The Technology Executive

In today's hyper-competitive landscape, efficient IT operations are a cornerstone of corporate success. However, the quest for speed and scalability often overlooks a crucial factor: the environmental impact of our digital footprint. Traditional IT practices leave a substantial carbon footprint, a burden on both the planet and your bottom line. But there's good news: embracing sustainability in IT isn't a cost center, it's a strategic win-win. This guide outlines actionable strategies for corporate IT organizations to achieve environmental stewardship without sacrificing efficiency or profitability. By adopting a "less is more" mentality, we can unlock a future where technological progress and environmental responsibility go hand-in-hand. Hardware Heroes: Downsizing for Big Gains Virtualization as a Vanguard: Ditch the server sprawl and embrace virtualization. By consolidating physical machines into virtual ones, you'll achieve significant reductions in ...

The siren song of customization can be enticing for organizations seeking to adapt their on-premise COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf) applications to specific needs. However, before embarking on a costly and time-consuming customization journey, a strategic approach is crucial. This article explores how delving deeper into the standard functionality of your COTS application can unlock significant value, often rendering customization unnecessary. Unveiling the Hidden Depths of Standard Functionality: COTS applications are often complex ecosystems, with layers of built-in features and functionalities. Many users, however, navigate them like familiar city streets, rarely venturing beyond the main thoroughfares. Yet, within these applications lie hidden gems – powerful capabilities waiting to be discovered. Mastery of Configuration: Most COTS applications offer robust configuration options, allowing you to tailor their behavior to your specific context. This can range from defining user rol...

The world of IT is constantly evolving, demanding agility and innovation from its leaders. While technical expertise remains crucial, leadership in this dynamic field requires more than just understanding code and systems. Effective IT leaders need a well-rounded skillset that goes beyond the technical realm, encompassing soft skills, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of the human element. 1. Communication: The Bedrock of Leadership Clear and concise communication is the cornerstone of effective leadership. In IT, where complex concepts need to be translated into actionable plans, strong communication skills are essential. Leaders must be able to: Articulate technical details in a way that is understandable to both technical and non-technical audiences. Effectively delegate tasks and provide clear instructions. Listen actively and encourage open communication within the team. Provide constructive feedback and guidance. Communicate effectively across diverse teams a...

In the dynamic world of business, hiring former consultants presents both opportunities and challenges for employers. Over the last couple of years, the job market has been tumultuous, with consultants facing both an overload of work and uncertain prospects due to market shifts. As employers navigate this landscape, understanding the potential advantages and drawbacks of hiring former consultants becomes crucial for making informed hiring decisions. Navigating the Negatives 1. Potential Boredom Former consultants might find the transition to a more static work environment challenging after being accustomed to the fast-paced nature of consulting. However, this can be mitigated by offering stimulating and diverse projects, fostering a culture of continuous learning, and providing opportunities for growth within the company. 2. Overconfidence and Knowledge Gap While consultants bring expertise, some might exhibit overconfidence, attempting to address queries or configure systems without a...

I thought I would offer up a little something different today; a work hack. With the myriad of tools across multiple websites that we use these days, it can be time consuming to get to what you are looking for. Often, you need to quickly get to that ServiceNow ticket, find something in application help, or find a particular product. For me, minutes count, especially in a meeting, so I started created custom search tools in Google Chrome. Its Omnibox, the combined address bar and search box, is a powerful tool for quickly accessing websites and performing searches. While it primarily uses Google Search as the default search engine, Chrome allows you to customize your Omnibox to include custom searches. This feature can significantly enhance your browsing experience by saving time and making searches more convenient. In this blog post, we'll guide you through the process of adding custom searches to Google Chrome's Omnibox, giving you the ability to search specific websites or pe...

In the ever-evolving world of Information Technology, staying up-to-date with the latest developments and networking with industry experts is crucial for both professionals and businesses. IT vendor conferences have become a popular means to achieve these goals, bringing together technology enthusiasts, vendors, and experts in a single event. These conferences offer a plethora of opportunities but also come with their share of drawbacks. In this blog post, we'll explore the pros and cons of IT vendor conferences to help you make an informed decision about whether attending one is right for you. Pros of IT Vendor Conferences Networking Opportunities: In my opinion, the most important benefit of IT vendor conferences is networking. They bring together professionals from various corners of the industry, from developers and engineers to IT managers and CTOs. You can meet like-minded individuals, exchange ideas, and establish valuable connections that can lead to job opportunities or pa...

In today's fast-paced and ever-evolving technological landscape, having a competent IT team is crucial for the success of any organization. Whether you are a startup looking to establish a robust digital presence or an established enterprise aiming to stay competitive, the decision of whether to hire in-house IT talent or contract external professionals is one that requires careful consideration. This blog post explores the nuances of this decision-making process, with a focus on balancing the need for hard-to-find technical skills with a deep understanding of the company's culture and goals. The IT Talent Dilemma The demand for IT professionals has been steadily increasing over the years, with new technologies emerging at a rapid pace. This demand has created a competitive job market where businesses often find it challenging to attract and retain top IT talent. As a result, organizations are presented with two primary options: hiring full-time employees or contracting externa...