tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-200171682012-02-10T11:49:43.692-06:00Save money, time, and increase business productivityjoestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.comBlogger6811100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-74649028416521590032010-12-03T16:50:00.000-06:002010-12-03T17:00:01.252-06:00

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 access the blog on a

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-16642581255499250642010-12-02T16:48:00.003-06:002010-12-03T16:59:21.744-06:00

If 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.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-66454897265074321152010-12-02T16:46:00.000-06:002010-12-03T17:00:30.899-06:00

I’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/access

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-17956246095638365422010-11-29T13:52:00.007-06:002010-11-29T15:28:02.200-06:00

Creating 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.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-6531649776092768992010-11-26T13:58:00.004-06:002010-11-29T15:27:54.500-06:00

You 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.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-17572972744457192392010-11-25T13:55:00.004-06:002010-11-29T15:27:46.916-06:00

I 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-82323749276118833852010-11-22T13:53:00.009-06:002010-11-22T14:45:47.028-06:00

I’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’t

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-7387058815143507282010-11-19T13:42:00.001-06:002010-11-22T14:45:38.631-06:00

I’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-70500129817801139892010-11-18T14:04:00.003-06:002010-11-22T14:45:29.901-06:00

As 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-72008247573012327972010-11-15T14:45:00.001-06:002010-11-15T15:28:40.312-06:00

According 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-52800819964042634982010-11-12T14:42:00.001-06:002010-11-15T15:28:32.212-06:00

As 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-89434219893127242932010-11-11T14:38:00.006-06:002010-11-15T15:29:57.314-06:00

I 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-79223833342007059132010-11-08T15:36:00.007-06:002010-11-08T15:51:37.114-06:00

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-40644113658547263462010-11-05T14:32:00.007-05:002010-11-08T15:51:29.445-06:00

A 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-68386525683434089512010-11-04T15:31:00.008-05:002010-11-08T15:51:20.356-06:00

Want 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-42993252705486924982010-11-01T15:03:00.010-05:002010-11-01T15:53:24.188-05:00

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 for customers to

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-73118009654556490692010-10-29T14:48:00.001-05:002010-11-01T15:40:18.797-05:00

I 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-27779952129315910862010-10-28T14:43:00.003-05:002010-11-01T15:40:08.096-05:00

I 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-27047948878290155402010-10-25T11:16:00.005-05:002010-10-25T15:54:47.161-05:00

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-51796177853089148662010-10-22T11:03:00.007-05:002010-10-25T15:54:32.087-05:00

I 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-45364192262937992612010-10-21T10:58:00.010-05:002010-10-25T15:53:39.149-05:00

Sometimes, 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-26473199548547272902010-10-18T15:00:00.000-05:002010-10-18T15:15:52.460-05:00

An 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-10398345124932968262010-10-15T15:40:00.001-05:002010-10-18T15:15:04.479-05:00

I’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-89125843628032587032010-10-14T15:19:00.011-05:002010-10-18T15:14:33.278-05:00

Trends 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 first

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-56180332368837970182010-10-11T15:13:00.009-05:002010-10-11T16:09:04.324-05:00

Last 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.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-56727778855873524722010-10-08T15:05:00.001-05:002010-10-11T15:59:39.260-05:00

If you need or have executive dashboards, you are going to love a couple of our latest enhancements. In short, they make dashboards great! In our latest batch of enhancements, we’ve improved the m-Painter import panel and added a new widget panel. How does this affect executive dashboards? Here are a few ways: Dashboards are now easier to create. The import panel provides a wizard-like

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-42230916763310659802010-10-07T15:59:00.000-05:002010-10-11T15:59:25.377-05:00

One of the best things about the rise of smartphones and app markets: If you can think of an app, it probably exists. Unfortunately, finding apps isn’t always so easy unless you know the application’s name. I recently ran across a couple of nice app lists that might appeal especially to the “on-the-go” business person. They list 20 of the best productivity apps for both the iPhone and the

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-22303611823518310372010-10-04T13:32:00.008-05:002010-10-04T15:24:59.040-05:00

We recently published a couple of educational white papers which aim to reduce risk for companies beginning modernization projects. The white papers address a common problem: While many companies recognize the need for modernization, few completely understand their options, the hidden risks, and the steps involved. An uninformed company heading into a new modernization project stands to risk

