IT Executive news

• Microsoft offers developers free tools for its R programming language software

  12-01-2016 23:18
  
  Microsoft is giving developers and students a free crack at its new server software for the R programming language. In a post to the company's Machine Learning blog, Microsoft Corporate Vice President Joseph Sirosh announced the new Microsoft R Server for Developers, which offers a free version of the software to members of the company's developer program. The software will give developers a test bed to work with an enterprise-grade version of the popular data analysis language before rolli
  
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• Expensive gaming desktops and laptops thrive in slumping PC market

  12-01-2016 23:15
  In a declining PC market, high-priced gaming desktops and laptops are thriving.PC shipments totaled 71.9 million units during the fourth quarter last year, declining by 10.6 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2014, according to a study released by IDC on Tuesday.But high-end gaming PCs are the fastest-growing segment alongside all-in-one PCs, IDC analysts said. Gamers upgrade hardware much more quickly than other users and are typically not affected by the industry trends that led to a de
  
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• Software defined networking, IoT top CIO’s strategic priorities

  12-01-2016 22:51
  
  Steve Phillips, the CIO of $28 billion technology wholesaler Avnet, kicked off his 2016 planning cycle last week with an eye toward making IT more nimble and responsive to the company’s evolving requirements. He plans to test a software-defined network (SDN) and a predictive analytics solution that leverages the Internet of Things (IoT) for a company that delivers anything from electronic components to enterprise IT services for 100,000 customers.
  Also on CIO.comMillennials will accelerate
  
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• Google Apps for Work gets an SMB boost via Kronos integration

  12-01-2016 22:14
  
  Small businesses that use Kronos workforce-management software will soon be able to tap familiar Google tools in their HR efforts thanks to a new integration project now under way.Kronos and Google have teamed up to integrate Google Apps for Work with the Kronos Workforce Ready cloud suite for small and midsize businesses, Kronos announced Tuesday, giving SMBs new ability to engage office employees and remote workers via familiar Google Apps and mobile devices.Through an integration with Google
  
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• What is Tech-ticism?

  12-01-2016 22:01
  
  Skepticism
  noun — skep·ti·cism — \ˈskep-tə-ˌsi-zəm\1. an attitude of doubt or a disposition to incredulity either in general or toward a particular object2.a. the doctrine that true knowledge or knowledge in a particular area is uncertain
  b. the method of suspended judgment, systematic doubt, or criticism characteristic of skeptics
  Technicism
  noun — tech·ni·cism — \ˈtek-nə-ˌsi-zəm/"Technicism is a ph
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: The most exciting Linux and open source Kickstarter projects of 2016 (so far)

  12-01-2016 21:48
  
  Funded with KickstarterImage by Kuma Tai, Eduardo Quagliato / FlickrKickstarter has brought us many successful Linux and open source products, including MycroftAI, Pebble Time, and Ouya, among others. Some of these raised millions of dollars in funding.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
  
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• Google sees Project Tango in robots, drones

  12-01-2016 21:42
  
  Google wants to extend its Project Tango computer vision platform beyond phones and tablet to robots, drones and other devices."There's huge impact potential there," said Eitan Marder-Eppstein, who leads the developer, relations and engineering teams for Project Tango at Google, during a speech at the Ubiquity Developer Summit in San Francisco this week.Devices can acquire a wealth of information on location and objects in view with Project Tango, which is a hardware and software platform. Smart
  
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• Who cares if Apple kills the standard audio jack in its iPhone 7?

  12-01-2016 20:05
  
  If ye olde Internet rumor mill proves accurate, Apple will this fall release a new iPhone without a standard 3.5mm audio jack. Said rumor mill generally delivers equal parts facts and fiction, and as such, it should never be fully trusted. However, the sheer number of reports from different sources about the death of the iPhone audio port, and the fact that the jack's removal seems to make a lot of sense (at least for Apple), seem to lend this particular rumor credence.To read this article
  
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• Wall Street Technology Association introduces its board

  12-01-2016 19:33
  
  The Wall Street Technology Association, which provides a forum for financial industry technology professionals, vendors, service providers, and consultants learn from one another, has introduced its board of directors for the new year.Having been around since 1967, the group is one of the oldest organizations catering to IT professionals, so we figure it's a good thing to give those volunteering as leaders to get a bit of attention. Here's the board:*President : James Kostulias, C
  
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• Report: All 2016 Moto phones will have fingerprint sensors, five-inch screens

