Real Life

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

What are we all like with our social media?

Whatever you do, Facebook, Insta, Twitter etc, we are always looking to post our best life, even if we don’t realise we are. I post enough real ale images, although I may take six shots and just post the best, with a decent head (if appropriate OBVs). Its kind of human nature, but does clearly show a false view of our lives. On the downside, we can present a golden shiny view and be suffering and dark inside.

Part of the illusion is that we can groom and engineer those shots to be the best ever (or the best we can manage). What if you couldn’t do that and the social media app decided when you could take that photo you are allowed to post? Some folk I know, may consider that to be violating their human rights!

This is exactly what a new socialmedia app looks to do. BeReal (“Your friends for real”), gives everyone the same two minute window, to post daily. Is this going too far?

I don’t know if any of my contacts are on BeReal, although I am sure a dose of reality would do us all some good sometimes. Particularly when I see tweets from socialhousing tenants and particularly those via Kwajo @KwajoHousing, there’s a different kind of reality there, than is often portrayed in council and socialhousing publicity. More attention to resident issues would reduce the incidence of repair problems and make a massive difference to life chances and outcomes.

My own upbringing in social housing on a Manchester 1960s overspill estate on the edge of the Peak District served me well, although I feel we had better safety nets back then. Rent collectors would look in on tenants every fortnight and be the eyes and ears of the council landlord, potentially picking up issues, repair problems etc in real time. They knew who was ill, who had just lost their job, who had just snagged a new one etc. These people were the ultimate predictive data profilers, something we lost when Housing Benefit was paid direct and for those folk collectors were no longer required.

Indeed, I have been told that some tenants asked that the rent collector still called, so as not to reveal to neighbours, that they were on full HB. So some folk were trying to show their ‘best life’ in their own way, back then. Its likely that the fortnightly rent round with the ‘Gilbert Strips’ picked up many issues quicker, with potential problems solved faster, that today in a more remote fashion we work, relying on our CRM.

We can certainly improve what we do and most organisations I work with are looking to transform so staff work more efficiently and serve residents better. I certainly believe that and in terms of how organisations procure services, if cost is a predominant factor, you can bet that often the reverse is in fact true. All the case management and CRM solution options are mature and out there. Lack of tech is no excuse, whatever size organisation (50 - 50k+ properties) you are.

Some social housing organisations (and councils with retained housing), do seem to struggle with seeing and understanding their residents in real life. To provide better services, we should never take our eye off real life. Complaints always need to be taken seriously and regarded as a means of digesting feedback, to improve services. Fail to do that and we fail to be real. Costly and frustrating internal and external waste is created in our processes, which often managers can’t or won’t tackle.

Social Housing shoots itself in the foot at times, at first resisting the regulator, then agreeing with it. Be real all the time, not just when the regulator is watching, or inspecting us.  

Oh & if you try out BeReal, do share with me how you get on 😉

If we at Acutance Consulting can help your organisation with keeping it real

 or any other HMS transformation, please just get in touch, for a chat over a brew. 

I will bring plenty of Chocolate Gingers ☕😋

       Related Post: What photo skills does your organisation need? 

Catch the blog monthly archive at https://soundcloud.com/housingitguy/

_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/

I would be pleased to connect with you on LinkedIn - http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy Message me with any issues or queries, you would like to be explored in this blog. We generally receive a couple of suggestions each month.

Magazine – Real Life/Definitive Gaze.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009


Access a quick list of our Social Housing ICT 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 and help with your organisation issues.

