E-project management (EPM) has been defined as the management of projects that are large and mission-critical but involve the use of novel tools and processes required to address turbulent business and technology environments (see Cutter Consortium's e-Project Management -- now known as Agile Project Management -- Executive Report, Vol. 1, No. 1). In this Update, we'll be examining EPM primarily as it applies to managing large-scale, advanced software projects.

Note: The present Council Opinion is the second of three on the subject of a pandemic -- an extensive disruption of our information infrastructure due to natural or malicious causes. The overall assertion is that such a pandemic is likely in our near future and that companies, governments, and economies need to take steps to buffer themselves from pandemic effects. For the first article in this series, see Council Opinion, Vol. 2, No. 10.

Security

Editor's note: Attacks on information infrastructures are increasing, and consumers and companies are especially watchful for the best protective measures to strengthen cyber-security. Discussions on cyber-threats often give rise to the following questions: What are the symptoms of criminal activity? What routines are advised for early detection of attacks?

Editor's note: Attacks on information infrastructures are increasing, and consumers and companies are especially watchful for the best protective measures to strengthen cyber-security. Discussions on cyber-threats often give rise to the following questions: What are the symptoms of criminal activity? What routines are advised for early detection of attacks?

Cutter Consortium recently conducted a survey regarding litigation experiences in IT. In this Executive Update, I will present these survey results as they confirm anecdotal accounts and general impressions. Of the respondents, 78% had been involved in a dispute that had ended in litigation (see Figure 1).

Cutter Consortium recently conducted a survey regarding litigation experiences in IT. In this Executive Update, I will present these survey results as they confirm anecdotal accounts and general impressions. Of the respondents, 78% had been involved in a dispute that had ended in litigation (see Figure 1).

Whether a software organization succeeds or fails at changing its culture depends largely on leadership and the successful institutionalization of desired practices. Cultures capable of sustaining change and high performance respect, value, and support their people throughout the change.

As the aftershocks of the September 11 events continue to reverberate, many companies are hunkering down, tightening their belts, and cutting the budgets of projects that will not directly contribute to fourth-quarter profits.

As the aftershocks of the September 11 events continue to reverberate, many companies are hunkering down, tightening their belts, and cutting the budgets of projects that will not directly contribute to fourth-quarter profits.

As the aftershocks of the September 11 events continue to reverberate, many companies are hunkering down, tightening their belts, and cutting the budgets of projects that will not directly contribute to fourth-quarter profits.

On 14 November, IBM announced its support for the Object Management Group's (OMG) new Model Driven Architecture (MDA) and indicated that it would be including MDA in an upcoming release of WebSphere. This is a major boost for the OMG's MDA approach.

This seems to be the year for disasters. In the last three months, in addition to the September 11 disaster, I've seem three very large IT projects cancelled after the expenditure of considerable sums of money. One was in excess of US $50 million -- an ambitious Web project whose managers did not think it necessary to include performance modeling in the design.

This seems to be the year for disasters. In the last three months, in addition to the September 11 disaster, I've seem three very large IT projects cancelled after the expenditure of considerable sums of money. One was in excess of US $50 million -- an ambitious Web project whose managers did not think it necessary to include performance modeling in the design.