Outlook Teknologi Informasi Indonesia 2012

Oleh: Dr. Dimitri Mahayana

Sekalipun fisikawan Denmark ternama, Niels Bohr (1885-1962), pernah berucap bahwa “prediction is very difficult, especially about the future”, namun atensi akan apa yang terjadi di esok hari takkan pernah surut.

Setidak-tidaknya, pertanyaan tentang apa yang akan terjadi dalam sektor teknologi informasi Indonesia pada 2012, kerap menghampiri penulis. Dari yang bersifat konseptual hingga sisi pragmatis bisnis-nya.

Ini menjadi kian menarik dibahas, manakala jumlah pengguna internet Indonesia yang sudah tembus 50 juta, telah banyak mengubah tatanan. Bahwa teknologi informasi hari ini adalah keseharian yang masuk ranah consumer.

Teknologi informasi bukan lagi perangkat monopoli korporasi, atau sebagian golongan dengan akses kapital besar. Karena itu, mengabaikan consumer dalam semua kebijakan bisa menciptakan sebuah kesalahan besar.

E-Channel Revolution

Secara garis besar, ada empat poin utama --saling berkaitan--  yang akan terjadi tahun depan. Pertama, pergerakan mendatang akan terangkum  dalam sebuah konsep bernama e-channel revolution atau revolusi berbasis layanan dunia maya.

Frase ini merujuk pada situasi mulai meluasnya dan mengakarnya aplikasi internet dalam kehidupan keseharian masyarakat Indonesia. Dari mulai e-commerce, e-lifestyle, e-social, e-payment, e-banking, dan sejenisnya.

Ambil contoh Forum Jual Beli/FJB  Kaskus.us atau tokobagus.com yang nilai transaksi bulanannya sudah demikian besar. Kita tak pernah mengira bahwa orang Indonesia akan jual-beli produk di internet secepat dan sedahsyat ini.

Bahkan, saya amati, generasi muda saat ini lebih mencari dan membeli produk berbasis rekomendasi koleganya di internet --sekalipun di lingkungan sekitarnya sudah ada toko konvensional yang menjual produk serupa.

Transaksi Elektronik

Demikian pula dengan sistem pembayaran elektronik. Kini lazim ditemukan, sekalipun di level pedagang ritel di Glodok, yang seluruh transaksinya dibayar oleh sebuah perangkat keypad (misalnya milik BCA) untuk mentransfer seketika.

Dua contoh ini menunjukkan bahwa pembayaran dan transaksi telah mengalami revolusi amat signifikan. Kepraktisan, kemudahan, kekuatan jejaring, keamanan, dan kecepatan, telah mengubah preferensi prilaku masyarakat Indonesia.

Revolusi ini tentu akan membahayakan mereka yang masih bergerak pada paradigma bisnis lama. Kita cukup terhenyak dengan kenyataan bahwa Aquarius Dago, toko kaset iconic Bandung sekian puluh tahun lamanya, juga harus ditutup!

Ini pertanda bahwa cara orang mengakses lagu dan film sudah berubah luar biasa. Mereka tetap mau mengeluarkan uang untuk menikmati tembang favoritnya, namun dengan cara digital dan sophiscticated seperti RBT/ring back tone.

Apakah kita kini mencari dan mereservasi hotel masih dengan mendatangi tempatnya? Banyak fakta di tahun ini menegaskan bahwa pencarian dan reservasi hotel semacam agoda.com justru lebih diminati, terutama oleh masyarakat urban.

Yang Kolot, Tergerus

E-channel revolution juga telah menggerus banyak perusahaan kolot, bahkan salah satu toko buku terbesar di Amerika pun, harus menerima kenyataan bahwa Amazon.com menyalipnya dan kini kokoh jadi toko buku terbesar di dunia.

Seluruh perubahan berbasis layanan digital ini akan kian menguat tahun depan di Indonesia. ‘Taring’-nya bahkan bakal makin tajam karena segala bentuk dan variasi layanannya makin banyak dan mungkin di luar imajinasi kita.

Kekuatan layanan penunjang hidup digital ini bisa juga makin mengakar karena perangkat pendukung semacam smartphone-pun makin terjangkau. Belum dengan fenomena komputer tablet yang mudah ditemukan di lingkungan kita.

Generasi GIMI

Prediksi penulis tentang generasi GIM (gadget internet mobile) di awal 2011 lalu, yang dinamis namun tetap terkoneksi, bukan hanya terbukti di lapangan, namun juga terjadi melampaui prediksi dengan fenomena iPad.

GIMI atau gadget internet mobile iPad and iPad like be adalah istilah yang lebih tepat ketika kita melihat bahwa masyarakat Indonesia semakin mudah dan nyaman saat mengakses internet kapan dan dimanapun.

So, tahun 2012 akan menunjukkan kian maraknya fenomena GIMI di Indonesia, sehingga menciptakan mata rantai yang kuat dalam mewujudkan e-channel revolution. Mereka yang masih konservatif, berhati-hatilah!

Setelah e-channel revolution, prediksi kedua ini termasuk ancaman, yakni kasus risiko teknologi informasi yang lebih banyak di 2012. Kejadian sedot pulsa tahun ini, akan berulang sekalipun dalam bentuk yang berbeda.

Situasi ini adalah keniscayaan dari prediksi pertama. Dengan jumlah pengguna layanan teknologi informasi yang kian luas dengan perangkat keras pendukung semakin terjangkau, otomatis resiko pun membesar sendirinya.

Ketika pengguna e-commerce dan e-payment makin meluas, dengan natural kerentanan sistem maupun kemungkinan tindak penyimpangan akan muncul. Oknum internal dan eksternal dari sistem pembayaran akan datang sendirinya.

Secara simultan, prilaku moral hazard semacam meretas (hacking) hingga mencuri identitas (phishing) pun muncul. Ditilik dari sudut pandang manapun, kejahatan pastinya akan selalu mengikuti big fish—pasar yang gemuk.

Terulangnya Kasus Sedot Pulsa

Maka, besar kemungkinan kita akan kembali mendengar kejadian semacam sedot pulsa. Jika tahun lalu kasus risiko ini meledak di layanan seluler, bukan tidak mungkin tahun depan memporakporandakan pengguna internet.

Hal ini  wajar terjadi jika mengingat aksi preventif maupun tindak solutif regulator terkait tidak secepat dan setegas diharapkan. Kita belum melihat departemen terkait mewaspadai dan menangani kasus risiko dengan komprehensif, sehingga efek jera kurang muncul.

Jangankan menangani kasus besar yang merugikan rakyat secara massif, proses registrasi nomor prabayar seluler yang jadi pangkal banyak kasus risiko teknologi informasi ini pun, belum bisa ditangani dengan baik hingga kini.

Karena itu, e-channel revolution bisa menjadi peluang besar jika manajemen risiko dari regulator sudah tepat dan cepat. Atau malah menjadi kerugian besar di tahun depan (apabila manajemen risiko tidak diperhatikan dengan baik).

Pada titik ini, penulis mengimbau pemangku kepentingan terkait, terutama operator seluler, vendor teknologi informasi, dan perbankan yang dikoordinir Depkominfo agar makin concern dan selalu waspada pada manajemen resiko ini.

Business Intelligence

Prediksi ketiga adalah implementasi business intelligence di semua sektor industri. Dengan dorongan piranti lunak yang dimiliki, banyak pihak memikirkan bagaimana caranya agar bisnis makin optimal.

Intelijen bisnis adalah sistem yang menganalisa, mengelola, dan merangkum data bisnis yang ada (baik intern maupun ekstern) guna menghasilkan kebijakan bisnis yang efektif. Secara khusus, ini juga berfungsi memberi layanan lebih baik.

Bukan berarti tools ini sekarang tidak berfungsi, namun persaingan ketat yang mengarah ke hypercompetition tahun depan, bakalan menegaskan arti penting perangkat pengawas bisnis ini di masa mendatang.

Ditambah potensi dari e-channel revolution serta ancaman dari kasus risiko teknologi informasi, maka business intelligence pun bisa kian berperan dengan multifungsi. Baik sebagai perangkat pencegahan maupun pendongkrak bisnis.

Google Culture

Dan prediksi terakhir adalah terciptanya Google Culture di masyarakat Indonesia. Istilah ini mengacu kian bergantungnya masyarakat pada ‘Om’ Google dalam memulai, menjalani, dan menyelesaikan kesehariannya.

Mencari suku cadang/ bahan kuliah/ referensi/ rumah/mobil/album kenangan/ atau calon istri? Saat ini, seluruhnya kerap diawali oleh mesin pencari terbesar karya Larry Page dan Sergei Brin ini, sehingga semua seolah addicted.

Kita sangat percaya dengan kecanggihan mencari dan menyajikan berbagai info yang dibutuhkan dari Google, sehingga menanyakan informasi terkait ke tetangga atau keluarga inti tampak sudah malas dilakukan. 

Mungkin tak ada direktori atau perpustakaan luar biasa besarnya saat ini. Tak ada guru di dunia ini yang bisa menjawab apapun pertanyaan, dan tak ada mesin yang bisa menghadirkan seluruhnya. Google adalah rangkuman itu semua.

Lantas, dari data penemuan yang disajikan, mata kita pun terbuka sehingga akhirnya terus mengakses situs yang diperlihatkan tadi. Hingga pada akhirnya, pengguna asyik masyuk dan seperti terperangkap dalam dunia maya.

Peluang Bagi Indonesia

Tahun depan, budaya baru ini akan menghadirkan peluang bagi masyarakat Indonesia. Sebab, kita memiliki kesetaraan posisi dengan siapapun dalam mengakses informasi dan menggapai tingkat kemajuan dan intelektual paripurna.

Namun jangan salah, Google Culture juga banyak bahayanya! Sebab bakalan makin banyak pengguna, terutama dari kalangan remaja dan pemuda di Indonesia, yang akan menderita Attention Deficit Disorder/ADD.