File Under: #HomesForBritain,#HousingDAY,#InternetOfTenants,#Shout,#UKHousing, 07854655009, 1st Touch,1stTouch,360,365Agile,3squared,4Js, ACL,ALMO,AMS,AX,Aareon,Abritas,Academy,Accuserv,Accuserve,Active Housing,ActiveH,ActiveHousing,Acutence,Advanced,Affinity,Agile,Agile365,AirWatch,Alfresco,Alignment,Allpay,Amazon Web Services,Anite,Apex,App,ArchHouse,Archouse,Asprey e-state pro,Asset Management,Associates,Aurora,Average IT Costs,AWI SX Integration Toolkit,AWS, BI,BO,BPR,BancTec,BigChange,Blockwise,BluTek,Bluebox,Blueprint,Browser Applications,Business Objects,Business Planning,Business Process Review,Business social networking, CACI,Capita One Housing,CBL,CCS IT Keystone CCSIT,CEDRM,CHICS,CHR,CIH,CMS,COA,CORE,CPL,CRM,CRM2013,CRS,CTI,CTX,Cadcorp,Capita,CapitaOne,Capita One,Capital Management,Cashflow,Castle,Castleton,Castleton Technology,Cedar Open Accounts,Cerrus,Change,Charges,Chartered Institute Of Housing,Cheaper Housing IT,Chics, Citrix,Civica,Civica CTX,Civica Cx,Civica Genero,Civica Saffron,Clearview,Clik,Cloud Dialogs,CloudDialogs,Coactiva,Codeman,Comino,Commontime,Community Reward Services,Company,Competitive Dialogue process,Component Accounting,Consilium,Consolidation, Consultancy,Consultant,Consultants,Contact Manager,Context,Contractor Systems,CorVu,Cost Reductions,Covalent,Crystal Reports,Customer Relationship Management,Cx, DRS,Deeplake,Designer Software,Development Systems,Director,Document,Documotive,Docuware,Dynamic AI,DynamicAI,Dynamics 365,D365,Dynamics365, ECMK,EDM,EDRMS,ERP,ESRI,Elmhurst,Enghouse Interactive,England,English,EnterpriseBI,Estatecraft,Etive,Exhibition,Exponential-e, Facebook,Factorwise,Field Service management,Finance,Financial Systems,Financials,Footprint,Forms,Freezes,Fusion, Gas Tag,G-Cloud,GCloud,GDPR,GGP,GIS,GasTag,Genero,GeoSolveIT,Getting best from,GoTonySmith,Grasp,Grip,Group Apex, HFI (Housing Financials interface),HG,HRA,Hardware,Hitachi Systems,Hitex,HomeMaster,Hometeam,HouSys,House,Housemark,Housemark survey,Housing,Housing Contact,Housing Group,Housing Insight,Housing Management,Housing Management Consultant,Housing Partners,Housing Portfolio Management System,Hub Asset Management,Homeswapper,Housing jigsaw, Housing Support Pro,HousingIT,HousingSupportPro,HyperOptic, IMS,IT,IT Budget,IT Training,ITIL,Impact Response,In,In4,In4Systems Promaster,InfoBoss,InHouse,InMotion,InMotion2015,InMotion2016,InfoBoss,Infoflow,Information,Information Technology,Information@Work components,Informix,Innovation, Informetis,Inphase,Inside Housing,Insight,Internet Portal,Internetalia,Invu,Ireland,Irish,itLab, Keyfax,Keylogic,Keypera,Keystone,Kirona,Kypera,Keynamics, Landlord,Ledgers,Linkedin,Liquid,Locality,Localz, M3,MAVIS,MD,MDM,MI,MIS,MIS-AMS,MISCS,MRI,MS Dynamics,MRI,MS Dynamics CRM2011,Microsoft365,microsoft 365,MWL,Management,Management Server,Manifest,Measuring,Mebus,More IQ,MoreIQ,Microsoft Dynamics 365,Microsoft dynamics GP 2013,Miracle,MobileIron,Mobysoft,Monopoly board images and pictures,Montal,Mr Void,MriEngage,MrVoid,MoreIQ NDL,NINTEX,NINTEX workflow,NPS,NPS ASSIST,NPS Housing,NPS Job Manager Mobile,NROSH,Natural,Neighbourhoods and Communities,Nintexworkflow,Northgate,Northgate Codeman,Northgate Public Services,Notice, OA,OGC Buying Solutions,OJEU Limits,ORS,Ohms,OmFax,Omniledger,One,OneAdvanced,OneServe,Open source,OpenContractor,OpenHousing,Opti-time,Options,Optitime,Oracle,Orchard,Outsource and outsourcing,OutSystems, PIMMS,PIMSS Data,PM,PRINCE2,Paloma,Pamwin,PanConnect,People Value,Peoplevalue,PfH,Pick,PlanForm,Planned maintenance,Plenfific,Plus,Portfolio Management System,PowerObjects,Pro,Pro-Points,Prodo,Progress,Promaster,Propoints,Proval,Providers,Pyramid, QL,QuantSpark,Qube,QLX,Qlikview,QueryView,Queryview reporting,Quiss, RM865,ROCC,RPs,RSL,Rave,ReAct,Reality,RedkiteCRM,Red Olive,Registered,Registered Social,Rent Increase,RentSense,RentSenseLite,Repairfinder,Reporting,Reports,RobotAutomation,Rocket, Salesforce,Salesforce.Org,SAP,SASSHA,SDM,SHBVN,SM,SOTI,SP,SQL,SQL Open Housing,SQL Reporting,SQL Server,Saffron,Safron,Saturn,Scenario,Scotland,Scots,Scottish,Scout,Sequoa,Serengeti,Serros,Server,Service,Services,Servitor,Sharepoint,Sim,SimPro, Simdel,Simdell,Slash and Burn,Social Housing ICT,Social Housing Software Applications,Social Media,Software,Software solutions,Spotlight Service,Spotlightservice,Star rating,Stores and Stock,Strategic,SunAccounts,Sunguard,Surveys,Streetwise, Swordfish,Sx3,Symatrix Human,System alignment,Systems,Systemwise, T-Files,TEAMS,TED,TFiles,TP Tracker,TSG,Tagish Casework,Tagra,Task,TAIM,Technologies (India) PVT Limited,Telecetera,Template,Terminal Services,That,Three Star,Tilt,TiltAffinity,Today,Tony Smith,Tony Smith That Housing IT Guy,TonySmith that housing IT,TonySmithHou,TonySmithHousing, ,TonySmithHousingITguy,Total,Total Mobile,Totalmobile,Trace,Tribal,Twitter, U2,UC,UK,UK Housing,Ukhousing,UniClass Enterprise,Unidata,United Kingdom,Universal,Universalcredit,Universe,Unrest, Valueworks,Van Stock,Vantage,Vantage Sentinel,Version,Virtualisation,Visualmetrics,Voice,Voice and data,Voluntas, Wales,Welsh,Wheatley,Windows Server,Workflow and,Work Hub,Works Connect, XML,Xen App,XenApp,Xmbrace, ...
. . . . . . . . . . . .

