Current Tip
Automate Your Information Gathering
Chances are that many of your enterprise employees gather information on a minute-by-minute basis using RSS feeds. Check on tools that allow central administration of some feeds, making sure that staff receives at least the information the organization thinks is necessary for their work.
More Tips
Prioritize Your Life
Setting priorities on the job is standard operating procedure. Apply the same discipline to your life and prioritize the activities, interests and goals you have outside work. Family, leisure and non-work related interests help make a more rounded individual and put each priority in perspective.
Tap Into Your Staff's Knowledge
Knowledge can literally walk out the door when employees with significant work experience leave the organization. Implement knowledge collecting systems like Wikis, which will collect and retain the information your staff builds as part of their normal work.
Be Careful Who You Link Up With
Internet sites that match professionals, like LinkedIn and VisiblePath, can help find resources in your field. While these sites strive to verify that their members are who they purport to be, make sure you know who you are dealing with to your own satisfaction.
Assess Commercial Grade End-User Technology for Enterprise Advantages
Employees are increasingly accustomed to taking advantage of advanced Internet-based technologies in their personal lives. Investigate commercially available versions of social networking, instant messaging, Wikis and other popular applications to advance your enterprise in both function and perception.
Mass Your Storage
Virtual storage systems have come of age. While many organizations have held off on implementing storage virtualization systems, now is a good time to take advantage of more robust offerings.
Get Power from the Wire
It has become more common for low power consumption devices to receive their electrical power through their Ethernet connections. When upgrading networking equipment, look for products that support power-over-Ethernet (PoE) to reduce the number of power adapters and increase the flexibility in locating devices.
Use a Project Management Alternative
Traditional project management systems are mandatory tools for keeping large, complex projects under control. But some projects like internal management and reporting duties, while just as critical, are not nearly as complex. These tasks can be more easily handled by scaled-down project management systems.
Outsourcing May Be the Way Out
When software development projects go off track, shifting the center of focus may be a viable solution. If the project is being handled by internal resources, bring in outsourced talent to create a merged team. If the project is already outsourced, add internal resources to the mix.
Reach Out to Find Out
Knowing what your customers want is particularly difficult when you only make contact with them online. Solicit their ideas directly by email or phone rather than relying on random unsolicited comments through the website.
Keep Cool As You Bump Up Your Power
Deploying new server technology, particularly multicore systems, can strain power and cooling infrastructure. Consider having your computing space rearchitected before beginning new projects.
