Graham Oakes updates

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "Strategy is Myth"

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 12:48:50 GMT

Much of the time when we discuss strategy, we're really telling ourselves stories. Is that so bad? EvaluationCentre.com, Feb 2010

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "Economies of Service"

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 18:06:38 +0000

Software development may be moving to a place where economies of flow matter more than economies of scale. EvaluationCentre.com, Dec 2009

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "One person at a time"

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:27:33 +0000

How does change happen? One person at a time. If you lose sight of the individuals, you're unlikely to get the change you're looking for. EvaluationCentre.com, Nov 2009

Four steps for sharpening up data management

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:26:19 +0000

ZDNet picks up several pointers from me in a recent article on data and content management.

Why web projects fail

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 16:37:12 +0000

Projects fail. In order to succeed, we need to understand the root causes for these failures. Talk given to JBoye Aarhus, Nov 2009

Information Governance: Making the right decisions

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 16:35:46 +0000

Organisations make poor decisions for many reasons. Clear governance can help address many of these reasons. Talk given to HartmanEVENT , Oct 2009

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "Where are all the Service Managers?"

Sun, 4 Oct 2009 16:20:55 +0100

Some companies just build great products. What do we need to do to build great services? EvaluationCentre.com, Sep 2009

Integration in a time of Data Pollution.

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:25:07 +0100

Why do integrators need to take more care when integrating data?. www.channelweb.co.uk, 17 Sep 2009.

Information Governance

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:23:41 +0100

Interview with Erik Hartman on why information management projects fail, and how better information governance can help resolve the issues (in Dutch). www.computable.nl, 10 Sep 2009.

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "Power Games"

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 13:51:30 +0100

Why do we estimate? There are rational reasons, but there's also a lot of other stuff going on. EvaluationCentre.com, Aug 2009

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "Silver Lining"

Sat, 4 Jul 2009 14:55:30 +0100

Clouds are grey fuzzy things that rain on you. Where is the real potential in the Cloud? EvaluationCentre.com, June 2009

Earthquakes in the Project Portfolio

Sat, 4 Jul 2009 14:53:23 +0100

Why do patterns of project slippage look like earthquakes? What does this say about the psychology of project managers? Conspectus, May 2009

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "Data Pollution"

Sat, 30 May 2009 16:04:59 +0100

As we integrate data, we don't just make it more valuable: we also make it more vulnerable. EvaluationCentre.com, May 2009

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "Costs of Indecision"

Sun, 19 Apr 2009 18:07:25 +0100

Deferring decisions is good. For example, it lets you buy information before committing. But it also has costs, which you need to understand if you are to deal with resistance. EvaluationCentre.com, April 2009

Open Source for Business

Sun, 19 Apr 2009 18:08:56 +0100

How can you use open source software in your business? How can you build a business on open source software? Talk given to BCS, April 2009

Why can't IT projects be insured?

Sun, 19 Apr 2009 18:12:29 +0100

You can buy completion bonds for many projects, but not for IT projects. How might the availability of completion bonds change IT projects? Project Manager Today, March 2009

Cloud for Project Management

Sun, 19 Apr 2009 18:13:49 +0100

What do project managers need to watch out for when using Cloud-based tools for their projects? Debate in Project magazine, March 2009

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "The Ability to Execute"

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 19:42:00 +0000

The best strategy may not be about vision and roadmaps. Sometimes you just need to focus on becoming better at execution. EvaluationCentre.com, March 2009

EvaluationCentre Article - "Earthquakes in the Project Portfolio"

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 19:58:22 +0000

Why do patterns of project slippage look like earthquakes? What does this say about the psychology of project managers? EvaluationCentre.com, Feb 2009

Why Web Projects Fail (and what you can do about it)

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 19:29:52 +0000

I will be speaking at a J.Boye event in Aarhus on 27 May.

Don't make IT simpler than it needs to be

Sun, 8 Feb 2009 18:03:33 +0000

Complexity is the enemy of flexibility. But trying to create fake simplicity doesn't help either. As Einstein said, "Make everything as simple as possible, but no simpler." Financial Times, 27 Jan 2009.

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "Good Governance"

Sun, 8 Feb 2009 18:01:58 +0000

Governance is often framed in terms of compliance and controls. Framing it as a learning process could make it a lot more powerful. EvaluationCentre.com, January 2009

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "Trust Architecture"

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:12:18 +0000

Customers often apply pressure to squeeze functionality into the next release because they don't trust the development process, not because they need it immediately. EvaluationCentre.com, December 2008

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "SOA Maturity Models

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:10:43 +0000

The problem with maturity models is that an organisation often needs to be pretty mature before they can use them effectively. EvaluationCentre.com, November 2008

JBoye08 - EUMETSAT Case Study

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:13:02 +0000

Case study of our ECM work at EUMETSAT, presented at JBoye08, November 2008.

JBoye08 - Procuring a CMS

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:14:17 +0000

Seven factors to consider when procuring a CMS, presented at JBoye08, November 2008.

JBoye08 - Good strategy through good governance

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 19:15:27 +0000

A discussion of models and tools for web governance, presented at JBoye08, November 2008.

Project Reviews, Assurance and Governance

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:42:34 +0100

My book is now available. You can get copies direct from Gower Publishing, or from retailers such as Amazon. If you want a signed copy, or to make a bulk order, please contact me at graham@grahamoakes.co.uk and I'll be happy to share the author's discount with you.

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "Core Incompetencies"

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:13:13 +0100

Many organisations try to avoid the things they're bad at. That may not be the best strategy. EvaluationCentre.com, October 2008

We have the power

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:12:27 +0100

Measures of power consumption in the datacentre conceal as much as they reveal. To truly be green, IT needs to think holistically. Financial Times, 29 Sep 2008.

