The Conversation - Beyond Blinking Lights And Acronyms http://mikeschaffner.typepad.com/michael_schaffner/ Comments on the posts in Beyond Blinking Lights And Acronyms en-US 2009-07-08T05:00:00-05:00 BeyondBlinkingLightsAndAcronyms-TheConversationhttp://feedburner.google.comSubscribe with My Yahoo!Subscribe with NewsGatorSubscribe with My AOLSubscribe with BloglinesSubscribe with NetvibesSubscribe with GoogleSubscribe with PageflakesSubscribe with PlusmoSubscribe with Live.comThanks for looking at my blog feed. I hope you'll subscribe and I hope you enjoy conversation. Thanks, Mike Comment by Mike on "Step Away From The Computer" http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BeyondBlinkingLightsAndAcronyms-TheConversation/~3/VvO6bhL2QKI/step-away-from-the-computer.html <br /> Ernie,   A very valid point.  We need to use social media to supplement communication and not avoid it.  Thanks,   Mike<br /> <br /> Ernie,   A very valid point.  We need to use social media to supplement communication and not avoid it.  Thanks,   Mike


]]> Step Away From The Computer Mike 2009-07-11T19:20:19-05:00 http://mikeschaffner.typepad.com/michael_schaffner/2009/07/step-away-from-the-computer.html#c6a00d8341c5de753ef011571f6fead970b Comment by Ernie Perez on "Step Away From The Computer" http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BeyondBlinkingLightsAndAcronyms-TheConversation/~3/XTIidJCkdro/step-away-from-the-computer.html <p>Great stuff today!<br /> <br /> When you consider that communications are primarily a combination of non verbal, tone, pitch, and violume. and words are typically 7-10%, I have a real concern that a cost of all of social media capability is we lose the ability top talk to each other.<br /> </p> Great stuff today!

When you consider that communications are primarily a combination of non verbal, tone, pitch, and violume. and words are typically 7-10%, I have a real concern that a cost of all of social media capability is we lose the ability top talk to each other.


]]> Step Away From The Computer Ernie Perez 2009-07-11T19:17:51-05:00 http://mikeschaffner.typepad.com/michael_schaffner/2009/07/step-away-from-the-computer.html#c6a00d8341c5de753ef0115710230be970c Comment by Mike on "Step Away From The Computer" http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BeyondBlinkingLightsAndAcronyms-TheConversation/~3/V5semxFJgXc/step-away-from-the-computer.html <p>Sam,</p> <p>Great comments. The comment about training is especially interesting. Given how technology can be used to avoid true interactive communication it makes me wonder if we&#39;ve the lack of proactive training have instead &quot;trained&quot; them in the wrong way to communicate. That would be an interesting topic worthy of more discussion.</p> <p>In regard to the past with more face to face and phone communication being better I would tend to think it probably was better as it had the advantages of body language, voice inflection and immediate response to help improve the quality of the communication. Having said that it was probably better I should say that doesn&#39;t necessarily mean it was good, it was just better. How good it was depends on the individuals involved.</p> <p>Mike</p> Sam,

Great comments. The comment about training is especially interesting. Given how technology can be used to avoid true interactive communication it makes me wonder if we've the lack of proactive training have instead "trained" them in the wrong way to communicate. That would be an interesting topic worthy of more discussion.

In regard to the past with more face to face and phone communication being better I would tend to think it probably was better as it had the advantages of body language, voice inflection and immediate response to help improve the quality of the communication. Having said that it was probably better I should say that doesn't necessarily mean it was good, it was just better. How good it was depends on the individuals involved.