 

 

The Ugly Underneath

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

Who knows what’s buried under years & years of computer coding in applications that businesses rely on?

I remember back in my past working for Littlewoods in the (ICT) Group Management Services team in  mid 1980's Liverpool Old Hall Street, how much of the transactional processes relied on old COBOL code from the late 1960's. Its the same with many banks too. Not surprising why Microfocus COBOL skills are still quite valuable and saleable for high day rates in some places.

With COBOL there were few outside factors that needed to be taken into account of course. It's a different story now that applications written in the 90's and naughties, are built like an onion, on top of a whole complex technology stack, most likely an ever-changing Microsoft one.

Sometimes its ever-changing because companies are being taken over and technology/solutions re-purposed, other times because security threats are being tackled, or new technologies arrive such as the internet or Bluetooth.

I have encountered the former with a housing/care client of mine, having a reseller build a new Microsoft Dynamics365 solution for them. The reseller had utilised a licenced add-in, billed £40k for doing it and then on finding Microsoft had purchased the add-in then killed it, wanted to bill them another £35k to use an alternative add-in. Unfortunate you might say, but Microsoft had already given notice 3 months before, the reseller started work, that the add-in was to be killed off. So in that case, I helped put a successful case together for not being billed any more on this.

On the whole, suppliers such as Microsoft, will give ample notice where this sort of thing will be happening. For Silverlight, Microsoft gave tens years notice. That doesn't mean that plenty of solution providers have got rid of it out of all those solutions as yet, I could name several in SocialHousing still 'promising' or 'moving' to remove it. Keystone Asset Management another popular product riddled with MS Silverlight.

Where individual businesses or organisations have built their own applications, at least they have a chance to look at their technology stacks and determine vulnerabilities you would reasonably expect. Of course good system/program documentation is needed there.

