Wednesday 24 December 2014

Owner

If you do the Twitter thing, follow me at @hotpixUK
or LinkedIn here http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy

I was chatting to an IT manager at a conference recently and she was lamenting on ‘how difficult it was to get end users to take responsibility for their own projects and applications’. I see this a lot and there’s a few reasons for this difficulty I feel.

Often it comes down broadly to culture, personalities or management.

Culture may have dictated that in the past, finance or IT ‘owned’ system applications, a feature from the 1980’s & 90’s. Maybe that culture should be revisited now that applications are more friendly and GUI’s are much better. Indeed, we have moved a lot from the 25x80 character MSDOS / text based applications we used to have in the past.

By personalities I mean really good and maybe really poor staff. What do I mean by that? Well a charismatic IT manager (& there are a few believe me), may have taken charge and interest in end user applications and provided excellent service from IT. Alternatively, an uninterested user or manager could have refused to take ownership and by default IT have to be the owners.

Sometimes management dictate that anything with a plug on it, including the kitchen kettle is the responsibility of IT. This excludes interested users taking ownership or even being allowed to move in that direction. Under this regime

Of those scenarios, I bet you recognise your organisation in there. Current thinking is that end users could and should own more of their own application software, as they know their areas far better than ICT ever could. Now practically that's not everyone. Identifying and nurturing champions who know their job and are positive about IT, is more an art than a science. However these staff are gold-dust. Ensure they are involved in new projects and all business change activity.

Also to gain ownership, when its user group time, try sending the users, (not the IT team). They can make friends and get involved with improvements etc. The clue is in the name for that one!

Related Post: How do you rate getting staff mobile, for efficiency?

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You can link with me on LinkedIn here - http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy It would be great to connect !

Yes - Owner of a lonely heartYes - Owner of a lonely heart.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009

PS As usual, if there are subjects you might like me to tackle on this blog, or you could benefit from any of our services please get in touch and let me know!