  12-01-2016 19:00
  
  Your fingers will be mighty busy should you opt for one of the new Moto phones due for release this year. 
  That’s because all the new devices will have a screen of at least five inches and a fingerprint sensor, according to Lenovo’s Senior Vice President of Mobile Chen Xudong Liu. 
  The report from Chinese site Tech Sina says the new mobile boss wants to see fingerprint technology in all devices in order to stay competitive. This is the second piece of big news to
  
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• Go language expands to IBM mainframes

  12-01-2016 19:00
  
  Google's Go, considered an up-and-coming language with usage in projects like Docker and Kubernetes, has netted another feather in its cap: a port to IBM's z Systems mainframe platform.
  The port was cited on a GitHub list of repositories from the Linux on IBM z Systems Open Source Team. While IBM's mainframes are often viewed as legacy technology from years past, IBM wants to expand the horizons of its big iron systems with Go.[ Also on InfoWorld: Download the quick guide to Google Go today. |
  
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• Tableau opens the doors to its first European data center

  12-01-2016 18:57
  Users of Tableau's cloud software for business analytics can now choose whether to store their data in North America or Europe thanks to a new data center the company has opened in Ireland.Announced Tuesday, the new facility is Tableau's first data center in the European Union and is now available to both new and existing users of Tableau Online. Customers that already use the service will be given the option of migrating their data to the Dublin-based site, Tableau said.The new data center is I
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: iOS 9.3: Night Shift brings f.lux functionality for eye comfort

  12-01-2016 18:37
  Apple has released the first beta of iOS 9.3, and I installed it on my iPad Air 2 and iPhone 6s Plus. While there are a number of new features in iOS 9.3, the big stand out for me is Night Shift.Night Shift brings f.lux like functionality to iOS, meaning that it changes the color tint of your iOS device's screen at night. Instead of seeing the bright blue light that most of us are used to, iOS will display a warmer color that makes using an iPad or iPhone much easier on your eyes.While such a fe
  
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• The IT strategy behind PayPal's spinoff from eBay

  12-01-2016 18:09
  
  In September of 2014, eBay announced plans to spinoff its PayPal subsidiary as an independent, publicly-traded company. Within a few weeks of the announcement, PayPal's technology leaders had nine months to separate from eBay and set up the infrastructure and systems to support the new company. (Outside experts predicted an 18-to-24-month separation timeline, or double the amount of time PayPal's technology groups actually received.)LinkedInBrad Strock, CIO of PayPalTo read this artic
  
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• New remote access Trojan Trochilus used in cyberespionage operations

  12-01-2016 17:51
  A cyberespionage group has been discovered using a new remote access Trojan, dubbed Trochilus, whose detection rate was very low among antivirus products.The malware was discovered by researchers from Arbor Networks while investigating attacks in Myanmar that were launched from compromised government websites.The researchers linked the compromises to a sophisticated group of attackers known as Group 27, who are known to use different malware programs in their operations, some with overlapping ca
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: Cybersecurity needs transformational leadership from women

  12-01-2016 17:43
  
  Current cybersecurity concerns require more than controversial changes to encryption, corporate-government collaboration in Silicon Valley, and add-ons to omnibus legislation. Security and technology advancement require changes across our organizations, our leadership, and in the culture of tech work itself.The biggest threat in cybersecurity is the human element. Behind every piece of data is a human actor, either friend or foe, which means that human nature and relationship-building should be
  
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• This Toyota can get you online from anywhere

  12-01-2016 16:45
  
  It's a common feature of long distance driving: the Internet dead zone. Usually when you most need directions or have to make a call, you're in the middle of nowhere with no signal and a lot of frustration.
  But an answer could be coming from the sky. Toyota has unveiled a concept car built with satellite Internet technology that can get online from just about anywhere and doesn't require a bulky dish antenna or a mechanical system that tracks satellites.
  The car is on show at this week's North
  
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• T-Mobile admits Binge On throttles all video, blames everyone else for confusion

  12-01-2016 16:44
  
  T-Mobile is coming clean about how its Binge On program treats streaming video, long after other people figured it out for themselves. But it also leaves some questions unanswered in its attempt to “clarify” matters.
  Binge On is a new optional service from T-Mobile that lets users stream unlimited video from supported services, including Netflix and Hulu, without counting against data caps. Enabled by default, it reduces the video quality of those streams to as little as 480p resolu
  
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• SirionLabs en The Orchestrate Group gaan samenwerken in Benelux