Bigger software providers should be at an advantage in hearing first about these types of up-coming changes, being plugged into Microsoft, Oracle or other suppliers more closely, via Gold & Silver partnerships etc, evidenced by blocks of plastic in their reception areas. Strangely this is often not the case, with some software suppliers getting 'caught out' when the brown stuff just hits the helpdesk, via customer support calls.

One such Social Housing management solution (which I wont name, but if you have encountered the problem you know who I am writing about), with 30 or more customers across the UK and Ireland, came a cropper of one of these this month. It was announced by Microsoft in December 2017, the Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.0 and 1.1 protocols were to be deprecated. This has been around since 1999, so many applications written using Visual Basic/C# etc and other languages will have potentially made much use of this security protocol. The plug was pulled on it at the end of October 2021 and that’s when some user problems started.

Many users have encountered inability to automatically send emails and other issues, that seriously blunt any ‘Digital First’ methodology being pursued. An email exchange I have seen, goes from the supplier help desk to a an infrastructure company asking to check if anyone had ‘manually disabled TLS1.0 support’. The answer quite pointedly was that ‘Microsoft no longer support connections to Exchange Online using TLS1.0 or 1.1, both version were depreciated over a year ago. Are you able to use TLS1.2 in your application? If not, please let us know a secure method of sending emails from your application’. Very embarrassing. Apparently a full rebuild and release of the application is planned. Until then, keep manually saving and emailing without any automation.

Now this is a housing system that has changed hands a couple of times, but that does not stand as a valid excuse.  However, software suppliers, who all charge a significant annual charge for maintenance & support, should be capable of knowing what their solutions rely upon and adequately anticipate these kind of things coming up, particularly with three years or more notice.

Legacy windows applications, particularly on old client-server solutions are clearly more susceptible to many of these types of issues. No wonder most organisations have a direction of travel to fully browser presentation and SaaS in the Cloud. I would be surprised if this particular housing system fault has not driven a few more in that direction this month!

Caveat Emptor - Let the buyer beware. What worked in your COTS solution for the last decade, may not be working at some point in the future…

Related Post: Just because different modules come from the same Supplier, does that mean they have good integration (or are integrated at all)?

Catch the blog monthly archive at https://soundcloud.com/housingitguy/

_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/

I would be pleased to connect with you on LinkedIn - http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy Message me with any issues or queries, you would like to be explored in this blog. We generally receive a couple of suggestions each month.

XTC - The Ugly Underneath.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009


Access a quick list of our Social Housing ICT 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 and help with your organisation issues.

