Monthly Archives March 2007

The interrupt-driven life

Several research reports, both recently published and not yet published, provide evidence of the limits of multitasking. The findings, according to neuroscientists, psychologists and management professors, suggest that many people would be wise to curb their multitasking behavior when working in an office, studying or driving a car.
These experts have some basic advice. Check e-mail […]

CIO Insight: Outsourcing does not save money

Outsourcing may be commonplace, but it continues to confound IT executives’ expectations. Take the common myth that companies outsource to save money. Not only is this not true in half the cases, but our survey shows that most companies aren’t saving money by outsourcing.
And that’s not the only surprise: Insourcing and outsourcing, though polar opposites, […]

How Today’s Techies Work

Do you match the profile of today’s typical high-tech worker? You do if e-mail is your main way of communicating, you spend half your day in meetings, and you search the Internet for the latest research instead of reading print journals.
That’s according to a study of how engineers work, commissioned by the IEEE Publication Services […]

Recommended site: Media Convert

Our computers at home are very much up to date, thanks to Barry, and have all the latest bells and whistles — but this week I did a little bit of time traveling: I had occasion to find myself working at a rather ancient and cranky Mac.
I had been working in a document using Open […]

ITIL v3 books can be ordered starting today

We are delighted to announce that the five core publications that together comprise ITIL version 3 will publish on 30th May 2007.
Having undergone a major revision, the new service lifecycle-based guidance incorporates the best from the previous two versions and tested current best practice for ITSM.
The five titles forming the core of ITIL practice are:
* […]

The Upside of Assholes: Is there Virtue in Bad Workplace Behavior?

Bob Sutton employs his signature frankness to discuss whether the bad behavior of workplace bullies and jerks should be tolerated in the name of success. While referencing such famous assholes as Steve Jobs of Apple or Hall of Fame baseball player Ty Cobb, Sutton debates the value of getting results with a strategic temper tantrum.
ChangeThis: […]

70 hours a week the new standard?

Before Barbara Agoglia left her job as a director in American Express’ small business unit, she was on the verge of burnout. Aside from logging upward of 50 hours per week, she had a 90-minute commute to and from northern Westchester and had to be reachable to clients nearly 24-7.
The breaking point came when her […]