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Insight
Many software organizations are asking themselves, "What should we do to get better?" Some companies attempt to answer this important question by embarking on a thorough (and expensive) benchmarking study. "By comparing ourselves against the best software organizations, we will find out exactly what to try to become even better," is their logic.
Cutter Consortium Senior Consultant Stowe Boyd recently made several observations about the emerging architecture for future knowledge management (KM) systems and the business culture in which those systems will take shape:
Architectural Metaphor
Boyd suggests that developers planning future KM systems should look to the architecture of buildings for valuable insight.
Here it is, August of 1999. Looking ahead, we're about to pass through that huge patch of rough water we've come to call "the Year 2000 crisis." Like most of you, I'm looking forward to coming out on the other side. Smooth sailing, blue skies, returning to normalcy ... doesn't that all sound good right now?!
Assume Year 2000 turns out badly. I am convinced it will, at least for some countries. For those affected places, I can see the following lessons being well received:
1. There is a need for a compiler and development tools in which numeric overflows cannot occur -- at least for core infrastructure facilities.
Certification has been a topic of serious discussion and debate for well over a decade in the software development field. Countries such as Australia and Japan have made significant progress in their efforts to define and implement certification standards and procedures, and a few states in the US have also shown some interest in the concept.