First, as a man with unusually large feet, let me formally state a truism -- one size does not fit all in men's socks.

"Finally, I can get out from under the tedium and challenges of IT operations and simply harness cloud computing to meet my organization's computing needs."

"Cloud computing is more complex than the marketplace acknowledges. Before I do anything with third-party cloud services, I'd better do my homework."

"Finally, I can get out from under the tedium and challenges of IT operations and simply harness cloud computing to meet my organization's computing needs."

"Cloud computing is more complex than the marketplace acknowledges. Before I do anything with third-party cloud services, I'd better do my homework."

Cloud computing is truly one of the major technology shifts of our era. It's natural for a technology solution as pervasive and beneficial as cloud computing to be oversold to users with inflated expectations.

Cloud computing is truly one of the major technology shifts of our era. It's natural for a technology solution as pervasive and beneficial as cloud computing to be oversold to users with inflated expectations.

A healthy debate is going on about the relative merits and risks of the cloud computing model. Consultants are learning and writing about this, aggregating knowledge and opinion for the benefit of our clients and readers.

A healthy debate is going on about the relative merits and risks of the cloud computing model. Consultants are learning and writing about this, aggregating knowledge and opinion for the benefit of our clients and readers.

A lot has been said about cloud computing this year in the press and especially in marketing campaigns, much of it hype. It never ceases to amaze me how people continue to believe in silver bullets. One such popular perspective, illustrated in Figure 1, is particularly dangerous to the enterprise and to CIOs.

Cloud computing fits the classic modus operandi of emerging technologies inasmuch as it has been around for a long time -- at least 10 years -- waiting for the technology resources to become available. In the case of cloud, these would be broad network access and smart handheld devices. Without these technologies, it is possible to adopt cloud computing, but with severe limitations. With them, cloud computing becomes much more viable as a business resource.

Cloud computing fits the classic modus operandi of emerging technologies inasmuch as it has been around for a long time -- at least 10 years -- waiting for the technology resources to become available. In the case of cloud, these would be broad network access and smart handheld devices. Without these technologies, it is possible to adopt cloud computing, but with severe limitations. With them, cloud computing becomes much more viable as a business resource.

First, as a man with unusually large feet, let me formally state a truism -- one size does not fit all in men's socks.

Here's a question for you: who do you think is planning to spend $20 billion a year on cloud computing, every year? I can't imagine that you came up with any answer other than the US government, and you're right. Well, almost.

Here's a question for you: who do you think is planning to spend $20 billion a year on cloud computing, every year? I can't imagine that you came up with any answer other than the US government, and you're right. Well, almost.

Software Development

This is the final Executive Update in a three-part series exploring the implications of two key technological trends: (1) the move toward the syndication rather than the simple publishing of Web content and (2) the shift from hosting Web applications to providing Web services. Both of these trends change the ways that firms seek to create and capture value through content/functionality.

This is the final Executive Update in a three-part series exploring the implications of two key technological trends: (1) the move toward the syndication rather than the simple publishing of Web content and (2) the shift from hosting Web applications to providing Web services. Both of these trends change the ways that firms seek to create and capture value through content/functionality.

A friend of mine was recently asked by his new CEO to provide a roadmap for the coming two years.

It is depressing to see that the "Jumping the Radioactive Walrus" syndrome is alive and well in the US as well as in Japan. According to a recent report by the US Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board, the safety culture at the Hanford nuclear waste treatment and immobilization plant in Washington State is "flawed and effectively defeats" the 20-year Department of Energy (DOE) requirement that there be "a culture that encourages setting and maintaining high standards.

Although the etymology is probably forever lost in history, some trace the origins of the term “risk” back to the Greek poet Homer and his descriptions of Odysseus’s encounter at sea with the twin threats of the whirlpool Cha

Although the etymology is probably forever lost in history, some trace the origins of the term “risk” back to the Greek poet Homer and his descriptions of Odysseus’s encounter at sea with the twin threats of the whirlpool Cha

Recently, my old friend and colleague Conrad Weisert sent me an enormously important new manifesto, entitled "Programming Standards & Methodology Manifesto,"1 which argues that software engineering should focus on the product rather than the process. And he does this in little over a page of clearly articulated prose.

Regardless of what you think about cloud computing, one thing seems certain: while adoption is still very early, cloud computing is growing very fast. Before we begin to discuss this, let’s quickly define some terms.

Regardless of what you think about cloud computing, one thing seems certain: while adoption is still very early, cloud computing is growing very fast. Before we begin to discuss this, let’s quickly define some terms.

The accompanying Executive Report explores how cloud computing can play a vital role as a catalyst in accelerating the leveling of modern society by fueling the ongoing shift from top-down, "supply push" business environments to bottom-up, "demand pull" bu

Recently I was helping a client develop some processes for their EA program. Like many EA programs, the role of the architect there is somewhat undefined.