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

Technical Advise Week #22 - Resolution?!

As we sit on the edge of yet another year it serves us to reflect on 2007 and set about to set resolutions for 2008. 2007 was a really crazy year with lots and lots of new adventures, pursuits and the journey into the unknown corners of technology. We are sure that some of you are wondering where is the technical content (hint... look into the manuals and don't wait for us to read that bedtime story to you, haha!). Technical content is in the eye of the beholder and for most it's not enough to know a particular technology but rather it's an opportunity to ponder directions and avenues. Why would anyone wish to taken on a technology that is slated for the graveyard? Rather, we hope that our weekly rants serve to stimulate you to take an interest, blaze a trail, and to walk boldly forward. Heaven knows one would be the first to accept this advise, if they knew that success was just around the corner. On the other hand, many would prefer to hide their reluctance behind words of disbelief and ridicule for those who poke and prod them forward. Our joint resolution, for Max & I, is to never stop exploring and challenging the edges of the technology spectrum. Whether it's new found aspects of ERP or whether it's building an industry such as what we are doing with maturing the outsource supplier in far away places, we will continue to do this again and again. Humans have been quick to point out that a dog is man's best friend, and that a dog never forgets. We hold this as true from first hand account and for these reason we are fiecely loyal to our readership, to our parents and to the technology we love. So blow the horn, toast another year past and look forward to the future, not as a follower but as a leader. From Mabel & Max Happy New Year 2008! We look forward to stimulating your mind and your interests.