You can access a quick list of blog posts here
Could we help you or your organisation? Our contact details are here , get in touch we will be pleased to chat about your problems or issue.
File Under: 360,1stTouch,4Js. , 07854655009 , ," """" ",,#UKHousing,1st Touch,3squared, Acutence,Aareon,Academy,ActiveH,Alignment,ALMO,Anite,Apex,ArchHouse,Archouse,asbestos,Asprey e-state pro,Asset Management,Aurora,Average IT Costs,App,Associates,ACL,Abritas,AMS,AX,aspireview, BO,BPR,Browser Applications,Business Objects,Business Process Review,Business social networking, Blockwise, Block wise,BI,BancTec,BluTek,Bluebox, Castle,CBL,Cedar Open Accounts,Cx,Change,Cheaper Housing IT,Chics, CHR,Citrix,Civica,Clearview,CMS , CCS IT Keystone CCSIT, Contractor Systems,CORE,CorVu,Cost Reductions,Covalent,CRM,Crystal Reports,CTI,CTX,Customer Relationship Management,Cashflow, COA,Coactiva,Codeman,Comino,Competitive Dialogue process,complex IT procurements,Component Accounting,Consilium,Consolidation,Consultancy,Consultant,Contact Manager,Context,CIH,Chartered Institute Of Housing,Cadcorp,Cerrus Saturn,convergeOne,CACI,CPL Director, Deeplake,Development Systems,Document Management,Documotive,datasystems , Microsoft dynamics GP 2013 ECMK,EDRMS,England, English,EnterpriseBI,ERP Systems,ERP,Elmhurst,Estatecraft,EDM,ESRI,Exponential-e, Finance,Financial Systems,Financials, Factorwise,Facebook ,Fusion, Getting best from,gotonysmith, Grasp,Grip,GeoSolveIT,GIS,GGP, HouSys,Housing software,HG,Housemark survey,Housing Blueprint,Housing Group,hotpixuk, HousingIT,hotpix,Hardware,Hitex,Housing Contact Company, Impact Response,implementations,In House,In4,InMotion, InMotion2014, InMotion2015, InMotion2016 , Exhibition, conference, Infoflow,Information Technology,Informix,inHouse,in-house workforce, Innovation,Inside Housing,Internet Portal,Invu,Ireland,Irish,IT Budget,IT Training,iWorld, Innovation Group Apex,ITIL, In4Systems Promaster,IT,Insight, Keylogic,Keystone,Kirona,Kypera,Keyfax, Ledgers,Linkedin,Locality,Liquid Voice, MD ,Mr Void , MrVoid, Measuring Change,Mebus,Miracle,MISCS, mobile functionality,Monopoly board images and pictures, Montal,MS Dynamics,MS Dynamics CRM2011,Miracle Software,Management Reporting,MI,M3,MIS,MIS-AMS,Mobysoft, Northgate Codeman,Neighbourhoods and Communities, Northgate,Notice,NROSH,NINTEX , NINTEX workflow,Nintexworkflow, OA,OGC Buying Solutions,Ohms,OJEU Limits,OmFax,Omniledger,Open source software,open tender,OpenHousing,Opti-Time,Oracle,Orchard,Outsource and outsourcing,OpenContractor,ORS,OneServe, PIMMS Data Systems, Paloma,performance management systems,PfH,Pick,PIMMS,pimms4communities,Planned maintenance,People Value,Plus,Peoplevalue,PM,Progress,Promaster,Proval,Pyramid,PRINCE2,prince,Pamwin, QL,QLX,Quiss,Qlikview, Registered Providers,Registered Social Landlord,Rent Increase Freezes,Repairfinder,Reporting,Reports,ROCC , Rocket,RPs,RSL,Reality,ReAct,reidmark,RM865, Saffron,SAP,Scots, Scottish,Scotland,SDM,sector,TonySmithHou,Server Virtualisation,servicing, Servitor,Sharepoint,Simdel,Simdell,Slash and Burn,Social Media,Software,SQL Open Housing,SQL Reporting Services,SQL reporting services,SQL Server,Star rating,Stores and Stock,Strategic Asset Management,Sunguard ,Surveys,Sx3,System alignment,TonySmithHousing, Systemwise,SM,Sequoa,Serros,SP,Scout,score,Swordfish,Serengeti,SOTI,southview,Sunguard,Service Charges,Spotlight Service, Spotlightservice, Template,Task,Terminal Services, tonys , tonysm , tonysmi , tonysmith, tonysmitht, gotonysmith, tonysmithth, tonysmiththa, tonysmiththat, tonysmiththath, tonysmiththatho, tonysmiththathou, tonysmiththathous, tonysmiththathousi, tonysmiththathousin, tonysmiththathousing, tonysmiththathousingg, tonysmiththathousinguy, sharepoint, share point Three Star,Today,Total repairs,Tribal,Twitter,U2, tonysmith , tonysmiththat , thathousing , thathousingIT , thathousingITguy ,TED,Tagish Casework,TP Tracker,Telecetera,Tagra,Trace, UniClass Enterprise,Unidata,Universal Housing,Universalcredit, universal credit, universal credits,UC,Universe,Unrest, UK, United Kingdom ,Ukhousing,UK Housing, Van Stock,Voice and data,Vantage Sentinel,Version One,Visualmetrics,Voluntas, Wales,Welsh,Windows Server,Workflow and tasking,Wheatley, Xmbrace,XML ,XenApp,Xen App .

Saturday 20 December 2014

BYOD - Bring On The Mobiles

If you do the Twitter thing, follow me at @hotpixUK
or LinkedIn here http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy

We have all heard for about the last three years about, 'How we need to look at our Bring Your Own Device' policies. So why on earth is it rarely seen on the ground?

It's certainly not taken off in housing, as far as I can see and according to recent info, stalled in UK, Europe and to a lesser extent in the US. It's said that In Europe, BYOD adoption has reached a plateau. One reason is that our employees expect companies to pay for a mobile device that's becoming the primary tool to access systems and data. Culturally, the default position is that your employer is felt should be providing you with all the tools, in order to do the job expected.

Last year, IDC asked European companies about their BYOD plans. Apparently, the results of the 2013 survey showed 26 percent had a formal BYOD policy, 31 percent planned to create one, and 44 percent weren't planning to do so in the next 18 months. Fast forward to the same survey question this year: 36 percent had a formal BYOD policy, 23 percent planned to create one, and 41 percent didn't have any plans in the next 18 months.

