Archive for 2006

How to Consult Around Web 2.0

RSS and Web 2.0 on December 11th, 2006 No Comments

I just gave a presentation last week to a consulting company about Web 2.0 and how they could leverage it to lead new and or add-on to existing sales.
It was fun to talk about a technology I am a bit crazy about and it was nice to be asked to be the “expert” on the [...]

My Latest Client

Project Management on December 4th, 2006 No Comments

I just had my final pre-engagement meeting with a prospective new client – a major player in the telecom infrastructure arena.  I was brought in to do an analysis of the current state of their Project Management to determine why they were experiencing difficulties in several key areas.  Their problem statement to me was, “We [...]

So What Is Web Evolution?

Website Evolution on December 4th, 2006 No Comments

I get asked a lot for an elevator pitch explaining what I mean when I say “Web Site Evolution”. Though it doesn’t qualify as an elevator pitch this is what I typically tell people….
If you are in business in 2006 you almost undoubtedly have a website. In fact, you probably also have at least one [...]

Principles of Website Evolution

Website Evolution on December 3rd, 2006 No Comments

Over the past few years I have been asked to Evolve or redesign many websites. In doing this I have distilled some simple principles that drive my process.
Whether it’s a marketing site or a full fledged web application when I am designing for the web I am designing sympathetically with the way people actually use [...]

Design by Goals

Website Evolution on December 1st, 2006 No Comments

I fervently believe, and history has born this belief out, that understanding the goals of a website is the single most critical factor in the success of any design project. This is a fundamental tenet of my approach to website evolution.

When I am working on a project I first strive to get a clear picture [...]

Real World RSS

RSS and Web 2.0 on November 14th, 2006 No Comments

As a consultant I get paid to provide answers and advice to my clients. Unlike some other consultants I strive to make sure that when I give advice it is based on common sense and in language that my clients can understand. To me doing the right thing for my clients means removing the shroud [...]

New view on Off-shoring

Insourcing on November 1st, 2006 No Comments

Anyone who knows me, has ever talked to me or has read the Insourcing section of my blog knows that I have not been a big fan of off-shoring. I have spoken and written against the practice for years for many reasons but mainly because it has never succeeded in delivering on its promise of [...]

Project Management Software

Project Management on September 20th, 2006 No Comments

Larry Cone just published an article titled, Letter to a PM – My Guilty Secret about his loathing of Project Management software. He expresses in a clear and concise manner how most PMs feel about PM software – Microsoft Project in particular.
Larry talks about how difficult it is to correct problems in MS Project once [...]

Outsourcing run amok

Insourcing on August 12th, 2006 No Comments

On March 24th The outsourcing Weblog ran published a post that said,
With the many challenges facing large pharmaceutical companies nowadays there is a need to reduce development costs by as much as 30-40%, while at the same time significantly shortening development cycle times. If outsourcing is to meet these challenges, new models of collaborative and [...]

What the hell is Insourcing anyway?

Insourcing on August 12th, 2006 No Comments

Depending on the research you read approximately 65% of the work done in American companies is project based.  The bad news is that most of these projects Fail. This is an indisputable fact. Many studies have been conducted over the past 10 years and they show with unanimity that the following three facts are true:
•    [...]