File Under: #HomesForBritain,#HousingDAY,#InternetOfTenants,#Shout,#UKHousing, 07854655009, 1st Touch,1stTouch,360,365Agile,3squared,4Js, ACL,ALMO,AMS,AX,Aareon,Abritas,Academy,Accuserv,Accuserve,Active Housing,ActiveH,ActiveHousing,Acutence,Advanced,Affinity,Agile,Agile365,AirWatch,Alfresco,Alignment,Allpay,Amazon Web Services,Anite,Apex,App,ArchHouse,Archouse,Asprey e-state pro,Asset Management,Associates,Aurora,Average IT Costs,AWI SX Integration Toolkit,AWS, BI,BO,BPR,BancTec,BigChange,Blockwise,BluTek,Bluebox,Blueprint,Browser Applications,Business Objects,Business Planning,Business Process Review,Business social networking, CACI,Capita One Housing,CBL,CCS IT Keystone CCSIT,CEDRM,CHICS,CHR,CIH,CMS,COA,CORE,CPL,CRM,CRM2013,CRS,CTI,CTX,Cadcorp,Capita,CapitaOne,Capita One,Capital Management,Cashflow,Castle,Castleton,Castleton Technology,Cedar Open Accounts,Cerrus,Change,Charges,Chartered Institute Of Housing,Cheaper Housing IT,Chics, Citrix,Civica,Civica CTX,Civica Cx,Civica Genero,Civica Saffron,Clearview,Clik,Cloud Dialogs,CloudDialogs,Coactiva,Codeman,Comino,Commontime,Community Reward Services,Company,Competitive Dialogue process,Component Accounting,Consilium,Consolidation, Consultancy,Consultant,Consultants,Contact Manager,Context,Contractor Systems,CorVu,Cost Reductions,Covalent,Crystal Reports,Customer Relationship Management,Cx, DRS,Deeplake,Designer Software,Development Systems,Director,Document,Documotive,Docuware,Dynamic AI,DynamicAI,Dynamics 365,D365,Dynamics365, ECMK,EDM,EDRMS,ERP,ESRI,Elmhurst,Enghouse Interactive,England,English,EnterpriseBI,Estatecraft,Etive,Exhibition,Exponential-e, Facebook,Factorwise,Field Service management,Finance,Financial Systems,Financials,Footprint,Forms,Freezes,Fusion, Gas Tag,G-Cloud,GCloud,GDPR,GGP,GIS,GasTag,Genero,GeoSolveIT,Getting best from,GoTonySmith,Grasp,Grip,Group Apex, HFI (Housing Financials interface),HG,HRA,Hardware,Hitachi Systems,Hitex,HomeMaster,Hometeam,HouSys,House,Housemark,Housemark survey,Housing,Housing Contact,Housing Group,Housing Insight,Housing Management,Housing Management Consultant,Housing Partners,Housing Portfolio Management System,Hub Asset Management,Homeswapper,Housing jigsaw, Housing Support Pro,HousingIT,HousingSupportPro,HyperOptic, IMS,IT,IT Budget,IT Training,ITIL,Impact Response,In,In4,In4Systems Promaster,InfoBoss,InHouse,InMotion,InMotion2015,InMotion2016,InfoBoss,Infoflow,Information,Information Technology,Information@Work components,Informix,Innovation, Informetis,Inphase,Inside Housing,Insight,Internet Portal,Internetalia,Invu,Ireland,Irish,itLab, Keyfax,Keylogic,Keypera,Keystone,Kirona,Kypera, Landlord,Ledgers,Linkedin,Liquid,Locality,Localz, M3,MAVIS,MD,MDM,MI,MIS,MIS-AMS,MISCS,MRI,MS Dynamics,MRI,MS Dynamics CRM2011,Microsoft365,microsoft 365,MWL,Management,Management Server,Manifest,Measuring,Mebus,Microsoft Dynamics 365,Microsoft dynamics GP 2013,Miracle,MobileIron,Mobysoft,Monopoly board images and pictures,Montal,Mr Void,MriEngage,MrVoid, NDL,NINTEX,NINTEX workflow,NPS,NPS ASSIST,NPS Housing,NPS Job Manager Mobile,NROSH,Natural,Neighbourhoods and Communities,Nintexworkflow,Northgate,Northgate Codeman,Northgate Public Services,Notice, OA,OGC Buying Solutions,OJEU Limits,ORS,Ohms,OmFax,Omniledger,One,OneAdvanced,OneServe,Open source,OpenContractor,OpenHousing,Opti-time,Options,Optitime,Oracle,Orchard,Outsource and outsourcing,OutSystems, PIMMS,PIMSS Data,PM,PRINCE2,Paloma,Pamwin,PanConnect,People Value,Peoplevalue,PfH,Pick,PlanForm,Planned maintenance,Plenfific,Plus,Portfolio Management System,PowerObjects,Pro,Pro-Points,Prodo,Progress,Promaster,Propoints,Proval,Providers,Pyramid, QL,QuantSpark,Qube,QLX,Qlikview,QueryView,Queryview reporting,Quiss, RM865,ROCC,RPs,RSL,Rave,ReAct,Reality,RedkiteCRM,Red Olive,Registered,Registered Social,Rent Increase,RentSense,RentSenseLite,Repairfinder,Reporting,Reports,RobotAutomation,Rocket, Salesforce,Salesforce.Org,SAP,SASSHA,SDM,SHBVN,SM,SOTI,SP,SQL,SQL Open Housing,SQL Reporting,SQL Server,Saffron,Safron,Saturn,Scenario,Scotland,Scots,Scottish,Scout,Sequoa,Serengeti,Serros,Server,Service,Services,Servitor,Sharepoint,Sim,SimPro, Simdel,Simdell,Slash and Burn,Social Housing ICT,Social Housing Software Applications,Social Media,Software,Software solutions,Spotlight Service,Spotlightservice,Star rating,Stores and Stock,Strategic,SunAccounts,Sunguard,Surveys,Streetwise, Swordfish,Sx3,Symatrix Human,System alignment,Systems,Systemwise, T-Files,TEAMS,TED,TFiles,TP Tracker,TSG,Tagish Casework,Tagra,Task,TAIM,Technologies (India) PVT Limited,Telecetera,Template,Terminal Services,That,Three Star,Tilt,TiltAffinity,Today,Tony Smith,Tony Smith That Housing IT Guy,TonySmith that housing IT,TonySmithHou,TonySmithHousing, ,TonySmithHousingITguy,Total,Total Mobile,Totalmobile,Trace,Tribal,Twitter, U2,UC,UK,UK Housing,Ukhousing,UniClass Enterprise,Unidata,United Kingdom,Universal,Universalcredit,Universe,Unrest, Valueworks,Van Stock,Vantage,Vantage Sentinel,Version,Virtualisation,Visualmetrics,Voice,Voice and data,Voluntas, Wales,Welsh,Wheatley,Windows Server,Workflow and,Work Hub,Works Connect, XML,Xen App,XenApp,Xmbrace, ...
. . . . . . . . . . . .

