• Recent Thoughts
• 2012 Oldies
• 2011 Oldies
• 2010 Oldies
• 2009 Oldies

Recent Thoughts

2011–dec–28

To finish off the year, a simple thought. It should also be a basic business principle, but so often is lost on those in decision making roles. Certainly we have seen major companies fail and other succeed greatly in these tough times... why the difference? Maybe one factor... take care of your customers with quality service. Failure to do so may mean they become a 'former' customer. Simple.

2011–dec–27

It has been a while since the last posting. It's not that there has been nothing to say, but rather it's been difficult to find the time in which to make a posting. Not a bad thing in this economy to be busy.

An oldie, but shall be permanently 'recent' due to its pertinence.

W Edwards Deming. At least at a minimal level (Deming's 14 points), all business managers, or to be honest everyone, should read works from this most insightful man. The working world would be a better place with even some of his ideas in place.

The Oldies, but Goodies

2012

Patience... the year is young.

2011

2011–jul–19

It is interesting to follow companies as to how they react to the overall progress of technology. When a company innovates, they mostly obtain patents for that innovation, with the expectation that they may have to defend those patents from being infringed. So when other companies complain that that defense is not innovation... I am not even sure how to analyse that (lack of) logic. It sure sounds like we wait until you innovate, then copy that, and futher claim that that is now our innovation. Hmmm...

Do these other companies really get the true concept of being succesful through innovation? I think not.

2011–jun–19

As we continue to approach a wonderful level of uniformity on the web... meaning that regardless of what system or user agent you may be using, you experience a website (or web app) the way the designer intended. No more frustration.

Or is that really correct? The real danger that is showing it's ugly head is some use of Javascript. Maybe better said... the poor use of Javascript. The use of Javascript is a wonderful addition to the web experience, however, far too often it is being used in inappropriate ways or worse, with poor code. The experience to the user is one of jibberish error codes, functions that don't work, or a user with simply no idea of what's gone wrong.

Let's hope that those that have responsibility for the implementation of websites and web apps do so in a responsible and caring fashion.

2011–may–27

It is interesting and enlightening to be on the sidelines to be able to have a clear vision of how a company is performing. If only they could put themselves on the sideline too.

2011–mar–05

A simple entry to give credit where credit is due. Bravo to Apple for creating such a wonderful development environment in XCode and its related bits. This is a company that truly understands the whole package as an experience.

2011–jan–23

When you have something to say, speak up while the moment is at hand, as that moment will never be around again.

2011–jan–19

It is inspiring to watch, listen, and understand how a company implements without fear their stated vision. What follows then is true success.

2010

2010–oct–16

If you look for a solution, you will find one. If you do not... somebody else will and benefit therefrom.

2010–jul–20

Only when one owns their missteps and failures can you truly claim to be on the road to success.

2010–jul–08

As we read and monitor the progress being made with HTML 5 and CSS 3, one cannot help but be amazed at the pending revolution in web design. It would appear that CSS 3 more so will transform web design to unforeseen levels. In many respects it will no longer be simply a new version of cascading style sheet, but rather a means of bringing the power of present expensive applications to straightforward design on the web. This may well be the biggest change in web design for many years. Those that embrace it and become experts will excel. Those that scoff at it, or simply design 'the old way', will start their spiral to obscurity.

2010–may–13

Let's talk about a company that authored technology that was once a good thing, but has since outlived its usefulness due to other technology advances. When that same company blindly presses on with claims of absolute freedom of choice for all of us as users as their reason for continuing to promote (or more correctly demand) its continued use, it would be time to stop and take stock of the situation. The choice really is one where anarchy is being promoted (the absolute freedom to choice whatever technology you want) or to accept the benefits of standards, be they official or accepted (defacto) which are there to benefit us all, work better, and are continually improved. A simple choice by my reckoning. One where that company's tactics have been the downfall of many before them.

2010–apr–27

We all know that 'things' happen. How a company responds to that incident shows their true metal. Restoring from a back–up is a great concept, if that back–up is recent enough. Would you define a two month old back–up as recent enough for a dynamic environment? You should not. Would you accept the fact that that said company fails to inform you that the back–up is that old? You should not. You should voice your displeasure and you should decide where you continue to invest your own valuable resource and money. Take control. Take charge. As the customer, you are in control.

2010–apr–17

Why do we so often accept bad software that is bug ridden and erroneous? Especially when there are very good options available. Maybe what is worse is to ignore using the free tools available for error checking or verification (e.g. W3C validator and the Acid 3 test for web pages).

2010–apr–05

If you strive for the best, then at worst you'll have achieved something good.

2010–mar–24

Well March is almost over and I have no blog entries yet for this month. Not that I haven't had any thoughts, it's just that they have been on many other works in progress. But that leads me to simply state the concept to get the foundation right, or fix it if need be, as without a solid foundation, you're asking for trouble down the road.

2010–feb–18

The problem at hand... Most often a simple concept. One might say a simple problem that behests a simple solution. Why then do so many problems turn into lengthy, logistical nightmares? Lack of education, focus, the concept of customer service, simply solve something other than the problem, or is it simply all of the above taking things down the wrong road?

2010–jan–28

Perspective and focus. Two very important business (and life) principles. So when the "experts" are disappointed when a product doesn't meet their own preconceived expectations, is that a failed product? Or is that really just that these "experts" are truly the opposite of that title? How can you be an "expert" on something that does not exist? Ultimately, the success or failure of a product is determined by the market itself, and by extension the success or failure of the company.

2010–jan–21

Embrace change. Embrace the future. The future is change.

2010–jan–15

Black and white. Grey... yes, the saviour of those that cannot make a decision. A grey area exists only because one has not broken down things into workable parts in which black and white decisions can be made.

2010–jan–14

A thought on a comment from long ago that was made to me... When one is told that you are a "maverick", because you have ideas... Is that not a good thing? Or is that a valid criticism?

2009

2009–dec–29

The economy. It's been the talk for over a year now. There is no doubt that many workers have been affected negatively and many companies have had to adjust. It has become tiring however, to listen to companies that are healthy, continually, and extensively use the economy to shoulder their cut–backs. To be truly successful, this would be the right time to look inwards, maintain, develop, and nurture it's key resources (the employees). In that fashion, when the economy as a whole rebounds fully, as a company you would be at the top of the heap for what one would consider to be... true success.