Pada konteks ini, ADD adalah situasi di mana pengguna internet asyik dengan dunianya sendiri, sehingga dunia nyata di sekitarnya malah diabaikan. Raga mereka ada di sekeliling, tapi tidak dengan jiwanya.

Inilah tugas keluarga, orangtua, dan sekolah untuk menciptakan pengguna internet yang seimbang dan cerdas. Hmm, akhir kata, seperti kata Niels Bohr, prediksi esok hari memang sangat sulit, namun kita bisa melihat dari apa yang terjadi hari ini. Selamat datang 2012!


*Penulis adalah Chief Lembaga Riset Telematika Sharing Vision.

2012: The year that mobile tech stood still

By Donovan Colbert

December 26, 2011, 5:00 AM PST

Takeaway: Find out why Donovan Colbert isn’t holding his breath for major smartphone innovations in 2012.

I’m coming up on my “New Every Two” renewal, although that program has actually gone away as it used to exist for Verizon, and here’s the interesting thing — while I have a vague gnawing in the back of my mind about what new gadget I should pick up, and after having reviewed a half-dozen Android devices and a Windows 7 phone this year — I’m just not that excited about the new options in mobile phones that are currently available. Let’s discuss some of the concerns I have about smartphones in 2012.
First, I really like my Droid 2, and it does most of what I need pretty well. It’s a solid device with great durability and a very good slide-out keyboard. It has quirks, but it’s the devil I know — any future device is the devil I don’t know. I’ve been buying mobile phones since 1987, so I’ve had more than a few cases where my replacement phone left me longing for my previous device.
I’m afraid this speaks to a problem that smartphone manufacturers may run into. While Apple fans are happy to have a two year or even shorter recycle on their expensive mobile gadgets and have an almost irrational need to be on the latest and greatest version of iOS device, I don’t think the rest of the world is ready for such an aggressive upgrade cycle.
To me, it seems like devices are in a kind of purgatory where the release cycle doesn’t offer enough compelling reason to upgrade — and why it might be a better choice to wait another 18 months or so. A handful of devices on the market indicate some cool directions where mobile phones may be headed, but they’re not quite delivering on their promises yet.
Eventually, we need seamless integration of components with industry standards across manufacturers. For example, it would be wonderful if a keyboard dock from ASUS was port-functionally compatible with a device from Motorola. A modular, mix-and-match world of device compatibility — that is my dream. But there’s no way we’re going to see that in 2012. Still, some fledgling steps by Motorola are encouraging and make me wonder what kind of devices might hit the market by June or July 2012.
Recent news that the NTBS plans on recommending a comprehensive ban on talking while driving on mobile devices alone is troubling for the future of smartphones, as well. As proposed, this ban exempts in-car devices but not Bluetooth or other hands-free devices on regular mobile phones. Depending on how that shakes down, this could be a hot potato in 2012 for smartphones and wireless carriers.
Personally, I have an in-car phone that I rarely use. The voice recognition is fine for hands-free dialing, but there’s no real integration with my digital devices. I buy about 100 minutes a year and generally race to use them up at the end of my OnStar subscription period. This legislation could change all of that, because it makes a specific exemption for using devices installed by the car manufacturer.
If this legislation passes, we may see a move to Android head-units that replace factory stereos with in-car hands-free devices, as well as an increasing focus by auto manufacturers to build smart-device functionality into their cars at the factory. This is another place where there’s an outrageous opportunity for convergence.
Imagine an in-car device that hooks up to your factory speakers and offers hands-free, voice-activated, Siri-like functions — and the “detachable faceplate” becomes your mobile smartphone when you exit the car. I should really patent this design immediately, and then sue Apple, Samsung, and Motorola when they inevitably release this device. If this NTBS proposal is adopted as a federal mandate, I’d expect to see devices like this fast-tracked for consumer markets.
For the moment, there really isn’t a revolutionary or magical smartphone device shaking things up in the industry. Everything going on is a non-quantum evolution of current trends. When you show me a phone with 24-hours talk time and a 2 week standby time that delivers quad-core processing and is as thin as a RAZR, one that seamlessly docks into a number of accessories (including my in-car stereo head unit) and is built on an open standard, then you’ll have my attention.
How many of you think 2012 is the year when we’ll see such a device released to market? As for me, I’m not holding my breath for much more than the same old, same old in 2012.

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/smartphones/2012-the-year-that-mobile-tech-stood-still/4011

Smartphone apps that need to be created in 2012

By Jack Wallen

December 28, 2011, 5:00 AM PST

Takeaway: Jack Wallen provides his wish list of mobile applications that he’d like to see brought to life in 2012.

The applications found on the various marketplaces for smartphones have erupted over the last year. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, chances are it doesn’t exist — that’s right, there are applications that don’t exist that should.
Here’s my wish list of apps that should be created for smartphones in 2012. Some of these apps are pure fantasy, and some of them are ports of already existing applications.
Full backup: There are plenty of apps out there to back up SMS, contacts, phone logs, etc. What I want is an Acronis-like or Clonezilla backup that will create an image of my smartphone. With a tool like this, it would be simple to totally restore your phone (to your defaults, not factory defaults), as well as perform massive smartphone roll outs for a company.
Screenshots for Android: Have you ever tried taking screenshots on a non-rooted Android phone? It’s not a task for anyone without the patience of a saint and nerves of steel. To be honest, it’s a real pain. If you have a rooted phone, this is a no brainer –  but most users aren’t rooting their phones. The developers of Android really need to simplify this process.
Calendar reminders: There are tons of calendar applications, and so many of them do a lot of things — but one thing few do well is reminders. What I’d like to see is an integrated calendar that will either place a phone call to you or text you with reminders. And, to take this one step further, I would like to be able to specify the phone number used for those calls/text reminders.
Fall detection: This would be awesome. Imagine an app that could sense when a phone was about to fall. It would require some serious work and use of the accelerometer to detect if the phone is in a precarious situation — and, of course, the app would need to differentiate when the phone is in a purse or a pocket, so that it wasn’t always going off. An app like this could possibly help you avoid accidentally dropping your costly handset.
User block: I want to block people in every way possible. I want an application that will let me to block a user from calling, emailing, texting, messaging, or contacting me in any way via my smartphone. Allowing a user, with a single configuration option, to completely block an unwanted person on all levels would require full integration with the built-in contacts.
QuickBooks: A QuickBooks smartphone client would certainly make things a lot easier for some users. I have a lot of clients that are always on the go and need access to the QuickBooks. Most of them run LogMeIn Ignition and then use their desktops, but from a smartphone, that’s not a valid option (due to size constraints). The smartphone QuickBooks app would be a pared-down version of the real deal with basic functionality, so that users could enter and view data.
Printing: This one is a challenge, because not all printer manufacturers are creating drivers for printers. But at some point, smartphones will have to build some form of printer functionality into the platform. Yes, you can purchase various applications that add some basic printer functionality to certain printers, but having the ability to print from a smartphone is eventually going to become a necessity. Let’s build that into the system so it’s well integrated.
Claws Mail: I have yet to find a mail app on a smartphone that I like. They are all so limited and clunky. I want Claws Mail ported to Android. I would love to see it also ported to the iPhone, but that’s a redundancy that Apple would never allow. Claws Mail is lightweight enough that it could easily fit on the smartphone platform, and it’s flexible and powerful enough to appease power email users.
Barcode Scanner: I know, I know… these exist. But what I want to be able to do is use a barcode scanner to work with inventory. Have the camera integrate into a barcode scanner that would be able to interact with, say, QuickBooks Point of Sale. You could walk around your shop, scan barcodes, and enter amounts to do inventory.
Songbird: Although I hold some disdain for this app (for dropping the Linux version), it would be nice to have a music library application that was cross-platform, full-featured, and could play various file formats. The music players built into most smartphones just aren’t powerful enough. And while the developers are at it, an EQ feature would be nice. Thank you.
Abiword: I want a good word processor. Not a note taker, a cloud-based Google Docs app, or an MS Office-wanna be. I want a single-minded, easy to use, word processor. The most obvious choice for that is Abiword. Just make sure it doesn’t lose the ability to save in various formats — otherwise, it becomes useless.
OpenBravo POS port: I would love to see an Android edition of this tool that would allow the mobile client to easily connect to the server for the selling of goods or services remotely. There are security issues at stake here; but, if done correctly, this could be one heck of a deal maker!
I know that every smartphone owner has their own list of applications they’d love to see created. What about you? What applications are missing from the markets for your mobile device? Share your thoughts in the discussion thread below.


http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/smartphones/smartphone-apps-that-need-to-be-created-in-2012/4005?tag=content;selector-fd-river

Gartner predictions for 2012: More cloud, consumerization, loss of IT control

IT departments need to adapt now or be swept aside, Gartner warns

By Ann Bednarz, Network World
December 02, 2011 01:29 PM ET

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IT budgets and responsibilities are moving out of the control of IT departments and into the hands of others, thanks to trends such as consumerization and cloud computing, Gartner says in its vision for 2012 and the coming years.

UP FOR DEBATE: 33 hottest IT arguments
That means, to be successful, IT organizations will have to excel at relationship management and be adept at coordinating more widely distributed activities, according to Daryl Plummer, managing vice president and Gartner fellow.
"As users take more control of the devices they will use, business managers are taking more control of the budgets IT organizations have watched shift over the last few years," Plummer said in a statement. "The IT organization of the future must coordinate those who have the money, those who deliver the services, those who secure the data, and those consumers who demand to set their own pace for use of IT."

IT departments need to adapt now or be swept aside, Plummer warned.
With that in mind, here are Gartner's top 11 predictions for 2012:

1. Low-cost cloud services will cannibalize up to 15% of top outsourcing players' revenue by 2015.

Just as low-cost airlines disrupted the transportation industry, the projected $1 trillion IT services market is facing further disruption from industrialized low-cost IT services (ILCS), which Gartner describes as "an emerging market force that will alter the common perceptions of pricing and value of IT services." Vendors will need to invest in and adopt a new cloud-based, industrialized services strategy, the research firm says. (Read a PDF "The cloud changes everything.")

