Posts By Tim Constantine

Measure and Manage

In his blog The Thorp Network, author John Thorp suggests that we should, “Measure what’s important and manage what you measure.” When a strategy for improvement is identified it’ll be important to measure performance and success. Performance is important to measure because improvement depends on change, and there’s an inherent presumption of efficiency and momentumRead… Read more »

The Promise of the Project

Technology project failure or success statistics vary a great deal, because there’s no standard measure of project success. I suggest a new measure of project success or failure: the promise. Many times a project promises too much. If a new computer program promises to lower cost by reducing the number of staff required to accomplishRead… Read more »

Everything’s Amazing

After we break the momentum of the day-to-day, we have an opportunity to look at things with a new lens, to rethink, and to reimagine the possible. Three amazing videos to help us break the momentum of the day-to-day. To get us to look at things with a new perspective and appreciation, and to thinkRead… Read more »

Whither Web 1?

When people speak of Web 2.0,And how cloud computing can make it so.Wikis, blogs, and all of these;My mind fills with possibilities.But even in light of this gifted son,I have to ask: “Whither Web 1?” Web 1 was once the shinning star.We were certain people would flock from near and far,To see the grand siteRead… Read more »

Database can Crack Missing Person Cases?

The Associated Press had a story this past Sunday regarding an online database (NamUs) that “promises to crack some of the nation’s 100,000 missing persons cases and provide answers to desperate families.” That’s some database! On further reading it becomes evident that the database isn’t really going to crack anything. How disappointing. Contrary to popularRead… Read more »

Focus on Efficiency Phase 5: Repeat. Or, Go back to Phase 1, but not Square 1 – Build on your Success

A previous post laid out the Focus on Efficiency Framework: Plan – Decide – Implement – Review – Repeat. In this post you’ll learn how the capabilities and possibilities you’ve developed, will allow you to take your organization to the next higher level, and the next, and the next… When you repeat, you apply theRead… Read more »

Focus on Efficiency Phase 4: Review your Impact

A previous post laid out the Focus on Efficiency Framework: Plan – Decide – Implement – Review – Repeat. In this post you’ll learn the importance of Reviewing the impact you’ve had on your organizations efficiency. You’ll Review at a pre-determined time which you set in your Planning stage. When exactly that will be, isRead… Read more »

Focus on Efficiency Phase 3: Implement and Prepare for Change

A previous post laid out the Focus on Efficiency Framework: Plan – Decide – Implement – Review – Repeat. If you’ve reached this stage, you’ve decided to implement your project. Implementing means just that: Implementing the plans you made back in the Planning phase. You’ll implement using traditional project management techniques like PMBOK or whateverRead… Read more »

No Rain, No Rainbows

Watch closely the first 8 or 9 seconds of this video… …Got it? … No rain, no rainbows? Good. Now, how often as IT are we in that “no rain, no rainbows” guy’s shoes? That poor guy went to a lot of planning, time, and effort to make sure that bride had rainbows on herRead… Read more »

Focus on Efficiency Phase 2: Decide. Or, Can we get there from here?

A previous post laid out the Focus on Efficiency Framework: Plan – Decide – Implement – Review – Repeat. In this post I’ll spend some time talking about Deciding. In many cases the Decision to Implement is made in the blink of an eye, even before Planning. And after investing resources in the Planning phaseRead… Read more »