The media continues to report that we’re in the grip of a recession. Whilst this maybe true, I haven’t yet seen a cascade of severance and canceled projects; but that may still come. A little while ago I offered 5 recession beating tips for Technical Professionals which discussed some proactive measures to reduce your personal […]
Grip of recession (?) Read More »
This is a continuation of this previous article, which looks at the implications of the Product Life-Cycle. In the previous article, I discussed the phases Development, Introduction and Growth. Now onto Maturity. Maturity is the phase where the product is well established in the market in terms of market share and is turning a healthy profit for
The Implications of the Product Life-Cycle (Part Two) Read More »
Everyone, nowadays, in a technical role uses a computer. It saves us a lot of time and energy. I’m not a number crunching expert, a speedy mailman who can travel the world in an instant or a writer using calligraphy, so I let the computer do it. My impression of a computer now is a lot
Do you remember your first impressions of a computer? Read More »
Hi Folks this is a simple request for your help. I feel passionate about helping Technical Professionals realize their career and personal goals, as I wish someone was around, accessible and affordable to me when I was clawing away at the career ladder in my early days. I set simonstapleton.com as the outlet for this,
Help Wanted – apply within Read More »
No this ain’t some odd sexual reference. (If you thought it was, what does that say about you? And what does it say about me for thinking you might?) Fudging in this context is manipulation which goes against standard, e.g. changing a value of something ‘illegitimately’ to see if you get the result you’re looking for.
Are you OK with fudging? Read More »
Did you know that organizational shape and behavior tends to reflect it’s company’s products?
The Implications of the Product Life-Cycle (Part One) Read More »
Nobody has the monopoly on good ideas. You may find yourself in a situation where you have a good idea that can revolutionize your organization, if only ‘management’ could see it. You’re bursting at the seams to speak to someone who can sponsor the idea and make it happen. For the bright technical professionals who
Brilliant Basics: Converting ideas and opportunities in technology to business value Read More »
The Internet has brought unprecedented access to information, and to each other. Using email, we are now able to contact friends, family and colleagues worldwide at the same time and from the same place, at low cost and effort. The trouble is, (for the same reasons) other people can contact us, often unsolicited. Spam is
Brilliant Basics: Getting the Most from Email Communication in Business Read More »
I recently wrote about creating technical innovation in a regimented world. The main thrust of this post covered the issues in building a framework for creativity in organization’s that are very risk-averse and structured around established methods. The framework I discussed is a potential management mechanism for moving ideas from early stages to business initiatives
How to Stimulate Technical Innovation Read More »
This is a continuation of the topic of Lightworkers and Darkworkers currently buzzing around on a few blogs; I wrote about Darkworkers here. Lightworkers, as defined by Steve Pavlina here, believe their primary role is to serve the greater good of humanity, and act in general terms selflessly. This doesn’t mean Lightworkers will starve to
Are there Lightworkers in your department? Read More »
Hi Folks, I apologise for not publishing anything for a week. I am in the middle of a house move and apart from my equipment being packed across several boxes, my internet connection to the office took longer than expected. However, I’m now back into the seat and will be publishing a number of articles
Update May 19 2008 Read More »
I just found this interesting post (below) on the valleywag blog, naming the 10 worst workplaces, according to their own research. I don’t think the research was done scientifically (so read it with a tongue-in-cheek). However, it does raise an interesting subject; does your workspace encourage you to work hard, give 110% and enjoy your work? Numerous
10 Worst Workspaces Read More »
From an early age, I was interested in computers. In the late 70s and early 80s, a revolution was underway – the home computer revolution. Like many spotty kids at that time, we loved to play the games on our Commodore or Spectrum, but I also liked to program games of my own. I think
SimonStapleton.com: Why do I do this? Read More »
The concept of Darkworkers and Lightworkers is buzzing on a couple of blogs I favor at the moment. In essence, Darkworkers align themselves to the needs of themselves, i.e. they are selfish individuals who live only for personal gain. On the flipside, Lightworkers align themselves to the needs of humanity. It’s important at this time
Are there Darkworkers in your department? Read More »
Information is the basis of the modern world. It’s the Information Age (wasn’t that Oracle who had that in their strapline in the 90s?) Information is power, so they say. But how do you get your information? This article covers how we get information from external sources, i.e. it isn’t about the coffee-machine chat. I’m
Build an Information Catalog Read More »
Frequently, I’ve felt my boss (in a number of organizations) is on another planet. Have you?
The ‘mystery’ boss: why your bosses behavior may occasionally look strange Read More »
Career development isn’t just about doing a great job (although mastering your craft is a solid way to build a career to the greatest of heights), it’s also about building, maintaining and developing your profile inside and external to an organization. You can build your profile as I’ve just mentioned, by doing a great job
Finding niche causes to raise your profile Read More »
Non-Functional Requirements (NFRs) are often the ‘unsaid’ requirements of a new product or system. NFRs should describe an important business context. Organizations who express new requirements of an IT system or a product tend to be much better at describing how something should work rather than the conditions in which it should work. For IT departments,
NFRs: The mysterious requirements of a business Read More »
In today’s climate of risk management, compliance, ITIL, Prince II and sophisticated management (the ‘regime’) innovation often loses out, as strict control of projects and operations demand repeatable, mature processes. A lot of investment goes into that situation, and changing them is costly and disruptive. So how inside a regime can innovation be stimulated without being
Creating technical innovation in a regimented world Read More »
Developing and improving your public speaking skills is a sure fire way of improving your personal confidence. On a similar vein, research and experience tells me that people who can demonstrate a grasp of language succeed better in the workplace. It’s similar to the psychological phenomenon that overweight people are perceived as less intelligent (with
How to Articulate Better Read More »