2. The investment bubble will burst for consumer social networks in 2013, and for enterprise social software companies in 2014.

In the consumer social network space, there's a large crop of vendors with overlapping features competing for a finite audience. In the enterprise market, small vendors are struggling to grow, consolidation is imminent, and big players such as Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, Google and VMware are muscling in on the action, Gartner says. "While substantial excitement will be raised by private firms going public, valuations of smaller independent vendors will diminish as recognition sets in that the opportunities for market differentiation and fast growth has eroded."

3. At least 50% of enterprise email users will rely primarily on a browser, tablet or mobile client instead of a desktop client by 2016.

As the options for email clients continue to grow, the need for mobile device management platforms will soar and suppliers will be pressured to support more collaboration services, including instant messaging, Web conferencing, social networking and shared workspaces, Gartner predicts.

4. Mobile application development projects targeting smartphones and tablets will outnumber native PC projects by a ratio of 4-to-1 by 2015.

"Smartphones and tablets represent more than 90 percent of the new net growth in device adoption for the coming four years, and increasing application platform capability across all classes of mobile phones is spurring a new frontier of innovation, particularly where mobile capabilities can be integrated with location, presence and social information to enhance the usefulness," Gartner says.

5. 40% of enterprises will make proof of independent security testing a precondition for using any type of cloud service by 2016.

Third-party testers won't be the only way for enterprises to evaluate cloud services for their security capabilities. Inspectors' certifications will become a viable alternative or complement to third-party testing, Gartner says. "This means that instead of requesting that a third-party security vendor conduct testing on the enterprise's behalf, the enterprise will be satisfied by a cloud provider's certificate stating that a reputable third-party security vendor has already tested its applications."

6. More than 50% of Global 1000 companies will have stored customer-sensitive data in the public cloud by year-end 2016.

Under pressure to reduce costs and operate more efficiently, more than 20% of organizations are already selectively storing customer-sensitive data in a hybrid cloud environment, Gartner says.

7. 35% of enterprise IT expenditures for most organizations will be managed outside the IT department's budget by 2015.

Business managers and individual employees are demanding more control over the IT expenditures related to their jobs. "CIOs will see some of their current budget simply reallocated to other areas of the business. In other cases, IT projects will be redefined as business projects with line-of-business managers in control," Gartner predicts.

8. 20% of Asia-sourced finished goods and assemblies consumed in the U.S. will shift to the Americas by 2015.

Many companies that serve the U.S. market will shift their sources of supply from Asia to the Americas, including Latin America, Canada and the U.S., thanks to political, environmental, economic and supply chain risks, Gartner says. "Except in cases where there is a unique manufacturing process or product intellectual property, most products are candidates to be relocated."

9. The financial impact of cybercrime will grow 10% per year through 2016, due to the continuing discovery of new vulnerabilities.

Growth in consumerization and cloud computing will lead to the introduction of new software vulnerabilities and attack methods by financially motivated hackers, Gartner warns. "The combination of new vulnerabilities and more targeted attacks will lead to continued growth in bottom-line financial impact because of successful cyber attacks."

10. The prices for 80% of cloud services will include a global energy surcharge by 2015.

Some cloud data center operators already include an energy surcharge in their pricing package, and Gartner expects to see more providers follow suit. Business and IT leaders should be prepared to see it included in future cloud service contracts.

11. More than 85% of Fortune 500 organizations will fail to effectively exploit big data for competitive advantage through 2015.

Most organizations are in no shape to handle the technical and management challenges posed by big data, Gartner says. "Collecting and analyzing the data is not enough -- it must be presented in a timely fashion so that decisions are made as a direct consequence that have a material impact on the productivity, profitability or efficiency of the organization." As a result, most won't be able to exploit available data for competitive advantage.
For more details, check out Gartner's report, "Gartner's Top Predictions for IT Organizations and Users, 2012 and Beyond: Control Slips Away."
Ann Bednarz covers IT careers, outsourcing and Internet culture for Network World. Follow Ann on Twitter at @annbednarz and check out her blog, Occupational Hazards. Her email address is abednarz@nww.com.

http://www.networkworld.com/news/2011/120211-gartner-predictions-253709.html

Fearless open source predictions for 2012

By Jack Wallen

December 26, 2011, 6:00 AM PST

Takeaway: Jack Wallen makes his annual predictions for the coming year. It’s going to be a banner year in many ways. See if you agree with Jack’s prognostications.

Ah, the sweet smell of a new year. Although I have to admit, 2011 wasn’t the best of years for Linux and open source, it certainly wasn’t the worst. But what 2011 did do was build a nice solid base for things to come. And I believe 2012 will be a vastly improved year for our favorite software and platform.
I won’t go as far to say that 2012 will finally be the year of the desktop for Linux — I think that flag has flown enough over the last decade (and to no avail). But, the good news is that the desktop landscape is about to see some serious changes as the multi-touch form factor starts to take a larger role. But more on that later. So, what is possible (besides ‘anything’) for the up-coming year? Here are my prognostications.

Ubuntu Unity finally gets some respect

I’ve made my distaste for Unity well known. I’m not at all against change — in fact, I invite the beast into my home and heart. But the change Ubuntu made with Unity wasn’t a step forward (at least not like the change brought about by GNOME 3). But 2012 should see a major upswing with this desktop. How? Why? Simple: Tablets. I believe Canonical has another trick up their sleeve and we will finally see that Linux tablet arrive on the market, sporting Ubuntu and Unity. When this happens, we will finally see the “why” of Unity.
The main reason Canonical made this change was so that they could support Ubuntu on all devices — that had to include tablets. Anyone with a modicum of intelligence would have seen the rise of tablet hardware coming when Ubuntu 11.04 (2011) was being released. Mark Shuttleworth couldn’t have been immune to the future of tech when he made the decision to go with Unity. That future had to include tablets.
Granted, Shuttleworth has said the plan was to have Ubuntu and Unity ready for tablets in two years; I believe a surprise will come about this year and the first of the Linux tablets will appear.

Minty fresh future

Linux Mint will continue its rise to the top of the Linux desktop distributions. Actually, it won’t continue it’s rise, it will completely take over the top spot as the number one Linux desktop distribution — and this won’t just be on Distrowatch. 2012 will see Linux Mint win over the hearts and minds of users, media, business, and anyone else looking for a solid Linux desktop. With it’s unique additions to GNOME 3 and solid foundation, it’s already doing everything other distributions have tried to do but failed.

A new player in the enterprise

I feel strongly that a new enterprise-ready Linux platform will appear, seemingly out of nowhere. At the moment, the only real player in the market is Red Hat Enterprise Linux (SuSE Linux Enterprise Desktop has pretty much failed). That’s going to change. 2011 was a banner year for server sales and someone is going to come out to play on that playground. It would not surprise me if we see a company basing a server on the Ubuntu Server platform, only with a hardened security and an added GUI.

GnuCash gets a server side

I know it might not seem so, but this will be HUGE. As a certified QuickBooks engineer, I would welcome this. Why? On a daily basis, I see clients who cannot afford to keep QuickBooks running or update to the latest issue (I saw a client with QuickBooks 5 recently). The GnuCash developers know how much of a deal maker it would be if they came out with a client/server setup and I believe 2012 might finally see the first alpha release of this. When this happens, you can bet I will be hopping right on that bandwagon and pimping it everywhere I can.

SLED will fade away

SuSE Linux Enterprise Desktop will, sadly enough, fade out of existence. This writing has been on the wall ever since SuSE was taken over by the anti-Midas touch of Novell. But never fear, openSUSE will continue on and, as I mentioned earlier, another player will arise in the Enterprise market. Hopefully this will be a lesson for any other Linux or open source developer team — do not allow a company with a poor track record to take you over!

An end to the law suits

Finally. Yes, finally… we will see an end to the law suits that have plagued and confused the media, the end users, and the companies over the last five years. The witch hunts are over. We can breathe easily as no more bloodthirsty lawyers will be blindly chasing ambulances through the open source community.

Strong server sales

2012 will follow in the footsteps of 2011 Q2 with big spikes in server sales. 2011 Q2 saw Linux server sales outshine those of Windows servers, 2012 will repeat this, only the outshining will not be limited to a single quarter. I predict half of the year will see Linux server sales outdo Windows server sales.
Okay, so the dangerously bold predictions of the base (world domination, year of the desktop) are gone, to be replaced by more sane predications that are actually possible. What do you think? Are my predictions off? If so, how and why? What are your predictions for Linux and open source in the coming year?

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/opensource/fearless-open-source-predictions-for-2012/3309

Five top issues facing CIOs in 2012

By Scott Lowe

December 14, 2011, 4:46 AM PST

Takeaway: Here are five issues that will rise to the CIO’s forefront as we make our way through the coming year.

I believe that IT is at a crossroads.  In some of my recent blogs at TechRepublic, I’ve discussed how the role of the CIO must evolve in order to stay relevant, but that’s not really anything new; IT has always had to evolve and the role of the senior IT leader has always been one of tremendous change.  With that in mind, here are five issues that I believe will rise to the forefront as we make our way through the coming year.  Obviously, there are more, but these are five that I believe will be especially important.

Employee satisfaction

Depending on the day of the week, how Europe looks and what color the sky is, we’ve either exited the recession, are at the tail end of it or are moving into a double-dip.  Regardless, it’s safe to say that workers in America have faced ever-mounting pressures over the past few years as organizations have executed multiple rounds of layoffs and consolidated the downsized work force into the remaining employees.  There is no end to the stories about the people that have been left behind to continue operating the same workload with fewer people.  There have been reports in recent weeks about a possible uptick in IT hiring in 2012.  As more jobs become available in 2012, those that have been downsized will surely rush to fill these newly opened slots, the risk of losing really key people in your organization will also rise.  While some companies have adopted a “people should just be happy that they even have jobs” mentality (yes, I heard that exact phrase uttered from the CFO of an organization that publicly purports to care about its people!), those attitudes will have to change if these same companies intend to retain top talent.  As a CIO, you need to make sure your people remain challenged in a positive way and are fairly compensated and also make sure that they’re not on the road to burn out.

