february 2008

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It will be interesting to see if Michael's predictions for IT failures at Qantas are on the mark. Watch this space ...

Qantas Airways: a perfect storm for IT failure? by ZDNet's Michael Krigsman -- Qantas, the Australian national airline, has endured two high-profile IT failures in recent years and a third major project appears to be at substantial risk. In many respects, the company offers a case study for examining how underlying management issues can cause multiple IT projects to go bad. Project eQ. In late 1995, Qantas canceled its [ ...]

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Over the past few days I have been thinking about history, in particular the history of telecommunications. It is easy for us to imagine that the Internet will be with us forever, indeed many cannot imagine what we did before it was invented. But technology that enables communication has come before and been vanquished by a newer and better technology.For an example of this we can take the telegraph, which was the Internet of that time. Newspapers called it a miracle, and the 6-12 week wait for news from overseas was no longer. At the time people wrote quite poetically about it:"The contemplated extension of the Magnetic Telegraph by private enterprize, from New York to Boston, may be hailed as a stride in the march of intelligence of no ordinary importance. It is one of those triumphs of the arts of peace that knit our people in closer relations of union and brotherhood. The Magnetic Telegraph annihilates distance." [Source: Albany Argus, January 4, 1845.]Companies used it to trade shares and commodities, giving rise to the stock tickers we've seen in old movies. Nations used the electric telegraph to move armies faster and more efficiently than ever.The telegraph even gave rise to an online community, that of the telegraph operators. Who used 'handles' and who developed something like a Twitter community.This little journey into the fairly recent past shows how quickly innovations are superseded. Thus the telephone, television and computers arose and caused us to almost forget the telegraph. This very fact makes me conscious that this interweb we love so much is ephemeral and that our business models need to be enabled to respond to technology changes.By Carruthers via Aide-mémoire

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Here we go at last - it is reported that the younger folks just don't like email ...According to Michael Fitzpatrick, GuardianFebruary 28, 2008"Mobile texting is now outstripping the use of email among the young. Michael Fitzpatrick reports.The art of correspondence faces another rude shove towards oblivion: even email is under fire for being "too formal".Outside of work, SMS and instant messaging are fast becoming the writing tools of choice. Indeed, South Korea - that crystal ball of all our digital future - has even seen a report that many teenagers have stopped using email altogether.'It's for old people,' they say."By Carruthers via Aide-mémoire

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Nick Hodge suggests that future Microsoft developement may be in LOLcode?Perhaps it is teh way of teh future ...By Carruthers via Aide-mémoire

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PsyBlog posted about some research on the use of emoticons & capitalisation in emails and: "They found that, sure enough, using correct capitalisation and emoticons tended to make a better impression on readers. The reader's personality also influenced how emoticons and capitalisation were perceived. Readers high in both extroversion and emotional stability were likely to rate sender's emails as more likeable if they had correct capitalisation. As for emoticons, readers higher in emotional stability were likely to rate sender's emails more likeable if they used emoticons." At last there is some evidence that supports my personal opinion!By Carruthers via Aide-mémoire

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This is very amusing (hat tip to Mands for the clip)...By Carruthers via Aide-mémoire

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I have been using the following article as a bit of a case study with my students (who are currently studying project & SDLC management) this past week. It is such a good example of why this stuff is important to get right. Here a company has attributed bankruptcy to a failed ERP system implementation. It is very important because the failed technology implementation was really just a symptom of the failures of both the management and control systems within the business.

Customer blames bankruptcy on IBM IT failure by ZDNet's Michael Krigsman -- American LaFrance (ALF), the “leading brand of custom-made fire fighting, fire rescue vehicles, ambulances, and heavy-duty work refuse vehicles,” has declared bankruptcy, blaming IBM and a failed ERP implementation. According to filings in the District of Delaware bankruptcy court (PACER case no. 08-10178), problems occurred when ALF was spun out as an independent company from [...]

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Off to Melbourne tomorrow to speak at the Ark Group's Demonstrating the Strategic Importance of Internal Communication Conference - which is all about "enhancing recognition of the internal communication function by demonstrating tangible results".My session is about "Web 2.0 in practice: effectively employing social media as a communication tool" and I'll be sharing a case study on AMP's use of social media and web 2.0 for internal communication. Will post the presentation on Slideshare next week.By Carruthers via Aide-mémoire

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On this day when Australia's Parliament finally made an apology to the aboriginal people it is worth thinking back to Paul Keating's revolutionary speech in 1992 at Redfern. I still recall thinking that, at last, Australia was ready to be grown up now that our leader could talk in this way. Little did I realise that this would be followed by so many years of the exact opposite. It is worth remembering this visionary speech on such a day:By Carruthers via Aide-mémoire

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Apparently today has been deemed Safer Internet Day 2008 and according to this email from Stephen Conroy:

"... Australia will join some 50 countries around the world in activities designed to raise awareness of the safety of children in the online environment, the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, said today.

Read more at: http://www.minister.dbcde.gov.au/media/media_releases/2008/009

I'm still not sure what all this means?By Carruthers via Aide-mémoire

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Just had a couple of new computer science grads sitting next to me today so I took the opportunity to explore their use of social networking technologies. The results were interesting:* neither liked MySpace as it was for "12 year olds" plus everyone could see all your stuff* one used Facebook but now was bored with it, but found it useful to upload holiday pictures* both preferred to actually speak with other people on their mobile phones, but did not really like SMSThis is all very interesting for me, as travelling in geeky circles it is easy to groupthink about technology.

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I think I might be working too hard these days or have too much on my mind. But at least I'm having dream help. Last night I dreamed the answers to a bunch of work I'm in the middle of and spent today just powering through it.Would prefer to be having more fun dreams, but functional is pretty good too.By Carruthers via Aide-mémoire

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Google maps has joined forces with Twitter and Twittervision with instant updates on Super Tuesday in the US presidential primaries.They mashup tweets from across the US with Google maps for up to date info.Here is Twitter & Google for Super TuesdayBy Carruthers via Aide-mémoire

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Vote for geeks to attend KRudd's Australia 2020 summit.It sounds a bit like a cricket match to me, maybe they need a better name for it. Or perhaps it is due to a deeper understanding of the Aussie psyche - they know some people will accidentally tune in thinking it is a cricket match ;)Vote for your favourite geek on Bloggerati AustraliaNominees include our very own Laurel Papworth, Stephen Collins, and Mark PesceMore info over at 2020summit.org - it is heartening to see the online community leap into action like this.By Carruthers via Aide-mémoire

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