While end-users may be keen to use ipads and other tablets for home and work, this on the ground generally gets short-shrift from ICT infrastructure teams. Particularly in housing, limited take-up of MDM (Mobile Device Management) and traditional urge to control from the centre predominates. Lots of decent MDM is emerging, such as MobileIron as well as some bundled from mobile providers like O2. We all know many organisations, still force users to have Blackberry's for all email & mobile use. This obviously isn't going to persuade anyone to extend/blur their working day.

Now, employees will be tempted to use drop-box and other less than secure file-sharing sites to save work documents. In fairness, many I see, are only doing this to get the job done, around the organisation work controls in place. Rather than banning things in a blanket style, its often better to give more freedom and manage the risks in a more proportionate way. Management should manage people breaking rules, rather than creating rules that invariable will be broken, as their jobs cannot be done effectively, without doing so.

Users can be much more familiar with their own mobile device and are less likely to break or abuse it, if they have forked out £200 or more for it themselves. When it needs updating, it's their headache not the organisations. Productivity can rocket if it's done correctly and a formal BYOD policy is the obvious starting point. Has your ICT team got one?

The challenge is to get BYOD to work well for us, mixing the work office and what we use our devices for in our real-lives outside. Security does need to be adequate. Even Cyber-risk insurance products are now available if things go wrong. One thing is sure, BYOD will not just go away. UKHousing will need to take it more serious soon.

Related Post: How do you rate getting staff mobile, for efficiency?

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You can link with me on LinkedIn here - http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy It would be great to connect !

The Stranglers - Bring On The NubilesThe Stranglers - Bring On The Nubiles.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009

PS As usual, if there are subjects you might like me to tackle on this blog, or you could benefit from any of our services please get in touch and let me know!

You can access a quick list of blog posts here
Could we help you or your organisation? Our contact details are here , get in touch we will be pleased to chat about your problems or issue.
File Under: 360,1stTouch,4Js. , 07854655009 , ," """" ",,#UKHousing,1st Touch,3squared, Acutence,Aareon,Academy,ActiveH,Alignment,ALMO,Anite,Apex,ArchHouse,Archouse,asbestos,Asprey e-state pro,Asset Management,Aurora,Average IT Costs,App,Associates,ACL,Abritas,AMS,AX,aspireview, BO,BPR,Browser Applications,Business Objects,Business Process Review,Business social networking, Blockwise, Block wise,BI,BancTec,BluTek,Bluebox, Castle,CBL,Cedar Open Accounts,Cx,Change,Cheaper Housing IT,Chics, CHR,Citrix,Civica,Clearview,CMS , CCS IT Keystone CCSIT, Contractor Systems,CORE,CorVu,Cost Reductions,Covalent,CRM,Crystal Reports,CTI,CTX,Customer Relationship Management,Cashflow, COA,Coactiva,Codeman,Comino,Competitive Dialogue process,complex IT procurements,Component Accounting,Consilium,Consolidation,Consultancy,Consultant,Contact Manager,Context,CIH,Chartered Institute Of Housing,Cadcorp,Cerrus Saturn,convergeOne,CACI,CPL Director, Deeplake,Development Systems,Document Management,Documotive,datasystems , Microsoft dynamics GP 2013 ECMK,EDRMS,England, English,EnterpriseBI,ERP Systems,ERP,Elmhurst,Estatecraft,EDM,ESRI,Exponential-e, Finance,Financial Systems,Financials, Factorwise,Facebook ,Fusion, Getting best from,gotonysmith, Grasp,Grip,GeoSolveIT,GIS,GGP, HouSys,Housing software,HG,Housemark survey,Housing Blueprint,Housing Group,hotpixuk, HousingIT,hotpix,Hardware,Hitex,Housing Contact Company, Impact Response,implementations,In House,In4,InMotion, InMotion2014, InMotion2015, InMotion2016 , Exhibition, conference, Infoflow,Information Technology,Informix,inHouse,in-house workforce, Innovation,Inside Housing,Internet Portal,Invu,Ireland,Irish,IT Budget,IT Training,iWorld, Innovation Group Apex,ITIL, In4Systems Promaster,IT,Insight, Keylogic,Keystone,Kirona,Kypera,Keyfax, Ledgers,Linkedin,Locality,Liquid Voice, MD ,Mr Void , MrVoid, Measuring Change,Mebus,Miracle,MISCS, mobile functionality,Monopoly board images and pictures, Montal,MS Dynamics,MS Dynamics CRM2011,Miracle Software,Management Reporting,MI,M3,MIS,MIS-AMS,Mobysoft, Northgate Codeman,Neighbourhoods and Communities, Northgate,Notice,NROSH,NINTEX , NINTEX workflow,Nintexworkflow, OA,OGC Buying Solutions,Ohms,OJEU Limits,OmFax,Omniledger,Open source software,open tender,OpenHousing,Opti-Time,Oracle,Orchard,Outsource and outsourcing,OpenContractor,ORS,OneServe, PIMMS Data Systems, Paloma,performance management systems,PfH,Pick,PIMMS,pimms4communities,Planned maintenance,People Value,Plus,Peoplevalue,PM,Progress,Promaster,Proval,Pyramid,PRINCE2,prince,Pamwin, QL,QLX,Quiss,Qlikview, Registered Providers,Registered Social Landlord,Rent Increase Freezes,Repairfinder,Reporting,Reports,ROCC , Rocket,RPs,RSL,Reality,ReAct,reidmark,RM865, Saffron,SAP,Scots, Scottish,Scotland,SDM,sector,Server Virtualisation,servicing, Servitor,Sharepoint,Simdel,Simdell,Slash and Burn,Social Media,Software,SQL Open Housing,SQL Reporting Services,SQL reporting services,SQL Server,Star rating,Stores and Stock,Strategic Asset Management,Sunguard ,Surveys,Sx3,System alignment, Systemwise,SM,Sequoa,Serros,SP,Scout,score,Swordfish,Serengeti,SOTI,southview,Sunguard,Service Charges,Spotlight Service, Spotlightservice, Template,Task,Terminal Services, tonys , tonysm , tonysmi , tonysmith, tonysmitht, gotonysmith, tonysmithth, tonysmiththa, tonysmiththat, tonysmiththath, tonysmiththatho, tonysmiththathou, tonysmiththathous, tonysmiththathousi, tonysmiththathousin, tonysmiththathousing, tonysmiththathousingg, tonysmiththathousinguy, sharepoint, share point Three Star,Today,Total repairs,Tribal,Twitter,U2, tonysmith , tonysmiththat , thathousing , thathousingIT , thathousingITguy ,TED,Tagish Casework,TP Tracker,Telecetera,Tagra,Trace, UniClass Enterprise,Unidata,Universal Housing,Universalcredit, universal credit, universal credits,UC,Universe,Unrest, UK, United Kingdom ,Ukhousing,UK Housing, Van Stock,Voice and data,Vantage Sentinel,Version One,Visualmetrics,Voluntas, Wales,Welsh,Windows Server,Workflow and tasking,Wheatley, Xmbrace,XML ,XenApp,Xen App .