Bring Your Own Device

As I peruse blogs and articles and even as I write some, the topic of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) keeps appearing.  In many cases, the articles are encouraging CIOs to jump on this growing trend while others vehemently oppose it.  Personally, I believe that BYOD will prove to be an unstoppable force.  If it’s not done already, many CIOs in 2012 will find it necessary to craft a policy and procedure framework around support of these devices.  These policies and procedures don’t need to include support for anything ad everything, though; in fact, the right policies and procedures will continue to limit and control exactly what can and cannot be done with corporate resources in order to maintain high levels of information security and make it possible for the organization to remain firmly in control or organizational information assets.
However, without such a framework, CIOs are left with, at best, the options of simply saying “No” to everything or providing support on an ad hoc and potentially inconsistent basis.  Neither are acceptable.  The CIO that simply says “No” to everything will find an organization with vast “shadow IT” resources as employees and even executives begin to simply ignore the edict.  CIOs provide ad hoc support will find themselves having to support anything and everything under the sun and, without thorough vetting of a set of procedures, may place organizational information assets at risk.
In 2012, those CIOs that have thus far resisted the iPad revolution will need to find ways to embrace this technology.  Live, eat and breath mobililty!

The democratization of IT

Regardless of industry and governance structure, there has generally been an autocratic element to IT and with good reason; IT and the services and data supported by this function is the lifeblood for many companies.  In a previous article at TechRepublic, I mentioned that a skill that CIOs must master involves aligning increasingly unit-driven technology decisions with the organization’s technology and strategic plans.  As units continue to attempt to go it alone with their IT purchases, it becomes more important than effort for the CIO to manage the chaos.  Note that I did not say control the chaos.  In 2012, it will be more important than ever for the CIO to exercise his business-savvy nature and ensure that he has strong and positive relationships with his peers in order to help drive them in a direction that makes sense for the organization even as technology decisions become more distributed.

Being or becoming the “2015 CIO”

I recently wrote an blog here at TechRepublic outlining what I’ve seen many pundits detail as the CIO of 2015.  In that article, I discuss why I believe that the future is now and that those CIO 2015 traits are one that are or will become absolutely critical in 2015.  If you’re a CIO that is inwardly-facing - that is, focusing primarily on the daily routine of IT - it’s time, to identify a key lieutenant to assume those duties so that you can refocus your efforts on more strategic and more value-add services.
I fully expect to see many, many current CIOs in the coming years either relegated to technology directors while the CFO assumes strategic technology initiatives or removed and replaced with one that can move IT beyond the tactical.
That’s not to say that these CIOs have done anything wrong at all.  However, many will have difficultly adapting to the changing environment.

Dedicating resources to the value-add

This has been a growing need for a long time but is coming to a head in many organizations.  It’s generally accepted that ongoing IT operations consume 80% or more of IT staff time leaving, in many cases, no more than 20% of time for value-add project work.  This fact has always frustrated IT executives as well as their business peers who continue to have more and growing demands.
In 2012 (or before if you have the chance!), CIOs need to find ways to drive inefficiency out of IT organizations in order to reduce this 80% to something less.  Let me be clear: I realize just how difficult it can be to achieve this goal.  If it was an easy goal, it would be done already.
For organizations that have already realized the maximum level of efficiency they are likely to achieve, if you’re still reeling from overwhelming project lists but you’re dedicating 50% of your staff time to the workload, it’s time to request new resources, adjustments to the project list or consider strategic outsourcing to accomplish goals.

Summary

I don’t know of a lot of fields that have to readjust priorities and operations in as significant a way as CIO have to adjust on an annual basis.  This list is just the five issues that strike me as increasingly important as we move into 2012.

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/tech-manager/five-top-issues-facing-cios-in-2012/7073

Natal Momentum Kembali pada Kesahajaan

INILAH.COM, Jakarta – Momentum Natal mengajak umat manusia kembali pada kebenaran hidup yang paling mendasar yaitu kebersahajaan. Menjamurnya budaya korupsi di Indonesia disinyalir akibat terkikisnya nilai kesahajaan itu.

Rohaniawan Romo Mudji Sutrisno mengatakan, Natal bermakna kelahiran kembali yaitu lahirnya keselamatan, pengharapan, dan lahirnya hidup yang baru seperti bayi yang sederhana dan penuh kesahajaan. Pada saat panggung negara penuh dengan korupsi, kebusukan, ketidakadilan, politisasi, dan ekonomisasi menandakan hilangnya penghayatan terhadap Natal.

Untuk itu, Mudji mengajak agar Natal 2011 dijadikan momentum untuk kembali pada kebenaran hidup yang paling mendasar yaitu kebersahajaan. "Menjamurnya korupsi karena kita sudah tidak lagi bersahaja. Koruptor sesungguhnya keluar dari kesahajaan dirinya," katanya kepada INILAH.COM, di Jakarta, Sabtu (24/12).

Menurutnya, munculnya skandal Bank Century senilai Rp6,7 triliun, makelar kasus hokum, PNS Muda dengan uang miliaran rupiah di rekeningnya, sangat bertentangan dengan makna Natal. Semua itu adalah jabatan dan otoritas yang merupakan budaya warisan para priyayi di zaman post-kolonialisme. Bahkan, kepriyaian seorang Romo pun dinilai sebagai jabatan. "Kiyai pun dihayati sebagai status. Begitu juga dengan profesor," ujarnya.

Padahal, kata Romo, semua itu harus dihayati sebagai pelayanan. Saat ini, pelayanan berhenti hanya sebatas slogan. Ironisnya, semakin banyak slogan 'melayani', semakin menunjukkan something wrong dengan pelayanan itu sendiri.

Ia menegaskan perilaku korup, benar-benar merupakan akibat dari ketidakbersahajaan dan raibnya sikap apa adanya. Selalu memakai semua kekuasaan, jabatan, dan status untuk menggelembungkan ego-ego.

Karena itu, Romo mengajak, agar Natal dimaknai sebagai kebersahajaan yang muncul dalam palungan bayi yang lahir. Jika Allah sendiri mau menggunakan kebersahajaan untuk jalan penebusan, semua umat manusia akan mati dengan kesahajaan. "Tidak ada yang bisa dibawa ke akhirat, kubur, selain kesahajaan itu sendiri," timpalnya.

Kesahajaan saat ini hampir sirna. Pasalnya, agama dan ekonomi sudah dipolitisasi. Sebaliknya, politik pun mudah diekonomisasi. Pada akhirnya manusaia menjadi pecah. Baik kalah maupun menang menjadi pertengkaran meskipun masih sesama bangsa. "Padahal, jika kita semua rendah hati, berdoa di setiap kelahiran anak kita, dan kelahiran kita sendiri, semua itu mengajak kembali pada ketulusan kita sendiri," paparnya.

Natal, merupakan gugatan untuk belajar mendengarkan nurani. Pasalnya, ekonomisasi membuat orang dinilai, diukur dan dihitung berdasarkan uang, untung rugi, dan kaya-miskin. "Momentum Natal ini saya mengajak untuk mencintai hidup mulai dari masa kecil sejak kita menjadi bayi," urainya.

Bayi merupakan jalan kehidupan. Inilah jalan peradaban. Inilah jalan merayakan kesahajaan hidup dalam kebudayaan yang sudah sejak lama ditinggalkan. Tradisi nusantara mengajarkan untuk hidup sebagaimana adanya. "Kesahajaan dirayakan, dimuliakan, dan diperindah. Memayu hayuning bawono," ucapnya.

Kesahajaan, lanjutnya, terdapat pada semua tradisi dan perayaan-perayaan. Karena itu, Natal 2011 ini juga merupakan momentum untuk melawan konsumerisme dan reduksionisme manusia hanya pada uang, kekuasaan, penampilan dan citra diri. "Saat ini, politik, setelah media menempatkan citra seorang pemimpin bagus, Sang Pemimpin tidak lagi mendengarkan rakyatnya," ungkap Romo.

Di atas semua itu, Romo menegaskan, Natal harus dijadikan semacam budaya tandingan (counter culture). Natal tidak dimaknai sebagai konsumerisme, gebyar-gebyar pesta, melainkan kembali kepada kaum papa, anak-anak yang ditinggalkan orang tuanya, dan panti asuhan.

Natal juga merupakan kepedulian kepada yang terpinggirkan. "Karena itulah, kita diundang untuk merayakan Natal kembali pada kesahajaan dan bukan untuk pestanya," imbuhnya. Selamat Natal 2011—Kebaikan dan Kedamaian Selalu Menyertai Anda Semua.
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SELAMAT NATAL 2011 & TAHUN BARU 2012

SELAMAT NATAL 2011 & TAHUN BARU 2012

KIRANYA KASIH ALLAH DALAM DIRI YESUS KRISTUS MENGIRINGI LANGKAH KECIL KITA DALAM MENJALANI HIDUP INI, SEHINGGA HIDUP KITA MENJADI HIDUP YANG BERGUNA UNTUK ORANG LAIN, MEMBANGUN JIWA DAN KEMANDIRIAN KITA BERSAMA, SAMBIL MENUNGGU DATANGNYA KEMBALI SANG JURUSLAMAT.

TUHAN MEMBERKATI KITA SEMUA.

ManageEngine Integrates Desktop Central and ServiceDesk Plus

The Integration of Desktop Management and ITIL Help Desk is the First Step in Meeting a Growing Demand for Integrated IT OperationsAUSTIN, Texas - December 8, 2011 - ManageEngine, makers of a suite of network, systems, applications, and security management software solutions, today announced the integration of Desktop Central and ServiceDesk Plus. Desktop Central provides centralized, web-based desktop management capabilities. When integrated with the ServiceDesk Plus ITIL help desk functionality, this combination of real-time IT management systems can help reduce resolution times and increase the productivity of service operations tasks. A free, 30-day, fully functional trial edition is available at http://ow.ly/7R4ke.
The IT operations team of large and medium enterprises uses a help desk system to track the user requests related to desktop management. Requiring team members to use one tool to manage incidents and another for request fulfillment is inefficient and introduces opportunities for error. By integrating these systems, help desk personnel can track requests and take action through a single pane of glass.
"As the adoption of enterprise software rises, demand for an integrated solution to manage IT operations increases in parallel. The integration of desktop management and the help desk is our first step in meeting this demand," said Mathivanan Venkatachalam, director of product management at ManageEngine. "By improving operations efficiency, enterprises are increasing the value they provide to their users, while bringing down their operations costs."