  12-01-2016 16:36
  Aanbieder van oplossingen voor vendor management technologie SirionLabs en The Orchestrate Group, een adviesorganisatie op het gebied van IT-management,  hebben aangekondigd dat zij een strategische samenwerking aangaan in de Benelux. Het samenbrengen van de krachten van de twee organisaties is een oplossing... lees meer
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: Under pressure everything becomes fluid

  12-01-2016 16:21
  
  “Nobody works better under pressure. They just work faster” –Brian TracyThere is a misunderstanding that under pressure people perform better. Pressure to a certain degree is fine and can have a positive impact on performance, because people become aware of the fact that things have to get done. But too much pressure will have a negative effect on the quality of output. And if that happens the probability of rework at later stages in the project goes up significantly.Under pres
  
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• RIG exploit kit takes over while Angler on vacation

  12-01-2016 16:20
  
  The Angler exploit kit went on vacation during the first two weeks of the year, but the Russia-hosted RIG exploit kit was there to ensure that there would be no respite for users from malvertising and malicious drive-by downloads, according to a new report.
  Researchers at Cisco's Talos Security Intelligence and Research Group traced RIG to a single hosting provider out of Russia, Eurobyte, which proved to be uncooperative when it came to taking it down.
  "Eurobyte is a downstream provider from W
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: Shining a light on dark data: Securing information across the enterprise

  12-01-2016 16:18
  
  There are countless distractions that keep CIOs awake at night. Some of them – such as uptime, new technologies and budget concerns – are nothing new. Others – such as Big Data and an increased emphasis on Data Security – are newer concerns. At the intersection of Big Data and Data Security is where a new danger lurks. As the cost per gigabyte of enterprise storage continues to decrease, it has become cheaper and easier for enterprises to simply add more disk space instea
  
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• Microsoft Patch Tuesday kills off Windows 8 and Internet Explorer 8, 9, and 10

  12-01-2016 16:11
  You’ve heard of Christmas in July. Well how about spring cleaning in January? Microsoft is kicking off 2016 with arguably its most significant Patch Tuesday in months. As of today, Microsoft bids goodbye to all but one version of Internet Explorer and a Windows release it would rather forget.
  The biggest item on the chopping block is Windows 8. Not Windows 8.1—that sweeping update is still supported—but the original, non-Start button version of Windows 8. After Tuesday’s
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: SCALE 14x: The first major open source event of the year

  12-01-2016 15:38
  
  SCALE (Southern California Linux Expo) is one of the largest Linux and free and open source software (FOSS) events in North America. In previous years, SCALE was held in February, but this year it moved to January, making it the first major open source event of the year.
  I will be attending SCALE 14x to bring latest stories from the event to the readers of CIO.
  To learn more about the event I talked to SCALE's conference chair Ilan Rabinovitch and publicity chairperson Larry Cafiero. Following
  
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• Compliance does not equal security

  12-01-2016 14:31
  
  A security manager needs a philosophy about how to address security issues, and I find that many elements of mine can be reduced to a few words that almost amount to mantras: “Obey the rule of least privilege,” “A company is only as strong as its weakest link,” “Security is a process, not a point solution” and “Trust but verify.”
  This week I added a new mantra: “Compliance does not equal security.”Trouble TicketAt issue: The compa
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: How to implement a robust data quality solution

  12-01-2016 14:09
  
  This first series of articles describe foundational steps that enable agile data warehouse development.  My prior articles published thus far describe how to:develop a Business Conceptual model as a starting point
  build a “grass roots” data governance capability
  develop a high level data flow architecture
  ensure solid testing & tools
  The next focus for setting yourself up for a best in class agile data warehouse environment is to develop a robust data quality solution.To rea
  
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• Microsoft revokes Windows 8's patch privileges today

  12-01-2016 13:20
  
  Windows 8, Microsoft's 2012 flop, will be retired from all support today, putting the 48 million users who still run the three-year-old operating system in a spot: Upgrade or risk getting hacked.
  After today, Microsoft will no longer provide security updates for Windows 8 -- or for IE10 and IE11, the company browsers that run on the OS -- and the company will not offer technical support for the operating system.
  To continue to receive security updates, Windows 8 users must upgrade to Windows 8.
  
