Open source permeates the enterprise

12/02/08

Open source software is present in 85% of enterprises and the remainder expect to deploy it in the next year, according to research from Gartner. However, 69% of organizations don't have a formal policy for evaluating open source usage in their organizations, according to the Gartner survey. This opens up potential liabilities for intellectual property violations.

Storage service providers can fill a need

11/25/08

Many in the IT industry likely remember the storage service providers at the beginning of the decade. Companies like Storage Networks offering managed backup and recovery perished after the dot.com crash.

IT Leaders tap many communication channels

11/18/08

CIOs feel more connected to colleagues thanks to the prevalence of smartphones, instant messaging, and other new technologies, according to the results of a poll from Robert half Technology.

Peer networks key to success

11/11/08

Peer networks can help female IT leaders succeed in their career and boost job satisfaction, according to a Purdue University expert.

SaaS gives you software on demand

11/04/08

IT leaders in need of updated applications but can't swing the capital investment may wish to consider software-as-a-service. A new report from Gartner forecasts the worldwide enterprise SaaS market will surpass $6.4 billion this year, up 27% from 2007.

IT zeroes in on change management

10/28/08

Network leaders say that managing change is a top priority for 2009, according to a study from network automation vendor Netcordia.

Computing challenges provide comic relief

10/21/08

With non-stop coverage of the election and financial meltdown, we all could use some humor. Think your help desk staff has heard it all? For your entertainment, we'll focus on some of the most unusual queries IT help desk workers have fielded, according to Robert Half Technology.

Telecommuting improves health

10/14/08

The high cost of gas combined with recent shortages in the Southeast have propelled telecommuting programs. Employers benefit from greater productivity, reduced costs, improved recruitment and retention and even better employee health, according to a recent study from the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA).

Secrets to virtual team success

10/07/08

The emergence of telepresence and collaborative technologies has made virtual teamwork an increasingly popular option, especially given soaring travel costs. But just as important to virtual teams' success as the technology are the policies and procedures to support them.

Work-life balance improves

09/30/08

More employers are offering work-life balance programs than two years ago, according to the results of a study from the Association of Executive Search Consultants.

Enterprise application skills still appreciated

09/23/08

The market might be in a slowdown, but that's not so for demand for enterprise application skills. That's according to the Foote Partners' IT Skills and Certifications Pay Index for the second quarter of 2008.

IT accountability

09/16/08

IT leaders must create a culture of accountability, according to the results of a recent study by OnPoint Consulting.

IT-business alignment always top of mind

09/09/08

IT's link to the business is the top concern among IT executives, according to the results of a recent study from the Society for Information Management (SIM).

Entice older workers, combat 'brain drain'

09/02/08

It's no secret that corporations will face a talent shortage when scores of Baby Boomers retire in the coming years. However, steep inflation and poor investment performance may work in your favor in enticing aging employees to postpone retirement or stay on part-time to keep Cobol and other legacy systems running.

RFID deployment ramps up

08/26/08

Interest in radio frequency identification (RFID) technology is on the rise, according to the results of a study from the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA).

Top technologies to watch

08/19/08

What technologies are you eyeing over the next few years? According to new research from Gartner, IT leaders should be watching several for deployment in their organizations in two to five years.

Videoconferencing on the rise for corporate communication

08/12/08

Remember the days when communicating with colleagues always involved walking down the hall? Now voicemail and e-mail are the norm and companies are tapping newer forms of technology to improve communications with employees, according to a new report from IT staffing firm Robert Half Technology.

Network talent needed

08/05/08

A new Whitepaper from IDC sponsored by the Cisco Learning Institute shows a shortage of network professionals could be here as early as 2011.

Printing green

07/29/08

Most IT organizations have already begun to focus on green computing technologies to increase energy efficiency and reduce costs. While most concentrate their efforts on the data center, printers and consumables are one area where organizations can reduce waste too. Small changes can make a difference.

IT and the presidential election

07/22/08

No matter which presidential candidate you're backing, you may want to know more about their stance on technology. The Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) recently released a report that finds Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama both merit an "incomplete" for their overall vision and focus for tech innovation.

Tackling employee performance problems

07/15/08

If any of your IT staffers need to improve their performance, tackle the problem early on before the situation escalates. Few managers want to get to the point where they have to dismiss an employee.

Keep an eye on cloud computing

07/08/08

There's some confusion about what exactly constitutes cloud computing, but one thing experts tend to agree on is the evolutionary effect this will have on IT. A new report from Gartner points to the opportunity to shape the relationship among consumers of IT services, those who use IT services and those who sell them.

Staffing struggles linger

07/01/08

Surprisingly, the faltering economy hasn't given IT leaders much help in finding talented technology pros, according to the results of a recent study by recruitment firm Robert Half Technology. A full 77% of CIOs polled said it is equally or more challenging to find skilled candidates than it was a year ago.

RFID fact and fiction

06/24/08

In an effort to dispel some of the privacy concerns surrounding radio frequency identification technology (RFID), the Information Technology Association of America has issued a white paper covering what the technology is and is not capable of.

Worries abound about reputation

06/17/08

Chief information security officers deem avoiding reputation damage to their companies as their highest priority, according to the results of the 2008 Global Information Security Workforce Study.

More

Amy Schurr is the former managing features editor of Network World.