Thursday 11 December 2014

Something Changed

If you do the Twitter thing, follow me at @hotpixUK
or LinkedIn here http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy

On a visit to an ALMO in Derbyshire recently, I was surprised to see a message on the back of a repairs van. It extolled the virtues of ‘Pay To Stay’. That's not something I see a lot, occasionally in clients where I work, I have encountered strap-lines like ‘Something for something’, but what was on the van went further.

Laying my cards on the table from this second paragraph, I believe wholeheartedly that as a sector, we really do need to get on with making the ‘Think Commercially, Act Social’ philosophy, something practical and real. Something that will drive efficiency as well as helping our tenants and wider customers in their communities. Culturally, we have been propped up by a piped in feed of directly paid Housing Benefit, with little need to have to think like a bank or dare I say it, the PRS.

No-one can deny we need a lot of change, our systems and processes need to change and we have got to change the mindset of our staff and management.

When universal Credit forces HB to be paid direct to claimant, where will social housing be in the hierarchy of what gets paid first. I suspect that credit cards or payday loans will be paid in preference, as these both cost more, the longer the debt is owed. Could we see a day when housing associations and ALMOs levy interest on arrears debt? We need to be thinking how our systems might allows us to add our interest as an automated charge code, after a period agreed in the tenancy agreement.

A few repair teams I work with already levy a £15 or similar charge if a no-access is encountered. Some also credit £15 if they as contractor miss the appointment too. If the same was applied to rent transactions, where a tenant was in credit, maybe we encouraged that by paying a reasonable rate of interest. E.G. 0.5% over base rates.

