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.

What Makes a Government Program "Transparent"?

Nov 7

Nov 7 What Makes a Government Program "Transparent"?

Dennis D. McDonald

Big Data, Data Access, Governance, Transparency, eGovernment, Definitions

What makes a government program “transparent”? I’ve been thinking about this while researching my framework for transparency program planning and assessment. Here are criteria to use when designing, modifying, or assessing a program’s “transparency”:

A Framework for Transparency Program Planning and Assessment

Oct 27

Oct 27 A Framework for Transparency Program Planning and Assessment

Dennis D. McDonald

Data Access, List05, Performance, Standards, Transparency, eGovernment, Data Program Management, Data, Big Data

I support the practice of transparency for government programs. People need to know and understand how their tax dollars are spent. At the same time, transparency is not an end in itself.

The "Open Movement" Continues: Big Pharma Company Opens Up Access to Clinical Trial Data

Oct 11

Oct 11 The "Open Movement" Continues: Big Pharma Company Opens Up Access to Clinical Trial Data

Dennis D. McDonald

Accessibility, Data Access, Elsevier, Journals, Open Access, Publishing, Research, Transparency, eGovernment, Research Data

I was serious when I suggested it would be to Apple’s advantage to open up to the public on how it is repairing its Maps app problem.

My Thumbs are Mixed on Linkedin's New Skill Endorsements

Oct 5

Oct 5 My Thumbs are Mixed on Linkedin's New Skill Endorsements

Dennis D. McDonald

Advertising, Linkedin, Process, Project Management, Reputation,

I have mixed feelings about Linkedin’s new skill endorsements.

Sep 28
Sep 28 What Should Apple Do To Fix Its Maps Fiasco?

Dennis D. McDonald

Apple, Google, Media, Mobile Tech, Project Management, Transparency, Trust, eGovernment

What’s next for Apple, now that Tim Cook has apologized for the new Maps app and has suggested alternate or competing products to use while things get fixed?

What Does "Open Access" Mean, Really?

Sep 26

Sep 26 What Does "Open Access" Mean, Really?

Dennis D. McDonald

Accessibility, Data Access, Journals, Libraries, Open Access, Publishing, Transparency

Having devoted part of my career to electronic publishing systems for scientific and technical publishing I’ve tried to follow the “Open Access” movement, but I have never quite understood what “Open Access” means.

Progress On Open and Collaborative Project Management

Sep 13

Sep 13 Progress On Open and Collaborative Project Management

Dennis D. McDonald

Collaboration, Project Blog Survey, Project Management

My friend Dave Witzel posted an article titled 12 Leadership Lessons of Internet Pioneers in which he summarizes the findings of a recent report he did for IBM’s Center for the Business of Government, Designing Open Projects: Lessons from Internet Pioneers.

Why I'm Avoiding Google+ Today

Sep 12

Sep 12 Why I'm Avoiding Google+ Today

Dennis D. McDonald

Apple, Google, Google+, Media, , ,

But I think I’m going to avoid Google+ today. Apple is announcing new products.

Sep 5
Sep 5 User Interface Design and the Value of Keeping it Simple, Stupid

Dennis D. McDonald

Media, Mobile Tech, User Interface, Web, rant

I’ve really enjoyed using my iPhone for web access, basic communications, and social media such as Google+, Twitter, and Linkedin. I’ve found the user interfaces and resulting user experience for many such smartphone apps tend to be simpler and more straightforward than the web versions. Increasingly I find myself actually preferring the smartphone experience over the web experience.

Aug 29
Aug 29 I Was Disappointed by Google's Nexus 7 Tablet Ad

Dennis D. McDonald

Advertising, Ethics, Google, Media, Trust

I was disappointed to see the Nexus 7 tablet ad on Google Search yesterday.

Aug 28
Aug 28 USDA: Another Federal Agency Seeks Input on Digital Strategy

Dennis D. McDonald

Architecture, Cloud Computing, Content Management, Governance, Mobile Tech, Strategic Planning, Strategy, USDA, eGovernment

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has joined other Federal agencies in seeking input on how to proceed with development of its “digital strategy.”

Aug 26
Aug 26 Why We All Benefit from the Apple-Samsung Court Decision

Dennis D. McDonald

Apple, Innovation, Mobile Tech, Patents, Samsung, iPhone, iPod

I remember at first ignoring the Apple vs. Samsung patent arguments. I thought they were just more examples of highly-paid corporate attorneys fighting over questionable intellectual property claims.

Challenges in Turning Federal Digital Strategy into Mobile Reality

Aug 20

Aug 20 Challenges in Turning Federal Digital Strategy into Mobile Reality

Dennis D. McDonald

Acquisitions, Innovation, List_AR, Mobile Tech, Sequestration, Strategic Planning, Strategy, USDA, eGovernment

Directive number 7 in Federal CIO Steven VanRoekel’s May 23, 2012 federal API strategy Digital Government: Building a 21st Century Platform to Better Serve the American People states the following:

Aug 17
Aug 17 Has "Transparency" Concerning Federal Stimulus Funding Been a Success? Part 1

Dennis D. McDonald

ARRA, Mobile Tech, Transparency, eGovernment

Has “government transparency” concerning US Federal stimulus funding been successful?

"White Papers" Need to be Mobile, Too

Aug 15

Aug 15 "White Papers" Need to be Mobile, Too

Dennis D. McDonald

Advertising, Media, Mobile Tech, Publishing, Web

Are your white papers easily accessible on mobile devices? Viewed by some as “old school” marketing devices, others still use and expect them. Just last week, for example, I was asked for a set of my own white papers by a business prospect. That experience led me to write this article.

Aug 9
Aug 9 Why Brick & Mortar Stores Will Never Entirely Disappear

Dennis D. McDonald

Mobile Tech, Retail, Shopping

For the second time in two weeks I received a text message on my iPhone saying that an ordered item had been delivered from Amazon BEFORE the item was actually delivered.

What Are YOU Trying to Do with Mobile Technologies in the Enterprise?

Jul 19

Jul 19 What Are YOU Trying to Do with Mobile Technologies in the Enterprise?

Dennis D. McDonald

Android, Apple, Call Center, Collaboration, Innovation, Mobile Tech, Project Management, Smartphone, Tablet, iOS, iPad, iPhone

I’ve been thinking about mobile technologies a lot lately and how they relate to activities like project management and collaboration.

How Will Mobile Devices In the Workplace Make People More Productive?

Jul 17

Jul 17 How Will Mobile Devices In the Workplace Make People More Productive?

Dennis D. McDonald

Android, Cell Phones, Collaboration, Innovation, Microsoft, Project Management, SharePoint, Tablet, iPad, iPhone

In 2010 I posted Sometimes a phone is just a phone and a web site is just a web site. It discussed what I thought at the time was important in a smartphone, e.g., phone service, web access, email — the basics — and was based on recent Blackberry experience and anticipation of getting an iPhone.

Jul 16
Jul 16 Quick Fixes for Modifying a Website for Mobile Access

Dennis D. McDonald

Accessibility, Android, Mobile Tech, Tablet, iOS, iPad, iPhone

I recently modified my professional website to provide a better experience for users accessing it from smartphones and tablet computers.