Posts Tagged ‘Technology’

What a new President means for the IT industry

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Regardless of where you stand politically, it was obvious technology played a huge role in determining the outcome of last year’s presidential election. President Barack Obama changed the landscape of technology in politics and rode the web 2.0 wave all the way to the White House. It’s also become clear that the technology-heavy election strategy is something the Obama administration plans to continue while serving in the White House.

Weekly YouTube webcasts and social network announcements are just a few of the holdovers from the campaign and now the administration has made two important appointments that could mean a lot to the technology industry.

First, Vivek Kundra has been named Federal CIO. Kundra’s resume includes time spent as CTO for Washington D.C. and before that he served as Virginia’s assistant secretary of commerce and technology. In his new role, Kundra will oversee IT specific issues including oversight of planning and spending along with information sharing, security and privacy. Read more about the appointment here.

Even further evidence of the new administrations commitment to technology is the announcement that Macon Phillips was named “White House new-media director.” Phillips will be responsible for extending Obama’s message and engaging the public using new media tools. That’s certainly something new and it will be interesting to see how that effort transpires.

For a president who owes much of his campaign success to technology let’s hope he continues to embrace it throughout his administration and leverages technology as an important industry that can lead us out of our current economic struggles. Time will tell.

To continue this discussion and leave a comment, visit the INT forum.

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Why ethics are even more important during a recession.

This is a dangerous time for businesses and their employees. Many people are moving past worry and on to near panic and for good reason. Stocks are tumbling, unemployment rates rising, and the outlook is bleak for the rest of 2009. It’s enough to give even the savviest of businessperson pause. All that said, as businesses continue to cut, slash and downgrade in their attempts to survive, there will be opportunity to stand apart by demonstrating a commitment to good business ethics.

The nervousness that permeates today’s business runs from top to bottom. CEO’s are worried about their businesses ability to survive through the recession and employees are worried about maintaining their jobs, feeding their families, and continuing to make their mortgage. Nervousness breeds skepticism which in turn can make for bad decisions all the way around…..this is where ethical practices can act as a front to stop this cycle.

As times get tough we’re compelled to do one of two things. Duck and cover and look out for ourselves or take stock of what’s truly important and invest in our people and relationships. While taking the first approach might buy you some time, it’s almost a guaranteed lose over the long run. Just ask Bernard Madoff.

I believe the way business persons and company’s respond in these stressful times will demonstrate their true character and define how they are judged for years to come.

Honesty will be paramount as we continue to navigate through the challenges ahead. Even if news is bad, being upfront with our employees and customers builds trust, respect and a sense of partnership that can very well make the difference between success and failure.

We are not alone in our challenges. Those who share them with us are looking for islands of stability and hope in the sea of turmoil. When we demonstrate the characteristics that exemplify good business done with good ethics we become that island. We become that place of hope that they can and will invest in. We become stronger for our efforts and we gain the reputation that will be remembered long past our current challenges.

To continue this discussion and leave a comment, visit the INT forum.

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AT&T brings 3,000 jobs back to U.S. – Good news for IT industry

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Economic news isn’t all bad these days, especially as it relates to the IT industry. AT&T’s “repatriation” (a fancy way of saying they’re bringing 5,000 jobs back to the U.S.) has just passed the 3,000 mark. The jobs are coming back to the U.S. after AT&T decided to close down an Indian call center that handles tech support for the company’s broadband service. The best news is that so far these jobs have gone almost exclusively to the IT industry Why? Because as AT&T notes, demand for high-speed Internet services continues to grow.

This is great news for the IT industry but let’s hope other companies fall in line with this trend. India is still an attractive option to a lot of companies with its relatively cheap labor force, but as we look for ways to boost our economy, all evidence points to technology as an industry that can instantly pay dividends and put people back to work right here at home.

To continue this discussion and leave a comment, visit the INT forum.

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INT’s Eight Ethical Musts

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INT are the first three letters in integrity – something that we hold as the most important part of our business. Build your business ethically and success will follow. So, here are our eight ethical musts for building, running and leading a business…

1.) Listen. Too often CEO’s and management get caught up in what they think is important or best for the company. Those of us lucky enough to be in these positions need to remember that our success is based on our employees. Listen to these people. Learn what they truly want and you’ll be better for it.

2.) Support. Your good people require your full support in order to reach maximum productivity. In these times, or in any time, looking after the bottom line while ignoring the impact on your employees and clients will cost you dearly. Providing support to your employees of all levels and helping them through these tough times builds your reputation and trust within your organization and defines you to the rest of the world.

3.) Look long term. Strive for the quick fix and you’ll pay the price down the road. Look to build relationships that serve all parties over the long term and your reputation and bottom line will thrive.

4.) Know your strengths. Don’t just tell people what they want to hear. Tell the truth. In our case, we’re not the fastest. We know that. But, if you want the best person to fit your specific needs, then we’re your best option. We tell the truth and it pays off.

5.) Be available. Just like you’ll be front and center when good things happen, do the same when things don’t go as planned. You’ll fix the problem faster and gain the respect and trust of those around you.

6.) Follow your instinct. If the voice in your head has questions, listen. It’s probably right. Your instincts have carried you this far and you should turn to them first whenever an ethical question arises.
7.) Prioritize. Things like benefits and professional development shouldn’t be luxuries. Treat your employees like you want them to be there and they’ll want to stay and be productive.

8.) Recognize. When people do a good job it shouldn’t just be an expected benefit. Recognize them and it’ll pay dividends for everyone including others who will work to gain the same recognition.

To continue this discussion and leave a comment, visit the INT forum.

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