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-36402259951713578162010-10-01T13:44:00.021-05:002010-10-04T15:25:11.531-05:00

A while back, I wrote up a blog post introducing the new m-Power Project Exchange.   In short, the project exchange is like an app store, but for m-Power. It’s a place for m-Power users to share templates, user defined functions (UDFs), and external objects with other m-Power users. We’ve had some nice additions to the project exchange, some which could really help all sorts of companies. For

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-90602066871534914862010-09-30T13:55:00.003-05:002010-10-04T15:25:25.489-05:00

Have you ever stopped to think just how differently we operate today compared to 10 or even 20 years ago? Newer and more advanced gadgets have made us more efficient (and sometimes lazier) than ever before. Which gadgets have changed our lives the most? Informationweek.com recently published a list of “19 gadgets that changed the world” that provides a listing of the most important gadgets and

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-79608218529998222372010-09-27T15:47:00.002-05:002010-09-27T16:04:04.224-05:00

As I mentioned a while back in a blog post entitled, "Why do 80% of spreadsheets contain errors," spreadsheet errors collectively cost businesses $11.5 billion dollars. That sounds pretty bad, doesn’t it? It gets worse. As it turns out, errors aren’t the only aspects of spreadsheets that waste money. In fact, if your company relies heavily on spreadsheets, you’re probably wasting money in a

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-53824891243661036352010-09-24T15:40:00.001-05:002010-09-27T16:03:56.717-05:00

Cost cutting is a tricky game. As a leader, you need to find ways to cut costs while not hurting employee productivity or your company’s revenue. Finding places to cut that don’t negatively impact either of those two areas isn’t an easy task. I recently ran across a nice article/slideshow in CIOInsight.com with some very good ideas for better controlling costs. Even better yet, most don’t

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-116595605170998162010-09-23T15:35:00.004-05:002010-09-27T16:05:23.346-05:00

InformationWeek recently published a follow-up to their popular "IT Hall of Shame" article, with another article: IT Hall of Shame, Part 2. This article lists some of the biggest flops and errors ever to grace the IT industry. While these articles are interesting, they provide us with opportunities to learn from other people’s mistakes. When I see articles like this, I think, “What did they do

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-83550949645344191532010-09-20T09:20:00.000-05:002010-09-20T09:27:47.613-05:00

Business intelligence is a confusing subject. Generally speaking, when a company realizes they need business intelligence (BI), they aren’t clear on everything a BI solution should include. Why not? BI isn’t the same across the board. As a result, comparing BI solutions is like comparing apples and oranges. Each solution contains different elements. So, how do you know which elements to

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-26085891428460830922010-09-17T14:52:00.008-05:002010-09-20T09:27:01.767-05:00

I recently spoke with someone who used to be a corn and soybean farmer (before he got into IT, strangely enough). Anyway, he mentioned something that I didn’t know: Tractors are incredibly expensive. I knew they were expensive, but I didn’t realize they were quarter-of-a-million expensive. Yet, you don’t see farmers out in the field farming by hand. Why not? Because they realize that even

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-25303505445233562912010-09-16T14:41:00.005-05:002010-09-20T09:26:54.092-05:00

“Sometimes it pays to stay in bed on Monday, rather than spending the rest of the week debugging Monday's code.” --Dan Salomon Anyone who has ever worked in IT knows the pain of debugging, and is probably nodding in agreement to that quote. Debugging is often more time consuming than writing the code itself. Yet, even after all the time spent looking for and removing bugs, a few manage to

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-62836322800986680852010-09-13T15:48:00.012-05:002010-09-13T15:56:21.234-05:00

Modernization is a confusing subject. Many companies realize the need for modernization, but they don’t understand the process. They don’t realize that different vendors sell different forms of modernization. They don’t realize just how greatly these modernization methods differ. Here is one of the most important rules of modernization: There is much more to modernization than an end result

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-1880509658876102712010-09-10T16:10:00.002-05:002010-09-13T15:56:15.074-05:00

I’d like to share a story about two very similar companies in the same line of business. When the economy struggled last year, one company cut back and laid off workers. The other company started a new service that helps people who have upside-down mortgages. Which do you think is doing better right now? I realize that this example doesn’t apply to every company, but I mention it to make a