I apologise if these suggestions appear jarring, but I think you can prepare for some more thinking on these lines, in the months and years ahead. Are we needing carrots, sticks or both, going forward?

Related Post: Are your Social Media types 24 hour party people?

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You can link with me on LinkedIn here - http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy It would be great to connect !

Pulp - Something ChangedPulp - Something Changed.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009

PS As usual, if there are subjects you might like me to tackle on this blog, or you could benefit from any of our services please get in touch and let me know!

You can access a quick list of blog posts here
Could we help you or your organisation? Our contact details are here , get in touch we will be pleased to chat about your problems or issue.
File Under: 360,1stTouch,4Js. , 07854655009 , ," """" ",,#UKHousing,1st Touch,3squared, Acutence,Aareon,Academy,ActiveH,Alignment,ALMO,Anite,Apex,ArchHouse,Archouse,asbestos,Asprey e-state pro,Asset Management,Aurora,Average IT Costs,App,Associates,ACL,Abritas,AMS,AX,aspireview, BO,BPR,Browser Applications,Business Objects,Business Process Review,Business social networking, Blockwise, Block wise,BI,BancTec,BluTek,Bluebox, Castle,CBL,Cedar Open Accounts,Cx,Change,Cheaper Housing IT,Chics, CHR,Citrix,Civica,Clearview,CMS , CCS IT Keystone CCSIT, Contractor Systems,CORE,CorVu,Cost Reductions,Covalent,CRM,Crystal Reports,CTI,CTX,Customer Relationship Management,Cashflow, COA,Coactiva,Codeman,Comino,Competitive Dialogue process,complex IT procurements,Component Accounting,Consilium,Consolidation,Consultancy,Consultant,Contact Manager,Context,CIH,Chartered Institute Of Housing,Cadcorp,Cerrus Saturn,convergeOne,CACI,CPL Director, Deeplake,Development Systems,Document Management,Documotive,datasystems , Microsoft dynamics GP 2013 ECMK,EDRMS,England, English,EnterpriseBI,ERP Systems,ERP,Elmhurst,Estatecraft,EDM,ESRI,Exponential-e, Finance,Financial Systems,Financials, Factorwise,Facebook ,Fusion, Getting best from,gotonysmith, Grasp,Grip,GeoSolveIT,GIS,GGP, HouSys,Housing software,HG,Housemark survey,Housing Blueprint,Housing Group,hotpixuk, HousingIT,hotpix,Hardware,Hitex,Housing Contact Company, Impact Response,implementations,In House,In4,InMotion, InMotion2014, InMotion2015, InMotion2016 , Exhibition, conference, Infoflow,Information Technology,Informix,inHouse,in-house workforce, Innovation,Inside Housing,Internet Portal,Invu,Ireland,Irish,IT Budget,IT Training,iWorld, Innovation Group Apex,ITIL, In4Systems Promaster,IT,Insight, Keylogic,Keystone,Kirona,Kypera,Keyfax, Ledgers,Linkedin,Locality,Liquid Voice, MD ,Mr Void , MrVoid, Measuring Change,Mebus,Miracle,MISCS, mobile functionality,Monopoly board images and pictures, Montal,MS Dynamics,MS Dynamics CRM2011,Miracle Software,Management Reporting,MI,M3,MIS,MIS-AMS,Mobysoft, Northgate Codeman,Neighbourhoods and Communities, Northgate,Notice,NROSH,NINTEX , NINTEX workflow,Nintexworkflow, OA,OGC Buying Solutions,Ohms,OJEU Limits,OmFax,Omniledger,Open source software,open tender,OpenHousing,Opti-Time,Oracle,Orchard,Outsource and outsourcing,OpenContractor,ORS,OneServe, PIMMS Data Systems, Paloma,performance management systems,PfH,Pick,PIMMS,pimms4communities,Planned maintenance,People Value,Plus,Peoplevalue,PM,Progress,Promaster,Proval,Pyramid,PRINCE2,prince,Pamwin, QL,QLX,Quiss,Qlikview, Registered Providers,Registered Social Landlord,Rent Increase Freezes,Repairfinder,Reporting,Reports,ROCC , Rocket,RPs,RSL,Reality,ReAct,reidmark,RM865, Saffron,SAP,Scots, Scottish,Scotland,SDM,sector,Server Virtualisation,servicing, Servitor,Sharepoint,Simdel,Simdell,Slash and Burn,Social Media,Software,SQL Open Housing,SQL Reporting Services,SQL reporting services,SQL Server,Star rating,Stores and Stock,Strategic Asset Management,Sunguard ,Surveys,Sx3,System alignment, Systemwise,SM,Sequoa,Serros,SP,Scout,score,Swordfish,Serengeti,SOTI,southview,Sunguard,Service Charges,Spotlight Service, Spotlightservice, Template,Task,Terminal Services, tonys , tonysm , tonysmi , tonysmith, tonysmitht, gotonysmith, tonysmithth, tonysmiththa, tonysmiththat, tonysmiththath, tonysmiththatho, tonysmiththathou, tonysmiththathous, tonysmiththathousi, tonysmiththathousin, tonysmiththathousing, tonysmiththathousingg, tonysmiththathousinguy, sharepoint, share point Three Star,Today,Total repairs,Tribal,Twitter,U2, tonysmith , tonysmiththat , thathousing , thathousingIT , thathousingITguy ,TED,Tagish Casework,TP Tracker,Telecetera,Tagra,Trace, UniClass Enterprise,Unidata,Universal Housing,Universalcredit, universal credit, universal credits,UC,Universe,Unrest, UK, United Kingdom ,Ukhousing,UK Housing, Van Stock,Voice and data,Vantage Sentinel,Version One,Visualmetrics,Voluntas, Wales,Welsh,Windows Server,Workflow and tasking,Wheatley, Xmbrace,XML ,XenApp,Xen App .