Mike


]]> Step Away From The Computer Mike 2009-07-08T21:06:23-05:00 http://mikeschaffner.typepad.com/michael_schaffner/2009/07/step-away-from-the-computer.html#c6a00d8341c5de753ef011571df0996970b Comment by Mike on "Step Away From The Computer" http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BeyondBlinkingLightsAndAcronyms-TheConversation/~3/chUfkfxFbek/step-away-from-the-computer.html <p>Chuck,</p> <p>Thanks for the comments. I agree, interaction is the key. When the technology helps that interaction its great but we shouldn&#39;t hesitate to switch if it gets in the way of the interaction. Great post on your blog, thanks for sharing the link.</p> <p>Mike</p> Chuck,

Thanks for the comments. I agree, interaction is the key. When the technology helps that interaction its great but we shouldn't hesitate to switch if it gets in the way of the interaction. Great post on your blog, thanks for sharing the link.

Mike


]]> Step Away From The Computer Mike 2009-07-08T21:01:45-05:00 http://mikeschaffner.typepad.com/michael_schaffner/2009/07/step-away-from-the-computer.html#c6a00d8341c5de753ef011571df072e970b Comment by Sam O&#39;Daniel on "Step Away From The Computer" http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BeyondBlinkingLightsAndAcronyms-TheConversation/~3/GiktP2o3ADs/step-away-from-the-computer.html <p>I agree on many of your points, but your example dialogue sounds like someone who needs that training from HR, is not really wanting to deal with Sam (personality conflict?), or is just lazy. I think there has long been a problem of quality communication, and now there are even more ways to get it wrong. Did communication used to be better when it was mostly face to face or over the phone? Or were there just as many mistakes and miscues as there are now?</p> I agree on many of your points, but your example dialogue sounds like someone who needs that training from HR, is not really wanting to deal with Sam (personality conflict?), or is just lazy. I think there has long been a problem of quality communication, and now there are even more ways to get it wrong. Did communication used to be better when it was mostly face to face or over the phone? Or were there just as many mistakes and miscues as there are now?


]]> Step Away From The Computer Sam O&#39;Daniel 2009-07-08T14:27:39-05:00 http://mikeschaffner.typepad.com/michael_schaffner/2009/07/step-away-from-the-computer.html#c6a00d8341c5de753ef011570e7b6a1970c Comment by Chuck Musciano on "Step Away From The Computer" http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BeyondBlinkingLightsAndAcronyms-TheConversation/~3/iaofDKo2mU4/step-away-from-the-computer.html <p>I couldn&#39;t agree more. Real communication involves people engaging, sharing, and resolving things. Technology provides ways to avoid that interaction, which allows passive people to hide from the real world. I wrote about this recently as well, looking at the <a href="http://effectivecio.com/2009/06/29/swing-batter-batter-batter" rel="nofollow">crucial chatter</a> that really makes organizations function.</p> I couldn't agree more. Real communication involves people engaging, sharing, and resolving things. Technology provides ways to avoid that interaction, which allows passive people to hide from the real world. I wrote about this recently as well, looking at the crucial chatter that really makes organizations function.


]]> Step Away From The Computer Chuck Musciano 2009-07-08T07:51:41-05:00 http://mikeschaffner.typepad.com/michael_schaffner/2009/07/step-away-from-the-computer.html#c6a00d8341c5de753ef011571d9736e970b Comment by Mike on "Saying Why Is A Powerful Tool" http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BeyondBlinkingLightsAndAcronyms-TheConversation/~3/eKkvW7Uz6F4/saying-why-is-a-powerful-tool.html <p>Douglas,</p> <p>That&#39;s a great example. Things like this give IT a bad name and we do it without having a clue. It is especially frustrating as it really can be handled simply yet we so often make it harder than it really needs to be.</p> <p>Mike</p> Douglas,

That's a great example. Things like this give IT a bad name and we do it without having a clue. It is especially frustrating as it really can be handled simply yet we so often make it harder than it really needs to be.