Voice of the Voiceless

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


As many of my twitter followers are aware, I often try to engage as widely as possible in the sector. A lot of that includes chats with lots of residents, who essentially are the ultimate end users of many of the systems that I am involved in, helping landlords procure and squeeze the ultimate from. Dozens over the years have contacted me after reading this blog.

Most residents I believe have a positive (or perhaps adequate more realistically) experience of the services provided by their landlords. Certainly though, there are problems out there, poor service, poorly supervised & controlled maintenance contractors, poor communication probably lying at the root of most issues. Restricted funding for truly affordable and social housing does not help either.

While a few people in the sector I know, may take the view that they are better blocking some of those voices, I would rather try to engage and understand. Maybe I can suggest something new or just learn by the insights of what is going wrong from the resident viewpoint.

These resident stories are the ideal threads to help me understand what’s missing in landlord systems and processes. Far better than a room of housing managers, imagining what processes should look like for poorly understood tenant needs. Actually that is a principle of the ‘Design Thinking’ methodology and  a great way to design better systems.

Occasionally, I am sure (& the old person has told me), I have been described by some as a ‘loud Manc’. Over the summer on Twitter I have followed and had a few exchanges with a chap called Phil Murphy (@MancCommunities), who probably has gained membership of that exclusive club too.

Phil is a specialist in fire safety, a socialhousing resident and active in bringing a historic Carnegie library back into use as an arts centre. As anyone who knows me well might predict, I arranged to meet up with him for a pint and a bite of lunch. It was one of the most interesting afternoons I have had all year.

Phil is working on a number of resident projects, many involving fire safety and how residents and landlords may identify issues easily. I am sure when some initiatives/events are arranged I will blog about them here, to help spread the word.

Its refreshing to see so many residents using free social media tools, seemingly many using them better than some landlord comms teams, still locked in the 9-5. Phil has now set up a new site, focusing on resident issues called ‘Real Voices’ https://realvoices.org.uk/ . Keeping with the DIY and free tools ethos, Phil has built it with a piece of open source software called Elgg ( https://elgg.org ). It was a new one to me, although Phil had successfully used it before on a previous project. It has potential for the users and group owners to have some control and use it to form their own networks around their own groups that they control.

I think the site & environment has massive potential, for residents to share problems and landlords to see service failings that can be tackled with better management, systems and procedures. Often residents do not know what channels they can use to have their issues addressed or in some cases have (or appear to have), exhausted those channels and can benefit from others experiences.

I would advise all residents and tenants who read this blog, to register on https://realvoices.org.uk/ and check it out. Comments here welcome on your experiences too. 

Related Post: Why customer service teams, need to see digital self-service as the future evolving, not just the next threat... 