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-34399128335841679972010-09-09T16:01:00.003-05:002010-09-13T15:56:08.303-05:00

Will IT departments grow or shrink over the next 5 years? According to a panel of CIOs in the UK, IT departments will shrink substantially over the next 5 years, due in large part to the rise of cloud computing. I’m not so sure. I do understand their reasoning, but I’ve noticed over the years that as new technologies crop up, new opportunities and needs arise. While cloud computing may

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-11112517369572167022010-09-07T10:38:00.000-05:002010-09-07T11:37:56.017-05:00

Report writers are pretty easy to understand, aren’t they? If your company stores data in a database (as most companies do), you need reports. To create all these fancy reports, you need a report writer. However, beyond the basic features like exporting to Excel and creating pretty graphs, you’ll find that report writers vary in capabilities. While they may all address the same problem (

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-27522114499576485322010-09-03T15:34:00.001-05:002010-09-07T11:37:20.468-05:00

Saving money around the office is a tricky topic because saving money often results in lower morale. In order to save money, managers often remove employee perks and other items that employees enjoyed. For example, I know of one company that stopped buying donuts for the weekly staff meetings in order to save money. Another company removed tea and hot cocoa from their lunch room. Are these

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-44577113836145674572010-09-02T15:31:00.006-05:002010-09-07T11:37:12.910-05:00

The TED Talks videos have gained popularity over the last few years, probably due in large part to their recent availability online. For those unfamiliar with TED (Technology Entertainment and Design), it is a group of conferences formed to disseminate “ideas worth spreading.” They share many of the conference’s presentations in the form of freely available TED Talks videos. Currently, over

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-44344896164045941812010-08-30T15:05:00.012-05:002010-08-30T15:46:30.851-05:00

Have you ever made a decision which didn’t turn out as hoped? It's OK. Everyone has. When faced with difficult decisions, I’m sure most wish they could peak into the future to make the right choice. If you’ve ever felt like that with difficult business decisions, I have something that will help. No, sadly you still can’t see into the future. But, I’d like to introduce the next best thing

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-67951426954895398872010-08-27T15:42:00.001-05:002010-08-30T15:46:21.725-05:00

I frequently write about tools to increase productivity in the workplace. However, the most valuable tool of all is perhaps the most overlooked: Your mind. It’s a very complicated tool. Some days, it works great. You have no problems focusing and you’re quite productive. Other days, it feels like your mind is still at home sleeping. Why does that happen? Perhaps more importantly…How can we

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-81613523186763302132010-08-26T15:21:00.004-05:002010-08-30T15:46:13.525-05:00

Technology is constantly evolving. I’m sure many companies wish it moved a little slower. It probably seems like every time you catch up from a tech standpoint, something changes…and you’re behind again. While keeping up with changing technology is a challenge, I believe there are many opportunities as well. For example, new technology provides one of the best ways for companies to save money

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-54896027181581256332010-08-23T14:51:00.004-05:002010-08-23T16:03:01.880-05:00

Our HTML5 tutorial this week focuses on an area of HTML5 that you may already be using: Geolocation. Chances are, if you use a smartphone, you’ve encountered geolocation-aware web pages. In short, geolocation gives a web page/application the ability to find the user's location. While that might sound like an invasion of privacy, there’s no need to worry. A website can’t find your location

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-25386499357939794462010-08-20T15:01:00.001-05:002010-08-23T16:02:51.068-05:00

Do you feel like your company lags behind the competition? Do you feel like you’re struggling to keep up? I’d like to tell you about the secret key to innovation. It’s something that every company has: Employees! Specifically, your employee’s ideas are a great way to fuel innovation. Every company wants to think that their corporate culture fosters new employee ideas. They want to think (or

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-7504099544156636462010-08-19T15:11:00.002-05:002010-08-23T16:02:33.991-05:00

When you consider that just 10 short years ago we carried cell phones that doubled as weapons, it’s truly amazing what our phones can accomplish these days. Thanks to cell phone advancements, many of the tasks previously possible inside the office can now be performed anywhere. Savvy businesses take advantage of these new capabilities and empower their workers with phones and apps to improve

