Fortune, Google, and the Seven Deadly Sins
August 6, 2014
I read a darned amazing article at Fortune.com. The story is “The Seven Deadly Sins of Googling.” The article is not about Google. The article is about the humans who use Google.
What I find interesting is that Fortune has reached into the world of cardinal sins. Instead of the ethics embraced by folks, Fortune hooks SALIGIA to using an ad supported online service.
“I don’t have much time. Please, don’t confuse me with facts,” says the modern MBA. Image source: http://gargoyle-statues.hubpages.com/hub/3-Types-of-Gargoyle-Statues-For-Your-Garden
I find the linkage fascinating because it illustrates the type of analysis that seems to be sophisticated with the so called search expertise of Fortune readers, executives, and writers.
I liked the envy section. The article states:
Envy: When you’re jealous of someone else’s Google results. Social media can lead to envy. It can lead, possibly, to depression. In a 2013 study, University of Michigan researchers Ethan Kross and Philippe Verduyn texted people while they were using Facebook, and found that as time on Facebook increased, a person’s mood and overall satisfaction with their lives declined. In other words, Facebook can make you jealous. It can make you feel more alone than connected. Kross and Verduyn didn’t look at other social media networks, but it’s fair to say that looking through lists of other people’s accolades, impressive resumes, and social media clout can just as easily turn you green around the ears.
I found this amusing, although I am not certain that Fortune intended the write up to be funny, even Onionesque.
The meshing of the Seven Deadly Sins with lousy research skills is an example of faux intellectualism. Another recent example is an IDC report that uses the phrase “knowledge quotient” in its title. The reference to cardinal sins sounds good and seems to make sense. “Knowledge quotient” seems to make sense until one looks at how the phrase was used 40 years ago, then the jargon is almost meaningless and little more than an attempt to sound intelligent.
I am encouraged that Fortune is, to some degree, thinking about the dependence business professionals have on the results from a Google query. I am troubled that the information presented is superficial.
There are some important questions to be answered; for example:
- What are the searching and online information behaviors of Fortune readers?
- What specific methods do Fortune readers use to obtain online information?
- What do Fortune readers do to verify the information obtained online?
- What additional research does a Fortune reader do when searching for information?
Answering these questions would provide more useful information. But in the pursuit of Web site traffic, many “real” journalists and publications embrace the listicle.
Is this the 8th deadly sin? Superficiality.
Stephen E Arnold, August 6, 2014
The Many Versions of the SharePoint Migration Nightmare
May 6, 2014
SharePoint migration is one of the most highly blogged about topics within the SharePoint arena. Regardless of the way that an organization brings up SharePoint, chances are they are performing some type of migration. But for all the need to migrate, there is a high risk of messing up the migration. SearchContentManagement covers the topic in their article, “Does SharePoint Migration Have to be a Nightmare? Lessons Learned.”
The article begins:
“There are many, many ways to migrate into SharePoint: from an earlier version of SharePoint, from a platform other than SharePoint, in-place upgrade, and into a new farm. And as many ways as there are to migrate, there are even more ways to botch it up.”
Stephen E. Arnold is a longtime leader in search and follows SharePoint on his Web service, ArnoldIT.com. For the latest SharePoint news, and for tips on how to avoid frustrations, such as migration failure, stay tuned to ArnoldIT.
Emily Rae Aldridge, May 6, 2014
Add On Support Continued for SharePoint 2010
December 4, 2013
While many enterprises were eager to make the update to SharePoint 2013, others were reluctant. For that reason, many supplemental vendors who offer SharePoint add-ons decided to continue support for SharePoint 2010. Extedo added their name to that list. Market Wired covers their news in the latest release, “EXTEDO Releases Extended SharePoint 2010 Support.”
The release begins:
“EXTEDO, a key Regulatory Information Management solutions provider for life sciences firms, today announced the release of a new SharePoint 2010 connector for its regulatory submission management solution eCTDmanager. EXTEDO’s eCTDmanager is an off-the-shelf electronic submission management solution that satisfies requirements for eCTD, NeeS, eCopy, DMF, ASMF, and many other submission structures. Users can build and review submissions, add, edit and delete elements or even set hyperlinks and comments at any time during the submission compilation.”
There are a lot of decisions that go into running an enterprise, especially when it comes to document management and enterprise search. Knowing the supplemental vendors that offer support is a great benefit, but having a one-stop shop for the latest in all things enterprise search is even better. Stephen E. Arnold is a longtime expert in search, and his Web presence, ArnoldIT gives a lot of attention to SharePoint and other enterprise options. Keeping an eye on ArnoldIT is a good way to stay informed without all of the hard work.
