10 keys to a successful BI strategy

Business Intelligence is more than just a buzzword. It can be daunting. It can be expensive. It can sink IT departments below ground for months and longer.

And, with the IT world aflutter with articles about it, it can be easy to forget that Business Intelligence is more than technology.

Here are 10 key principles to help you develop a successful BI strategy (even if you are in the midst of BI hell.)

Understand all the benefits of portals to your business? Here's a crash course.

How does a portal fit your business needs? Let's see if it does.

Here is a new straightforward overview of portals and portlets and what they can mean for your business.

And, creating a portal like this one (Sign in as 10DKS10 as both user and password to view it) can be accomplished very quickly and cost-effectively. For more information, sign up here.

Web application tip: Variable data sources

Oftentimes large companies have a problem with Web architectures because they might want their code to execute over variable data sources. A variable data source may be as simple as a library list in a System i environment, or as complex as information coming from a different server(IP) and different database(e.g. Oracle, DB2, etc).

In many cases a company's choice becomes either A)make multiple copies of an application for each specific data source (which can quickly become unwieldy to manage), or B) find a non-Web architecture way to deliver the application (which keeps you relying on legacy).

m-Power's web 2.0 templates eliminate this Hobson's choice by making it possible to point one Web application to your variable data sources. Here's how to do it.

Worried about the Cognos-IBM merger? Don't be.

Delivering BI applications while they sort out their platform/database discrepancies isn't any big deal--especially when you are creating applications in minutes that can work with either system.

Testing that out online is easy enough, but if you want to really put it to the test with your own files, drop us a line and we'll show you how.

Congratulations to our iPod Touch winner!

Congratulations to Lionel Halvorsen of the City of Farmers Branch, TX who won our Fall giveaway of the brand new iPod Touch!

And, thank you again to those of you who went the extra mile and participated in our mpowerment quiz to identify the kinds of topics, industry news, and product information you'd like to see from us in 2008.

It's not too late! Just take this two minute mpowerment quiz and tell us what kinds of information you could use to be even more successful in the coming year!

Web Application Tip: How to hang with the big boys

Small and midsize companies can use basic technologies and outside service providers to collaborate seamlessly with larger partners, and do it for very little. Here's how»

And, if you'd like to see a real life example of how one customer has been able to improve collaboration with their partners, take a look at this case study.

Give us your insights--win an iPod Touch.

We're drawing the winner of an iPod Touch, Wednesday, November 21.

Take this two minute survey to help us stay "in touch", and enter to win this iPod Touch. (Get your surveys in before 11:59, CST, November 21 to be eligible.)

Leftover Modernization: Homemade Turkey Pot Pie

It's time for that age-old question. What to do with all of that leftover turkey? Here's a great way to turn it into something fresh and new!

Here's our closely guarded recipe for Homemade Turkey Pot Pie

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at mrc!

Best face forward: The importance of Web design.

If you do not enlist the aid of a qualified graphic designer in developing your web applications, you need to take a look at this forum post.

Top 10 mistakes of creating self-service Web applications--and how to avoid them

This CIO magazine article is one of the most useful Web articles I have read recently. It's targeted to developers creating self-service Web applications for suppliers, partners, customers, and prospects...but the underlying advice is universal.

Here are the top 10 mistakes companies make in introducing self-service...and how you can avoid them.

Web Design Tip: Taking advantage of white space in your Web apps: A quick how-to.

When you're putting together the graphical elements for your Web applications, one of the most important elements is one that you probably take for granted...Space.

What Every Manager (IT or otherwise) Should Know About Feedback

Here's an interesting article from CIO magazine that every IT leader, and really every manager should read about sharing information and communication...including the three elements of effective feedback.