Opinion
Opinion
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Government proposals to cut permit bureaucracy lack steel
Tony Haque, a solicitor with Baker & McKenzie, wonders if the new permit plans will stem the skills crisis Continue Reading
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Y2K firm leaves UK
Greenwich Mean Time, the company run by one of Britain's best known year 2000 gurus, Karl Feilder, is to close down its British... Continue Reading
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Your department has a virus: ditching the 'negs' is the cure
The CEO, and board-level peers, are important power bases for the IT director to be aware of, and act on. But there is a force... Continue Reading
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ASPs face a multi-platform challenge
Erich ClementiSoapbox
The Internet explosion is causing a tidal wave of transactions. By 2003 more than 500 million people will...
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Firms quit UK over RIP Bill
I've heard that petrochemical firms and several banks have been quietly taking their international secure IT processing out of the UK - to Ireland, Singapore and the US. Continue Reading
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IT mix drives Jamjar
Direct Line is using both in-house and outsourced solutions to reap the benefits of two new online ventures, writes Julia Vowler Continue Reading
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UKCMG: e-business won't save mainframe
It was like turkeys waiting for Christmas. The UKCMG, the bastion of mainframe computer users, has voted against the mainframe in a debate on platforms...
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Market picks up after Y2K embargo
Happy days are here again! After the delayed pick-up in work after the Y2K lockdown, it looks like the UK software and services... Continue Reading
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Microsoft break-up will not benefit the users
Microsoft, which the US Department of Justice wants broken up, now has to tell District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson what he... Continue Reading
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Love Bug prompts security shake-up
Cost of lax security hits home as virus takes a heavy toll worldwide Continue Reading
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Achieving start-up vitality in a well-established set-up
David TaylorInside track
Go into any new company, one that is just starting out. Witness the enthusiasm, energy and excitement...
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Could you cope with success?
Toby PostonEditor
Everbody working on an e-business project hopes that it will be a winner - but have you ever considered the...
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Anti-trust remedy splits Microsoft into two parts
David BicknellUsers have welcomed the US Department of Justice's plans to split Microsoft into two companies - one focusing on...
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Measuring business benefit
How can you justify any investment in e-business projects? Are there any methodologies for calculating return on investments, or... Continue Reading
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How can I get into contracting?
Advice on how to break into the contracting market Continue Reading
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Page impressions: Waterstones takes to the web
Sue Jenvey, Internet marketing manager, Waterstones explains how the bookseller's brand straddles both online and High Street... Continue Reading
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MPs to quiz stock exchange senior management over systems crash
Political ReporterAn all-party committee of MPs is investigating last month's London Stock Exchange computer crash.
They are to...
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Time for the fast followers
Charlie Blackburn explains why traditional firms have to lose their lethargy if they are to make their market muscle count in the... Continue Reading
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Stymied by standards
John RileyGroundswell
The lack of standards in e-procurement is proving a major bottleneck, of rapidly mounting concern to...
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Most users will use mobile Internet
Guy CamposReaders have given are sounding thumbs-up to the broadband mobile Internet in this week's Computer Weekly/Harvey Nash...
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Secret handshakes will empty our pockets for a PC
History may yet look back at the launch of Microsoft's PocketPC operating system as the new century's first true example of a... Continue Reading
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Heart stopping stock markets
Last month, I went for a cardiac checkup. I lay on the couch with my eyes glued to the display as surround-sound speakers pumped out the sound of my blood...
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Campaign promoting women in IT gets boost
A campaign to attract more women into IT, and into engineering and science in general, to solve skills shortages has been... Continue Reading
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Netstore float bucks the dotcom slide
Ian MitchellCity briefing
Last week saw the successful flotation of Netstore, the UK's first "pure play" application services...
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Relax and survive: get more out of work - and life
David TaylorInside track
In your final moments on this earth, how many of you will look back on your lives and say, "I really...
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Let's get tough on users of unlicensed software
We need muscle to combat software sharp practice Continue Reading
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Time to get real - or die
Most manufacturers, retailers and distributors are facing intense price wars and the threat of losing major customers has never... Continue Reading
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When off-the-wall is spot on
Developing an effective e-commerce strategy demands an approach that breaks free from the old corporate straitjacket. Even the... Continue Reading
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Three stage solution to directors' dilemmas
Directors' Dilemmas by Patrick DunneKogan Page
price £12.99
The "win-win" scenario might have become a...
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Crazy games for crazy guys
Setting up consultancy Craze with his brother-in-law provided Adam Reynolds with the opportunity to put development ideas into... Continue Reading
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Antitrust judgment is bad news for consumers
Jack SchofieldOpinion
Silicon Valley has, as expected, triumphed over Microsoft. But it's been hurt by the rebound. Following...
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Who gains from portals?
In a world full of e-business hype, it is nice to see one user company produce some numbers this week, even if they are estimates.Car giant...
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Tomorrow wreaks revenge on today
It was somewhat ironic that the IT industry's trade body, the CSSA, should choose as the theme 'Tomorrow came today' for last... Continue Reading
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UK dotcom needs DSL
The two-year wait for DSL could be disastrous for the UK dotcom Continue Reading
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Ready to sacrifice Windows for open source mania?