Catch the blog monthly archive at https://soundcloud.com/housingitguy/

_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/

I would be pleased to connect with you on LinkedIn - http://uk.linkedin.com/in/tonysmiththathousingitguy Message me with any issues or queries, you would like to be explored in this blog. We generally receive a couple of suggestions each month.

Rage Against The Machine – Voice Of The Voiceless.
(c) Tony Smith, Acutance Consulting www.acutanceconsulting.co.uk 07854-655009


Access a quick list of our Social Housing ICT 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 and help with your organisation issues.
File Under: 360,1stTouch,4Js. , 07854655009 ,365Agile," """" ",,#UKHousing,#HousingDAY, #HomesForBritain,#InternetOfTenants, #Shout,1st Touch,3squared,Accuserv,Acutence,Aareon,Academy,ActiveH,AirWatch,Alignment,ALMO,Anite,Apex,ArchHouse,Archouse,asbestos, Asprey e-state pro,ActiveHousing,Asset Management,Aurora,Average IT Costs,App,Associates,ACL,Abritas,AMS,AX,aspireview,Agile365, BO,BPR,Browser Applications,Business Objects,Business Planning, 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,Civica Genero,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, Community Reward Services, Consilium, Consolidation, Consultancy,Consultant,Contact 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Word Up

If you do the Twitter thing, follow me at @hotpixUK
or LinkedIn here uk.linkedin.com/pub/tony-smith-bsc-hons-acih/a/979/351/

Most organisations I work with have MS Office and have moved generally to version 2010. Recently, I have come across some still on 2003 ("well it does the job....") or with pockets of 2003 that are still to be aligned with head office ("it's like 'Fraggle Rock' down there, we should round to it eventually.."). In a few cases, the housing management system has only recently been upgraded to support Office versions higher than 2003.

For those who have already done it, you have probably forgotten the pain your users endured.For the rest, if its a task for more than 20 users, I would say its actually a mini project in itself. this upgrade as the potential to cause some hassle.

Now, I had heard people say that everyone has Office 2007 or 2010 at home and will take to it like a duck to water. Fair enough, some might, but they are unlikely to use Excel and Word like they do at work. They certainly wont link it to other applications. Also in recent years, unless you have a teenager doing school or college projects at home, you may have actually ditched the PC or laptop for a more convenient tablet.

So what should a project cover to make this transition much smoother?

Well, the loss of 'Clippy' (the friendly paper clip helper) is not the only cosmetic GUI change, from 2007 Microsoft found it necessary to randomly hide all functions behind half a dozen parts of the new 'Ribbon Bar'. I would estimate that without adequate training, this could add an overhead of users spending 4 or 5 times longer fustratedly looking to find the usual functions in Excel and Word. So training and access to good help is essential. This link http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/support/getting-started-with-office-2010-FX101822272.aspx?CTT=1 is a good starting point, although if it were me I would structure up some video training and have users 'sign-off' that they have undertaken and understood it, well before the upgrade goes live.

To give users a leg up with 2010, you can always provide them with an add-in, such as this one from UBit, that cleverly adds a new ribbon item called 'Menu'.

Upgrade to 2010 will mean that many .DOC, .MDB and .XLS files will need to be converted to the new .DOCX , .ACCDB, .XLSX , XLSM , XLTX, DOCM, DOTM etc. This will be the time that anyone who is currently using macros or links in Office documents will need to do some serious testing. Most organisations have a lot of these bubbling under the surface.

Where there are templates and merges utilised with your Housing Management or Finance System, these should all be checked carefully and ticked off, as still merging or being formatted correctly. If you use an integrated EDM application, ensure that is configured correctly, including any widgets you are using to automatically PDF your documents on the trigger of printing.

Being systematic will help everyone make the leap more smoothly and if you are in the IT team, I bet users will like you more...

If you have been through a 2003 to 2010 migration, let me know what unexpected issues you encountered or any tips you could pass on.

You can link with me on LinkedIn here - uk.linkedin.com/pub/tony-smith-bsc-hons-acih/a/979/351/ It would be great to connect !

OK, Red cod-pieces locked and loaded - Cameo - Word Up .


(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, please get in touch and let me know!

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