Mike


]]> Saying Why Is A Powerful Tool Mike 2009-07-05T17:52:16-05:00 http://mikeschaffner.typepad.com/michael_schaffner/2009/07/saying-why-is-a-powerful-tool.html#c6a00d8341c5de753ef011570ce9873970c Comment by Douglas Schultz on "Saying Why Is A Powerful Tool" http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BeyondBlinkingLightsAndAcronyms-TheConversation/~3/4EdYQchMpnE/saying-why-is-a-powerful-tool.html <p>Mike - another great post. Reminds me of a time with a former employer where email Spam filters blocked anything with the word Gun in them. Our Security team had good itentions because word in an email to a corporate address would probably mean something not appropriate for a business. Unfortunately we had a contractor building our Gunnison platform, meaning legitimate emails to the business were being blocked. Our Security team asked if they could change the name of the platform so the emails wouldn&#39;t be blocked. That went over well with the business. No explanation was given as to why that was being blocked, just if you want those emails, you need to make a change. The business eventually won (no surprise) and all was well. But if you explain why certain policies are in place, the business users might understand and make adjustments (like why passwords need to have an alphanumeric charcacter and be of a certain length.)</p> Mike - another great post. Reminds me of a time with a former employer where email Spam filters blocked anything with the word Gun in them. Our Security team had good itentions because word in an email to a corporate address would probably mean something not appropriate for a business. Unfortunately we had a contractor building our Gunnison platform, meaning legitimate emails to the business were being blocked. Our Security team asked if they could change the name of the platform so the emails wouldn't be blocked. That went over well with the business. No explanation was given as to why that was being blocked, just if you want those emails, you need to make a change. The business eventually won (no surprise) and all was well. But if you explain why certain policies are in place, the business users might understand and make adjustments (like why passwords need to have an alphanumeric charcacter and be of a certain length.)


]]> Saying Why Is A Powerful Tool Douglas Schultz 2009-07-01T22:33:14-05:00 http://mikeschaffner.typepad.com/michael_schaffner/2009/07/saying-why-is-a-powerful-tool.html#c6a00d8341c5de753ef0115719dc419970b Comment by Mike on "What IT Needs To Give Up" http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BeyondBlinkingLightsAndAcronyms-TheConversation/~3/p569eaQVa58/what-it-needs-to-give-up.html <p>Douglas,</p> <p>Good to hear from you. You&#39;re right other than the examples you mention there really are very few true IT projects. The business has to lead a project. If a project doesn&#39;t have an engaged business owner their team won&#39;t engage either and the project is doomed to fail. </p> <p>Strange how business leaders wouldn&#39;t turn over the building of a new factory to engineers and say call me when it is done and have little involvement in the process but yet will do that exact thing with systems projects. We in IT have to stand firm or our &quot;IT&quot; will be continual failures.</p> <p>Mike</p> Douglas,

Good to hear from you. You're right other than the examples you mention there really are very few true IT projects. The business has to lead a project. If a project doesn't have an engaged business owner their team won't engage either and the project is doomed to fail.

Strange how business leaders wouldn't turn over the building of a new factory to engineers and say call me when it is done and have little involvement in the process but yet will do that exact thing with systems projects. We in IT have to stand firm or our "IT" will be continual failures.

Mike


]]> What IT Needs To Give Up Mike 2009-07-01T18:26:45-05:00 http://mikeschaffner.typepad.com/michael_schaffner/2009/06/what-it-needs-to-give-up.html#c6a00d8341c5de753ef011570a696df970c Comment by Douglas Schultz on "What IT Needs To Give Up" http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BeyondBlinkingLightsAndAcronyms-TheConversation/~3/6RQMGl6H274/what-it-needs-to-give-up.html <p>Mike - your are right on with this. In my opinion, there are very few IT projects that may not need to have a direct project owner in the business. Normal maintenance activities like upgrades to PC&#39;s, the network or new Operating Systems may not require a business owner unless it&#39;s going to impact them in a significant way. Some of those projects are just part of the fabric of taking care of the IT business. In my last employer, our CIO would not let projects move forward without a business sponsor fully engaged and &quot;walking down the aisle with us&quot; as he liked to phrase it. We had just consolidated all of the various IT organizations in our enterprise and were down the road in a shared services model. Prior to that, we had more than our share of projects fail or deliver less than desired results because of no business sponsor or one that wasn&#39;t fully engaged.</p> Mike - your are right on with this. In my opinion, there are very few IT projects that may not need to have a direct project owner in the business. Normal maintenance activities like upgrades to PC's, the network or new Operating Systems may not require a business owner unless it's going to impact them in a significant way. Some of those projects are just part of the fabric of taking care of the IT business. In my last employer, our CIO would not let projects move forward without a business sponsor fully engaged and "walking down the aisle with us" as he liked to phrase it. We had just consolidated all of the various IT organizations in our enterprise and were down the road in a shared services model. Prior to that, we had more than our share of projects fail or deliver less than desired results because of no business sponsor or one that wasn't fully engaged.


