20 (more) IT mistakes to avoid

Problems have a way of just sneaking up on you. Sometimes they arise as a result of mistakes that just slip through the cracks, and you don’t realize that you are doing them until it’s too late.

As Benjamin Franklin once said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” With that in mind, I urge you to read this InfoWorld.com article entitled, “20 more IT mistakes to avoid.” Who knows, maybe you will be able to stop a problem before it happens.

Website Design 101: What not to do

The great thing about technology is the speed at which it advances. Unfortunately, with every great technology advancement, there are people who will figure out how to use it to annoy you. Take for example the telephone. Great invention. Now throw in telemarketers. Annoying.

We have recently been adding forum posts aimed to help with web design. But now, I'd like to turn that around and ask you a question: What features annoy you the most about certain websites? How have people used new web technology, or even old technology, to make your internet experience a little less enjoyable?

We've started the discussion with our forum post, "Website Design 101: What not to do". We'd love to hear your thoughts on the issue.

Rich Internet (Business) Applications

Rich internet applications (RIAs) are web applications that have features and functionality of desktop applications. They are interactive, flashy, and usually offer rich functionality. More and more, they are being used to answer the demand for a better online user experience.

While I believe that RIAs are very useful for a business, there are a couple things that companies need to keep in mind before using them:

1. Don’t use RIAs just because they are flashy. Figure out how they can be used to help your business before you do anything.
2. Keep it simple. There are many possibilities when using RIAs, and it’s very possible to go overboard with functionality. Don’t confuse the user. Create something that is both beneficial and easy to use.

For instance, here’s a good example of how RIAs can be used to compliment Business Intelligence. Scroll your mouse over the little “callout” icons on the page and you’ll see one beneficial use for RIAs. Do you see how simple that is, yet very helpful at the same time?

Top 10 Cities for Tech Jobs

Which city/metro area in the U.S. is the number one location for technology jobs? I thought it was the San Jose/Silicon Valley area, until I saw this list. Surprisingly enough, at least for me, it wasn’t even in the top two. Even more surprising for me was the number 2 city. Never would’ve guessed it.

Where does your city rank? You can find the entire list here.>>

How to Keep Visitors on Your Website

A good website will tell a visitor everything they need to know, and what they should do, all in a matter of seconds. Does your website do that? Take a good look at your company website. Is it clear and easy to understand, or is it confusing?

Does your website need help attracting and retaining visitors? We have a few tips for you in our latest forum post entitled, “How to keep visitors on your website.”

The Contradictory IT Industry

It’s no secret that the economy is affecting the IT industry, but here’s what I find strange: No one seems to exactly agree on how the economy is affecting IT.

I recently read two articles published in the last few days. One article reports that CIO’s are trimming staff. The other reports that CIO’s are having trouble finding people to hire, and that IT workers are in demand. Both of these articles are based on survey results.

Which is it?

I’m not the only one to notice this. Here’s an interesting article in Computerworld.com which explains a few of the seeming contradictions in the IT industry today. For example: The author reports that IT budgets are getting tighter, but cost cutting is not a priority. Sound contradictory?

Here’s the reason: There’s not a lot that can be cut easily these days. Rather than sitting idle and weathering the economic storm, IT shops should be focusing on how to grow the business. They must look for ways to achieve fast returns on low investments.

It’s not as difficult as you might think. Here’s a good example of a company that used a low investment to increase profits dramatically.

20 Tech Habits That Will Improve Your Life

I’m a firm believer in using technology to better your life. Lucky for me, there are plenty of tools out there that promise to do just that. But not all of them actually deliver on that promise. How do you weed out the good from the bad?

PCWorld.com recently published an article detailing 20 tech habits that will improve your life. I hope you find it as useful as I did.

What does your website say about your company?

Why does your company have a website, and what is its purpose? Is it to keep up with the times? Provide information? E-Commerce?

These days, your website should be more than just information or e-commerce. Your website is the face of your company. Like it or not, it says something about your company to potential customers.

If you haven't given this much thought in the past, read our latest forum post entitled, “What does your website say about your company”.

Inadequate Tools Send Software Down the Drain

According to a recent study, Fortune 500 Companies abandon one-third of software development projects after implementation because they don’t meet user needs. Also, the average project costs $3.2 million and takes 1,300 person months to complete.

Isn’t that ridiculous? We always just assume that Fortune 500 companies have their act together. Guess not.

Reasons cited for this failure includes poor planning, lack of a process, and inadequate tools. The first two reasons can be easily corrected internally. However, when choosing a development tool, here are a few steps to take.

1. Create a list of things you need to accomplish with this tool. Don't settle for anything less.
2. Take it for a test run. Learn as much as you can about what your "learning curve to productivity" will be before your invest.
3. Ask for a sample application. Make the vendor prove theirs is the right solution for you.

Following these steps could be the difference between success and failure. Take this Global 500 Company for example. They knew what they needed, found a good solution, and took the proper steps to ensure success.

5 ways to drive your best workers away

Talk to any manager today, and they’ll tell you how difficult it is to attract good talent. Many of those managers will also complain about how difficult it is to retain good talent.

If that’s the case, they have no one to blame but themselves. Talent retention is the responsibility of the manager. If you have trouble keeping your best employees around for very long, maybe it’s time to take a good look at your management style.

How do you keep your best talent? You can start by not doing these 5 things.

