Technical (Installment) Advise Week #43/45 - Tough Economic Times

Well we thought that doing a weeking piece would be easy. However, as we discovered it isn't and therefore we end up skipping weeks. So although we are still going to do our best to meet with this objective we have decided to properly label these pieces as 'Installments'. This way we don't have to count how many we have missed and can simply provide another in sequential order.

Max & I feel compelled to discuss the tough economic situation we are in. While many point to the present laments, like gas prices or housing market slump, as the precipitating factors, it is in our humble belief that these are simply 'tipping' factors (those things that illuminate systemic problems that exists). We heard yesterday that there have been discussions of GM filing for bankruptcy. Obviously gas prices have has some effect but is anyone asking questions about the frameworks that inhibits their ability to change, the excessive assessment maze that they undertake to qualify a supplier (with little value effect), or the inability of the company to be innovative and adaptive? Obviously GM is or may be in the forefront, but we can assure you that there are 1000's of companies that are in a similar situation. The talk about stockholder value yet they are depriving shareholders of value through diminished ROI (and to compensate ravage the workforce to generate increased income, when the workforce isn't the problem, their framework for operations is). Then someone, with great scholarly abilities, draws aim on outsourcing and laments about job loss. Outsourcing is about making a business decision, just like buying hard commodities. Yet, the ROI that outsourcing affords is lost when operational problems here are pass along to the service provider. Then the contracts are carried out in a very hands off fashion and then the organization points to outsourcing being the problem. We are the problem! We are the problem because we speak a good story about our abilities and our accomplishment, yet with a brazen attitude we point to other surrounding factors as the cause. This leaves us at the doorstep of innovation. Are we innovative? We are deer in the headlights when confronted by challenges, and to go one step further we don't even see the signs. Did the housing boom expect to last forever? People were like drunken soldiers grabbing up whatever they could, at insanely high prices, and became self-indulgent with the feeling of being someone special. We heard a recent news account of a mortgage banker, who formerly worked at a fast food chain (does this give rise for question) who was making a six figure income. Now he was faced with selling of his guitars he had collected when working as this mortgage expert and can't find a job. Not to put him down but as some would say, "you can dress them up but that doesn't make them who they think they are". He is, for all intensive purposes, still a fast food cook. To expect that he's going to land another six figure job is a stretch and if accomplished it's a matter of luck and not a matter of ability. Where is the innovation? People fail because they rely on others and lack the basic ability to live outside the box (and I'm talking about going beyond just thinking outside there). We want innovation but lack the ability to do anything once it's presented. Often it's met with reluctance, reservation, or simply rejection. If this country and others (including outsourcing countries) want to be successful you have to break from tradition, you have to inject a level controlled innovation and stop relying on frameworks and processes that lack the ability to be comprehensive enough to cover all conditions. Frameworks and processes are great for the commonplace events, and even then they are limited. Let's make a pledge to throw open the age of innovation as the solution to our problems. Maybe we ought to consider the elimination of foreign aid to those oil producing countries that are (if we wish to blame them) directly assaulting us at the pumps? Is this innovation or opening our eyes? Till the next installment we remain INNOVATIVE!!!!!

Technical Advise Week #36/41 - Lost Count

It's not always appropriate to start this way but allow us to apologize for our absence. We simply haven't been on top of our game and we profusely apologize to our readership. On the other hand we kind of hoped that someone would have written to voice concern, complain or inquire... but sadly we got zip. Oh well, we hope that everyone is doing well, ready for summer holiday and have been able to get their projects to a point where they can be left for a brief moment in order that some much need relaxation can occur (much like the bit that Max & I had!).
We noticed upon our return a bit of a malaise in the IT community. What is that all about? Have we run out of steam, lost our innovation or have we move offshore our enthusiasm? Optimistically we hope that this simply reflect deep contemplation, while we are thinking that it's more a case of frustration and confusion. We hear laments ranging from organizational direction, or horribly founded projects, to wholesale movement of IT project development (without much cause other than a few choice people loving to make an occasional exotic trip to a country where they can enjoy the local cuisine). Only too soon do they realize that offshore project management is different, that problems that exist domestically contribute to failures offshore (and don't get resolved offshore either), and that 'high touch' PM is required to bridge gaps in application/business understanding, culture, communications and technological delivery. We often hear that the outsourcers don't understand, but they are technically capable (but are they or is this simply a kind gesture). If they were truly technically capable would they accept sub-standard work from us, or start working without confirmation, or set the tone for development rather than adopting practices that we have that may not fit (in context) the project that is being pursued? One of the reasons why Certellus Corporation formed the International Institute for Outsource Management (www.Int-IOM.org), was to develop the delivery source and guide the buyer through it's professional trade partners like the Outsourcing Institute, Frost & Sullivan and others. Outsourcing can be fruitful if approached with a solid foundation, utilizing viable & qualified service providers and setting realistic expectations. It can be good, but not as bad as it's been when using guided talents in a responsible way.
- Mabel & Max

