In past Executive Updates, I have examined various issues relating to executing mobile applications in response to increased consumer demand for access to websites via mobile devices as well as some decision frameworks for determining the best operating system for your organization's mobile applications.

A remarkably prescient group of early technology pioneers first conceived the vision underlying modern, Internet-based IT value creation. In a 1945 Atlantic Magazine article, "As We May Think," Vannevar Bush anticipated the interconnectedness and indexing structures of the Web. Later, in 1968, J.C.R.

Frameworks are one of the most useful and practical tools in an architect's arsenal. But they are frequently misunderstood or misapplied.

Much like agile requirements aim toward a goal, agile engineering practices help teams write code that meets the goals of an iteration and changes direction easily. To be an agile team, you need agile code. The agility of a code base is related to the architecture, development practices, and the delivery model. As working software is the main way of evaluating progress on an agile project, agile engineering practices can drive agile planning techniques when they are lacking.

In addition to changes in day-to-day practices, being agile requires a cultural shift across your organization. This Executive Update discusses how to balance agile values and practices when transitioning to an agile approach by using as examples three of the more common practices: pair programming, issue tracking, and unit testing.

At the end of last year (December 2011), The Open Group released the updated version 9.1 of TOGAF.

I've been examining the application of BI and data warehousing in education. Like organizations in other lines of business, educational institutions are seeking to reap the benefits offered through better data management and the application of BI analytics.

I've been examining the application of BI and data warehousing in education. Like organizations in other lines of business, educational institutions are seeking to reap the benefits offered through better data management and the application of BI analytics.

As we pointed out in Part I of this two-part Executive Report series, some may argue that IT's capacity to contribute to business competitiveness has faded, but we suggest instead that it has evolved and expanded, maturing and changing within a subset of companies that have effectively managed to use IT in various ways. However, it's important to note that not all companies achieve equal success with their mature approaches to IT-based capability and value creation.

Although some may argue that IT's capacity to contribute to business competitiveness has faded, we suggest instead that it has evolved and expanded, maturing and changing within a subset of companies that have effectively managed to use IT in various ways.

Although some may argue that IT's capacity to contribute to business competitiveness has faded, we suggest instead that it has evolved and expanded, maturing and changing within a subset of companies that have effectively managed to use IT in various ways.

As we pointed out in Part I of this two-part Executive Report series, some may argue that IT's capacity to contribute to business competitiveness has faded, but we suggest instead that it has evolved and expanded, maturing and changing within a subset of companies that have effectively managed to use IT in various ways. However, it's important to note that not all companies achieve equal success with their mature approaches to IT-based capability and value creation.

"Lingua franca" is common working language. It is used to bridge gaps in cultures, in organizations, and between individuals. The key is that it's "common." Thus, any discussion about your own lingua franca might seem oxymoronic. It's not.

The threats just keep coming in this new, interconnected world. DDoS attacks, internal security breaches, and even politically motivated "hacktivism" all but ensure that your organization will experience a security incident. Don't think if, think when.

Over the past 12-15 months, there have been numerous high-profile distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks launched against very prominent organizations. The motivation of "hacktivism," combined with the swiftness with which these attacks can be launched and redirected at other organizations, has caused many in the information security industry to rethink the threat landscape.

On that long list of venerable institutions primed for a high-tech overhaul, higher education is near the top. Its shortcomings are much discussed: universities are expensive, inaccessible, inflexible, and out of touch with the needs of students and the world economy.

Every year, millions of migrant workers leave their homes, searching for work and career advancement.

Every year, millions of migrant workers leave their homes, searching for work and career advancement.

The threats just keep coming in this new, interconnected world. DDoS attacks, internal security breaches, and even politically motivated "hacktivism" all but ensure that your organization will experience a security incident. Don't think if, think when.

The ubiquitous and ever-changing technologies emerging in today's enterprise environment (cloud, social media, mobile devices, etc.) require a new perspective on enterprise security architecture (ESA). Effective enterprise risk management in this highly complex, heterogeneous, and seemingly "boundary-less" environment rests on the three pillars of information security in practice (see Figure 1):

Identity management

Security policy compliance

Cyber security architecture as defense

Over the past 12-15 months, there have been numerous high-profile distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks launched against very prominent organizations. The motivation of "hacktivism," combined with the swiftness with which these attacks can be launched and redirected at other organizations, has caused many in the information security industry to rethink the threat landscape.

On that long list of venerable institutions primed for a high-tech overhaul, higher education is near the top. Its shortcomings are much discussed: universities are expensive, inaccessible, inflexible, and out of touch with the needs of students and the world economy.

On that long list of venerable institutions primed for a high-tech overhaul, higher education is near the top. Its shortcomings are much discussed: universities are expensive, inaccessible, inflexible, and out of touch with the needs of students and the world economy.

Every year, millions of migrant workers leave their homes, searching for work and career advancement. Larger economic trading zones, changes in immigration rules, and the search for skilled staff have rapidly increased the movement of people both within and between the EU (European Union), other OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries, and non-OECD countries.

On occasion, I have witnessed seemingly excellent agile teams fail. The developers and testers are fine craftsmen building astonishing software. Management has understood the nuts and bolts of self-organization and does a perfect job in supporting the teams.