]]> What IT Needs To Give Up Douglas Schultz 2009-07-01T11:09:50-05:00 http://mikeschaffner.typepad.com/michael_schaffner/2009/06/what-it-needs-to-give-up.html#c6a00d8341c5de753ef011570a4717d970c Comment by Mike on "12 CIOs Who Love Social Media" http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BeyondBlinkingLightsAndAcronyms-TheConversation/~3/CRK8XvuCqMs/12-cios-who-love-social-media.html <p>Eric, Thanks. Mike</p> Eric, Thanks. Mike


]]> 12 CIOs Who Love Social Media Mike 2009-06-30T06:05:57-05:00 http://mikeschaffner.typepad.com/michael_schaffner/2009/06/12-cios-who-love-social-media.html#c6a00d8341c5de753ef0115718ed387970b Comment by Eric D. Brown on "12 CIOs Who Love Social Media" http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BeyondBlinkingLightsAndAcronyms-TheConversation/~3/haVNeFTDt9E/12-cios-who-love-social-media.html <p>Congrats on being included in that list Mike.</p> Congrats on being included in that list Mike.


]]> 12 CIOs Who Love Social Media Eric D. Brown 2009-06-29T21:50:37-05:00 http://mikeschaffner.typepad.com/michael_schaffner/2009/06/12-cios-who-love-social-media.html#c6a00d8341c5de753ef0115709782d0970c Comment by Mike on "Interesting and Useful Links" http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BeyondBlinkingLightsAndAcronyms-TheConversation/~3/INzF4WtNhZ0/inter.html <p>Craig,</p> <p>Your welcome - thank you for reminding us about how we really do need think (and act) about communications.</p> <p>Mike</p> Craig,

Your welcome - thank you for reminding us about how we really do need think (and act) about communications.

Mike


]]> Interesting and Useful Links Mike 2009-06-26T05:12:06-05:00 http://mikeschaffner.typepad.com/michael_schaffner/2009/06/inter.html#c6a00d8341c5de753ef0115706c6210970c Comment by Craig Brown on "Interesting and Useful Links" http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BeyondBlinkingLightsAndAcronyms-TheConversation/~3/iBmNaldKjvs/inter.html <p>:) me too</p> :) me too


]]> Interesting and Useful Links Craig Brown 2009-06-25T21:49:15-05:00 http://mikeschaffner.typepad.com/michael_schaffner/2009/06/inter.html#c6a00d8341c5de753ef0115715d0550970b Comment by Mike on "Road Trip Tech Lessons" http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BeyondBlinkingLightsAndAcronyms-TheConversation/~3/3O9TXljlNRU/road-trip-tech-lessons.html <p>Ilya,</p> <p>Thank you. That&#39;s a great reminder to not take the technology we have for granted.</p> <p>Mike</p> Ilya,

Thank you. That's a great reminder to not take the technology we have for granted.

Mike


]]> Road Trip Tech Lessons Mike 2009-06-25T18:20:02-05:00 http://mikeschaffner.typepad.com/michael_schaffner/2009/05/road-trip-tech-lessons.html#c6a00d8341c5de753ef0115715b85c7970b Comment by Mike on "Are You A Leader?" http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BeyondBlinkingLightsAndAcronyms-TheConversation/~3/4U7knIB-mRU/are-you-a-leader.html <p>Arun,</p> <p>You are most welcome. It was a great article. Thank you for sharing that.</p> <p>Mike</p> Arun,

You are most welcome. It was a great article. Thank you for sharing that.