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-51755840312503564432010-08-16T10:22:00.008-05:002010-08-16T15:46:27.068-05:00

When you hear about HTML5, some new features cause more excitement than others among web developers. The new canvas element is one of those features. The canvas element is an area you can place on a page and fill with a variety of items, such as: Images, text, graphs, charts, animations, interactive tools, etc… If you’ve spent any time on the internet, you’re familiar with Flash-based games

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-49977094687514169532010-08-13T14:18:00.004-05:002010-08-16T15:49:05.848-05:00

According to a number of different surveys conducted over the last few years, spreadsheets are still a commonly used tool for business intelligence. But, according to this article in CIO.com, 80% of spreadsheets contain significant errors. Think about that for a second. Many companies still rely on spreadsheets for critical decisions, but most spreadsheets contain significant errors. In other

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-6079111324754921042010-08-12T10:01:00.004-05:002010-08-13T16:54:58.578-05:00

In the past, business applications were synonymous with high cost. Why? There weren’t any cheaper, quality options. Vendors realized this and knew they could charge high user or monthly fees. I’m blown away when I hear how much certain applications or systems cost. I believe this practice is on its way out. The rise of web applications is slowly changing the game. These days, there are

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-27165166305558410852010-08-09T14:18:00.001-05:002010-08-09T15:13:52.928-05:00

I still run across companies seriously considering the screen-scraping approach to modernization. For those unfamiliar with screen-scraping, it is the process of creating new, modern-looking interfaces on top of old legacy applications. Why do people still use screen-scraping? Maybe they’re blinded by the price. Maybe they believe the vendor’s sales pitch. Maybe they just don’t know all the

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-88521053803714214462010-08-06T10:09:00.004-05:002010-08-09T15:13:44.652-05:00

What makes a good leader? I see some companies who assume a good leader is someone who is very smart or who is very good at their job. Not necessarily. While it’s definitely possible, a great employee does not always translate into a great leader. A leader inspires others to be better. A leader improves their employee’s productivity. A leader sets a good example. If you are a leader

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-10799819385660314322010-08-05T15:12:00.001-05:002010-08-09T15:23:45.223-05:00

I hear many tech people complain that no one is hiring IT staff. On the flip side, I hear complaints from companies who can’t find good IT talent. I’m confused…considering the job market, there must be qualified help available for nearly any skill-set. According to Dice.com, there is a high demand for skilled IT staff, particularly in programming and software development. In fact, they say

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-9890062287755817702010-08-02T15:55:00.000-05:002010-08-02T16:23:05.517-05:00

Did you know that shoddy computer systems can actually drive customers away? Here’s an excellent example on consumerist.com, which illustrates how one company’s inept systems harmed business. In this case, it not only drove customers away, it drove those customers to warn other potential customers about them. I found one point particularly interesting about the whole ordeal. The customer

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-66425842583122384412010-07-30T17:06:00.004-05:002010-08-02T16:22:37.678-05:00

In the latest HTML5 tutorial, we cover the topic that everyone’s been talking about: Video. HTML5 video will free us from “plugin prison.” Online video will no longer require external plugins, like flash, quicktime, or realplayer. Additionally, online video will be accessible via mobile devices, such as smartphones. This latest tutorial covers everything about HTML5 video. It will teach you

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-54565760618955703512010-07-29T17:00:00.002-05:002010-08-02T15:52:58.568-05:00

Did you know there are over 225,000 apps in the iPhone app store, and over 100,000 apps in the Android market? Those numbers will only increase over time, especially when Google releases their app inventor. I’d have to say, there’s pretty much an app for anything. In fact, filtering through all of them for the right one is the challenge. If you’re in need of business apps, I recently ran

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-27123826687748693542010-07-26T13:16:00.003-05:002010-07-26T16:09:37.968-05:00

We’ve recently made some significant m-Power improvements that I believe could help many companies. In case you missed any of them, I’d like to recap 3 of my favorites. Web-based pivot table – m-Power can now create web-based pivot table reports. They’re easy to create, easy to share, and you won’t have to worry about problems associated with typical spreadsheets, such as: Security, data

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-70141663720700214502010-07-23T17:00:00.000-05:002010-07-23T17:00:21.338-05:00