Emily Rae Aldridge, December 4, 2013
SharePoint Mobile Still Falling Short
October 17, 2013
SharePoint 2013 is attempting to catch up when it comes to mobile options and technologies, and yet, in many ways it still falls short. CMS Wire covers the latest in the article, “7 Ways that SharePoint 2013’s New Mobile Features Fall Short.”
Their story begins:
“SharePoint 2013’s new mobile features are definitely a step up from the mobile features in previous versions. In fact, one could argue that mobile devices get better support than ever before, with better mobile browser support; new features such as device channels, push notifications and location services; and Office Web Apps integration. But there’s still much room for improvement. Following are seven areas in which I believe that mobile in SharePoint still falls a little short.”
The article then goes on to list the noted issues and possible workarounds. Similar coverage is often offered by Stephen E. Arnold of ArnoldIT, a longtime search industry leader and expert. He writes about the pros and cons of SharePoint, and recently covered the SharePoint – Yammer debate. SharePoint, for many organizations, is a necessity. But for those who are interested in alternatives, there are good suggestions out there. Stay tuned for additional information about SharePoint’s strengths and weaknesses, and effective workarounds.
Emily Rae Aldridge, October 17, 2013
IT Encouraged to Get Back to Basics for Cost Optimization
December 20, 2012
I recently came across “IT Basics: Cost Optimization for Small and Medium Business” on ZDNet and was impressed with the article’s focus on simplifying and getting back to basics. The article encourages IT to pay attention to service delivery and project execution; essentially, execute and deliver on the basics of business and operations. It can certainly be easy for one to get caught up in innovations and big data trends, all while losing sight of what really matters.
The article confirms:
“Business executives will listen to a CIO who delivers the basics really well.
The importance of basic IT operations means it is worthwhile to review topics such as infrastructure, productivity based on technology, efficiency, cost savings, and establishing strong relations between IT and lines of business. For smaller organizations, in particular, these issues are the day-to-day lifeblood of IT activities.”
While this article focuses on small and medium businesses, IT cost optimization is important for any size business. In an enterprise, it is challenging to find the right search solutions that offer reliable, secure, and comprehensive capabilities. Intrafind is one way to get more optimization, with its user-friendly and high-performance solutions.
Andrea Hayden, December 20, 2012
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
The Truth Behind Why Steve Jobs Had Trust Issues with Google
October 1, 2012
Steve Jobs disliked Google, because the Internet search giant betrayed the Apple guru’s trust. If you want an in-depth snapshot of their relationship degeneration head over to Gizmodo and its article, “What Really Made Steve Jobs So Angry at Google?” When Google first started up, the co-founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page approached Jobs and asked him to be their CEO. He declined, but decided to mentor the pair. Apple started iPhone development in 2004 and in 2005 Google bought the Android start-up. The iPhone was launched, but only eleven months later a startlingly similar Android phone in an online video. The Android phone was officially released in 2008. What followed was a timeline of betrayal of trust with lawsuits, patent infringements, and mud slinging all around. Jobs was quoted as saying, “…I’m willing to go thermonuclear war on this.”
“The big overall takeaway here is that if Google’s leadership is willing and comfortable stealing from longtime personal friends and colleagues who have given generously to them and greatly helped them succeed at most every stage, Google could be expected to have no compunction stealing from people they don’t know. This also helps explain why Google has by far the worst intellectual property infringement record of any major American corporation and why so many companies and people are suing Google around the world for intellectual property infringement.”
Google is not as benign as we are led to believe. The company promised to do no evil in its IPO, but isn’t stealing a crime? Maybe the definition of “stealing” has changed since the Ten Commandments or maybe intellectual property infringement is treated differently than other property in the world of bits and bytes.
Whitney Grace, October 01, 2012
Sponsored by ArnoldIT.com, developer of Augmentext
Publishers Sour on Apps
May 12, 2012
Have you noticed a slowdown in attempts to app-ify traditional publications? Technology Review describes "Why Publishers Don’t Like Apps." Writer Jason Pontin describes early attempts of publishers to cure their Internet woes with apps. They seem to have expected tablet and smartphone users to relate to the written word more like, well, the written word than like a Web site. Sure, most of the projects supported some limited interactability, but publishers also expected people to be happy viewing simple replicas of print materials. And, they expected to be able to charge for this paltry access.
