Yet Another Opensource Post

Ok. I think that everybody is now thinking that I am more Open Source oriented than Closed Source. Well, it's not completely true in sense that I'm not 'fanatic' and biased about Linux and Open Source 'anyway', but I like the way Open Source solutions are developed, and the fact that you have to work hard to set things up since you really have to learn them, while commercial software is mostly (not always) for 'super experienced users'.

I LIKE OpenSource, no matter what is better, but this does not mean I am convinced it is better. As an IT 'professional', I have to daily face with enterprise needs where it's not a matter of what I'd like to propose to my 'customer counterparts', but what is the solution that best fits their needs, based on a variety of considerations (costs, advantages, support, simplicity, benefits, etc.). It is often hard to convince people when the Open Source proposed solution is THE solution (it is not always, but almost, and when it is, it is not obvious for everybody).

I normally do not make wars, but I like to talk about differences. I do not have an answer on what is better, and I don't think that there can be people that could really state it: to be able to say what is better, one should REALLY know both solutions as an EXPERT, then he/she should look at which should be the criteria to judge (simplicity to use? simplicity to manage? stability? scalability? efficiency? performance? what?).

So, as a user, simple question to better explain: what is better between MS Internet Explorer (IE) and Mozilla Firefox (FFX)? I do not have an answer. I notice that FFX uses more RAM than IE. Some web applications cannot be accessed with FFX due to some ActiveX software or something like that (who's the guilty? Web App developers or FFX?). The actual IE 7 supports tabs and search bar as FFX has done for...years? I love the fact that FFX has hundreds (thousands?) of additional plugins to enhance your browser experience. This reason, by itself, is in my opinion one BIG difference, no matter if it takes about 10/20/30MB of additional RAM. There are a lot more differences, but who knows them all?
We could start talking in the same way about MS Outlook and Mozilla Thunderbird, or about the differences between Apache/IIS, or Squid/ISA, or... Plenty of discussions but do we know them all so hard to be able to state all the differences?

No, we're not, so let's look at the fact that we know for sure that Open Source software has a more frequent software updating and therefore a faster lifecycle and continuous improvements, that it is really well developed (there is no marketing behind it, and there has to be a reason to choose it!) and last, but not least, there is a cost saving.

More, it is often synonymous of innovation since most of the innovative solutions are Open Source code based.

Enterprise Web 2.0

Everybody is talking about Web 2.0, Social Software, Social Network... Forum, Blog, Wiki, Connections, Dogears, Community, [Video]Chat... What???

LinkedIn, Facebook, MySpace, Blogger, WikiPedia, Delicious, Skype... "Ok, got it!"

Well, there are people that ignores these new terminologies, even if they are already using these technologies.

This will be one of the most popular 'posting' on this blog since it is something in which I believe as to be one of the technologies that has already started (but not finished) changing our daily life (either at home or business).

It is about the liberation and democracy estabilishment of ideas, where the concepts can finally rise to the top. Within enterprises can allow the decentralization flows for innovative ideas, information and experiences, without hierarchy or departmental limits.

There can be enormous benefits coming from an intensive new collaboration and information exchange with expertise and ideas sharing.
Every idea, every competency, every person, will start to be judged by the low level people consensus instead of being imposed by someone.

Additional posts will come regarding Web 2.0, Social software, social networks, and all related...

Business Technology Ideas

Companies must foster an environment where new ideas are encouraged and rewarded. Middle management must be agents of positive change and transformation by learning to listen to their staff for new ideas. General Patton used to say that the morale of your troops comes directly from the morale of their leaders. Therefore, the attitudes of the top will filter down throughout the organization. You must ensure that the "clay of middle management" is not hindering your innovative efforts.

To jump start your organization's innovation revolution, hold a simple contest. Let everyone suggest ways to make the company more efficient. Limiting the exercise to "efficiency" will reduce the ridiculous suggestions of free massages and such. Make it clear that the winning idea will receive a prize (cash, vacation time, whatever). Now, here's the trick, make sure the winner is from the lowest rungs of the corporate ladder. If you pick an idea submitted by a manager then your next contest will have fewer entries.

Your second contest can focus on another aspect of your business. The idea is to keep a narrow scope for each competition to minimize the silly suggestions that simply waste time. Remember to select the majority of your winners from the line worker level so that they maintain ownership of the process. Make sure to host one contest every month, at minimum, to make this a new aspect of your corporate culture.

