The January 2009 edition of the Renaissance Computer Systems Ltd. newsletter is now available at
http://www.renaissance.co.il/newsletters/NewsJan09.pdf
In this Newsletter:
Hello 2009, Goodbye 2008
Now is the Time to Outsource
Tools, Technologies, and Techniques – OnTime by Axosoft
On the Lighter Side
The SQL Server 2008 team has released a document (at 490 pages, we should probably call it a book!) that covers the essential phases and steps to upgrade existing instances of SQL Server 2000 and 2005 to SQL Server 2008. It can be downloaded from here.
Here is the overview from the download page:
A successful upgrade to SQL Server 2008 should be smooth and trouble-free. To achieve that smooth transition, you must devote plan sufficiently for the upgrade, and match the complexity of your database application. Otherwise, you risk costly and stressful errors and upgrade problems. Like all IT projects, planning for every contingency and then testing your plan gives you confidence that you will succeed. But if you ignore the planning process, you increase the chances of running into difficulties that can derail and delay your upgrade. This document covers the essential phases and steps involved in upgrading existing SQL Server 2000 and 2005 instances to SQL Server 2008 by using best practices. These include preparation tasks, upgrade tasks, and post-upgrade tasks.
- Chapter 1 gives an overview of the technical issues and decisions that are involved in an upgrade to SQL Server 2008, as well as recommendations for planning and deploying an upgrade.
- Chapter 2 addresses issues related to upgrading to SQL Server 2008 Management Tools.
- Chapters 3 through 8 focus on upgrade issues for SQL Server relational databases.
- Chapter 9 addresses upgrading to SQL Server 2008 Express.
- Chapters 10 through 14 focus on upgrading to SQL Server 2008 Business Intelligence components: Analysis Services, Data Mining, Integration Services, and Reporting Services.
- Chapter 15 addresses the implications of upgrading to SQL Server 2008 for other Microsoft applications and platforms.
- Appendix 1 contains a table of allowed SQL Server 2008 version and edition upgrade paths.
- Appendix 2 contains an upgrade planning checklist.
What I will discuss here is not a sales pitch for my company - it is relevant and true for any outsourcing company (the success of a project will depend on the particular company involved). Moreover, it is relevant to the outsourcing of almost anything, not just software.
An economic recession, such as one that most of the world is currently experiencing, is a time of great stress and upheaval for most companies. Product lines are consolidated, employees are let go, and budgets are slashed. Despite all this, companies must move forward in order to survive. The smarter companies work to not only survive, but to actually thrive while their competitors are suffering.
The following is a list of what I think are the top five reasons you should consider outsourcing some of your software development even (especially?) during a recession:
1. Budget vs. Head Count
An interesting phenomenon (especially in larger companies), is that there is often a sizable budget available for outsourcing/contractors even though there is an employee hiring freeze in place. Sometimes this is due to company politics and games, but there is also a very legitimate reason for this to occur: Having employees is a long-term commitment with recurring costs, whereas outsourcing or using contractors is a pay-as-you-go solution that can be adjusted as situations develop.
2. Fixed Price Projects
During difficult economic times, it is important to effectively manage whatever budgets are available. A benefit that an outsourcing can offer is that of completing a specific project for a guaranteed fixed cost.
3. Jump Ahead of the Competition
A recession offers a forward-thinking company the opportunity to leap ahead while its competition is licking its wounds, or at least paused in a holding pattern. Outsourcing new projects allows you to make this jump ahead, without distracting existing staff and/or assuming additional long-term commitments (as described earlier).
4. Develop Relationships, Processes, and Partnerships
Developing relationships, processes, and partnerships is hard work. Trying to this while under extreme deadline pressure is very hard work, and increasingly prone to failure. Take advantage of the slower economic times to investigate and cultivate new relationships with vendors and partners on smaller projects so that all of the “kinks” are worked out before you take on bigger and more complex projects.
5. Changes in Technology
Make use of the slower times to invest in new technologies so that you are in a better, more advanced, position when the economy starts picking up and clients start checking out your offerings.
Do any of these ring particularly true to you?
Do any of them not seem to make sense to you?
If you are a professional (or even amateur) speaker, you have probably had some training on Power Point Do's and Don'ts. This humorous video is a short, but powerful, reminder or some of those important lessons.