Insights Into Business and Technology is primarily of a listing from LinkedIn Posts on business and technology insights. There is also coverge for important books to read in technology and business.

Articles By Devon
Why There Are Two Layers to Strategic I.T. Planning
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Why There Are Two Layers to Strategic I.T. Planning

There are two layers to Strategic I.T. Planning: The Business Layer and The Technical Layer. The Business Layer is built top-down, starting with The Strategic Business Plan and building down into a Strategic I.T. Plan...

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Why There Are Two Layers to Strategic I.T. Planning

There are two layers to Strategic I.T. Planning: The Business Layer and The Technical Layer. The Business Layer is built top-down, starting with The Strategic Business Plan and building down into a Strategic I.T. Plan...

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I.T. Process Improvement and Operations Mapping (2016)
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I.T. Process Improvement and Operations Mapping (2016)

As you know, the purpose of business process mapping is to map business processes in order optimize customer value, increase efficacy and eliminate inefficiencies as part of process improvement initiatives...

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I.T. Process Improvement and Operations Mapping (2016)

As you know, the purpose of business process mapping is to map business processes in order optimize customer value, increase efficacy and eliminate inefficiencies as part of process improvement initiatives...

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Customer Acquisition, Retention and Attrition Management for Your I.T. Organization
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Customer Acquisition, Retention and Attrition Management for Your I.T. Organization

Sales leaders, marketing leaders, and account managers spend a significant amount of time controlling for the costs of customer acquisition, customer retention, and customer attrition.

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Customer Acquisition, Retention and Attrition Management for Your I.T. Organization

Sales leaders, marketing leaders, and account managers spend a significant amount of time controlling for the costs of customer acquisition, customer retention, and customer attrition.

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I.T. Budgeting and Return on I.T. Investment
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I.T. Budgeting and Return on I.T. Investment

The annual budgeting process is primarily based on historical data. Information technology managers typically use backward-looking budgets and estimates to predict future events in constantly changing business environments

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I.T. Budgeting and Return on I.T. Investment

The annual budgeting process is primarily based on historical data. Information technology managers typically use backward-looking budgets and estimates to predict future events in constantly changing business environments

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I.T. Department Sales and Customer Service
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I.T. Department Sales and Customer Service

Why Sales and Customer Service Is So Important to My I.T. Department?

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I.T. Department Sales and Customer Service

Why Sales and Customer Service Is So Important to My I.T. Department?

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Selecting Team Resources
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Selecting Team Resources

How to More Effectively Select Team Members for Your I.T. Organization?

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Selecting Team Resources

How to More Effectively Select Team Members for Your I.T. Organization?

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Emotional Intelligence: What Makes A Great Leader?
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Emotional Intelligence: What Makes A Great Leader?

Emotional Intelligence is commonly characterized as one's ability to connect with, persuade, and lead people. While the result of emotional intelligence is unique leadership ability, the path or way to emotional intelligence is an inward maturation process…

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Emotional Intelligence: What Makes A Great Leader?

Emotional Intelligence is commonly characterized as one's ability to connect with, persuade, and lead people. While the result of emotional intelligence is unique leadership ability, the path or way to emotional intelligence is an inward maturation process…

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Managing Technology Investment Decisions
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Managing Technology Investment Decisions

Managing Technology Investment Decisions Using A Management Consulting Framework

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Managing Technology Investment Decisions

Managing Technology Investment Decisions Using A Management Consulting Framework

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The Business Case That Never Starts
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The Business Case That Never Starts

Examines why many initiatives fail before they begin and how to structure effective business cases.

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The Business Case That Never Starts

Examines why many initiatives fail before they begin and how to structure effective business cases.

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How I.T. Department Management and Business Management Fit Together
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How I.T. Department Management and Business Management Fit Together

Why Managing an Information Technology Department Is Similar to Managing Your Own Business?

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How I.T. Department Management and Business Management Fit Together

Why Managing an Information Technology Department Is Similar to Managing Your Own Business?

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Business & I.T. Management
Fast-Tracking Professional Development
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Fast-Tracking Professional Development

Everyone you work with has skills and experience that offer you the best opportunity you will find for professional development and learning. Keep an eye out for people who are good at things that you would like to learn more about and then listen, learn, emulate and offer to help them with those areas. From software development to program management to management you have to lead your own way, but also pick people to follow and learn from.

Fast-Tracking Professional Development

Everyone you work with has skills and experience that offer you the best opportunity you will find for professional development and learning. Keep an eye out for people who are good at things that you would like to learn more about and then listen, learn, emulate and offer to help them with those areas. From software development to program management to management you have to lead your own way, but also pick people to follow and learn from.

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Cultural Divide Learning Curve
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Cultural Divide Learning Curve

Whether you are on the onshore side or the offshore side, bridging the gap of culture and language takes patience, time and persistence.

Cultural Divide Learning Curve

Whether you are on the onshore side or the offshore side, bridging the gap of culture and language takes patience, time and persistence.

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The Things of Presenting Information
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The Things of Presenting Information

There are 3 things, 5 things and 7 things if required. When presenting, start with the 3 things, then go to the 5 things, and then finally go to the 7 things if more detail will help your audience to fully understand the information you are presenting.

For deeper dive audiences (e.g. Engineers, Scientists), you could potentially start with 5 things, but I would suggest always starting with 3 things because they are the things you want the executive who only has time to attend the first 5 minutes of your meeting --or look at the first slide of your deck-- to know.