CSS Tutorial #5: Cascading Order and Inheritance

When working with CSS, do you ever come across problems that just don’t make sense? Almost like the code isn’t doing what you told it to do? If it’s not a syntax error, it could have something to do with cascading order and inheritance.

In this CSS tutorial, you will learn the basics of cascading order and inheritance. When two styles conflict, which one is used? Which selector is most important? These questions are all answered in the latest tutorial, which you can find here.>>

A Simpler Approach to SOA

If I've learned one thing in all my years in this industry, it is this: Keep it simple. More often than not, the probability of failure is directly proportional to the level of complexity in a project.

Here's an interesting article in InformationWeek.com, entitled "A simpler approach to SOA" which touches on Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) and Web-Oriented Architecture (WOA). The author explains how a "keep it simple" approach is far better when it comes to SOA.

I wish more people would espouse the KIS approach. Why try to force a complicated SOA on your company when you could accomplish the same thing faster with a WOA? SOA is more difficult, expensive, and has less of a chance to succeed than a WOA.

Choose the simplest solution that will solve your problem. Whether it's an SOA or WOA, m-Power can simplify doing it. We've kept it simple in this WOA demo site. . .

Click here to see a good example of a WOA.>>

30 Skills Every IT Person Needs

From a skills standpoint, how would you rank yourself as an IT professional? If you think you know quite a bit, then here's a good test for you. Read this CIO.com article entitled, “30 skills every IT person needs”.

How many of them do you have? Would you add anything to this list?

8 Ways to Improve Your Business Systems

In a perfect world, enterprise software (ERP’s, MRP’s, BI, etc…) would do everything you need it to do and more. Anything with a 6-7 figure price tag should work smoothly, install easily, and create revenue for your company…in a perfect world.

But, the world isn’t perfect. Anyone who’s ever implemented an ERP knows it often takes longer, costs more, and does less than you thought. (Exhibit A: Read about the Waste Management/SAP litigation.)

A couple things to watch out for with enterprise software:

1. One size does not fit all. Every company is different, and every company may need different features. You can’t expect a boxed solution to exactly fit all of your company’s needs.
2. It becomes outdated. Your business needs will change over time, but will your enterprise software keep up? Probably not without expensive upgrades.

But don't worry, there are ways to overcome these obstacles. Find out how: Read our free white paper which examines 8 different approaches for improving your Enterprise Systems.

10 Ways to Kickstart Underachievers

When you hear the word “underachiever”, what is the first thing that comes to your mind? Most likely, it’s the name of a previous coworker or employee.

What happened to that underachiever? When it comes to poor performance, a manager generally has two options:

1. Terminate the employee, or...
2. Try to help the employee

Unfortunately, managers usually choose the first option based on the assumption poor performance is always the employee's fault. In reality, there are many reasons for poor performance, some easily correctable, and others directly tied to the manager themselves.

Before pulling out that pink slip, try to help an underachieving employee. This article in TechRepublic.com lists 10 ways to potentially do just that.

I personally like number 5. Having the right tools to work with can make all the difference, for any employee or company. For example, look at what this company was able to accomplish with the right tools.

Career Tip: How to Move Up at Work

What kind of person are you? Are you one who constantly looks for ways to advance your career, or are you satisfied just staying put?

I think that most people would claim to be, or at least want to be, someone who is not satisfied just standing still in their career. If you are that type of person, make sure you read this article in Computerworld.com entitled, “Career Advice: How to move into a leadership role”.

How to: Create rollover buttons with CSS

What is a web button? In its most basic form, a button is a link, a doorway to another page. That being said, would you rather go through a plain door, or a fancy door?

Web buttons play an important role in web design. If used correctly, they can attract visitors to a specific page, and if used incorrectly, they can do the exact opposite.

In the past, fancy web buttons were only possible with javascript or Flash. But did you know that you can do the same thing with CSS? How? This forum post entitled, “How to: Make Rollover Buttons with CSS” will clearly explain why this formerly difficult task is actually quite easy.

Free Whitepaper: Application Modernization

Business technology is moving at such a rapid pace, it’s sometimes hard to keep up. However, the need to modernize legacy applications is greater than ever, for a few very important reasons:

• Legacy applications are both expensive and difficult to maintain.
• Companies need to keep up with competition
• Modernized applications increase business agility

If modernization is so critical to the success of a company, why do so many hold off? Is it the price? Complexity? Fear of the unknown?

If you have questions about modernization, we have a free whitepaper that explains it in detail. This whitepaper covers the reasons to modernize, the 4 different ways you can modernize, and important details to watch out for in the process.

You can find the free modernization whitepaper here.>>

IT jobs at risk in 2009?

According to a recent survey by Goldman, Sachs & Co., the IT industry is feeling the effects of a slow economy. Going into 2009, staff cuts are likely, with contract workers feeling the brunt of the cuts.

A second survey indicated that IT spending will also decrease. CIOs want to stick with tried and proven methods over new technologies and ideas. They are looking for a fast and high ROI from their purchases.

How else will the slow economy affect the IT industry in 2009? Read the full story on CIO.com>>.

CSS Tutorial #4: DIV and SPAN Tags

If you had to create a web page, could you do it? If so, could you do it without using tables?

How can you design a web page without using tables? In this latest CSS Tutorial, entitled “CSS Tutorial #4: DIV and SPAN tags”, we overview the DIV and SPAN tags and how they are used in design and layout of a page.

If you are still unclear why using CSS is better than using tables, read our forum post entitled, “Benefits of Using CSS for Website Layout”.