Technical Advise Week #35 - We Have Arrived

We hope that you haven't been waiting too long for us. Dad has returned from pretty extensive travel and has is now able to capture our thoughts that have accumulated over the last few weeks.

During his travels we have been reading and researching business topics. How companies engage opportunities, develop the relationship and provide service. We thought everyone thought the same way as we do but there appears to be a gap. Companies outside of the US, possibly because of culture or country isolation have a very different view of how business is engaged. We thought we would list some of these thoughts with the hopes that we can get everyone on the same page in terms of thinking.

1. Businesses seldom buy via the internet, they use the internet to gather information and gain knowledge. Therefore the investment in websites, unless consumer driven, should be kept reasonable.
2. .PPT only works IF there is a person accompanying the presentation (face-to-face).
3. NO ONE will work for commission only sales services. The upfront investment of time and travel is prohibitive. In addition, most service providers will not pay until after they have been paid and based on satisfactory service delivery, these factors are too risky for commission only sales service providers.
4. Commission based rates are higher than normal ones since outsourcer service rates are lower and therefore the commission rate return is diminished . In addition, currency variations can also negatively impact commission rates.
5. Companies who outsource sales & marketing services need to understand that in order to promote them they need to be promotable. What does this mean? Viable, high quality staff resources, delivery capable, and credible. You can't simply boast about your abilities you must provide this information in an objective fashion.
6. Be realistic. One person's success (as of a point in time) does not mean that the same formula will produce success for you. If it was that easy why wouldn't everyone be successful?

We thought to start of we would give you something to think about. Next time we will discuss how to approach making a difference in generating business. - Mabel & Max

Technical Advise Week #34 - The Hills are Alive

Did you ever wonder what the tipping point of life is? What monumental event that would take place that would impact your life, your job, or your contribution to the 'world' that is most important to you? Maybe our thoughts are provoked by a movie we recently saw, "The Bucket List". It's about two guys, from two different ends of the spectrum in terms of social status who have been diagnosed with terminal cancer. They decide to make a list of things to do before they die, but to not just dream about it but do it. The backdrop is their families who either have turned away from them or view this as a selfish act. We wonder whether this is a bit like our technology/work contribution. If we knew that we only had a little bit of time (in the job, before retirement, or in life) would we have a list of things that we might wish to accomplish? Are they centered on us, or are they centered on our families (aka 'our business stuff'). While we have done any extreme thinking about this, because this was provoked by the weekend movie, we feel that we are living the 'bucket list' daily. For us, we live today as though there is no tomorrow. What is wonderful is that when there is tomorrow we are not only thankful for this but also are encouraged to continue our pursuit. Do you feel this way, or do you simply look at your today plate? In looking back, do you get discouraged with the path? Is this path because it wasn't driven by the immediacy of the work. For many organizations we need to renew our enthusiasm, drive and innovation. We need to learn to think, and not just look for a cook book answer to life (or business). I am sure that we could construct a cookbook that would cover 80% of the conditions, but we know deep down inside that it doesn't contribute to the betterment of our society. Canned answers are to easy, and when confronted with new unknowns that the cookbook will not work (and you need to rely on thinking). We hope you create your 'bucket list' and that it involves the seeking of information for feeding your knowledge. Off to the airport where we will be visiting Dusseldorf-Stockholm-Kiev-Tianjin. All the best, Mabel & Max.

