How Important Is ‘Total Cost of Standardization’ to the DATA Act?

How Important Is ‘Total Cost of Standardization’ to the DATA Act?

Dennis D. McDonald
DATA Act, Data, Data Access, Data Conversion, ETL, Open Data, Policy, Project Management, Series S, Standards, Strategy, eGovernment, Data Governance
Last week I attended a meeting in DC sponsored by the Data Transparency Coalition, PwC, and Intel. Representatives of the Federal agencies likely to manage implementation of the evolving DATA Act presented their thoughts on implementing the Act’s requirements for standardizing and reporting on Federal financial data.

Is Google+ Really a Social Network?

Dennis D. McDonald
Advertising, Community, Google, Google+, Media, Mobile, Mobile Tech, iPhone
Eventually management notices the disparity. So it will be with Google. This will be accelerated when advertising revenue starts to flatline and pressure emerges within Google to start charging for individual services that are currently subsidized by advertising. Stuff like Glass and driverless cars won’t help the situation. Nor will a walled-garden-in-disguise that pretends to be a social networking tool.
The Changing Culture of Big Data Management

The Changing Culture of Big Data Management

Dennis D. McDonald
BDPM, Big Data, Collaboration, Data Access, Knowledge Management, Metrics, Statistics, Data Program Management
In some ways managing “big data” tools and processes is no different than figuring out how to manage any other type of technological innovation. The technology is introduced, experts emerge and help control and shape evolving practical applications, and management eventually figures out what is worth keeping and what can be discarded.

Playing Remote Control Roulette

Dennis D. McDonald
Audio, Cable TV, Media, Remote Control, Roku, Smart Watch, Television, iPad, iPhone, iPod
It happened to me again last night. I was working late with my laptop set up in the kitchen. I had the small flatscreen TV tuned to Soma FM via the kitchen Roku which connects to the wireless range extender upstairs. My wife called down from upstairs but I couldn’t hear her with music on. I reached for the remote and pressed the “volume down” button.

How I.T. Projects Are Selected Needs To Change, But How?

Dennis D. McDonald
Best Practices, Information Technology, Management, Management Tools, Project Management, Strategic Planning, Strategy
In “IT governance is killing innovation” Andrew Horne and Brian Foster argue that IT project selection needs to move beyond traditional capital investment based ROI measures. The authors think it is more appropriate to take into account project support for critical business capabilities and that such a focus will be much more supportive of innovation.
A Project Manager's Perspective on the GAO’s Federal Data Transparency Report

A Project Manager's Perspective on the GAO’s Federal Data Transparency Report

Dennis D. McDonald
Collaboration, Data Access, Governance, Project Management, Standards, Transparency
While improving data transparency for both financial and non-financial data is an important goal, any effort requiring an enterprise level shift in data formats or associated business processes can also require a substantial early peak in required resources. If in fact we need to delay implementing data transparency programs, perhaps we can use our time wisely by doing a more detailed job of research and planning.
Understanding How Open Data Reaches the Public

Understanding How Open Data Reaches the Public

Dennis D. McDonald
Big Data, Collaboration, Data Access, Governance, Local, Open Data, , Transparency
In the long run, traditional top-down efforts at management control may be insufficient to ensure that both agency goals and the potential benefits of open data access — including unanticipated cponsequences — are realized in an efficient and cost effective manner. While leadership by the Federal government’s IT infrastructure will be necessary, it will also be necessary to ensure that ongoing efforts to advance open data access are managed efficiently both across agencies and in accordance with individual agency and program priorities; IT staff cannot do this on their own and will have to work closely with agency management.
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