Over the last 18 months, the collaboration market has changed radically. Many users of collaboration technologies may not be aware of these changes, but vendors in this market certainly are.

Over the last 18 months, the collaboration market has changed radically. Many users of collaboration technologies may not be aware of these changes, but vendors in this market certainly are.

Operational risks, as you may recall, are those risks that are caused by an organization's dependency on its systems, processes, and staff. The past few weeks have been a showcase for what happens when operational risk is not managed effectively.

Operational risks, as you may recall, are those risks that are caused by an organization's dependency on its systems, processes, and staff. The past few weeks have been a showcase for what happens when operational risk is not managed effectively.

Since not all sourcing projects are the same, what we should look for in a sourcing partner isn't always going to be the same. However, there is a consistent way to evaluate and analyze potential partners. Apart from their technical strengths and weaknesses, there are nine factors we must consider while evaluating potential vendors:

Flexibility or agility -- How does the vendor's business model lend itself to meeting our sourcing goals and objectives?

Since not all sourcing projects are the same, what we should look for in a sourcing partner isn't always going to be the same. However, there is a consistent way to evaluate and analyze potential partners. Apart from their technical strengths and weaknesses, there are nine factors we must consider while evaluating potential vendors:

Flexibility or agility -- How does the vendor's business model lend itself to meeting our sourcing goals and objectives?

We believe the management and governance of IT ultimately comes down to the management of money. Project and lights-on budget decisions essentially determine what will be done with IT. However, traditional accounting-based budgets do not support the kind of decision-making necessary. Portfolio-based budgets -- and the management decisions and governance associated with them -- directly support the kind of decision-making necessary.

Recently, I had the privilege of being a guest keynote speaker at symposiums for two of the world's largest financial services companies, where I spoke about the people dynamics and success/failure trends of deadline-intensive projects -- something near and dear to all our hearts. Between the two events (one held in Chicago and the other in Boston), there were about 700 technology professionals in the audiences. It was an exciting time.

The first week out of college in my first job people told me, "No surprises on your projects." I had no idea what that meant and struggled with this concept of surprises on projects for years. I eventually learned what people were trying to express and a few techniques that helped with warnings about bad news.

Knowledge and innovation will not happen where there is no trust. Companies that create an environment of trust with strong social connections and knowledge sharing are finding such a culture to be a source of real competitive advantage.

Knowledge and innovation will not happen where there is no trust. Companies that create an environment of trust with strong social connections and knowledge sharing are finding such a culture to be a source of real competitive advantage.

If you're like me, you have the best of intentions around the new year but somehow never get around to coming up with meaningful resolutions. As a special service to Enterprise Architecture Advisor readers, we're providing a list of ready-made resolutions that you can adopt for 2006 or beyond.

Enterprise reporting tools vendor Actuate Corporation has acquired business performance management vendor Performancesoft, Inc. for an initial US $16.5 million. Actuate will also pay -- in 2007 -- an additional contingent cash payment of up to $13.5 million based on achievement of certain revenue and operating margin targets for 2006.

The past five years have seen a significant trend toward the corporate outsourcing and offshoring of both business operations and specific workforce skills. Now more than ever, companies are viewing these as viable options for improving cost containment, productivity, quality of service, ROI, and so on. As IT organizations consider outsourcing, hosting, and ASP models to manage mainline programs and projects, there is discussion about whether or not to outsource business intelligence (BI) programs as well.