Technical Advise Week #33 - Over-the-Edge

Have you ever wondered why people hang on so strongly to things that only a slight moment ago we were so quick to cast aside. Some would argue that this is the direct result of moving away from our safety zone, whereas others would contend that it's man's (or woman or pug...) nature to complain. Yes complain, not with cause but because it is so much easier to take the negative then to employ the positive. Yet... why is that when tests are built, or special efforts are exercised to do stellar development, that we turn a blind eye to preventative steps or negative testing (a trait for the purpose of bullet proofing an application)? We guess we would complain and deduce it's laziness, legitimized by time, than a concerted effort to do right engineering. So what do you think? Why do we over produce tests and work that has low yield yet turn a blind eye to potentially rich opportunities? Let us know.
We want to also give you a head's up that we will be quiet for the next three weeks but will return with lots of exciting news. So don't turn away... we will be back very very soon. - Mabel & Max

Technical Advise Week #32 - Proof

Hi and post-Happy Easter. We ate too many eggs and now we are feeling a bit slow today.
We decided that it was time that we talked about PROOF. Proof is one of those things that we all look for. We look for proof of delivery, proof of concept, proof of value, etc., etc. etc. Our desire is to make us feel that there will be certainty, and it doesn't materialize we use our proof to try and add reason as to why. The reality is that no two things are the same. No matter how hard we try, conditions change. With condition change so do the many things that we can't control. PROOF starts with trust. If you expect to force PROOF from a person the trust opportunity that you have quickly turns sour. We can think of allot of situation where proof is asked for:
- Proof of Employment
- Proof of Employment Work Habit (probably the worst thing to ask since most only give positive recommendations; when the most truthful are those companies who thought the employee was stupid when it was the other way around).
- Proof of Work/Work Relationships (most contracts prohibit discussions in this area) and
- Proof of Concept (actually this is a controlled experiment).
What we have experienced and found is that it starts with people-to-people (or pug-to-pug) relationships, if you don't have that... there is no need to seek proof. If you are looking for certainty, do it yourself (or take the risk and establish a collaborative effort to reach a goal). But don't try to turn proof into certainty! Till next week. Mabel & Max..... Out!

Technical Advise Week #31a - Balance & Harmony (Addendum)

We wanted to mention that our fellow technical advisor, Dexter, has moved and taken up permanent residency in PonteVedra, FL with a physician and a fellow technical advisor (we don't know the name). Max and I wish Dexter the best of luck and prosperity, his time with us was invaluable.

Technical Advise Week #31 - Balance & Harmony

A key to inner peace is when one is with self. You are probably all thinking that we are a bit off and that we are about to launch into a fuzzy place. The truth is that Balance & Harmony (the Chinese call it Fung Sui) must not only exist within ourselves but also in our surroundings. Dad was real fearful when Mom took a Fung Sui class in Hong Kong a month ago for fear that she would launch into an office rearranging frenzie. What we discovered is that Fund Sui is more that just the person, and just the physical... it's also the climate that we operate in. Business has made fervent attempts to pramatically solution. The success that have been made has not been from within the method or the technique, but from within the balance (harmony that exists). While we might not like to hear this, it's the effect of coincidence. The case that we put forth is this.... if it weren't coincidence, then why does a solution work for one and not another? As an IT organization looking to make change; whether to accomplish a new goal, foster a renewed cadence, or correct an ill how can we minimize the effect of coincidence. It is through Fund Sui or what we have coined as HIT™ (Holistic IT) a balance approach and a proactive coupling of the breath in an IT organization to not only make change but to be atune to opportunities. Over the last several years we have been, under much secrecacy, testing and tweaking this approach and are now proud to make it commercially available. We feel, to the pleasure of our customers, that we are not offering theory, but have been able to craft a working IT phylosophy for change. Not for purely that purpose but to be a viable, ROI based operation. Through exhaustive research, and that of other companies who didn't even realize that the work they were doing was helping to support our quest, did we discover that IT can flouish. Flourish, not for the sake of self-interest, but for the profitable contributation that it can make to our company and to the domestic IT communities that we reside within. Take some time to think about what you want IT to accomplish, and ask yourself whether a roadmap will get you there or whether a wholelistic climate will? Till next week.... Mabel & Max... over & out!