Would you rather have a miserable staff, or a happy staff? What a silly question! Of course you want a happy staff. Happy employees create a better work environment and are all around more productive. But, while I’m sure every manager wants happy employees, how many managers actually cause unhappiness among their employees? If you have perpetually unhappy employees, don’t assume it’s

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-54144452822287829812010-07-23T13:30:00.007-05:002010-07-23T17:00:29.470-05:00

According to Steve Jobs, the tablet computer will replace the desktop computer in the near future. Though I doubt that prediction, he’s right about one thing: The world is trending towards mobile computing. The obvious trend towards mobile computing leads to one question: How will this affect IT and the business as a whole? This article in techrepublic.com entitled, "The changing face of IT:

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-87366552578911270602010-07-19T13:33:00.005-05:002010-07-19T16:21:54.518-05:00

If you’ve ever worked with HTML, you know what “div overload” means. It’s when the web page designer relied too heavily on the “div” tag, resulting in a jumbled mish-mash of code. This creates code that is confusing and harder to maintain. HTML5 adds new markup elements designed to decrease our reliance on the div tag and leave us with cleaner, more readable code. Page maintenance will be

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-79772970974789482582010-07-17T13:28:00.001-05:002010-07-19T16:12:18.850-05:00

Google made news this past week with the announcement of their Google App Inventor. The idea is simple: The app inventor lets anyone (not just developers) develop applications for Android. Is this a game changer? I think so. Here are a couple reasons why. First, this is huge for the Android platform. Google just increased their developer base by leaps and bounds. If Google was lagging

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-62355834273698343902010-07-16T17:08:00.000-05:002010-07-16T17:08:40.781-05:00

“Why didn’t I think of that?” We’ve all asked this question at one time or another. We see a new product or idea that makes so much sense it’s surprising that we didn’t think of it first. I think the key to invention is how we perceive problems or inconveniences. Do you get frustrated and complain when something is difficult or inconvenient? Instead of complaining, view problems as an

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-62651583923071144902010-07-12T15:37:00.014-05:002010-07-12T16:01:15.289-05:00

As mentioned last week, we are writing a series of HTML5 tutorials. They will help you learn more about the upcoming HTML standard, what’s new, and how it affects you. The new features in HTML5 will make you more productive and help you create even more powerful web applications. The first of our HTML5 tutorials focuses on forms. While forms don’t sound very exciting, wait until you see what’

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-41742128289997626452010-07-09T15:49:00.004-05:002010-07-12T15:13:45.959-05:00

I love this quote: “Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.” -H. Jackson Brown In effect, the number of hours in a day isn’t the issue…it’s how you use them. Do you regularly feel like there’s never enough time to

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-42322669521153499082010-07-08T15:45:00.013-05:002010-07-09T16:14:47.784-05:00

Some people spend lots of time explaining why they can’t do their job. They might even have valid reasons. But, in the end there are two types of people: Those who get things done and those who make excuses for not getting things done. Which one are you? Now, I realize some managers make unreasonable demands. They assign impossible project deadlines. They provide limited resources and

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-47482792384530703842010-07-06T14:10:00.027-05:002010-07-06T15:35:05.504-05:00

The talk surrounding HTML5 these days is largely focused on video thanks to Apple’s decision to not allow Adobe flash on the iPod, iPhone, or iPad. However, there is so much more to HTML5 than the ability to play video natively. In fact, when you really begin looking at the enhancements in HTML5, you realize video playback probably isn't even the most important new feature. Those who work

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-51904462626386873592010-07-02T14:21:00.005-05:002010-07-06T09:16:41.406-05:00

The internet is like a bullhorn for your customers. In the past, if an angry customer told their friends and family, a company might lose a few sales. Today, offend a customer at your own risk. Customers have access to social media, forums, and sites like Consumerist or Yelp to air their grievances. One miffed customer can result in many lost dollars. Nothing drives this point home better

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-30156709143471612762010-07-02T13:29:00.000-05:002010-07-02T13:29:56.895-05:00

Computerworld recently published their annual report of "100 best places to work in IT". The list includes a brief description of each company and why they were selected. I think the real benefit of this list isn’t the companies mentioned, it’s how they got there. I don’t view this as a list of great places to work. I see companies who know how to attract the best talent. The companies on