Optimized for Real-time Response

Integrating desktop management with the help desk is advantageous in many ways:

• Single sign-on – Removes the hassle of logging into multiple tools and applications for incident management and request fulfillment. 
• Increased productivity – Taking action on the desktop management tasks is just a click away, which saves the time spent on resolving the problem. 
• Enhanced auditing capabilities – It is easier for enterprises to audit the tasks performed from a single solution than to collate information from multiple tools. 
• Achieve 360-degree ITIL process implementation – ITIL process is not complete without service operations. Integrating desktop management capability into the help desk enables enterprises to complete their ITIL process cycle from a single solution. 

Video clips of IT leaders describing their Desktop Central implementations can be seen on the ManageEngine website at http://ow.ly/7N9v6.

Availability and Pricing

A free, 30-day, fully functional trial edition is available at http://ow.ly/7R4ke. A free version that can manage up to 25 computers is also available. Pricing starts at $545 for 50 computers under a single license. For additional pricing information, visit our store at http://ow.ly/7N9t8.
For more information on ManageEngine Desktop Central, visit http://www.manageengine.com/desktop-central/, and for more information on ManageEngine Service Desk Plus, visit www.manageengine.com/servicedeskplus.
For more information on ManageEngine, please visit www.manageengine.com; follow the company blog at http://blogs.manageengine.com, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ManageEngine and on Twitter at @ManageEngine.

Related ManageEngine News

• ManageEngine Releases iPhone App for Help Desk Management; http://ow.ly/7HSzQ
• ManageEngine Enables Mobile Access to On-Demand IT Help Desk Application; http://ow.ly/7hRW1
• ManageEngine Desktop Management Solution Controls Business Software Expenditures, Enforces USB Restrictions; http://ow.ly/7NabB 

About ManageEngine Desktop Central

ManageEngine Desktop Central is a complete Desktop Management Software that provides Software Deployment, Patch Management, Service Pack Installation, Asset Management, Remote Control, Configurations, System Tools, User Logon Reports and Active Directory Reports. It is a network-neutral solution that can be used to manage desktops in Active Directory, Workgroups, or other directory services-based networks like Novell® eDirectory. It can manage computers in multiple domains and can also manage computers across WAN (branch offices). It comes in two flavors - one for an in-premise installation for Enterprises and the other for Managed Service Providers (MSPs) to manage their clients’ desktops. For more information on ManageEngine Desktop Central, visit http://www.manageengine.com/desktop-central/.

About ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus

ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus integrates help desk requests and assets for managing organizations' IT effectively. It helps to implement ITIL best practices and troubleshoot IT service requests faster. ServiceDesk Plus is highly customizable, easy-to-implement help desk software. More than 10,000 IT managers worldwide use ServiceDesk Plus to manage their IT help desk and assets. ServiceDesk Plus is available in 23 different languages. For more information about ManageEngine ServiceDesk Plus, visit www.manageengine.com/servicedeskplus.

About ManageEngine

ManageEngine is the leading provider of cost-effective enterprise IT management software and the only one making the 90-10 promise - to provide 90 percent of the capabilities offered by the Big 4 at just 10 percent of the price. The ManageEngine suite offers enterprise IT management solutions including Network Management, HelpDesk ITIL, Bandwidth Monitoring, Application Management, Desktop Management, Security Management, Password Management, Active Directory reporting, and a Managed Services (MSP) platform. ManageEngine products are easy to install, setup and use, and offer extensive support, consultation and training. More than 50,000 organizations in 200 countries, from different verticals, industries and sizes use ManageEngine to take care of their IT management needs cost effectively. ManageEngine is a division of Zoho Corp. For more information on ManageEngine, please visit www.manageengine.com.
ManageEngine is a trademark of ZOHO Corporation. All other brand names and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

Membaca Karakter Seseorang dari Raut Wajah

Kata orang, membaca karakter orang itu tidak semudah membaca buku, bahkan terkadang anda perlu bertahun-tahun untuk mengenal sifat dan karakter orang lain, bahkan, pasangan anda pun masih menyimpan banyak sekali rahasia mengenai karakter dirinya.

Salah satu panduan sederhana untuk mengenal karakter orang, adalah dengan melihat bentuk wajah dan raut wajahnya, siapa tahu anda bisa bertemu dengan pasangan yang cocok dari hal ini. Mari kita pelajari lebih dalam.

BENTUK WAJAH

Panjang dan tirus: Pemilik bentuk wajah seperti ini pada umumnya memiliki kesabaran dan keteguhan hati yang kuat. Pribadinya menarik dan akan sealu berusaha menyelesaikan semua tugasnya sampai tuntas.

Bulat: Wajah bulat adalah penanda orang yang penuh energi dan harapan. Pemilik wajah ini cenderung menjadi pusat perhatian, dan adalah orang yang sangat pandai untuk mencairkan kebekuan dimanapun dia berada.

Lebar: Selain mudah iba, kemampuannya untuk bertoleransi sangat baik, dikarenakan wawasan luas yang dimilikinya.

Persegi: Kecenderungan untuk menjadi orang yang individualis dan
memiliki keinginan kuat dalam mencapai mimpinya. Orang dengan bentuk wajah seperti ini tidak akan pernah bisa diam dan selalu cekatan dalam bergerak.

DAHI

Licin: Orang dengan dahi seperti ini sudah terbiasa untuk berpikir dan cepat dalam mengambil keputusan

Berkerut: Kerutan berupa garis-garis mendatar adalah tanda bahwa selain orang tersebut memiliki antusiasme yang luar biasa, dia juga mudah marah.

MATA

Tegang: Pemilik tanda ini adalah orang yang mudah tertekan dan mudah kuatir, dapat kita amati jika dibawah selaput pelangi (bagian yang berwarna) dan kelopak mata, terdapat bagian putih (mata terbuka lebar di bagian bawah) , dan bagian ini nampak di kedua mata.

Menantang: Orang yang memiliki ciri sebaliknya dari diatas (bagian putih berada diatas selaput pelangi), maka selain tanda bahwa orang tersebut mudah tertekan, orang tersebut juga galak.

Terpisah: Jika bagian putih tampak di sekeliling selaput mata, berhati- hatilah, orang tersebut cenderung tidak stabil secara psikologis dan mudah sekali marah.

Garis-Garis: Jika di bagian luar mata terdapat banyak garis kecil, maka orang tersebut biasanya ramah, murah senyum dan selalu merasa bahagia.

ALIS

Bagian ini seringkali merupakan indikator cara berpikir seseorang.

Lurus: Alis mata yang lurus mendatar, cenderung menunjukkan orang yang penuh gagasan dan suka berdebat.

Lengkung: Alis mata yang melengkung menunjukkan tipe orang yang memiliki sense humor yang sangat baik.

Tipis: Orang dengan alis mata tipis biasanya kurang percaya diri, apalagi jika alis tipis ini agak keatas, dan melengkung

Tersambung: Alis mata yang tersambung adalah bukti bahwa orang dihadapan ada adalah pemikir dan anda bisa menarik manfaat dari orang tersebut dengan memberikan semangat kepada mereka untuk membagikan gagasannya.

KELOPAK MATA

Sempit: Jika jarak antara bagian atas kelopak dan bulumata sangat dekat, maka orang tersebut mandiri dan biasa menjaga jarak dengan orang lain.

Lebar: Sebaliknya, jika jaraknya lebar, maka orang tersebut cenderung tidak bisa mandiri.

HIDUNG

Kecil: Pemilik hidung mungil pada umumnya memiliki pembawaan lemah, seringkali tidak bisa diandalkan, dan pikirannya cenderung
mudah diubah.

Besar: Hidung besar adalah tanda orang yang memiliki inisiatif, mantap dan karakter yang dipunyainya cukup kuat.

Pesek: Hidung yang besar dan pesek, biasanya akan dimiliki mereka yang tidak kaku dengan sekelilingnya, pragmatis, hanya percaya pada diri sendiri, mugah bergaul dan tidak takut.

Mancung:Pemilik hidung ini, biasanya dikatakan suka berterus terang, dan omongannya terkadang menyakitkan. Selain narsis berat, mereka juga susah mengambil keputusan, tapi memiliki kepekaan yang tinggi.

TELINGA

Kecil: Ukuran telinga yang kecil pada umumnya dimiliki mereka yang tahu apa yang mereka mau, dan juga adalah orang-orang yang suka bekerja keras.

Tajam: Umumnya orangnya kaku dan susah sekali merasa rileks

Telinga yang berambut: Pemiliknya, cenderun g sangat cermat dan teliti. Walaupun, waktu dan tenaganya sering habis hanya untuk mengurusi hal yang tidak terlalu penting.

DAGU & RAHANG

Rahang persegi: Mereka umumnya memiliki sifat yang keras dan mempunyai kemampuan untuk mewujudkan impian mereka.

Dagu yang menonjol keluar: Orang yang selalu merasa bahwa dirinya penting dan selalu benar. Menurut dia, tidak ada orang yang benar, hanya dirinyalah yang benar!

PIPI

Pipi yang bentuknya bagus: Pemilik pipi ini cenderung memiliki sifat cekatan, penuh energi, PD dan dapat menerima kesalahan orang lain.

Lesung pipi: Memang lesung pipi akan membuat orang tersebut tampak menarik, selain itu, ternyata lesung pipi menunjukkan keserasian pemiliknya.

BIBIR

Tebal: Orang yang murah hati dan suka membicarakan apa yang berhasil dia raih.

Tipis dan bulat: Hampir bisa dipastikan, bahwa pemilik bibir seperti ini adalah orang yang tertutup dan peka.