Technical Advise Week #27/28/29/30 - Responsible

Sorry for such a long time in posting to the blog. Travel, business commitments and attention to customer matters prohibited us from being 'responsible'. Yes, the word for the week(s) is responsible, and we must admit we weren't responsible. Since it's an election year we hear allot of fanfare concerning the candidates and how people are exercising their 'right' to vote. Yet it appears that their behavior is neither respectful, informed, experienced based or responsible. We make this comment, not because of our candidate not being formidable, but because it seems that responsible behavior is as missing as 'common sense' (which we believe now can be called uncommon sense). Even when someone gets caught red handed in a controversy, rather than acting in a responsible fashion, their sin is simply passed off with a 'I'm Sorry'. The reality is that they are not, and there lacks any form of remorse... so we say, "Act Responsible". My gosh, in most cases neither the penalty or the admission will result in anything different except that responsible behavior expunges the soul. In IT we have to active responsibly. No wonder IT leadership is reluctant to support us after having lived a lifetime of irresponsible behavior. Then we have a sudden burst of truthfulness we are confused by the lack of support. Maybe if we had acted responsible we would be feeling better about ourselves, and allot less concerned about what others might feel or think.

Mom & Dad returned from a successful business trip to Hong Kong and providing services to their growing clientele. A whole new batch of COOPMs were certified and steps are underway to release the GSC in North America. The work isn't done, but we hope that we are on the edge of making a difference in the world of IT, one that we have dedicated much of our life to. Till next week... Max & Mabel.....................OUT!

Technical Advise Week #26 - Happy Valentine's Day

Welcome and Happy Holiday Greetings from Max & I. We believe that the best gift that we provide is the honesty. For some, this is met with resentment, it doesn't feel good but with reflect one would see that this is given out of love... nothing more and nothing less. Over the past months we have gone on the roller coaster ride, going from moments of excitement to periodic points of despair. We decided that training is good station to take a moment of rest and reflection. People seek education for allot of reasons. Maybe it's to seek answers, possible used to justify approach, or to gain clarification on trusts (both misguided or misunderstood). One thing that training doesn't provide is correction to corporate ills. People fix problems, training may only provide hints and ideas that might be possible solutions. Ultimately it comes down to people. We can almost predict who will get value from the educational experience by the way they react to the interchange of information. Taking raw information and converting it to usable information provide confidence that there is a way to overcome the most daunting problems. When the information cannot be converted it puts forth the possibility that the investment of time is not well spent. It isn't at all uncommon for 'the to be trained' to lament about the difficulties they face, they are real and looming. Yet when compared to other engineering marvels one would equate the challenge to that of painting a house vs. painting a country, they are often not that insummountable. The participants needs to dig down deep in their talent pool, utilizing every bit of strength they have, to seek and probe (and not look for the answer but to full consume the process towards that end). Training doesn't solve problems, people solve problems. Problems may not be pervasive, they may in fact be sporatic and therefore it's more a case of a situation to manage rather than an opportunity to solve in a large way. We encourage all to be the best that they can't be, to overcome the temptation to slide into a moras of pity, and to be as good as you say you are. This is what management and organizations look for, leaders and not those that have given up before they have started.

Over the next couple of weeks we will be AWOL. Yes, part of team will be traveling to Asia (again) and we will hold down the domestic front. Please let us know if we can be of help. As always we can be easily contacted via email.

- Mabel & Max

Technical Advise Week #25 - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

We got thinking, after a very successful conference, that many of our friends and colleagues are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. What is perplexing us is whether this is caused by the work, the inputs to our work, or simply the result of too many years of abuse at the hands of an unwitting business climate. When you talk with others in IT they will often lament the work, and fantasize about hobbies or other ventures other than work. The spring has all but left their step and when challenged to move along in their chosen profession they sigh a breath and say it's too late to make changes. We almost feel a bit ashamed to say that we are having a ball. Maybe its because we can stretch out our abilities and our experiences fully and there are no holds/limits placed on our innovation. Will Max & Dexter love to be the creative ones, I (Mabel) chose to take these wild ideas and make reality from them. This goes without saying that Dad & Mom really help out too at least in terms of providing a reality check. We can only wish that Dad didn't have to travel so much. He is off again to China to help them build the capability of their outsourcing companies. Good for us as it keeps us in toys and food, but there are times when we simply enjoy his warm body in bed. Guess this shows that we have our own form of stress disorders, but it's not the type borne out of what we can't control, but from what we can.