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• How to improve productivity with agile

  12-01-2016 13:13
  
  Adopting new technology is one way to improve productivity. Another approach is to simply cut expenses. A better way is to improve the methodology and skills that IT staff use to complete their work. The agile approach achieves productivity gains through more effective communication and being highly responsive to customer demands.For readers unfamiliar with the agile methodology, consider the following points. While the agile methodology was created for software development, it is now being appl
  
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• 10 hot startups at CES 2016

  12-01-2016 13:09
  
  Hot startups at CES 2016CES is where the latest and greatest in tech is unveiled. This year, at CES 2016, there wasn't just latest technology, but also over 800 startups in the early and mid-stages of growth. Here are the 10 highest funded startups attending CES 2016.<A HREF="http://www.store-dot.com/" TITLE="StoreDot Apps" TARGET="_blank">StoreDot</A>This Israeli startup is focused on nanodot battery tech and has earned 76 million in funding, gained in four rounds from four investor
  
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• Microsemi builds better security into network time appliance

  12-01-2016 13:00
  
  Keeping accurate time has never been more important. Inaccurate time can cause servers and applications to go awry, causing service disruptions.
  For example: As fighter Manny Pacquiao was ready to square off against Floyd Mayweather in May 2015, the fight was delayed due to a technical problem with pay-per-view orders. 
  More than 4.4 million U.S. customers shelled out $100 to watch the fight but had trouble accessing it. The fight was delayed 45 minutes. 
  It turns out the trouble was
  
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• Rovnix malware shifts focus to Japan, says IBM

  12-01-2016 12:57
  
  After a stint focusing on the Netherlands, a group using the Rovnix Trojan has updated it and repackaged it to steal from the bank accounts of victims in Japan, according to IBM X-Force.
  The malware in this exploit, which has persisted in various forms for about five years, has been augmented to avoid being detected, dodge bank security and convincingly mimic bank websites, says Etay Maor, a senior cybersecurity strategist for IBM.
  It’s pretty clear from the malware samples IBM X-Force ha
  
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• White House to use social media to answer questions after tonight's Obama speech

  12-01-2016 12:35
  
  President Barack Obama's administration will be using social media to take on questions and prompt discussions following Obama's final State of the Union address Tuesday night.
  The president's annual State of the Union address is set to be held tonight, starting at 9 p.m. He's expected to talk about guns and violence in America; closing the military detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; immigration; climate change and the fight against ISIS.
  The White House, though, doesn't want it to end
  
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• Samsung opens semiconductor factories to inspection over workers' illness

  12-01-2016 12:01
  Samsung Electronics has agreed to open up its semiconductor fabs for inspection, to settle a long-standing dispute with workers and their families who blame chemicals used in the company's fabrication processes for causing illnesses including leukemia.
  The South Korean company said Tuesday it and two groups called The Family Committee and the Supporters for the Health And Rights of People in the Semiconductor industry (SHARPS) had agreed to set up an independent ombudsman committee that will in
  
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• IT job growth slowed at the close of the year

  12-01-2016 12:00
  
  IT job growth slipped late last year, according to an analysis of U.S. job numbers, but they're still trending upward.
  There was a net increase of only 6,100 IT jobs added in December across four industry segments, research firm Foote Partners found in its analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This number pales in comparison to the 11,300 jobs added in November and the 16,300 jobs added in October.[ For more stories about IT jobs, check out "From bad jobs to new beginnings:
  
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• David Bowie, tech visionary, predicted social media's rise

  12-01-2016 12:00
  
  In 1999, Computerworld took a look ahead at the coming decade, the first of the new millennium, and asked 20 visionaries to share their thoughts about the impact that technology would have on all aspects of society -- from everyday life to the economy and the arts. The roster of people we interviewed ranged from Internet pioneers and veteran CIOs to recent college grads, and included one individual whose impact was felt by generations of fans in many spheres of life: David Bowie, who died on Su
  
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• Met strenge Europese privacywet valt winst te behalen

  12-01-2016 11:56
  Door Marion Bout-Tapper – Eindelijk, na ruim drie jaar onderhandelen op Europees niveau, kwam er net voor het nieuwe jaar een voorlopig akkoord op de nieuwe Europese privacywet. Met een streng pakket aan maatregelen wil Europa ervoor zorgen dat de burger weer de controle krijgt over zijn (Big)... lees meer
  
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• Mozilla Persona login system to shut down end November

  12-01-2016 08:37
  Mozilla's login system Persona will be shut down on Nov. 30 as its usage is low and has not grown over the last two years.The foundation's decision to take persona.org and related domains offline follows a move in March 2014 to transition the running of the project from full-time developers to a community of long-time volunteers and former paid contributors.Mozilla said at the time that it had no plans to decommission the little-known service, which allowed users to sign in to websites that supp
  