Bibir atas tipis dan bibir bawah tebal: Orang seperti ini sangat pandai untuk membujuk orang lain.
build, access and manage your IT infrastructure and web applications

Want to motivate your team? Here are 20 things to start doing now

By Ilya Bogorad | November 28, 2011, 4:21 AM PST

For as long as I can remember, the idea of abandoning permanent employment and striking out on one's own has been a popular topic in water cooler conversations among the technology folks. Typically following the "they don't get it" or "I'm working for a moron" kind of an assertion, the daydreams of not giving a proverbial rodent's derriere (I never understood this saying… who'd want it?) and the alluring but exaggerated virtues of tax advantages have driven more than one IT staffer to salivate on the job.

Some moved past daydreaming and became contractors. These folks make a good living and are used to moving on to another gig every few months. Others have left their full-time job and built a viable business - a consultancy, a development shop or just something altogether different.

The economic tribulations and the shrinking pool of employment opportunities of the past three years have led to a couple of different phenomena. There is the forced entrepreneurship by the people who were pushed out of permanent employment and couldn't find a job. Out comes the Nana's recipe book and yet another cake shop on the street. Or another "social media expert."

Then, there's the opposite. With the economy in the shape it is today, people stay on despite being miserable in their current job; putting bread on the table usually beats "I can't stand it" hands down. According to recently published research by Mercer: "Nearly one in three (32%) U.S. workers is seriously considering leaving his or her organization at the present time, up sharply from 23% in 2005. Meanwhile, another 21% are not looking to leave but view their employers unfavorably and have rock-bottom scores on key measures of engagement, a term that describes a combination of an employee's loyalty, commitment and motivation."

If you're a leader in charge of people, project these results onto your own group, department or company, and reflect. If you haven't cringed, you yourself have probably checked out. Clearly, it's impossible to conduct business successfully in these circumstances.

Is there anything you could do to fix it?

It turns out that you can. I'll show you how to create a dynamic, exciting, motivating environment in an otherwise unexciting, underperforming or stodgy organization. Think of it as of a lush oasis in the dustiest of deserts.

What motivates?

The study of the forces behind human motivation has occupied the minds of great many thinkers. From the original work of Maslow, McGregor and Herzberg to the recent not-so-original but popular interpretations, the subject hasn't neglected.

Motivation is intrinsic. It varies from individual to individual and what motivates one person would not move another. There are some commonalities, though:

Money is never a motivator. However, lack of money is a demotivator.

People are motivated by applying their abilities to the fullest. Underutilization is a demotivator.

Most are motivated by work that creates tangible results, especially if those results are born out of innovation, a new approach or a great idea.

Being engaged in decision making, especially around the choices of how to do work, is a great motivator. Being told how to do it, which is far too common, will at best yield mere compliance.

People are motivated by doing work that aligns with their values and beliefs.

Too much stress petrifies. Too little stress leads to sloth, procrastination and the sense of entitlement.

Necessary conditions

Three conditions must be met for you to be successful at motivating your team:

You are a leader formally in charge of a group of people of any size. You may be successful if you are attempting it as an individual contributor; it is just that the scope of impact will be limited to one person - you.

You are not averse to the business or the business practices of the organization. This is very important. I once knew a woman employed by a military contractor. She was torn between the need to provide for the family and the misalignment of her personal beliefs with the business of her employer.

You have a reasonably good relationship with your immediate superior that allows for some latitude in how you structure your team and its work.

Twenty things to start doing right away

Be enthusiastic.

Think big. Act on big and small opportunities alike.

Learn to translate aspirations, needs and vision of the broader organization into tangible results you can deliver or facilitate.

Discover aspirations, needs, and vision even if they're not explicitly stated. See it before everyone else does.

Practice corporate entrepreneurship; determine what the right outcomes are without regard to resources you have on hand.

Connect and spend time with key decision makers and strategists within your organization. Ask questions about their plans, needs and aspirations. Listen. Learn.

Organize your work life so that you spend time on what's important, not what landed on your desk. Delegate in all directions.

Demand that your team members bring you solutions to problems, not the problems themselves. The former motivates and empowers them; the latter are major downers for all involved.

Solicit input of your team members on strategic directions. Even the act itself is motivating, and you will see a high degree of engagement when it's time to execute the common vision.

Encourage and empower your team member to decide how to go about their work within the guidelines and expectations you define.

Develop the sense of shared meaning within your team.

Communicate with your team members frequently and openly. Always take the time to explain strategic decisions.

Notice and reward "positive deviance" - new practices that yield superior results.

Pose challenging questions to your team. Notice and reward volition to find answers.

Always be on a lookout for innovation in your industry and profession.

Further, be aware that really exciting breakthroughs come from the cross-application of approaches and methods from other realms.

Reward results, not the time, effort and cost expended. Too often, managers believe that their job is to generate action, whereas it is to create results.

Take every opportunity to promote your team within the organization. Share results, lessons learned and new practices. Utilize internal publications, town-hall meetings, newsletters and so on.

Position your team members as ultimate experts within the organization. Set up mentoring and communities of practice around their expertise.

Become industry experts. Take leadership positions in professional bodies. Write in professional publications.

Ten things to stop doing right away

Stop lamenting about impediments, barriers, morons at the helm, lack of time and such other.

Do not get hung up on details.

Do not allow pessimists, doomsayers and curmudgeons near your team. They will suck the life out of you.

Stop procrastination and don't tell me you don't have time to do this.

Stop being in love with your methodology, processes and tools. Challenge them instead.

Stop censoring ideas.

Stop telling your people how to do their job. Instead, set expectations of results.

If something is old or new, or fashionable does not make it right. Eschew fads.

Stop punishing mistakes, unless they are a result of sloth or overt sloppiness.

Stop limiting yourself with arbitrary timelines, goals and beliefs. Run through the finish line. Exceed your own expectations.

How will you know that you have succeeded?

You will be talked about.

You will get inquiries about vacancies on your team, internally and externally.

You will see your employees engaged and genuinely interested in their work.

You will deliver or enable exciting results.
$

http://m.techrepublic.com/blog/tech-manager/want-to-motivate-your-team-here-are-20-things-to-start-doing-now/7021
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Building a Data Center? Lucky You! Here are 10 questions you should be asking yourself before you begin.

Building a Data Center? Lucky You! Here are 10 questions you should be asking yourself before you begin.

by Dave Cappuccio  |  April 13, 2009  |  4 Comments

It’s often a very lengthy process to get approval to build a data center.   One problem with the whole process is that funding is often a criteria for approval and yet until the project is “official” little has been done with the eventual design of the data center – which in turn could have a dramatic effect on the funds needed.  10 or 15 years ago this wasn’t the case as most data centers were built to the same basic specifications and the only real variants were tier level (availability) and occasionally the power envelope needed.  In today’s world though many things have changed and the number of decisions and choices designers need to address continue to increase.  Yes, we could still build data centers the old fashioned way, but I suspect that would be a seriously career threatening move.
The fundamental problem with almost all data center projects is that those people who get “volunteered” to manage them rarely have experience in building data centers – it’s often a once in a career activity, so the most critical success factor is knowing what to ask, and who to talk to.  Below are 10 questions we think you should be asking, right up front, of yourself, your boss, the facilities team, the designers, and other key contacts you trust.  Without these answers, or at least some guidelines on how to get them, your chances of success are slim indeed.  Over the next few weeks I will be digging into each of these areas in more detail – so stay tuned…

1. How big is big enough?
   The first question asked is often the most difficult to answer, or the simplest.  “It depends” might be valid for an analyst, but not when you’re potentially spending 10’s of millions of dollars on a new data center.  And the difficult part of this question is not figuring out how much you need – it’s figuring out what you need in 15 years.
2. How much availability do I really need?
   Data Centers are generally defined by tier level; which essentially dictate the availability (up-time) goals for the environment.  While industry standard TIA 942 is often cited, many companies use The Uptime Institute’s 4 Tier availability guidelines as a good rule of thumb in early design stages.  Determining this tier is critical, as upwards of 60% of your capital budget can be determined by your tiering decision.
3. How much energy will I need?
   Traditional data centers were built with a static energy footprint designed to support the maximum capacity of typical IT equipment of the time.  This model no longer works and data centers need to be designed with energy scalability in mind to support future installations of very high density rack environments.
4. What about Green?
   Are there Green technologies on the market or emerging that I need to be aware of when designing a new data center?  From a design perspective what are the most efficient ways to use handle head and cooling loads within a data center?
5. How long should it last?
   What is a realistic life cycle for a new data center?  Traditional data centers were build to last 15 or 20 years, but with today’s rapidly changing technologies and compute demands is this a realistic timeframe?  Are there ways to extend the life of a new data center well beyond 20 years?
6. Are all applications created equal?
   In traditional data center design we build to support the exceptions – high availability, high performance and scalability.  But do all your applications need these levels of support?  Can I build an environment to support different service and technology levels, based on the requirements of my applications?
7. What are the newest design trends today?
   What are the dominant trends in data center design today and what are the benefits and tradeoffs when using (or ignoring) them?
8. Should I build one or build many?
   In consolidation projects the most often asked question is “how many data centers do I need?”  The answers revolve around risk and reward, capital budgets, geography, service levels and recovery time objectives.  And in some cases building two can be less expensive than one.
9. What about BCDR?
   When planning a new data center should I be building out my business continuity plans as well – or perhaps considering BC/DR in the overall design phase?  Are there new techniques in solving the BC/DR issues while still providing high growth and redundancy levels for critical applications?
10. Who will build it – and what should I ask up front?
    How do we determine the engineering firm, the construction company, the subcontractors, the commissioning firm, etc. etc. etc.  Are there current best practices to watch out for, or worst practices?
     
    SOURCE: http://blogs.gartner.com/david_cappuccio/2009/04/13/building-a-data-center-lucky-you-here-are-10-questions-you-should-be-asking-yourself-before-you-begin/

Waktu untuk mencintai..