Will be talking with you shortly and hope that everyone has or will have a pleasant weekend.

Mabel, Max & Dexter

Technical Advise Week #24 - Technical Conference

We decided that we shouldn't let another moment go by without having a major conference. Max and I decided to invite our new friend Dexter to provide some invaluable input and independent insight into his world of specialization. Dexter comes to us from the practical side, and has tremedous street smarts for his age. His area of specialization is assessments.

Assessments are an important status tool, it helps companies to determine where they stand and can be used to help promote improvements going forward. The best known assessment assessment is CMMi (Capability Maturity Model Integrated) and this has been around since the late 1980s and was introduced by Watts Humphrey of SEI. At the time of introduction is was simply CMM. There is also ITMark which is of a simplier form but is sized to support small to medium sized organizations (offered by the European Software Institute http://www.esi.es/).

There are specialized assessment like V&VMMx offered by Certellus Corporation (introduced in 1988 and is the only one that places heavy review on the use of automation, agile methods and uses a 21 KPA model), TMM that is promoted by Sogeti. There are also International Standard Organization appraisals (ISO) that evaluate capability and quality of delivery.

Many companies, especially those doing outsourcing, have found these useful in promoting their businesses. It shows consumers that the company is interested in improving their 'delivery' operations and also can point to an independent appraisal (vs. self-appraisals). Unfortunately, when buying services, especially far afield, one of the first questions asked is whether the company is strong enough to continue in operations. The International Institute for Outsource Managment provides a VIABILITY assessment that measures this aspect. Originally carried out by Certellus Corporation over 100 Global Star Certification (GSC) assessment around the globe. Many of these original assessments were done for the buyer, but today we are seeing more and more outsourcers seeing value in building their business and also providing a level of certainty about this aspect. As is often said, "You may be capable of delivering but if you aren't viable, you are going to be out of business!".

Hope you enjoyed our work for the week. We (Mabel, Max & Dexter) wishing you a happy and productive week.

Technical Advise Week #23 - Friend or Foe??

Over the few years of our life, and the many years of dad's life, the question of friendship has always found it's way into business. Despite dad's valiant attempts, the question of friendship has always be brought up as a question about business issues. His favorite response is "friends are friends and business is business". To this end he has held true to this and never has allowed one relationship to spill over into another.

Some would say that this is an impossibility, there has to be some degree of consideration. Let us share with you a few cases to illustrate that we are truthful in his conviction.

1. Friendships are not used as a basis for business offerings, in fact on more than one occasion he has turned away offers because of friendships. Some friendships continued but many fell by the wayside. While this makes dad sad, it was probably for the best as it relates to the people who were asking the favor.

2. On a few occassions friends were having personal problems, and asked for business concessions. Dad's view is simple, it's not my concern as a business about your personal issues, it is my concern as a friend only.

3. Making wise decisions in business is a far different situtation than making personal decisions. One cannot apply personal beliefs, then try and then transfer them to business (they don't even apply when trying to reach for similiarities in behavior).

Why do we say this? Your professional life is rich with relationships (some will become friends, whereas most are simply acquaintances). One would more than likely not trust acquiantances as a basis for making strategic business decisions. Friends will most likely not engage you in support for hard personal issues. Therefore it's like oil and water, they don't mix. A friend of dad's make the comment that business & friend relationships is like the farmer who wants as many eggs as possible but realizes that this isn't going to happen so he kills the chicken only to discover that the hen wasn't lieing, there really wasn't an abundance of eggs in the body. A business looks at facts, works from professional statements of agreement, and doesn't use friendship as a stick to pursuade events in a different direction. One will only find that when these sorts of things happen that the eggs aren't there.

Our advise, keep business in business and keep friendship out. It will serve you in the long term.

- Max & Mabel