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-29030957250224891762010-06-28T14:18:00.007-05:002010-06-28T14:50:04.521-05:00

We have a new announcement that I’m sure our customers will love: The m-Power project exchange! It’s like an app store, but for m-Power. Basically, we’ve created an area for m-Power customers to share templates, user defined functions (UDFs), and external objects with other m-Power customers. Have you created an m-Power template that others might find useful? Feel free to post it. You might

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-29085875914142455272010-06-25T14:35:00.004-05:002010-06-25T15:19:58.909-05:00

The impending NBA free agent signing season has dominated the sporting news over the last month, at least in Chicago. Can the Cavaliers keep Lebron? Where will all the high-priced, high-talent players land? As a Bulls fan, I hope they all come to Chicago. (As a realist, I know they won’t.) I think this situation is very similar to the business world. Every company has high-performing workers

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-88587527688154856462010-06-25T08:19:00.000-05:002010-06-25T08:19:26.486-05:00

Have you checked out the TIOBE index? It ranks the most popular programming language on a monthly basis based on a number of different criteria. I visit it every now and again, and the turnover rate is amazing. Popular languages one month may be out of the top 20 the next. For someone looking to keep their skills current and learn a new useful language, the choices are overwhelming. If you

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-57928450906496371572010-06-21T09:41:00.032-05:002010-06-22T10:19:16.504-05:00

*This post was written by Steve Hansen, mrc’s marketing director* I just made a web application. It lists major league baseball batting statistics from 1970 to 2009, complete with a chart illustrating the rise in home runs over time. You can sort by all major offensive categories (with the arrows) and drill down within the application by year, division, and team by clicking on the little "+"

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-54899725736382191352010-06-18T09:35:00.002-05:002010-06-18T16:03:57.917-05:00

As more and more Android phones are released and iPhones continue selling like hotcakes, we’re only going to see more of both in the business. For those contemplating a switch, but can’t decide between iPhone or Android for the business, I recommend this article. For those who already use one or the other for business, you’ll no doubt find an overwhelming number of applications to choose from.

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-56229545791393294272010-06-17T16:02:00.000-05:002010-06-17T16:02:12.970-05:00

A successful IT project is one that is delivered on time, at or under budget, and working as originally planned. According to the Standish group, only 32% of IT projects are considered successful. Believe it or not, that’s an improvement over years past. Why are most IT projects unsuccessful? I found a nice article entitled "Why IT projects fail" which lists 6 of the most important reasons

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-82463987099704908562010-06-14T09:51:00.006-05:002010-06-14T15:31:47.185-05:00

I’d like to introduce you to a relatively new concept: Pervasive business intelligence. It’s not some great new buzzword to throw around at meetings, it’s a truly actionable concept that could save time and money for your company. The idea of pervasive BI is simple: Business intelligence should permeate throughout your business. Real-time data specific to your needs should be at your

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-42704449921261141362010-06-11T09:46:00.003-05:002010-06-14T15:31:36.725-05:00

We just created a LinkedIn Group for m-Power. If you haven’t already signed up after reading the first sentence, I’d like to answer a couple questions you may possibly have. Why should I join? You can ask questions to other m-Power users, share interesting projects, get m-Power tips and advice, suggest enhancements, learn about new enhancements, tell a funny joke, etc… It’s pretty open-ended,

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-48701512810673243632010-06-10T15:56:00.000-05:002010-06-10T15:56:05.879-05:00

According to the late Peter Drucker, those who never make mistakes, never do anything interesting. Yet, how many companies look at mistakes in this manner? I recently found that quote in an interesting article on positivesharing.com entitled, "5 reasons to celebrate mistakes at work." The article challenges our perceptions of mistakes and suggests that without mistakes, there is no

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-59534824602654951032010-06-07T10:09:00.001-05:002010-06-07T15:30:11.466-05:00

One of my first cars was an old clunker. After a few years of driving, it needed repairs with increased frequency. I had a choice: Do nothing and continue maintaining my old car, or replace it with a newer car. I chose the latter. While purchasing a newer car was more expensive up front, the year-to-year cost of maintenance substantially declined. Besides, the newer car also gave me better

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-20037765449827132702010-06-05T14:24:00.002-05:002010-06-07T15:29:49.872-05:00

