Managing & Technology — www.ddmcd.com

Website copyright © 2002-2025 by Dennis D. McDonald. From Alexandria, Virginia I support proposal writing & management, content and business development, market research, and strategic planning. I also practice and support cursive handwriting. My email: ddmcd@ddmcd.com. My bio: here.

Social Media and Preparations For the 2009-H1N1 Influenza Epidemic

Aug 24

Aug 24 Social Media and Preparations For the 2009-H1N1 Influenza Epidemic

Dennis D. McDonald

Disaster Response, Emergency, Governance, , , eGovernment, Communications

The Executive Office of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology’s U.S. Preparations For the 2009-H1N1 Influenza is a long and sobering document. Dated August 7, 2009, the report discusses a long list of critical issues and recommendations that need to be addressed now.

Are These "Web 2.0 Adoption Stereotypes" Still Valid?

Aug 20

Aug 20 Are These "Web 2.0 Adoption Stereotypes" Still Valid?

Dennis D. McDonald

Change, Mindmapping, Web 2.0

Last year I published Pop Quiz: Web 2.0 Adoption Stereotypes with this mindmap outlining a high level grouping of stereotypes regarding Web 2.0 adopters and their identifying “slogans”:

Challenges Facing Development of a DoD "Web 2.0 Policy"

Aug 12

Aug 12 Challenges Facing Development of a DoD "Web 2.0 Policy"

Dennis D. McDonald

Internet, Policy, Risk Management, Security, , , Technology, Transparency, Web 2.0, eGovernment

A public website has been established to gather input in support of developing a U.S. Department of Defense “Web 2.0 Policy.” In a recent post titled The Responsible Way Ahead Jack Holt says this:

Amazon Kindle Orwell Deletion May Be Legal -- But It's Still Doubleplusungood

Jul 18

Jul 18 Amazon Kindle Orwell Deletion May Be Legal -- But It's Still Doubleplusungood

Dennis D. McDonald

DRM, E-book, Kindle, Publishing, Media, Censorship, Orwell

I know I know — the Orwell titles deleted from customer Kindles by Amazon were unauthorized copies. I’m still concerned. Why? Because it demonstrates how this technology can be applied and managed remotely without the owner’s involvement.

Are Federal Acquisition Practices Accelerating the Move of Government Computing to the Cloud?

Jul 15

Jul 15 Are Federal Acquisition Practices Accelerating the Move of Government Computing to the Cloud?

Dennis D. McDonald

Cloud Computing, Cost Analysis, Disruption, Industry Analysis, Procurement, Security, Technology, eGovernment

Jason Miller’s report Kundra says government’s approach to consolidation has been ill-suited includes this statement by Vivek Kundra, Federal Chief Information Officer:

Jul 15
Jul 15 PRI's Censored Short Story Podcasts

Dennis D. McDonald

Censorship, FCC, Podcast, Radio

A couple of months ago I discovered PRI’s Selected Shorts series of podcasts based on radio broadcasts of public readings of short stories by classic and contemporary authors. One of the first stories I listened to via my iPod was Joseph Conrad’s “Down to the Sea in Ships” — the initial description of a seaport absolutely bowled me over. I was hooked. I’ve subscribed to the series on iTunes ever since.

Social Networks and Serendipity: "Luck favors the prepared, darling."

Jul 10

Jul 10 Social Networks and Serendipity: "Luck favors the prepared, darling."

Dennis D. McDonald

Collaboration, Creativity, Innovation, Project Management

Anyone who studies scientific communication, creativity, and innovation will understand the value of “being in the right place at the right time.”

Jul 4
Jul 4 Free Advice for Podcasters

Dennis D. McDonald

I listen to a lot of podcasts. Some are original and some are based on radio programs. I listen to a mix of history, technology, politics, literature, and music. Here are some random comments and advice for people who produce podcasts based on my own listening experience:

Three Things I Hate Most About Cable TV

Jul 1

Jul 1 Three Things I Hate Most About Cable TV

Dennis D. McDonald

Cable TV, Internet, Television, iPod, iTunes

The three things I hate most about Cable TV are:

Jun 23
Jun 23 For Government Contracting, Defining "Inherently Governmental" is Inherently Difficult

Dennis D. McDonald

Collaboration, Governance, Homeland Security, Information Technology, Innovation, Procurement, eGovernment

That’s one of the reasons I’m concerned about how President Obama’s proposed changes to Federal procurement rules might tip the scales even more in favor of the issuance of fixed price contracts in situations where insufficient detail on requirements and available budget aren’t readily available to potential bidders.

McKinney Interviews Cochran about First HP Pocket Scientific Calculator

Jun 22

Jun 22 McKinney Interviews Cochran about First HP Pocket Scientific Calculator

Dennis D. McDonald

Creativity, Engineering, Innovation, Management, Podcast, Project Management, R&D Management, Sales Management

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the podcast of Phil McKinney’s interview with David Cochran about Cochran’s involvement on the team at Hewlett-Packard (HP) that designed the first pocket scientific calculator. The situation was interesting from the standpoint of innovation management and luck.

NAME WITHHELD asks about Web 2.0 for Disaster Planning & Response

Jun 16

Jun 16 NAME WITHHELD asks about Web 2.0 for Disaster Planning & Response

Dennis D. McDonald

Disaster Response, Emergency, Strategic Planning, Web 2.0, eGovernment

More Thoughts About "Web 2.0 and Sales Process Management"

Jun 9

Jun 9 More Thoughts About "Web 2.0 and Sales Process Management"

Dennis D. McDonald

CRM, Change, Collaboration, Customer Communication, Enterprise 2.0, List_AR, Market Research, Sales Management, Web 2.0

My survey-based report Web 2.0 and Sales Process Management is now available in its published form via The Customer Collective and Social Media Today.

Jun 5
Jun 5 How Transparent is the new FDA Transparency Blog?

Dennis D. McDonald

Blogging, Data Access, FDA, Transparency, eGovernment

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has established a Transparency Task Force. One of its first public facing activities is the creation of the FDA Transparency Blog.

Google Wave Asks, Do You Like Your Project Collaboration Hard or Soft?

May 29

May 29 Google Wave Asks, Do You Like Your Project Collaboration Hard or Soft?

Dennis D. McDonald

Change, Collaboration, Google, Innovation, Project Management, , Software, Wave

I had lunch with a fellow consultant recently. We talked about how some complex software-based collaboration systems get used and how some don’t. Sometimes the problem is with the software, and sometimes it’s with how the organization approaches collaboration.

An Inspiring New Movie about Imagination, Innovation, Science, and Engineering

May 22

May 22 An Inspiring New Movie about Imagination, Innovation, Science, and Engineering

Dennis D. McDonald

Creativity, Education, Engineering, Innovation, Media, Movies, Science, Science Education, Technology, NAE

I was fortunate this week to attend a screening at the National Academies of the new film, Imagine It!, a work by Rudy Poe and Richard Tavener of Infinite Loop Media LLC.

May 6
May 6 Can Kindle Succeed Without Exclusive Licensing and Distribution Deals?

Dennis D. McDonald

Books, DRM, E-book, Education, Kindle, Publishing, Textbooks

It will be interesting to see if Amazon can succeed with the expensive ($489) new Kindle DX without negotiating exclusive licensing and distribution deals that lock in and control distribution of different ebooks in selected vertical markets.