Problems abounded from the beginning, including grossly underestimating costs (an age-old problem), and technical difficulties converting print matter into apps. The write up emphasizes:
"But the real problem with apps was more profound. When people read news and features on electronic media, they expect stories to possess the linky-ness of the Web, but stories in apps didn’t really link. The apps were, in the jargon of information technology, ‘walled gardens,’ and although sometimes beautiful, they were small, stifling gardens. For readers, none of that beauty overcame the weirdness and frustration of reading digital media closed off from other digital media.
"Without subscribers or many single-copy buyers, and with no audiences to sell to advertisers, there were no revenues to offset the incremental costs of app development. With a couple of exceptions, publishers therefore soured on apps."
Ah, so publishers don’t like apps because the golden goose is a sparrow and lays small monetary eggs. Got it.
Cynthia Murrell, May 12, 2012
Sponsored by PolySpot
Inteltrax: Top Stories, February 13 to February 17
February 20, 2012
Inteltrax, the data fusion and business intelligence information service, captured three key stories germane to search this week, specifically, some of the biggest trends in the big data industry.
Our story, “Smart Hires Make Analytics Run Smoother” weighed in on the debate that says big data is not for IT departments, but rather should be its own specialized department in companies.
“Analytic Spinoff Companies on the Rise” showed how companies like TruSignal which once dabbled in big data are now spinning off complete analytic agencies.
“Analytic Money Season is Here” detailed the start of the most exciting time of the year in business intelligence. This is when companies start reporting 2011 profits and last year was a big year, so we expect record numbers.
There are a million different directions big data analytics is heading. We are trying to keep our finger on each one of those pulses and you can come along for the ride every day.
Follow the Inteltrax news stream by visiting www.inteltrax.com.
Patrick Roland, Editor, Inteltrax, February 20, 2012
Infor Software Introduction Signals PLM Demand Rising
January 30, 2012
There has been a lot of talk recently about the increased need for PLM among all industries but specifically for the consumer packaged good (CPG) industries due to increased and unpredictable materials costs and stricter regulatory compliance standards. A recent article, Infor Accelerates Product Development for Process Manufacturers, on Industry Today, explores how one provider of PLM solutions is making it easier than ever for companies to adopt PLM.
Infor, a leader in the PLM industry, has introduced Infor10 with the hope that the more user-friendly software application will be easier to use and more effective. As the article highlights,
“Infor10 PLM Process offers users the unifying capabilities of Infor10 ION and the consumer-grade user experience of Infor10 Workspace to connect applications in a single, easy-to-use system that simplifies and streamlines business processes providing users direct access to all relevant, real-time data for faster, more intelligent decision making.”
The increased demand and interest for PLM is not surprising as more and more companies are realizing how much money and time will be saved by moving to the cloud. There is, however, more to PLM than just moving data to a cloud and streamlining business processes. At the heart of any great PLM is a great search engine. Data management is worthless if that data cannot be retrieved easily by any employee needing it. New data management solutions not only streamline business processes but make data easier to manage, search, and access.
With the demand for mobile technology PLM software designers are now making strides, and in some cases accomplishing, mobile applications allowing users to access company data from their Smartphones. As PLM continues to explore new ways to connect employees with information and proving to be cost effective, it will be no surprise to see more industries adopting PLM solutions in the near future.
Catherine Lamsfuss, January 30, 2012
Report Indicates Increase in PLM Usage
January 26, 2012
As PLM cloud solutions grow in popularity across all industries it is not surprising to see reports predicting an increased growth in the months to come. CADD Edge, an engineering industry website, reported in the article, Product Lifecycle Management solutions to experience changes in 2012, of an increase in PLM adoption within the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry for a variety of reasons.
As the article explains,
“The report also predicts PLM will become a universal strategy among CPG companies, which have generally been slow to adopt PLM. Young expects PLM to become an obvious advantage for such enterprises during the next 18 to 24 months, as these businesses are dealing with unstable raw material costs and an increased emphasis on regulatory compliance.”
While in this circumstance PLM is the most logical choice in an effort to reduce expenses it also has many more benefits, foremost being the ability to streamline collaboration between development, manufacturing and administrative departments within companies. Access to files, all files, has traditionally been one of the major issues surrounding IT within the engineering industry. A severe lack of search ability and access has caused money to be lost b/c of duplication and lost man hours.
While PLM will most definitely save companies money as this article suggests there are so many more benefits. Inquiring into new data management solutions is the best starting point for any company wanting to eliminate waste. By utilizing PLM and cloud services companies can begin focusing on innovation again rather than costs.
Catherine Lamsfuss, January 24, 2012
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