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May 31, 2006
Branding Model: Request for Review
Over the past three months, I have done a deep dive into the concepts of personal branding which included four books and countless articles from both the academic and professional perspective. More importantly, I took a look at my own journey and started laying out a framework for others to replicate. My first realization is that personal branding which focuses on emotions, perceptions, and the meta-physical elements has a second dimension. That dimension is the trademark or the physical elements of the branding process. These trademarks include the network, publishing, persona, and portfolio. In addition, I pose the question of the personal brand promise and the existence of a personal branding maturity model.
What emerged from this research is a model with 6-8 areas of focus with as many as 123 tasks. While the model reflects my efforts over the past 7 years, does the model apply to others that have also been in the personal branding process? Would anyone be willing to review the model and provide feedback on the gaps and accuracy based on your experiences?
If you are interested then drop me an email and I will send the power point for your review. All I ask is for you to provide feedback within a couple of weeks of review.
Posted by Todd at 1:04 PM | Comments (1)
May 23, 2006
Semantic Shifts
Suppose for a moment that your organization has deployed and is supporting a structured registry for the data layer within the architecture. This opens the door for three shifts: horizontal, vertical, and semantic. A vertical shift would move along the X-Axis according to the Zachman Framework and expand into the logical, conceptual or physical representations of data. A horizontal shift would move to another architecture layer and apply the structured principles to different asset types such as web services, interfaces, or open source components (A Zachman Column Shift). A semantic shift would occur when take the registry (structured content) and add un-structured content which creates a repository type layer on top of the registry. Shifting again along the semantic road again would drive you to build a collaborative environment on top of the repository. Hence, you would have all three: data, information, and collaborative knowledge within the same environment. If there is a fourth shift, the shift would create integration along all the dimensions of the Zachman Framework and Semantic Environments.
Posted by Todd at 3:25 PM
May 20, 2006
DMReview Article: Collaborate 451
If I were to ask you what Microsoft's fastest growing product is, which product would you choose? In 2003, The Register reported that SharePoint was the fastest growing product with more than 30 million licenses. Collaborative products are not new, and the Lotus Notes folks will sing in unison been there, done that. However, 30 million licenses are nothing to sneeze at. The impact to traditional applications is enormous in the sense of how work is organized and value delivered. This month, I want to describe how many organizations are adding collaboration to their applications, registries and repositories.
Read Article
Posted by Todd at 12:50 PM
May 16, 2006
When 1 = 400; Dell Math
Wow, I can hardly imagine the supple chain of a single Dell computer. I recently came across the fact that a single Dell computer may integrate as many as 400 suppliers from design to delivery. From Texas to Malaysia, the electronic world is indeed integrated. Who says the Electronic Business to Business Integration is not here yet.
Posted by Todd at 11:07 AM
May 15, 2006
System Names
Interesting thing about names and more importantly system names. Suppose during the business requirements phase of a major project we decide to name the new customer management system SIMSYS or Simple Information Management System. When the requirements come to the IT and our infinite wisdom we decide that the system should be called SYMSYS since that sounds much cooler. We in IT like to think of ourselves as creative geniuses and you can see that in all of the dancing bunnies on our slide decks. Once the SYMSYS makes it into design, we need to break it up into four different system names: SYMSYS, SYMSYSWeb, SYMSYSView and SYSSYSDb. Of course, development, test and operations adds the different environments for SYMSYSDb-Production, SYMSYSDb-Test, SYMSYSDb-UAT, SYMSYSDb-Development (Multiplied four times). The different releases then come into play as we add updates and modivications: SYMSYSWeb v2.1, Production. Not to mention the mired assets that will need to be placed into the repositories and registries.
Look out, here comes the business user in a panic; the SIMSYS application is down? The what? Let me look that up in the system registry, Hmmmmm. How do you spell that? Is that production or test? Crap, I cant find SIMSYS anywhere. Frustration with IT follows.
The key here is recognize that multiple names are used depending on the context of the environment. System registries should have synonym structures in place.
Posted by Todd at 11:40 AM
May 12, 2006
Collaboration Insight
Just got through Don Tapscott’s Rethinking Information Technology and Competitive Advantage part 2. This part focused on the collaborative nature of both business and its use of technology. This paper can be found on Don’s website or through a quick search. The basic premise is that with the interconnected world, there is a new era of collaboration happening that is clearing redefining what is means to have a competitive advantage or how to get one.
Collaboration is the new foundation of competitiveness. Normally the term collaboration conjures up images of office workers interacting effectively together. True, knowledge is the ability to take effective action. The exchange of knowledge among people allows them to communicate complex ideas and to collaborate in creating value. But the concept is changing. By collaboration we mean the increasing richness of means by which objects (things, people and firms) can work together enhanced by the medium of the Internet.
The paper continues to examine the impact as well as provide insight on the how. The world and business is changing and publication such as this reinforce the ideas and sheds light on he we can not only get involved but be on the forefront.