After you have run these contests for a few months, your employees will come to work looking for ways to improve the company. Your staff will find better ways to do their jobs and will recommend their new methods in the hopes of winning a cash prize. You can hold a separate contest for managers, if you like, but you should raise the bar for them. While your staff are focusing on making their own jobs better or easier, your managers can focus on departmental level issues and so on up the ladder.

Once you have established a corporate culture that rewards new ideas you are on the road to a innovative business.

Taken from http://ezinearticles.com/?Innovation-in-the-Organization&id=963940

Business Technology People

There are countless computer consultants out there. You have the geeks, the gurus, the evangelists, the computer guys, techs, nerds, network consultants, computer consultants and technologists, just to name a few. Each provides a different level of service and technical know-how. Many solve problems by asking you to throw money at it. New computers, new servers, new monitors, new softwares, but every time you spend money, you are cutting into profitability. The key is for you to identify the right person for your needs. If you run a company, what you really need is a "Business Technology Expert" to help you make the right decisions about technology.

A computer consultant is usually interested in fixing your computers and not in business functions and is therefore incapable of assisting you with many additional services that will maximize your information technology investments. The computer guy is great when the computer goes haywire, but a business technology expert can offer you significantly more value. Large corporations hire a Chief Information Officer to fulfill this role, but a small to mid-sized business may not need that degree of full time support. In these cases, a business technology expert will serve you well.

Business Technology is any technology that serves the needs of business, including accounting, networking, and other systems.
Business Technology must add value to your company or else it is a waste of money. More often than not, you simply accept what came with the computer when you bought it. The next fact you need to accept is that not all business technology is valuable to your business!

The key to modern business success is to be sure to align your business goals with your technology plans. Business and Technology alignment has become a Holy Grail for large multinational corporations.
Most small and medium-sized businesses are agile and fast to respond. However, just because you do not suffer from the problems of these huge dinosaur businesses does not mean you cannot benefit from Business/Technology alignment. A Business Technology Expert will assist you in aligning your business goals with your technology investments.

The second benefit you can derive from a Business Technology Expert is an understanding of your business processes. Organic growth has a tendency to develop substantial inefficiencies that can impact profits. A Business Technology Expert will analyze how you work to pinpoint and correct the inefficiencies.

A Business Technology Expert will use his knowledge and understanding of your IT systems and business processes to assist you in building competitive advantage. According to a 2007 IBM study, a Business Technology Expert should be "...engaged as a strategic partner for process and culture change." This means that the lonely computer expert typing away for hours without human contact is not the right choice if you want to succeed. A Business Technology Expert will be capable of working with others and must possess advanced communication and social skills to act as an agent of positive change.

A Business Technology Expert understands that his job is to make recommendations. Remember, you are the ultimate decision maker, so your expert needs to present you with options, instead of ultimatums, and will present you with multiple options to achieve your goals. However, if so instructed, your business technology expert will make decisions on your behalf based on solid experience and understanding of your objectives.

Technology is a fact of life. From cell phones to computers, technology has become a part of our everyday lives. Companies all over the world are harnessing technology to improve the way they do business. Don't trust your technology to someone that doesn't understand business and how you work. A business technology expert can make the difference to your success.

Taken from http://ezinearticles.com/?What-Is-A-Business-Technology-Expert?&id=1037285

Help Me to Help Humanity

Please, join the World Community Grid to partecipate to help humanity by using personal computing.

If you have any spare personal computers and/or any pc's that are not used at 100% (CPU and RAM), you can use the software by choosing how much cpu, ram and disk space to leave to the research application and that will work by itself. You will not notice it, and you'll forget about it after a few weeks. It requires a few seconds to register and download the software.

While you register (or even later), if you want, join my small team (CHIMAR) and we can try to reach the head of the team challenges hit parades.

For now, my challenge is to reach the first 1000 RESULTS.

If you need/want any assistance on how to join, or if you want additional information on how it works, just let me know.

First Post

This is the official geek blog opening post. Things will be added in the next few weeks (pictures, signatures, advertisements, etc.)

I've been able to arrange some settings on the blog. I hope it has the minimum entries to go ahead and share info.

For now, thanks to anybody that will read my blog[s]! Will catch you soon on this site...
Take care.
MarianoI.