Eko Pratomo Suyatno, siapa yang tidak kenal lelaki bersahaja ini? Namanya sering muncul di koran, televisi, di buku-buku investasi dan keuangan. Dialah salah seorang dibalik kemajuan industri reksadana di Indonesia dan juga seorang pemimpin dari sebuah perusahaan investasi reksadana besar di negeri ini.

Dalam posisinya seperti sekarang ini, boleh jadi kita beranggapan bahwa pria ini pasti super sibuk dengan segudang jadwal padat. Tapi dalam note ini saya tidak akan menyoroti kesuksesan beliau sebagai eksekutif. Karena ada sisi kesehariannya yang luar biasa!!!!

Usianya sudah tidak terbilang muda lagi, 60 tahun. Orang bilang sudah senja bahkan sudah mendekati malam, tapi Pak Suyatno masih bersemangat merawat istrinya yang sedang sakit. Mereka menikah sudah lebih 32 tahun. Dikaruniai 4 orang anak.

Dari isinilah awal cobaan itu menerpa, saat istrinya melahirkan anak yang ke empat. tiba-tiba kakinya lumpuh dan tidak bisa digerakkan. Hal itu terjadi selama 2 tahun, menginjak tahun ke tiga seluruh tubuhnya menjadi lemah bahkan terasa tidak bertulang, lidahnyapun sudah tidak bisa digerakkan lagi.

Setiap hari sebelum berangkat kerja Pak Suyatno sendirian memandikan, membersihkan kotoran, menyuapi dan mengangkat istrinya ke tempat tidur. Dia letakkan istrinya di depan TV agar istrinya tidak merasa kesepian. Walau istrinya sudah tidak dapat bicara tapi selalu terlihat senyum. Untunglah tempat berkantor Pak Suyatno tidak terlalu jauh dari kediamannya, sehingga siang hari dapat pulang untuk menyuapi istrinya makan siang.

Sorenya adalah jadwal memandikan istrinya, mengganti pakaian dan selepas maghrib dia temani istrinya nonton televisi sambil menceritakan apa saja yg dia alami seharian. Walaupun istrinya hanya bisa menanggapi lewat tatapan matanya, namun begitu bagi Pak Suyatno sudah cukup menyenangkan. Bahkan terkadang diselingi dengan menggoda istrinya setiap berangkat tidur. Rutinitas ini dilakukan Pak Suyatno lebih kurang 25 tahun. Dengan penuh kesabaran dia merawat istrinya bahkan sambil membesarkan ke 4 buah hati mereka. Sekarang anak- anak mereka sudah dewasa, tinggal si bungsu yg masih kuliah.

Pada suatu hari…saat seluruh anaknya berkumpul di rumah menjenguk ibunya– karena setelah anak-anak mereka menikah dan tinggal bersama keluarga masing-masing– Pak Suyatno memutuskan dirinyalah yang merawat ibu mereka karena yang dia inginkan hanya satu 'agar semua anaknya dapat berhasil'.

Dengan kalimat yang cukup hati-hati, anak yang sulung berkata:

"Pak kami ingin sekali merawat ibu, semenjak kami kecil melihat bapak merawat ibu tidak ada sedikitpun keluhan keluar dari bibir bapak……bahkan bapak tidak ijinkan kami menjaga ibu." Sambil air mata si sulung berlinang.

"Sudah keempat kalinya kami mengijinkan bapak menikah lagi, kami rasa ibupun akan mengijinkannya, kapan bapak menikmati masa tua bapak, dengan berkorban seperti ini, kami sudah tidak tega melihat bapak, kami janji akan merawat ibu sebaik-baik secara bergantian". Si Sulung melanjutkan permohonannya.

"Anak-anakku…Jikalau perkawinan dan hidup di dunia ini hanya untuk nafsu, mungkin bapak akan menikah lagi, tapi ketahuilah dengan adanya ibu kalian di sampingku itu sudah lebih dari cukup,dia telah melahirkan kalian….*sejenak kerongkongannya tersekat*… kalian yang selalu kurindukan hadir di dunia ini dengan penuh cinta yang tidak satupun dapat dihargai dengan apapun. Coba kalian tanya ibumu apakah dia menginginkan keadaanya seperti ini ?? Kalian menginginkan bapak bahagia, apakah bathin bapak bisa bahagia meninggalkan ibumu dengan keadaanya seperti sekarang, kalian menginginkan bapak yang masih diberi Tuhan kesehatan dirawat oleh orang lain, bagaimana dengan ibumu yang masih sakit." Pak Suyatno menjawab hal yang sama sekali tidak diduga anak-anaknya

Sejenak meledaklah tangis anak-anak Pak Suyatno, merekapun melihat butiran-butiran kecil jatuh di pelupuk mata Ibu Suyatno..dengan pilu ditatapnya mata suami yang sangat dicintainya itu……

Sampailah akhirnya Pak Suyatno diundang oleh salah satu stasiun TV swasta untuk menjadi nara sumber dan merekapun mengajukan pertanyaan kepada Pak Suyatno kenapa mampu bertahan selama 25 tahun merawat Istrinya yg sudah tidak bisa apa-apa….disaat itulah meledak tangisnya dengan tamu yang hadir di studio kebanyakan kaum perempuanpun tidak sanggup menahan haru.

Disitulah Pak Suyatno bercerita : "Jika manusia di dunia ini mengagungkan sebuah cinta dalam perkawinannya, tetapi tidak mau memberi waktu, tenaga, pikiran, perhatian itu adalah kesia-siaan. Saya memilih istri saya menjadi pendamping hidup saya, dan sewaktu dia sehat diapun dengan sabar merawat saya, mencintai saya dengan hati dan bathinnya bukan dengan mata, dan dia memberi saya 4 anak yang lucu-lucu..Sekarang saat dia sakit karena berkorban untuk cinta kami bersama… dan itu merupakan ujian bagi saya, apakah saya dapat memegang komitmen untuk mencintainya apa adanya. Sehatpun belum tentu saya mencari penggantinya apalagi dia sakit…" Sambil menangis

" Setiap malam saya bersujud dan menangis dan saya hanya dapat bercerita kepada Allah di atas sajadah..dan saya yakin hanya kepada Allah saya percaya untuk menyimpan dan mendengar rahasia saya…"BAHWA CINTA SAYA KEPADA ISTRI, SAYA SERAHKAN SEPENUHNYA KEPADA ALLAH".

Dear my friends, that's a true story from someone who taugh me about the important of investment three years ago. I wish i could be someone like him…to give all attention to family..i believe family is our precious thing..more than money or gold.
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Tunduk dan mengasihi

Ayat SH: Efesus 5:22-33

Merendahkan diri terhadap orang lain bukan perkara mudah, karena itu
berarti mengikis ego dan gengsi. Paulus menganjurkan jemaat Efesus
agar hidup merendahkan diri, seorang kepada yang lain (Ef. 5:21).
Bukan karena takut kepada orang yang derajat atau pangkatnya lebih
tinggi, karena bila demikian kita tidak akan melakukannya terhadap
orang yang kita sebut berstatus lebih rendah. Sebab itu kondisi
yang Paulus anjurkan adalah kondisi 'di dalam takut akan Kristus'.

Paulus kemudian mengambil konteks pernikahan untuk memberikan contoh
situasi bagaimana orang percaya harus merendahkan diri satu sama
lain. Pernikahan Kristen memiliki komitmen, kewajiban, dan tugas
bagi dua pihak yang terikat dalam lembaga itu. Lembaga pernikahan
sebenarnya merupakan perlambang dari hubungan antara Kristus dan
gereja-Nya. Seorang istri harus tunduk kepada suaminya sebagai
kepala dalam pernikahan mereka. Artinya, ia harus menempatkan diri
di bawah kepemimpinan suaminya. Gambaran tentang tunduknya istri
kepada suami adalah tunduknya gereja kepada Yesus, yang adalah
Kepala gereja. Maka sang suami harus menggambarkan kepemimpinan
Kristus atas gereja dengan menunjukkan kasih dan pengurbanan diri
(25). Kita tahu bahwa Kristus mengurbankan diri-Nya di salib bagi
keselamatan dan pengudusan umat, yaitu gereja (26-27).

Maka Paulus menyebutkan bahwa kasih suami kepada istri harus sama
seperti kasihnya kepada tubuhnya sendiri (28). Paulus menegaskan
bahwa kasih suami terhadap istri seharusnya merefleksikan kesatuan
Kristus dan gereja-Nya. Karena itu kepemimpinan suami harus
bersifat melayani, bukan otoriter atas nama statusnya sebagai
pemimpin.

Maka suami dan istri harus merendahkan diri satu sama lain dalam takut
akan Tuhan. Suami dan istri harus melihat keberadaan mereka bukan
dari sudut pandang yang individualistis, tetapi sebagai satu
kesatuan. Kiranya Tuhan menolong setiap suami dan istri dalam
rumah tangga Kristen untuk berperan dengan penuh kasih dan
tanggung jawab.

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"Creating Patience"

Amsal 16:32
Orang yang sabar melebihi seorang pahlawan, orang yang menguasai dirinya, melebihi orang yang merebut kota.

Kualitas kesabaran kita diuji sepanjang waktu. Tanpa kesabaran atau dengan kesabaran yang terbatas, kita mudah frustasi. Mengapa? Banyak hal tidak sesuai dengan yang kita harapkan. Dengan semakin bersabar, kita bisa menerima apa adanya hal-hal yang tidak bisa diubahkan. Seorang penulis pernah membagikan pengalamannya. Ia terbiasa dengan ketenangan saat harus menulis. Tapi suatu kali saat berusaha berkonsentrasi, ia malah mendapatkan orang-orang yang mengganggunya dengan pertanyaan ini dan itu, yang dengan cepat membuyarkan pikirannya pada pokok yang akan ditulisnya.

Seorang penulis yang lain pernah diuji kesabarannya saat mendapati bengkel tempat ia memperbaiki mobilnya tidak dapat menyelesaikan perbaikannya dengan on time. Daripada marah dan mengomel, ia meresponinya dengan sabar. Ia duduk-duduk dan mulai beristirahat santai - sesuatu yang jarang dapat dilakukannya - sambil menunggu mobilnya selesai.