The Things of Presenting Information

There are 3 things, 5 things and 7 things if required. When presenting, start with the 3 things, then go to the 5 things, and then finally go to the 7 things if more detail will help your audience to fully understand the information you are presenting.

For deeper dive audiences (e.g. Engineers, Scientists), you could potentially start with 5 things, but I would suggest always starting with 3 things because they are the things you want the executive who only has time to attend the first 5 minutes of your meeting --or look at the first slide of your deck-- to know.

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3 Key Business Strategy Concepts Hopefully Made Easy
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3 Key Business Strategy Concepts Hopefully Made Easy

Value Proposition – How does your business deliver more of what your customer’s want for lower prices than your competitors?

Core Competency – What is the unique DNA of your business that creates the organizational capabilities that result in a market leading value proposition?

Competitive Advantage – How is your business positioned to win in new and existing markets?

3 Key Business Strategy Concepts Hopefully Made Easy

Value Proposition – How does your business deliver more of what your customer’s want for lower prices than your competitors?

Core Competency – What is the unique DNA of your business that creates the organizational capabilities that result in a market leading value proposition?

Competitive Advantage – How is your business positioned to win in new and existing markets?

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Practical Professional Training Courses
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Practical Professional Training Courses

My first ever professional training course was for new managers at SkillPath. The course was filled with practical advice, the instructors were very good communicators, and the courses are really budget approval friendly.

Practical Professional Training Courses

My first ever professional training course was for new managers at SkillPath. The course was filled with practical advice, the instructors were very good communicators, and the courses are really budget approval friendly.

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4 Points of People Management

The ultimate goal of managing people is to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of each person on your team while keeping in mind each person’s professional –and even personal— goals. It’s highly rewarding when you get it right; it can really take a lot out of you when it doesn’t go well. Best practice people management is almost like having a second job. To truly do it right, you need a somewhat formalized plan for each of the points below and to be actively --and regularly-- engaging with each of your direct reports on the 4 points.

1. Professional Growth and Development Plans
2. Performance Improvement Plans
3. Standards and Requirements Compliance Assessment
4. Personal Context Assessment and Plan*

* Learn about and take into account the personal circumstances of --and even personal goals of-- each person on your team.

4 Points of People Management

The ultimate goal of managing people is to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of each person on your team while keeping in mind each person’s professional –and even personal— goals. It’s highly rewarding when you get it right; it can really take a lot out of you when it doesn’t go well. Best practice people management is almost like having a second job. To truly do it right, you need a somewhat formalized plan for each of the points below and to be actively --and regularly-- engaging with each of your direct reports on the 4 points.

1. Professional Growth and Development Plans
2. Performance Improvement Plans
3. Standards and Requirements Compliance Assessment
4. Personal Context Assessment and Plan*

* Learn about and take into account the personal circumstances of --and even personal goals of-- each person on your team.

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Creating Modern Capitalism by Thomas K. McCraw
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Creating Modern Capitalism by Thomas K. McCraw

On one level this is a compelling history of great businesses and their most important leaders in 30 page chapters. On another level this is a comparative analysis of national business systems that have driven the economic success of some of the most economically advanced nations in history.

Creating Modern Capitalism by Thomas K. McCraw

On one level this is a compelling history of great businesses and their most important leaders in 30 page chapters. On another level this is a comparative analysis of national business systems that have driven the economic success of some of the most economically advanced nations in history.

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Better PowerPoint Presentations
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Better PowerPoint Presentations

If you want more compelling PowerPoint presentations with only a little bit more work, I highly recommend buying a bundle of PowerPoint templates. While it does take some time to find your favorite slides from the 100+ decks, they are less than $100 and are a big bump up in terms of visual presentation quality. Below is the link to the one I went with.

Better PowerPoint Presentations

If you want more compelling PowerPoint presentations with only a little bit more work, I highly recommend buying a bundle of PowerPoint templates. While it does take some time to find your favorite slides from the 100+ decks, they are less than $100 and are a big bump up in terms of visual presentation quality. Below is the link to the one I went with.

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Software Companies and UI Design

Most software companies don't prioritize look and feel. Consumers and businesses buy with their eyes. Functionality matters, look and feel sells. Find a great UI/graphic designer and actively work with them like you do your product delivery team. The spend can be very reasonable. The impact on customer response is outstanding.

Software Companies and UI Design

Most software companies don't prioritize look and feel. Consumers and businesses buy with their eyes. Functionality matters, look and feel sells. Find a great UI/graphic designer and actively work with them like you do your product delivery team. The spend can be very reasonable. The impact on customer response is outstanding.

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I.T. Role Descriptions
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I.T. Role Descriptions

I thought it might be good to have a more concrete description of some standard I.T. roles. Below is my shot at that.

I.T. Role Descriptions

I thought it might be good to have a more concrete description of some standard I.T. roles. Below is my shot at that.

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Legacy of Bill Gates
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Legacy of Bill Gates

Bill Gates is the Henry Ford of our time. The jobs and opportunities Microsoft has created in the United States, and globally, is astounding. Microsoft was a substantial part of making a computer in every home a reality by making computers affordable for the average American. For people like me who are self-taught technology professionals, he made it possible to make a career out of it.

Legacy of Bill Gates

Bill Gates is the Henry Ford of our time. The jobs and opportunities Microsoft has created in the United States, and globally, is astounding. Microsoft was a substantial part of making a computer in every home a reality by making computers affordable for the average American. For people like me who are self-taught technology professionals, he made it possible to make a career out of it.

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