In the past, many companies looked at the IT department as a necessary evil. The IT department kept the computers working, but did little for the bottom line. That’s all changing now. One of the best ways to save money these days is with new technology. Every day, new technology/software is created that helps companies run more efficiently and cut down on expenses. For example, this hospital

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-36084452412627268482010-06-04T10:06:00.002-05:002010-06-07T15:29:39.631-05:00

Informationweek.com just put out an interesting list entitled, "The IT Hall of Shame". It lists 10 of the biggest frauds, flops, and foibles in the tech industry. Most every entry on this list have one thing in common: They cost their respective companies a bunch of money. So, when you look through the list, ask yourself, “What can I learn from this?” What did they do wrong, and how can we

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-59258968417311069642010-05-31T15:34:00.003-05:002010-06-01T14:06:23.342-05:00

Business intelligence (BI) can provide incredible advantages when implemented correctly, such as agility, better decision-making, and even increased profitability. BI is not without risks, however, as evidenced by this article on datamation.com. How can you implement a BI solution with the greatest chance for success? Let’s take a look at our options. In the past, there were really only two:

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-62919922006367203812010-05-28T15:28:00.003-05:002010-06-01T14:30:35.971-05:00

I’m curious: If I held an informal survey, how many managers would describe themselves as “micro-managers?” How many of your employees would describe you as a micro-manager? If you are a micro-manager, is that a bad thing? You might look at micro-managing as an annoyance or a personality trait. But you may not realize just how much harm it causes. I believe micro-managing damages your

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-50543350731945528102010-05-27T15:57:00.000-05:002010-05-27T15:57:59.921-05:00

Have you been in an airport recently? It’s difficult avoiding the hordes of business people blindly walking around staring at their smartphones. While annoying, it also highlights an important trend: Smartphones are bringing the business anywhere. For example, if your sales staff needs to check product availability on the road, it should be accessible from a smartphone. Need to send or

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-37636275011506289572010-05-24T15:23:00.012-05:002010-05-24T16:14:05.127-05:00

I saw a ridiculous commercial the other day. A bank advertised they were "green" because they no longer send paper statements. Really? That’s not green. That’s a cost-cutting measure thinly veiled as a green initiative. Does anyone not see right through commercials like that? Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for going green. If every company in America committed to bettering the environment,

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-36146023355595751042010-05-21T21:32:00.004-05:002010-05-21T21:32:00.231-05:00

Do you spend time and energy trying to motivate your employees? According to this article on Forbes.com, you’re doing it wrong. Instead of motivating your employees, you should be trying not to unmotivate them. The article postulates that we are wired to work hard, but gradually lose motivation in certain work environments. Unmotivation occurs in work environments where employees lack

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-60983293568304431972010-05-20T15:18:00.013-05:002010-05-21T20:30:56.885-05:00

This article on Computerworld.com gives some great advice for IT departments. It gives you ideas of things you can try to make IT more strategic to your business. As long as the business views IT as an order-taker, IT is at risk for outsourcing. When IT starts providing business benefits and technology ideas that help the bottom line, the business will start to see IT as a valuable asset. If

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-31027472081593210912010-05-17T08:46:00.003-05:002010-05-17T15:28:02.292-05:00

Thank you to all those who stopped by our booth at the recent COMMON Conference and took our short survey. Anyone who took our survey is entered into our 2010 giveaway for two $50 Amazon gift cards! If you weren’t at the COMMON conference, there’s still time to enter our giveaway. Just take our short 3-question survey and you will be automatically entered! Your answers do not affect your

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-28018083825742354302010-05-14T08:37:00.036-05:002010-05-14T14:37:51.194-05:00

I’m excited to announce m-Power’s newest reporting template: The pivot table reporting template! (If you are unfamiliar with our template/model based approach to application development, please read our "build process" page.) What are pivot tables? Pivot tables are interactive tables that automatically extract, organize, and summarize data. Pivot tables are usually Excel™-based and most often

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-77987673988107780192010-05-13T17:02:00.000-05:002010-05-13T17:02:52.570-05:00

If I surveyed every business leader in America, 100% of them would say they want to save money. Why then do I run across so many businesses that don’t act like it? They use outdated and wasteful processes. They grossly overpay for consultants. I don’t think they want to waste money. Rather, I believe they honestly don’t know any better. They don’t realize there’s a more productive way.