Simon MooresTech Talk
It's encouraging to see that intelligent debate is alive and well within the industry. Most recently, IR35...
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When it's right to break rules
John RileyGroundswell
At least once in their career an airline pilot is likely to need to break the rules to escape a tricky...
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Strengthen your argument for IT investment
Our expert panel advises on the difficult task of setting out a business case for IT investment for e-commerce. Continue Reading
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Five steps to project prowess
David TaylorInside track
When I started in electronic data processing, five out of 10 projects failed to meet the needs of the...
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Dotcom survivors
It's too soon to assess the impact of the share price crash on the world of IT. But one thing is certain: as Internet start-ups fail, there will be a lot... Continue Reading -
Dumb cash, dumb ideas
E-businessAs recent events show, despite all the hype which has surrounded dotcoms, traditional bricks and mortar companies are still the...
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Watch out, Big Brother's here
John RileyGroundswell
Beware suppliers offering juicy Web-based, one-to-one, drill-down customer relationship management...
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As giant tumbles, stock market falls
Ian MitchellCity Briefing
What a rollercoaster ride last week was! It had everything from a threatened compulsory break-up of...
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What the flat structure approach to business processes failed
david taylorInside Track
One of the big fads of the last 10 years was the so called "flat structures". Business process...
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Users call on Microsoft to stop wasting money
Users have told Microsoft to accept defeat in its Department of Justice case, and spend the time and money it will save by delivering stable... Continue Reading -
When success is not profit
When the US leader in business-to-business still can't make a profit what hope is there for lesser mortals? Will turning its... Continue Reading
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Lord Mayor calls for e-business hallmark
John RileyPlans to create a distinctive UK e-commerce hallmark for the City-based financial services industry moved a step forward...
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How to find an analyst you can trust
With so many analysts bombarding you with their opinion read what our panel expert has to say on the subject of sorting the wheat... Continue Reading
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Counter Net crime with a dose of classroom ethics
Tony Blair is worried that a lack of computers at school and high charges for Internet access might leave British kids falling... Continue Reading
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The great e-escape
Steve Gandy heads Quip! the e-telco backed by his former employer, BT. He tells Helen Beckett about life without the corporate... Continue Reading
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The name change short-change
When I read of yet another mega merger, I always wonder who is going to have to pay how much to whom to have the name change... Continue Reading
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Outsourcers must speed up to meet growing demands
David BicknellE-business
If outsourcers want to keep their customers happy and competitive, they will need to offer a faster...
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Computer weekly comment
It may take several years before the fate of Microsoft is finally decided, but breaking up this software superpower is not the right... Continue Reading -
Wap: a rocky road lies ahead
You cannot read a newspaper anywhere in the world right now that does not feature a piece at some point in the week on "the Wap phenomenon" and how we will all... Continue Reading -
Boos for boo.com: an example of how not to do it
The online clothing retailer Boo.com is in many ways exemplary - in the sense that it offers a perfect example of how not to do an e-commerce site.... Continue Reading -
Connect with your Intranet
David TaylorInside Track
The new global agenda is on everyone's lips. Any organisation that follows the simple rule, that there...
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ASP potential set to make big impact
Ian MtchellCity Briefing
I have been a believer in the application service provider (ASP) business model for some time, partly...
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A time for nifty footwork from ISPs
Toby PostonIt has been a busy month for Internet service providers. In reaction to a move made by their rivals, BT and Freeserve, two of the...
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Council of users helps Microsoft reshape models
John RileyA dozen top UK users, including Marks & Spencer, the Woolwich and Credit Suisse First Boston, have directly helped reshape...
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ISPs need legal clarity
The case of Godfrey-v-Demon - the Internet libel case settled out of court last week - leaves IT professionals mystified and concerned as to what it means... Continue Reading -
We must get the framework right
The e-minister plans to make interoperability standards mandatory, in pursuit of open government Continue Reading
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Good time for technology start-ups
Ian MitchellFollowing last week's budget, there has never been a better time to join a start-up technology company. The Chancellor has improved...
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Big Blue demonstrates lack of original zing
Lou Gerstner has saved IBM. The problem is, he doesn't have a clue what to do next. Big Blue has become Big Grey Continue Reading
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"E" stands for ethics
Consider this business arrangement. I will do business with you only if you can provide me with supplies more cheaply and faster than anyone else. Even if... Continue Reading -
What matters most is getting the job done
John RileyGroundswell
Choosing a new supplier is as fraught and as tempestuous as the forging of any new personal relationship....
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Users fill void with non-IT graduates
The failure of universities to keep pace with the demand for skilled IT staff is encouraging employers to turn to graduates from the arts and other disciplines... Continue Reading -
IT look to big cheese
Mark LewisIf you've attended any IT conferences recently, you may have been surprised to see fellow delegates spending their coffee breaks...