Mike


]]> Are You A Leader? Mike 2009-06-25T18:15:55-05:00 http://mikeschaffner.typepad.com/michael_schaffner/2009/06/are-you-a-leader.html#c6a00d8341c5de753ef011570664cfa970c Comment by Arun Manansingh on "Are You A Leader?" http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BeyondBlinkingLightsAndAcronyms-TheConversation/~3/kjLCc0TlLjw/are-you-a-leader.html <p>Mike,<br /> Thank you for including my post into yours. I also very much like reading your blog.</p> <p>I look forward to reading more.</p> <p>Arun</p> Mike,
Thank you for including my post into yours. I also very much like reading your blog.

I look forward to reading more.

Arun


]]> Are You A Leader? Arun Manansingh 2009-06-25T15:05:11-05:00 http://mikeschaffner.typepad.com/michael_schaffner/2009/06/are-you-a-leader.html#c6a00d8341c5de753ef01157064fcf6970c Comment by ilya on "Road Trip Tech Lessons" http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BeyondBlinkingLightsAndAcronyms-TheConversation/~3/K0UQ5TKJuVk/road-trip-tech-lessons.html <p>Interesting story. Really instructive history. On such big distances I do not go by the car. I go by the bus. But I face other problems is more often. This absence of a signal of a mobile phone. At us and such happens. Now the government is going to disconnect GPS for ever. One problem will be more. Will not be the Internet and GPS too. And an awful mobile communication. About service by the companies it is better not to tell the Internet. The prices from capital increase in a distance in tens times. Ilya from Moscow.</p> Interesting story. Really instructive history. On such big distances I do not go by the car. I go by the bus. But I face other problems is more often. This absence of a signal of a mobile phone. At us and such happens. Now the government is going to disconnect GPS for ever. One problem will be more. Will not be the Internet and GPS too. And an awful mobile communication. About service by the companies it is better not to tell the Internet. The prices from capital increase in a distance in tens times. Ilya from Moscow.


]]> Road Trip Tech Lessons ilya 2009-06-25T02:21:17-05:00 http://mikeschaffner.typepad.com/michael_schaffner/2009/05/road-trip-tech-lessons.html#c6a00d8341c5de753ef01157155e266970b Comment by Mike on "Breaking the Paradigm" http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BeyondBlinkingLightsAndAcronyms-TheConversation/~3/4NrQacRoQTw/breaking-the-paradigm.html <p>Lui Sieh</p> <p>I like that tag line. It is very apropos for this issue. Thanks for sharing it.</p> <p>Mike </p> Lui Sieh

I like that tag line. It is very apropos for this issue. Thanks for sharing it.

Mike


]]> Breaking the Paradigm Mike 2009-06-23T06:12:44-05:00 http://mikeschaffner.typepad.com/michael_schaffner/2009/06/breaking-the-paradigm.html#c6a00d8341c5de753ef011570521d06970c Comment by Mike on "Are You A Leader?" http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BeyondBlinkingLightsAndAcronyms-TheConversation/~3/lWhxHfQRWzg/are-you-a-leader.html <p>Ralph</p> <p>Great to hear from you as always. I like your additions - very simple but spot on. Two words that say a lot.</p> <p>Mike</p> Ralph

Great to hear from you as always. I like your additions - very simple but spot on. Two words that say a lot.

Mike


]]> Are You A Leader? Mike 2009-06-23T06:07:42-05:00 http://mikeschaffner.typepad.com/michael_schaffner/2009/06/are-you-a-leader.html#c6a00d8341c5de753ef011571474622970b Comment by Lui Sieh on "Breaking the Paradigm" http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BeyondBlinkingLightsAndAcronyms-TheConversation/~3/3LK5nlZFVho/breaking-the-paradigm.html <p>Thanks Mike. </p> <p>I recently blogged about this idea that <a href="http://paimeiitguy.wordpress.com/2009/06/23/an-educated-consumer-is-our-best-customerr/" rel="nofollow"> &quot;An Educated Consumer is our Best Customer(R)&quot;</a>, referring to your blog posting. This guiding principle from the SYMS Corp, discount clothing retailer, can help set a learning culture among users, service providers, that will facilitate cross-functional sharing and improve operational effectiveness, IMO.</p> <p>Cheers,</p> Thanks Mike.