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-48012550364814366922010-05-10T14:58:00.009-05:002010-05-10T16:08:51.813-05:00

Forbes.com has some interesting things to say on this subject. Is it your job to make sure your end users can use new software or systems? Or, do you find the best solution for your company and hope the end users catch on? It’s a tricky question, because while you can’t please every single end user, you must find solutions that they can and will use. You must find solutions that are easy for

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-73301360052645413592010-05-07T14:46:00.014-05:002010-05-07T16:54:30.122-05:00

We are ending our monthly customer newsletter because we feel it has become an inefficient method for communicating news. Things are happening so much faster today. We currently have other options in place for communicating the same information as it becomes available, rather than on a monthly basis. As you know, we update m-Power frequently. Rather than a once a month recap, the best way

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-27383105101824102002010-05-06T14:42:00.005-05:002010-05-10T16:29:16.195-05:00

Does your company have trouble attracting or retaining good employees? If so, Techrepublic offers some "food for thought". What are you doing to keep them? Do you cut back benefits to save a few bucks? Do you create an attractive work environment? Remember, the talented are always the first to leave because they have options. The unmotivated, unproductive employees will typically stick

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-9093060069488259992010-04-30T16:30:00.000-05:002010-04-30T16:30:09.850-05:00

Techrepublic has some interesting things to say on this subject. Pretend for a moment that you are an IT leader. (If you actually are an IT leader, this will be easy) You know what the company needs from a tech standpoint, but your CEO doesn’t. He/she may be technologically illiterate. How do you communicate your tech needs in a way he/she will understand? First things first, leave your ego

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-6681348463117134452010-04-30T14:27:00.010-05:002010-04-30T16:18:49.128-05:00

Many companies place tight restrictions on internet usage for fear of unproductive behavior. While I believe the issue lies more with the employee than with the internet, I understand the need for restrictions. Word of warning: Try not to go overboard…some websites can actually help productivity. For example, here’s a list of 16 productivity-enhancing websites that I found on PCWorld.com.

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-191347422424441852010-04-29T16:51:00.000-05:002010-04-29T16:51:18.669-05:00

Are you attending the COMMON conference next week? If so, be sure to stop by booth #413 and say hi to us. Sal and Steve will be there and they're pretty awesome. If that’s not enough incentive, come on by and take our survey to be entered into our 2010 giveaway! I also heard a little rumor that they will be unveiling a new m-Power feature: Web-based pivot tables! I think they will have a

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-76005728558746731922010-04-26T13:59:00.009-05:002010-04-26T16:14:33.192-05:00

It’s a cliché phrase to be sure, often lacking in practicality. It’s been a Dilbert punchline more than once. It is widely spoken, yet seldom practiced. Yet, if your business is to succeed, you must figure out how to work smarter on a company level. While there’s no one method that works for everyone, here are some practical examples of what “working smarter, not harder” looks like: It’s

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-59129634989709148122010-04-23T14:16:00.001-05:002010-04-23T16:46:45.674-05:00

Nothing separates the good leaders from the bad like a troubled economy. When times are bad, a leader’s true colors are exposed. Some step up and succeed, while others crumble. What’s the difference between a good and a bad leader? A good leader brings the best out of his/her team, while a poor leader provides no direction or motivation. A good leader will ultimately have more productive

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-7666109193984432582010-04-22T16:01:00.003-05:002010-04-22T16:48:41.361-05:00

I just read a great article on techrepublic.com entitled, "5 things I hate about corporate IT." The article comments are also an interesting read…they highlight the rift between IT and the business from the IT professional point of view. If you’re in management (non-IT) and you want to know what frustrates your IT department, read the comments. The article really made me think: Why is there

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20017168.post-55784610851094250462010-04-19T14:03:00.001-05:002010-04-19T16:20:15.604-05:00

I’ve noticed an interesting phenomenon. Technological advancement varies greatly from industry to industry, but very little within an industry. It seems like the companies within an industry care more about matching their competition, and less about bettering the competition. Why? Industries without pressure to innovate usually stagnate. The thought process goes something like this: If the

joestangaronehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07191521780983867428noreply@blogger.com1