As a response to the challenges that arose from the application of waterfall processes, many different approaches have been tried -- and many discarded. The agile software development methods are the result of taking "what worked" from many different processes and blending them together.

The combination of increased uncertainty and complexity in company environments calls for the development of new management forms and a shift in management thinking. This Executive Update extends the work on agile project management and sets forth to explore how a company can introduce agility into its portfolio of development projects.

Most business mergers and acquisitions fail to live up to the hopes and objectives that originally brought the two companies together. The synergies imagined in the run-up to the merger 1 fail to emerge, the two companies never really learn to operate as one coherent entity, and a host of strategic and interpersonal factors erode the new company's competitive edge and lead to diminished financial returns.

Most business mergers and acquisitions fail to live up to the hopes and objectives that originally brought the two companies together. The synergies imagined in the run-up to the merger 1 fail to emerge, the two companies never really learn to operate as one coherent entity, and a host of strategic and interpersonal factors erode the new company's competitive edge and lead to diminished financial returns.

Companies merge for a variety of reasons. Alliances are usually made in the best interests of the organizations and their shareholders with the goal of maximizing the financial value of the merged company. The idea is that financial synergies, economies of scale, knowledge transfer, and tighter financial and operational controls will lead to increased shareholder wealth.

Companies merge for a variety of reasons. Alliances are usually made in the best interests of the organizations and their shareholders with the goal of maximizing the financial value of the merged company. The idea is that financial synergies, economies of scale, knowledge transfer, and tighter financial and operational controls will lead to increased shareholder wealth.

Mobile workers are just like the rest of us -- except that they are mobile. And therein lies the problem. Mobile workers today are just as reliant upon efficient access to corporate data and applications as other workers are. In fact, at times they are even more so -- as in the case of a representative preparing a quote, for example. Yet the capabilities for obtaining and managing the mobile network connection are not nearly as robust as those within the corporate facility.

Mobile workers are just like the rest of us -- except that they are mobile. And therein lies the problem. Mobile workers today are just as reliant upon efficient access to corporate data and applications as other workers are. In fact, at times they are even more so -- as in the case of a representative preparing a quote, for example. Yet the capabilities for obtaining and managing the mobile network connection are not nearly as robust as those within the corporate facility.

It is inevitable that your outsourcing contract will end one day, either due to reaching the natural end of its term or the end of the specified extension periods or as a result of early termination.

It is inevitable that your outsourcing contract will end one day, either due to reaching the natural end of its term or the end of the specified extension periods or as a result of early termination.

It is inevitable that your outsourcing contract will end one day, either as a result of reaching the natural end of its term or the end of the specified extension periods or through early termination.

It is inevitable that your outsourcing contract will end one day, either as a result of reaching the natural end of its term or the end of the specified extension periods or through early termination.

Software-as-a-service (SaaS) has garnered considerable attention over the past two years, as the Web-based business applications provided by upstart companies such as Salesforce.com and Google have experienced significant growth and challenged the standing of established players such as Siebel, SAP, and even Microsoft.

Software-as-a-service (SaaS) has garnered considerable attention over the past two years, as the Web-based business applications provided by upstart companies such as Salesforce.com and Google have experienced significant growth and challenged the standing of established players such as Siebel, SAP, and even Microsoft.

Organizational matters

Internal blogging and twittering represent a potential threat to the organization, with small likely benefit.

Organizational matters

Internal blogging and twittering represent a potential threat to the organization, with small likely benefit.

To live in this pluralistic world means to experience freedom as a continual oscillation between belonging and disorientation.

-- Gianni Vattimo [3]

To live in this pluralistic world means to experience freedom as a continual oscillation between belonging and disorientation.

-- Gianni Vattimo [3]

To live in this pluralistic world means to experience freedom as a continual oscillation between belonging and disorientation.

-- Gianni Vattimo [3]

Last week, IBM announced that it would attempt to collect the very minimum personal information from its online customers in the name of privacy. This rang a bell with me. A while back, I was involved in a privacy, confidentiality, and security committee manned by industry and government folks.

Last week, IBM announced that it would attempt to collect the very minimum personal information from its online customers in the name of privacy. This rang a bell with me. A while back, I was involved in a privacy, confidentiality, and security committee manned by industry and government folks.

Last week, IBM announced that it would attempt to collect the very minimum personal information from its online customers in the name of privacy. This rang a bell with me. A while back, I was involved in a privacy, confidentiality, and security committee manned by industry and government folks.

Last week, IBM announced that it would attempt to collect the very minimum personal information from its online customers in the name of privacy. This rang a bell with me. A while back, I was involved in a privacy, confidentiality, and security committee manned by industry and government folks.

A long time ago in a world far away, a flame-breathing dragon was troubling a kingdom. Periodically the dragon would swoop down from the sky and ravage the village, burning homes and eating the livestock. When the problem finally came to the king's attention, he called upon one of his brave knights, saying, "Go and slay the dragon in the western hills.

The crash happened suddenly. The other car appeared as a brief blur in my windshield. In an instant, the airbag deployed, ruptured, and surrounded me in white dust. My vehicle and I came to an abrupt and violent halt.