I recently blogged about this idea that "An Educated Consumer is our Best Customer(R)", referring to your blog posting. This guiding principle from the SYMS Corp, discount clothing retailer, can help set a learning culture among users, service providers, that will facilitate cross-functional sharing and improve operational effectiveness, IMO.

Cheers,


]]> Breaking the Paradigm Lui Sieh 2009-06-22T22:14:40-05:00 http://mikeschaffner.typepad.com/michael_schaffner/2009/06/breaking-the-paradigm.html#c6a00d8341c5de753ef0115714328e2970b Comment by Ralph D. Wilson II on "Are You A Leader?" http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BeyondBlinkingLightsAndAcronyms-TheConversation/~3/ves8LgTmsDc/are-you-a-leader.html <p>Mike, </p> <p>Excellent post! Also, excellent links! I think I have a basic one word per title definition: <br /> Manager (cost center IT): Constrains<br /> Leader (value adding IT): Enables </p> <p>Respectfully,</p> <p>Ralph D. Wilson II</p> Mike,

Excellent post! Also, excellent links! I think I have a basic one word per title definition:
Manager (cost center IT): Constrains
Leader (value adding IT): Enables

Respectfully,

Ralph D. Wilson II


]]> Are You A Leader? Ralph D. Wilson II 2009-06-22T19:43:39-05:00 http://mikeschaffner.typepad.com/michael_schaffner/2009/06/are-you-a-leader.html#c6a00d8341c5de753ef0115704d91d3970c Comment by Mike on "Guiding Principles For IT" http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BeyondBlinkingLightsAndAcronyms-TheConversation/~3/zofJ7urL64U/guiding-principles-for-it.html <p>Long Huynh</p> <p>Thanks for the comment, I&#39;m glad you liked it. &quot;Being there&quot; is very important and although you may not be able to fix everything as they would like or as quickly as they would like our customers appreciate the attempt and commitment.</p> <p>Mik</p> Long Huynh

Thanks for the comment, I'm glad you liked it. "Being there" is very important and although you may not be able to fix everything as they would like or as quickly as they would like our customers appreciate the attempt and commitment.

Mik


]]> Guiding Principles For IT Mike 2009-06-22T19:42:26-05:00 http://mikeschaffner.typepad.com/michael_schaffner/2009/05/guiding-principles-for-it.html#c6a00d8341c5de753ef01157142aabc970b Comment by Mike on "Interesting and Useful Links" http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BeyondBlinkingLightsAndAcronyms-TheConversation/~3/JIPjaiAJNSc/inter.html <p>Eric,</p> <p>Your welcome - it was a great post.</p> <p>Mike</p> Eric,

Your welcome - it was a great post.

Mike


]]> Interesting and Useful Links Mike 2009-06-22T19:41:26-05:00 http://mikeschaffner.typepad.com/michael_schaffner/2009/06/inter.html#c6a00d8341c5de753ef01157142aa69970b Comment by Mike on "Breaking the Paradigm" http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/BeyondBlinkingLightsAndAcronyms-TheConversation/~3/ouPpUkANO04/breaking-the-paradigm.html <p>I like the idea of a use case to address the WIIFM issue. Real life examples are always strong ways to make a point.</p> <p>Mike</p> I like the idea of a use case to address the WIIFM issue. Real life examples are always strong ways to make a point.

Mike


]]> Breaking the Paradigm Mike 2009-06-22T19:39:27-05:00 http://mikeschaffner.typepad.com/michael_schaffner/2009/06/breaking-the-paradigm.html#c6a00d8341c5de753ef0115704d9048970c