Dennis D. McDonald

Hello from Alexandria, Virginia, the fun side of the Potomac!

I help clients plan and manage the adoption and effective use of new technology. My services include:

• Project planning and project management
• Strategic planning and cost estimation
  
• Assessment and evaluation of products, services, and systems
  
• Market research and analysis

My experience includes consulting company operation and ownership, I.T. management consulting, I.T. cost analysis, business development and marketing, and management of software development, data conversion, and database publishing. I’ve developed and managed project management offices, I’ve managed and administered post-merger software and database consolidation projects, and I’ve been instrumental in the improvement of call center and customer service operations through improved access to product information. 

I’ve worked with many different kinds of organizations, including government agencies, appliance, truck, auto, and medical technology manufacturers, computer hardware and software developers, professional and trade associations, finance and insurance companies, technologyt service outsourcers, international publishers and intellectual property organizations, janitorial services companies, and energy utilities.

My clients have included AIG, ASHP, Ford Motor Company, GE Appliances, GE Medical Systems, Jive Software, Kenworth/Peterbilt Trucks, Keyspan Energy, National Library of Medicine, National Science Foundation, Nisource Energy, Sun Microsystems, US Copyright Office, and Whirlpool Corporation. I’ve worked in many U.S. locations and in Hong Kong, Egypt, and throughout Europe.

I’m an active blogger and professional networker. Since 2005 I’ve devoted thought, research, and analysis to understanding the realities of “web 2.0” and “enterprise 2.0” initiatives.  I’m especially interested in how “social media” and “social networking” are adopted and managed in large organizations.

I’m analytical, objective, and honest. I value hard work, building things, pragmatism, and delivering concrete results. My experience includes both business and technology management. I know how to bridge the gaps that sometimes form between technology and business staff.

I’ve served on the board of a private school and I try to keep up with my wife’s heavy involvement in community activities here in Alexandria, Virginia.

My education includes a B.A. in Psychology (Ohio State) and a Masters and Ph.D. in Library & Information Science (University of Maryland). My doctoral dissertation addressed scientific and technical communication practices in cancer research and astrophysics.

Additional information:

• On this blog:
• My contact information is here.
• The Managing Technology section is where most of this blog’s posts are located.
  
• The main topics addressed in this blog are shown in this reading list. It lists ways that large organizations can use social media and social networking tools and techniques.
  
• This blog’s weekly top ten list shows what’s most “popular” here on a week to week basis.
  
• Here is a list of longer white papers.
• Here are some presentations.
• Occasionally I write book reviews which are listed here.
  
• Professional networking activities:
  
• I co-founded the invitation-only Alexandria Web Strategy Discussion Group.
• Here is a a graphic “mindmap” of my online social networks.
  
• Here is my Linkedin profile which includes several recommendations from colleagues.
  
• Follow me on Twitter.
• I’m a moderator of the Linkedin Bloggers group.
• I haven’t been very active on Facebook lately. Here’s why.
  
• Elsewhere:
• Dave Witzel of ForumOne interviewed me about social networking and collaboration: Web 2.0 adoption: Lessons from associations, corporations, project management, and disaster response.
• In 2008 I won Social Media Today’s first Most-Read Blogger of the Week award.
• My own comments on other blogs and web sites are listed here.