Skills and Salary GuideI recently read this interesting article on business lessons to take from Blockbuster’s demise. The article brought up a great point: This is a prime example of what happens when you stagnate. It doesn’t matter how great business is right now, how are you innovating for the future?
I think the lesson applies to both IT professionals and companies. If you’re an IT professional, how are you joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-79223833342007059132010-11-08T15:36:00.007-06:002010-11-08T15:51:37.114-06:00Dashboards: Simplified and Interactive (with demo)A couple of weeks ago I mentioned a few of our latest executive dashboard improvements within m-Power. Dashboard creation is easier, dashboards are more customizable, and last but not least, dashboards are interactive. Now, we even have a new dashboard demo which demonstrates a couple of these new upgrades.
When you check out the demo, try a couple things: First, try repositioning the joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-40644113658547263462010-11-05T14:32:00.007-05:002010-11-08T15:51:29.445-06:00Unaffordable free softwareA wise man once said, “There is no such thing as a free lunch.” When it comes to software, some might argue with that statement. After all, we have more free software options today than ever before.
But is it really free?
Yes and no. From a purely monetary standpoint, yes, some software is really free. But generally speaking, with free and open source software, what you save in money, you joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-68386525683434089512010-11-04T15:31:00.008-05:002010-11-08T15:51:20.356-06:00Top 10 technologies for 2011Want to save money, increase productivity, or gain a competitive advantage? Stay on top of the latest technology trends. When you keep your eye on the latest trends in the tech world, you’ll run across some new opportunities for your company.
But how do you know which trends will stick and which will fade? Gartner recently published the results of their research into the top technologies joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-42993252705486924982010-11-01T15:03:00.010-05:002010-11-01T15:53:24.188-05:00Mobile apps: Their time is NOW!Over the last few years, smartphone adoption has steadily risen. Right now one in five cell phone users has a smartphone. Industry estimates say that by 2014, four in five cell phones in use will be smartphones.
Mobile is the future, and offers businesses many soon-to-be-essential capabilities, such as: real-time data on the road, productivity from anywhere, and another way forjoestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-73118009654556490692010-10-29T14:48:00.001-05:002010-11-01T15:40:18.797-05:00Say goodbye to mail mergesI remember when printing labels for mailing required typewriters. It was quite a chore. Then, along came MS office and the mail merge, which simplified the job but still required a bit of work. You still had to get your list together, clean it up and format it in excel, and then mail merge it into a Word doc.
I’d like to highlight another project in our m-Power Project Exchange that joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-27779952129315910862010-10-28T14:43:00.003-05:002010-11-01T15:40:08.096-05:0010 jobs wrecked by techI frequently write about tech trends, and the importance of keeping up with technology. Why? First, I believe tech holds some of the best ways to increase productivity and save money. Second, if you don’t keep up with tech and adapt as technology changes, your company will find itself at a huge disadvantage.
This article entitled "10 Jobs Wrecked by Tech," provides real-life examples of jobs/joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-27047948878290155402010-10-25T11:16:00.005-05:002010-10-25T15:54:47.161-05:00Building and using Pivot Tables (explained via video)Pivot tables are great analytical tools—they sum up large amounts of data and let you view it in just about any way possible. More importantly, they help you quickly analyze business information, discover trends, and make better and more informed decisions.
Pivot tables are typically found in spreadsheet software, such as Excel. Spreadsheet-based pivot tables are great as single-user tools, joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-51796177853089148662010-10-22T11:03:00.007-05:002010-10-25T15:54:32.087-05:00Software vendors and the maintenance scamI have a great money-saving tip for you: Don’t fall for the maintenance scam. Let me explain: When you buy enterprise software, you pay a yearly maintenance fee. The vendor uses this fee to provide top-notch customer support and improve the product for their customers. When these fees are used correctly, it helps the customer: They receive great support and a constantly improving product.
joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-45364192262937992612010-10-21T10:58:00.010-05:002010-10-25T15:53:39.149-05:009 things you need to stop doing to improve your productivitySometimes, eliminating tasks is the best way to increase productivity. I’m not talking about the really obvious time-wasters, like spending all day making personal calls or taking 10 coffee breaks. I’m talking about the activities that you think you should be doing that are actually hurting your productivity.
What types of activities? I just ran across this great article entitled, "The joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-26473199548547272902010-10-18T15:00:00.000-05:002010-10-18T15:15:52.460-05:00How to build a secure extranet in one dayAn extranet is an extremely useful resource for many companies. For those unfamiliar with the term, it is a computer network that allows controlled access from outside the company. For example, here are a few ways extranets are used:
1. Extranets can be set up for customers to log in and view important data.
2. Extranets can be set up for employees to log in outside the office. For example, joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-10398345124932968262010-10-15T15:40:00.001-05:002010-10-18T15:15:04.479-05:00Add some “flash” to your reportsI’d like to highlight a cool template in our Project Exchange: The Fusion Charts template! This template lets you build applications with animated and interactive Flash charts. Feel free to check out the demo. You’ll notice that you can choose between a few different graphs on the report prompt page.
The best part: While the Fusion Charts give your applications a sleek and polished look, joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-89125843628032587032010-10-14T15:19:00.011-05:002010-10-18T15:14:33.278-05:005 significant trends to watch in 2011Trends come. Trends go. Some stick around and others pass just as quickly as they came. Often tech advancements and trends create new ways to save money or improve efficiency.
That being said, I’d like to share an important lesson about tech trends: Don’t be swayed by the hype. Don’t jump on a new trend just because everyone is jumping on that trend. If you follow a trend without joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-56180332368837970182010-10-11T15:13:00.009-05:002010-10-11T16:09:04.324-05:003 ways to improve application efficiencyLast month, Google announced Google Instant, which automatically pulls up search results as you’re typing. They claim Google Instant will save about 2-5 seconds per search. Doesn’t seem like much? It equates to roughly 350 million hours of saved time per year.
One small efficiency improvement, when spread over many users, can lead to massive time savings. The same is true for your business joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0