Posted by Todd at 11:58 AM
Top 2%
Could our Enterprise Metadata Blog actually rank in the Top 2% of all blogs? According to Technorati, we do and that’s pretty cool. Of course, it helps that there are now 38.6 million blogs in the world and the long tail of popularity comes into play.
Posted by Todd at 11:50 AM
May 11, 2006
Data Professionals
Collected a small group of data professional that have an online presence where you can learn from thier publications or efforts to expand the body of knowledge.
If there is anyone that I should add, please comment here and I will take care of it.
Posted by Todd at 1:35 AM
May 10, 2006
Does Heaven need metadata?
I suppose if one thinks about the job of St. Peter then the answer is obvious; yes. The simplest meta-model would be from the Baptist since all St. Peter would need is the name and Save Date or Save_Date or SAVDAT. Other religions that weigh your good and bad deeds would require a much larger meta-model and various unstructured type documentation. Assuming that the facts of the case will help decide the deed classification, then this type of information could be crucial. Other more complex religions that have Duty requirements would requie additional databases to help hold the prescribed tasks, times, and details of forgiveness. I suppose we could apply normalization of the tasks which would save space but they may not have storage or network issues.
Considering that there are around 106 Billion people that ever lived this could be the largest metadata store ever. The good news is that there does not seem to be a need to exchange metadata to the other place since souls are not exchanged. Maybe one can argue that if St. Peters says no, but I think if you show up at the other location they will accept you no what your metadata is. Some religions have holding locations where you spend time before earning your way to the pearly gates. So some level of business rule exchange may be needed to ensure the status is reported correctly.
Once inside then maybe additional metadata needs to be captured on just what heaven is for you or better yet what job function you will be performing. I have to assume not all of us can be Arc Angels or the helper type angels that we see on TV. Job functions, performance statistics, and schedules will need to be kept; all of which will require a heavy dose of metadata to keep straight. Of course, with the Gospel of Judas and the Da Vinci Code coming out more educational type jobs will be in order which might require additional data stores and integration feeds.
My answer, yes there is metadata in Heaven!
:-}
Posted by Todd at 6:17 PM
May 4, 2006
Three Bad Assumptions on Globalization
1. People in the global economy only want the low end information technology jobs. It is an incorrect assumption that information workers around the world will be satisfied with our low end operations and development functions. The higher end architecture, design, and customer interfacing jobs are also at risk.
2. People in the global economy will win based on the sheer numbers of technology professionals. Yes and no! Yes, you can get 10 Ph.D.s for the price of one technology professional but the real tragedy is that a single global worker will out work us in time, commitment, continuous learning, focus, etc. Of course, we have experience on our side, right? Go ask your manager what you did 3 years ago and to recall your greatest accomplishment of 2003. Let me know how that works for you.
3. The timing of this globalization will happen tomorrow so let us close the borders, pass laws and raise tariffs. No, while globalization is creating hundreds of thousands of jobs overseas the proportion of jobs lost in this manner is very small; perhaps 2-5%. Of course, the biggest contributor to job erosion is cutting costs, standardization, and technical advancements. There is still plenty of time to develop news skills to adapt to the changing times or go back and add another education notch to your belt. Certifications, CMM belts, formal education, and publications all help in pushing your career forward.
Posted by Todd at 1:12 PM
May 2, 2006
Gas Prices
Ouch! For the first time, filling up my six cylinder truck went to $50.00. How should I feel about this? As a consumer, it sucks. Assuming normal mileage in a year, my gas bill could top $5,000. The problem is that in order to buy a more fuel efficient vehicle, I would need to spend $25,000. Even if the new car cut my gas bill in half, it would take 10 years to recover my investment; ignoring opportunity costs. As an investor, I am thrilled with the huge profits the gas companies are making. My hope is that .09 cents of every dollar they make will go into new technologies and energy R&D. Is 9% profit too much? Is Wal-Marts 6% too much? What about the federal government making .18 cents per dollar off of gas, plus the tax on the corporate profit which would raise their stake to 20% of the dollar. Wonder why the media isn’t crying about that? More than likely everyone believes that the money will go into our education system which continues to drop to the bottom of the industrialize world. So as a tax payer, I am neutral in the gas prices since I am not sure where they are going to spend the money, maybe I’ll get that $100 someone promised last week. Ok, enough crying…. :-}
Posted by Todd at 1:10 PM | Comments (2)
CIO Positions
The new issue of HBR arrived today and I noticed one again the focus of articles toward C positions (COO, CIO, Executive). Yet, if one were to look at the vast majority of positions in the organizations there are only 3 or 4 versus thousands of other lower positions. In fact, I would say that 99% of the people reading CIO Magazine, HBR, etc are not C level positions but rather 6-7 levels below that. I suppose the arguments is that if you think and act like the CEO then you too can attain to such lofty positions. Interesting dynamic, to say the least.
Posted by Todd at 2:14 AM