Hidup menyediakan banyak kesempatan praktik kesabaran tanpa perlu disengaja dibuat. Tapi seseorang pernah menawarkan cara memperbesar kesabaran dengan sengaja, dengan menjadwalkan waktu-waktu khusus 'latihan kesabaran', dengan tujuan akhir menjadi sabar di kebanyakan waktu. Misalnya, "Hari ini saya tidak akan membiarkan diri terganggu dengan apapun. Saya akan sabar." Menyadari bahwa kesabaran adalah sifat istimewa bagi Tuhan akan menolong kita untuk membulatkan tekad melatihnya. Selain itu kesabaran terbukti sebagai salah satu faktor penentu kesuksesan atau malah salah satu bentuk kesuksesan itu sendiri.

Cara memperbesar kesabaran Anda adalah dengan melatih diri Anda hari demi hari. Amin

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Manfaat air kelapa

Manfaat Air kelapa :
 Air kelapa trnyata lbh bernutrisi ketimbang susu penuh (whole milk) krn tdk mengandung kolesterol & rendah lemak.

 Air kelapa dpt memperbaiki sirkulasi darah & dikenal mampu membersihkan saluran pencernaan.

 Air kelapa tdk hnya akan membuat sistem kekebalan tubuh Anda lbh baik, tetapi jg membantu tubuh melawan bbrp jenis virus penyebab penyakit.

 Jika Anda mengidap penyakit batu ginjal, biasakanlah minum air kelapa secara rutin. Kebiasaan minum air kelapa akan membantu memecah batu ginjal & memudahkannya keluar dr tubuh.

 Air kelapa jg dikenal sejak dahulu dpt menyembuhkan gangguan saluran kencing? Segelas air kelapa akan meredakan rasa sakit akibat susah kencing.

 Jika Anda msh merasa pusing krn mabuk, tak ada yg bsa memulihkannya dgn cpt selain mengonsumsi air kelapa.

 Air kelapa yg rasanya lembut sngat kaya akan elektrolit & potassium. Potassium dpt membantu tubuh mengatur tekanan darah & fungsi organ jantung

 Air kelapa dpt mempercepat naiknya trombosite bagi penderita DBD & menurunkan demam (trombosit turun krn dipakai utk mencegah pendarahan, krn demam tinggi mengakibatkan pengentalan darah, & pori pembuluh darah membesar.
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Tool-leading processes vs. process-leading tools

By Abhinav Kaiser | October 17, 2011, 4:10 AM PDT

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? This question has haunted ancient philosophers for centuries, and as of now, there is no concrete solution.

When it comes to dealing with processes and tools, a similar quandary exists. Processes and tools go hand in hand, so the question again is which one comes first?

Interlocking of processes and tools

First, let me lay out the items that I'll deal with in the course of this piece.

A process is defined as a set of coordinated activities performed to obtain a targeted output. For example, to clean a car, the first step is to rinse it, wipe the body, and finally dry it. So, these three coordinated activities are basically achieving a single goal — a clean car.

A tool is an instrument that is developed to carry out a particular function — like a drill for drilling a hole. In the clean car example above, I could use a tool like a water pump to help me rinse the car with a flick of a button.

But what if I use a tool like a pressure washer? This tool has the potential to modify the existing process of car cleaning.

The burning question is do you define the process and then hunt for a tool or obtain a tool with capabilities and develop processes around it?

Let's consider both cases.

Tools first

Technology is ever evolving, and with tools resulting from technology, one can argue that tools must lead the way for the activities we perform.

Let's say that a company called TLS finds a particular tool useful, and although the tool doesn't serve their intended purpose one hundred percent, it's somewhat helpful and could come in handy when implemented full force. So the company goes ahead and procures the tool and then modifies the processes to meet the tool's needs.

The company changes some expected outputs to suit the tool's needs. The output starts to appear, just as they envisioned with the revised process.

Process first

A process is developed, without the aid of technology but with analytical reasoning and a good understanding of the objective it's trying to achieve.

PRC, a competitor of TLS, is made aware of TLS's new tool acquisition. PRC sits back, examines their processes, and maps it with the new tool. They don't like the possible adaptation.

They back their processes and shop around for a tool that will also back their process. They come up with a tool that doesn't have state-of-the-art technology. The developer is willing to customize it to their needs. The two parties agree, the customized tool is procured, and the output starts to pour in.

Compare the two approaches

TLS believed in technology, but tweaked their processes to suit the tool on hand. PRC, on the other hand, trusted their process and sought after a tool that could do what they wanted it to do.

TLS compromised their process for technology. PRC stuck with their process and instead compromised the tool's original configuration to suit the process.

Which is a better approach?

Remember what I said earlier: Processes are a set of coordinated activities that will achieve the goal you want to achieve. A tool is a means through which certain functions are carried out.

What counts is the end result, and the process's existence depends on the output it delivers. If it's a home run, it's all well and good, if it doesn't matter what tools were employed. But compromising a process, in the sense that the basic output could be altered, is a scary prospect.

PRC backed their processes and got the tool configured to their needs. They got the best out of both worlds. On the other hand, TLS had to do away with certain process configurations to fit the new master –the tool. PRC's approach is the right way to go about integrating process and technology.

Tools are meant to complement the process by enabling the process activities to be performed as per the design, and never the other way around.

But tools are important

I can't think of designing a process without understanding the capabilities of tools. I'm very much a tools person. But the tools listen to my design, and I don't succumb to their way of working.

It's important that while designing a process, you have a good awareness of what kinds of tools and capabilities are available in the market. That gives you a good starting point. Design the process keeping the objective in mind, but optimize the activities with the available tools.

Tools are undoubtedly vital; a process developer must exploit every aspect of the available tool and perhaps stretch it to imagination — and have it customized to complement the developed process.

How does a process consultant do it?

I have worked independently and with teams of process consultants in developing several processes for ISO 20K, ISO 27K1, and PCI DSS. So I can give you a fairly good idea of how a process consultant sews processes and tools together.

There are specific objectives that a process must achieve. The inputs, budgets, and other service-level requirements are in our possession before we start defining a process. Apart from this, we are aware of what the tool world has to offer.

The inputs are known and so are the expected outputs. Filling in the blanks with process activities is all that we do. Let me illustrate this with an example.

If you want to bake a veggie pizza, you know the ingredients you probably want — like a pizza base, sauce, cheese, olives, and tomatoes — and you know what this pizza looks and tastes like. The steps you take to prepare the pizza are like the individual process activities. The activities you do in order to make a pizza are coordinated — you pre-heat the oven, apply the sauce on the base, apply the cheese followed by vegetables, and then add more cheese. Then you put this in the oven for ten minutes to complete what you had on your mind. The output is just as you expected, and the oven served as a tool that enabled the process activities to be effective.

Summary

A process must always be the boss and lead the tool to its expectations.
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The Cloud isn't a strategy

y Patrick Gray | October 12, 2011, 5:57 AM PDT

I've seen a troubling trend these past few years and a symptom of the larger malaise that strikes many corporate IT departments. Ask a CIO about their technology plan or strategy for the coming months, and their eyes light up and in hushed awe they reverently whisper: "The Cloud."

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've likely been beaten over the head with the wonders of cloud computing. It will slash your costs, alleviate all management pain, store your music and movies, and bring about world peace in our day. While the superlative machine in the marketing department of most cloud vendors has been working overtime, "the cloud" is nothing more than another incantation of make vs. buy or rent vs. own. We've been down this road before with everything from outsourcing to contract manufacturing, and the risks and rewards are identical. Presumably an external third-party vendor can perform an activity more efficiently and cheaply and allow you to quickly adjust capacity as needed. There's certainly some marvelous technological wizardry that makes it all happen, but at the end of the day, you're renting a service from a third-party vendor.

The cloud is a tool

Moving applications and services to the cloud may cut your costs or may impart more risk into a process, but in either case, the cloud is nothing more than a tool that should be accomplishing some business objective. Imagine if you hired a renowned builder to complete your dream home. When you sat down for your first design meeting and asked the builder his strategy and vision for your property, if he replied "The Binford Sawzall 9000," would you feel comfortable or begin reconsidering your choice in builders? When you as CIO cite "the cloud" as your strategy, you are doing the exact same thing, citing a tool as a cornerstone of what should be a plan that accomplishes some business objective.

A decade ago, outsourcing was the "IT 'strategy' du jour," and yet another case where IT referred to a tool as a strategy. There are myriad pros and cons for outsourcing certain activities, but in most cases where a tool was substituted for a real strategy, the results were disastrous. Cloud will experience the same fate unless you build a true strategic plan that just happens to include cloud services, rather than trying to build a strategy around a tool.

The cloud as a cost reducer

Reducing costs is certainly a valid strategic imperative, but it's also a one-way ticket to commoditization and should not be the sole foundation of your cloud initiatives. Most organizations are willing to pay for people and groups that can solve business problems, and a life as a trusted adviser is usually far richer than constant demands to extract another few percent in cost reductions.

Study the problems facing your organization and spend some time with other leaders listening. You may be surprised to find that cost is not the sole driver to most of the organization's actions; otherwise you could just fire everyone and live happily ever after. Your peers are likely struggling to enter new markets or speed the delivery of current and future products. There may be sales opportunities that are left "on the table" or thousands of hours wasted supporting crap processes that could be reallocated toward revenue generation and make a far larger impact than reducing some segment of IT expenses.

At the end of the day, no tool should be the core of any strategy, whether it's building a house or stating the strategic plan for a Fortune 500 technology department. Thinking beyond the tools makes spending money on technology more palatable to the organization, since that spending is tied to a business objective rather than yet another mercurial technical tool or buzzword. Separating the strategy from the tools also allows you to adjust your tactics should technology or environmental factors change, without completely rethinking your strategy. In short, thinking beyond the tools gets you to true strategic planning, rather than being co-opted as a technology salesperson
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