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• Trend Micro flaw could have allowed attacker to steal all passwords

  12-01-2016 03:31
  A discovery by a well-known Google security researcher provides further proof how antivirus programs designed to shield computers from attacks can sometimes provide a doorway for hackers.
  Tavis Ormandy, an information security engineer with Google, wrote he found bugs in Trend Micro's antivirus product that could allow remote code execution by any website and steal all of a users' passwords.
  The security firm has confirmed it has released an automatic update that fixes the problems.
  "As pa
  
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• Don't rush your company into an IoT app platform

  12-01-2016 02:52
  Enterprises deploying Internet of Things devices and accompanying software don't have to go it alone, but choosing a platform for building your applications is a big decision that's hard to go back on.IoT analyst Dima Tokar adds that caveat when giving tips on what a company should look for in an AEP (application enablement platform), a set of middleware components that can make IoT rollouts easier. On Monday, the MachNation analyst released a report on the changing AEP landscape.IoT can involve
  
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• Intel: Integrated chip graphics catching up with graphics cards

  12-01-2016 02:46
  If you're a casual or mainstream gamer, you don't need a discrete graphics card, Intel says.Instead, look at integrated graphics, which are getting more powerful by the day, said Gregory Bryant, vice president and general manager of Intel's desktop clients platform.The top-level graphics processors integrated in Intel's chips, called Iris and Iris Pro, can outperform 80 percent of discrete graphics chips, Bryant said."We have improved graphics 30 times what they were five years ago," Bryant said
  
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• How Ford SYNC 3 works with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay

  12-01-2016 02:00
  
  When it comes to Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Ford's SYNC 3 infotainment system has kept it classy. Ford couldn't have enjoyed seeing these two upstart smartphone interfaces gain traction, especially after the years and money Ford spent developing SYNC.
  But instead of telling the kids to stay off the lawn, Ford's recent upgrade to SYNC 3 actually embraces both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, if perhaps like frenemies. At CES, Ford's Casey Feldman showed us how SYNC 3 will know when you've co
  
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• First Look: Apple iOS 9.3 beta

  12-01-2016 01:41
  
  iOS 9.3 betaImage by AppleIt’s a major new beta for the Apple iPhone/iPad iOS mobile platform – that generally means fairly big new features, and Apple hasn’t disappointed with Monday’s release. The company’s iOS ecosystem will soon have a brand-new set of capabilities for educators, improvements to CarPlay, Health and News, and more besides. Have a look.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
  
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• Have you broken your security resolutions yet?

  12-01-2016 01:40
  
  Keeping your resolutionsImage by UsodesitaWe are almost halfway through the first month of 2016 and I am sure many people have already let their personal resolutions fall apart. But what about your professional resolutions? How have they held up? Is it easier to shore up your network’s security than exercise every day? These security professionals offer up their resolutions for the new year.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: How to stand strong with a core of confidence

  12-01-2016 01:38
  
  I had back surgery last year. Eventually I went to physical therapy. After an initial assessment, my therapist, Karen, said, “We need to activate your core more.” You might have heard that terminology from Pilates or other exercise regimes.How we hold ourselves makes a difference
  Karen went on to say I was not holding my body in a way that was engaging my core muscles. I’m a Pilates veteran. I knew what she was talking about. I had been coddling my lower back because of the sur
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: 7 IT Centers of Excellence that drive organizational productivity

  12-01-2016 01:23
  
  If you take a step back and consider how IT does its work, rather than the tasks it performs, you will quickly see that IT has expertise in a number of areas that are applicable to all parts of the organization. These skills are also of great value to marketing, HR, finance, sales and virtually all other business functions. Imagine the additional value that IT could provide to the company it serves if these internal IT capabilities, such as vendor management, requirements definition and project
  
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• IDG Contributor Network: Why the business phase of software practice needs improvement

  12-01-2016 01:18
  
  Of course, software practice has been continually improved. Yet, C-suite's biggest issue has not gone away: technology’s poor contribution to organizational strategic agenda. Why? A simple reason: we made strategy-related improvements in governance, but failed to make strategy-related improvements in practice.Governance improvements
  We thought that strategic business outcomes is almost entirely an IT governance issue. So, we attempted improvements in IT governance. For example, w
  
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