Saturday 6 December 2014

Clever Trevor

If you do the Twitter thing, follow me at @hotpixUK
or LinkedIn here http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy

ICT types can in general follow that trait, that they are 'attracted to the shiny'. Although pretty techie really, I try hard to play that down and work with my clients to tackle their problems first, and then choose to use the tech later. I like the shiny, but tend to come back down to earth pretty soon.

I remember back in my former life dealing with housing management system developers. In some ways it was like managing a large housing group ICT team and several different types of qualities were essential. You need steady staff and some that really can think out of the box. I have also worked with people I would term visionaries. These are great ideas people, but can be very poor planners or finishers.

The struggle with what technology, components, development or other tools to use, is a continuous one. With operating systems, supported tools and environments changing faster than ever, it's tricky to keep on a path of righteousness in keeping our applications relevant to the processes we wish to support.

I was reminded of this a few weeks ago, when sitting through a system supplier demonstrating their contractor portal. You know the concept I am sure. A webpage that smaller, local responsive repair contractors could use to receive works orders, vary and complete them in a simple environment. Everyone should really have such a thing, if the volume supports it.

My client, who I won't name (, nor the supplier 8-) really needs to purchase and implement a contractor portal. The horses were led to water and the demo started. The portal demonstrated was indeed sexy, it was obviously not pure HTML and the sales staff were open in admitting that some components needed to be initially downloaded, for it to function.

An innocent question was asked. "Could our contractors, if they had mobile coverage, use a Smartphone to access works orders and vary/complete them on that. It might be a great benefit that might help us sell that to them. The components needed to be downloaded were Silverlight ones. You can perhaps guess what was asked next.

"Your Silverlight components, which Smartphones and browsers will work with those?". As we clocked through iPads, WinPhone8, Androids, WinPhone6.5 etc, it had to be admitted that we had limited options, even at present with Microsoft/Nokia mobile offerings.

A hush went over the room. A possible spin off benefit, was turning into a reason why this was not the portal for us. Oh dear! Had anyone considered retaining an older, more simple portal, or making it intelligent enough to detect a lack of Silverlight and operate in a more narrowband type manner? Well sadly not. The Silverlining is that my client will be going ahead with the portal regardless (yay - thank goodness).

So, the moral here for me is to keep some of those Clever Trevor's under control. They can be enormously useful, but question all the outcomes and try to think out of the box. Although something could be designed for one purpose, it may be used for a very different one, out in the field!

Related Post: Do you like the best of both worlds when you think KPIs?

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You can link with me on LinkedIn here - http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy It would be great to connect !

Ian Dury & the Blockheads - Clever TrevorIan Dury Blockheads - Clever Trevor.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009

PS As usual, if there are subjects you might like me to tackle on this blog, or you could benefit from any of our services please get in touch and let me know!

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