Wintersmith Documentation
I set out a few days ago to put together a documentation site. I had a few criteria for this site: A static site that I could push to Github to use with their github pages feature. The static site is generated from markdown. It just works. It’s easy to get it into a workflow […]
Truth about the SAP HCM Customer Connection Program
In February of 2012, SAP announced that it was replacing the defunct Development Request (DRQ) process, which had long been ineffective, with a new ASUG support Customer Connection Program. The programs goal was to allow customers to submit smaller improvements, and assuming they got the minimum support of five other customers, that SAP would review, […]
2B or Not 2B
I have worked the majority of my career from various executive suites. As a part of senior management I see many corporate leaders. I am unusual in that much of my early career was not climbing the corporate ladder through successive management ranks. I was an engineer who was happy doing engineering until some unusual […]
iPhone Stolen Again – Apple Couldn’t Care Less
When does a corporation have an ethical responsibility to its customers? Is it right for a company to profit by encouraging customer losses? Some would say that a company’s responsibility is simply to comply with the laws and to return a profit….
Contempt for Customers
Thinly disguised contempt for the customer is an easy trap to fall into, after-all, without customers our jobs would be a lot easier. There is just one problem with this line of thinking… The first time I heard the term Thinly Disguised Contempt for the Customer was from the book In Search of Excellence. The example provided […]
The Unspoken Question
What exactly should the mute button do? Daniel J. Wakin, reporting for the NYT: The unmistakably jarring sound of an iPhone marimba ring interrupted the soft and spiritual final measures of Mahler’s Symphony No. 9 at the New York Philharmonic on Tuesday night. The conductor, Alan Gilbert, did something almost unheard-of in a concert hall: He […]
Digital Realities
When technology shifts occur slowly, dramatic changes in how we live take place. Electricity allowed us to work late at night as opposed to until sundown. But when technology changes are more rapid – we tend to force it to adapt to our defined norms – baby steps. [eventually this post will get to the […]
Poor Retail
SaaS, or Shopping as a Service is killing retail. If there was one investment or model that I would have considered safe forever – say 20 years ago, it would be retail. If I had, I was sure wrong. The Internet and sales tax laws are conspiring to make retail a thing of the past. […]
Chase Bank Loses Customer’s … No, Not Money, Just Email
As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words – so here’s my 2k-word essay, straight from Chase Online: OK, that should be easy, let’s click to get that email: Oops – dear Chase, where’s my message? Of course on the week when the IMF and the US Senate gets hacked, GoDaddy goes down […]
Cell Phone Radiation – Blah Blah Blah
The big story this week is the same as the big story for the past few decades – that cell phones may not be good for us. Specifically, cell phone radiation may cause cancer. This was concluded this time by a World Health Organization commissioned study…
Conspiracy Theory: the Vista-ization of Windows 7 has Started…
Three years ago I wrote: Windows Seven in 2010. Does Anyone Still Care? I simply don’t get it: Vista is barely out, nobody seems to like it, CIO’s refuse to upgrade, analyst firms tell them to wait, individual users who tried it switch back to XP, others time their new PC purchase so they can […]
Enslaving People Since 1967 … And Not Getting Any Smarter
I came across your website cloudave.com, and would like to propose a link exchange between your site and AlliedTime.com. Allied Time USA has been offering employee time clocks and time systems since 1967. Ok, so they’ve been enslaving people for over four decades. If they had the slightest clue about what we do here, they’d […]
I’m Not Looking, But These Job Posts Just Suck
BEWARE: This is the beginning of a rant. If you’re temperamental it might piss you off. You’ve been warned, prepare to have a bit of rant with reality thrown on top for good measure. I’m not looking for another gig. I’m extremely happy with what I’m doing right now. The Russell Team I’m working with […]
There’s PR. And there’s Dumb PR. And there’s Even Dumber PR. And No CRM System Can Save Them.
The best CRM system can’t help you if your sales / marketing team is clueless. Here’s a ridiculous email I’ve just received. Name removed to protect the (not-so) innocent X. Y. kindly requests a meeting Hi Zoli, In celebrating our 40th anniversary, I’ve been given the privilege to manage the relationship between your organization and […]
Is Video a Crock? It's Certainly Not the New Holy Grail. Get Off the Screen, Dudes.
Many of you will recognize the title – borrowed from “Enterprise 2.0 a Crock” Dennis Howlett. Needless to say I was quite interested in his discussion with David Terrar, who is more of an E20 fan. f Hm…hard to watch. Dennis is too loud while David is barely audible. I kept on turning the volume […]