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IT has a major role to play as Best Value takes effect
The Government's Best Value regime is about to come into force. Its aim is to shake up the delivery and assessment of local... Continue Reading
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Developing Web commerce skills
I am a 24-year-old analyst programmer with two years' experience developing business applications. My main skills are C and Unix. I am currently... Continue Reading -
Engage right brain
An IT department's credibility is based on perception rather than performance, and is influenced more by its relationship with management and political... Continue Reading -
Pocket PC OS: a Microsoft in the hand
It's not often you hear me getting excited about Microsoft, but earlier this month, the company invited me to Seattle to hear the... Continue Reading
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Access for all as Wap walls come down
Antony SavvasMobile phone operators are pulling down their "walled gardens" to allow any company to have their corporate Web sites read by mobile...
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Expert warns of ERP perils
Failure to implement change-management is behind the performance dip suffered by companies post-ERP roll-out Hooman Bassirian Continue Reading
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IT managers welcome apprenticeship scheme
Mike SimonsMost IT users would be happy to take on school leavers or graduates as apprentices.
The Computer Weekly/Harvey Nash...
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Income tax IT row harms Government programme
Mike SimonsThe Inland Revenue is deeply concerned that competition between outsourcers will undermine moves towards "joined-up...
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If they don't click on, you could click off
John Riley
Groundswell
Can you imagine the destructive effect on your business of your company not responding to a third of...
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Will Sun see the light over open sourcing?
If Sun is a company that truly wishes to embrace the open source philosophy then we should welcome an open source version of its... Continue Reading
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Barclays has infrastructure to get e-banking right
John Riley"A big world needs a big bank" is the message Barclays Bank is trying to put across in its new advertising campaign.
And it seems...
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MPs probe Chinook
Parliament's most powerful select committee has begun enquiries into software problems on the Chinook helicopter that crashed Continue Reading
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E-business boom set to deepen skills crisis
A long-term view can help avert an IT skills crisis. Continue Reading
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Bloated Web sites frustrate even the unmetered Net user
Free (unmetered) Internet use is sweeping the UK. And while it's changing the way people use the Net, I don't think it will affect the backlash against bloated... Continue Reading -
CSL admits benefit IT chaos
Mike SimonsIT outsourcing company CSL is failing to deliver an adequate service on more than half of its housing benefits...
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Free Internet access - but at a price
Antony Savvas looks at the free Internet access packages launched, what's on offer and any hidden problems Continue Reading
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Co-op to save cash from IT merger
Bill GoodwinIT will play a key role in reducing costs following the merger of the two largest players in the co-operative movement...
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Internet voting has huge impact on US state election
The voters of Arizona, USA, may just have made political history. Eighty thousand of them turned out in a presidential primary that was already as good as won... Continue Reading -
Judgment puts IT users in the firing line on purchasing
Until now IT users have usually won the backing of judges when suing their supplier over a flawed system. Now a ground-breaking... Continue Reading
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Typecast for action?
The dynamic world of e-commerce demands that ideas are put into action. But are you employing the right people? Mark Lewis... Continue Reading
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Thomas Cook integrates Web and back-office to offer two million holidays online
Thomas Cook has integrated its Web site with its back office systems to offer any of two million holidays online, writes Guy Campos.The agency...
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European innovation is driving IT revolution
John RileyThere was much razzmatazz when Ford announced recently that it is providing PCs with Internet access to all its employees. But...
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Users face uncertainty future with Baan
Following Baan's sell-off of its Coda financial application family, users were warned last week that more products are likely to... Continue Reading
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Tivoli offers management agents for palm handheld
Tivoli has announced a roadmap to provide systems management on handheld computers, cable modems and, at a later date, mobile... Continue Reading
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Blowing the froth off e-tailers
Are you thinking of investing in lastminute.com? If so, be honest. Have you concluded it is an excellent company that is going to win a significant amount of... Continue Reading -
Users shy of PKIs
Suppliers of public key infrastructure technology (PKI) are facing a market shakeout as users shun their marketing message.Suppliers such as RSA,...
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Obituary: Alan Benjamin OBE
Many of our readers will have heard of the death of Alan Benjamin OBE. Alan's contribution to our industry would be difficult to... Continue Reading -
Your IT department: are you sitting on a goldmine?
Is your IT department worth more than the business? On the face of it this may seem a ridiculous question, but given the valuations attached to IT... Continue Reading -
You can't blame the boffins
The flawed development of Chinook's systems holds vital lessons for IT managers. Continue Reading
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When time is of the essence
Mike PilcherOpinion
Most large-scale application development projects come in over budget, over time or unsuccessful. The...
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IT is the business
Sir John Harvey Jones complains that it is about time Britain saw the importance of IT to business and argues that if we don't we... Continue Reading
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Health services lag behind general growth
Spending on IT in the NHS is growing - but not as fast as the average for the whole economy. Behind the figures, say IT... Continue Reading
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Does HP's ePC herald the era of the disposable machine?
Everyone knows that the cost of PCs has fallen over the past 20 years. However, not enough people have taken the idea to its logical conclusion: that... Continue Reading -
Boo.com fails to live up to the hype
Isabel ChoatCall me old-fashioned but one of the pleasures of clothes shopping is being able to flick through a rail of the season's latest...
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