Governance - good strategy through good decision making

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:38:32 +0100

What is governance? How does thinking about governance help us to define and deliver strategy more effectively? Presented at J.Boye Communities of Practice, 23 Sep 2008.

Can web projects be Insured?

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:37:18 +0100

What would it mean if we could give "completion bonds" on our web projects, assuring our customers that they'll be delivered on time and on budget? Presented at J.Boye seminar, 22 Sep 2008.

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "Enjoying the service"

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:30:01 +0100

What can SOA learn from the iPhone? In most markets, you need more than functionality to succeed. EvaluationCentre.com, August 2008

Case study on PCG ISO 9001

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 17:29:42 +0100

The PCG has produced a case study on my experience with ISO 9001 certification under their scheme.

Can IT Projects be Insured?

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 17:28:49 +0100

The outputs from my workshop at Agile 2008 are now available.

Can IT Projects be Insured?

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 17:27:26 +0100

The presentation for my workshop at Agile 2008 is now available.

Talk on PCG ISO 9001 to BCS QSG

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 17:24:02 +0100

Here are the slides from my talk on my experience with the PCG ISO 9001 scheme, presented to the BCS Quality Specialist Group on 3 July 2008

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "Gaps in governance"

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 17:22:23 +0100

Governance is all the rage. But all the governance software in the world is useless if the wrong people are making the decisions. EvaluationCentre.com, July 2008

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "In Praise of Inflexibility"

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:14:58 +0100

Agility seems like a great idea. But so does "steadfastness of purpose". Getting the right balance is what really counts. EvaluationCentre.com, June 2008

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "Wish upon a cloud"

Fri, 6 Jun 2008 18:31:09 +0100

There are a number of reasons why cloud computing makes sense. There are also a number of traps to be managed. EvaluationCentre.com, May 2008

Why Can't IT Projects be Insured?

Mon, 26 May 2008 09:40:58 +0100

I will be presenting a workshop on "Can IT Projects be Insured?" at Agile2008 in August.

Why Can't IT Projects be Insured?

Mon, 26 May 2008 09:30:07 +0100

Many small and medium-sized organisations are avoiding IT, or doing the bare minimum, because they fear the complexity and risk that IT projects bring. Are completion bonds the answer? Computer Weekly, May 2008

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "Not Negotiable"

Sun, 4 May 2008 12:45:30 +0100

You don't define requirements: you negotiate them. By paying attention to this negotiation, you may uncover solutions that provide benefits to all parties. EvaluationCentre.com, April 2008

"Earthquakes in the project portfolio" - EE Publishers, March 2008

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:01:29 +0100

My article on project reviews in the games industry has been republished by EE Publishers in South Africa

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "How green is your SOA?"

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:00:07 +0100

The trend for environmentally sound IT doesn't just affect datacentres. To gain real benefits, we need to think about building the right applications too. EvaluationCentre.com, Mar 2008

Can IT Projects be Insured?

Sat, 16 Feb 2008 11:03:16 +0000

Could we give "completion bonds" on IT projects, to assure customers they'll be delivered on time and budget? What would we need to do to make the premiums reasonable? Presented at Agile Approaches for Delivering Business Value, Feb 2008

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "Known Unknowns"

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 13:23:53 +0000

Competitive advantage often lies in complex and chaotic domains. Do traditional analysis methods serve us well here? EvaluationCentre.com, Jan 2008

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "Science Fact"

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 10:00:51 +0000

Imagine a computer that reads your brain waves and adjusts its behaviour accordingly. It's in the research labs now. How does this change the way we integrate applications? Published by EvaluationCentre.com, Dec 2007

BCS IT Consultancy of the Year Awards

Sun, 9 Dec 2007 13:04:12 +0000

Graham Oakes Ltd was a medallist in the IT Consultancy of the Year Awards announced by the British Computer Society on 6th December, 2007.

Ready to battle the IT big boys

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 15:51:12 +0000

Graham Oakes Ltd has been selected as a finalist in the BCS IT Consultancy of the Year Awards. How can a small consultancy compete with the big players? Article published in Manchester Evening News, Nov 2007.

cmf2007 - One plus One

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 15:49:19 +0000

Web and CMS consolidation is in vogue. What questions should you ask before starting to consolidate? Presentation given at cmf2007, Nov 2007.

cmf2007 - Sleep Easily

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 15:47:42 +0000

Projects begin to fail when they lose touch with reality. This presentation discussed the role of project reviews and assurance in the delivery of web and enterprise content management projects. Presentation given at cmf2007, Nov 2007.

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "Role of the Architect"

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 15:45:48 +0000

It's people who integrate systems, and the architect is at the core of this activity. So why is the role of the architect so poorly defined? Published by EvaluationCentre.com, Nov 2007

Graham Oakes Ltd has been selected as a finalist for the BCS IT Consultancy of the Year awards.

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 18:46:50 +0100

Graham Oakes Ltd has been selected as a finalist for the BCS IT Consultancy of the Year awards. Our entry was based on the work we've been doing for Oxfam (assisting procurement and implementation of e-commerce systems) and the Council of Europe (defining requirements and architecture for document management and e-learning systems). Winners will be announced on 6 Dec.

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "Fit or Fatigued?"

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 18:42:36 +0100

How does "change fatigue" affect your attempts to become more agile? Published by EvaluationCentre.com, Oct 2007

"Change Fatigue" - CM Pros Newsletter, Sep 2007

Sun, 14 Oct 2007 18:43:48 +0100

Many organisations complain of "change fatigue". Are they undergoing too much change, or do they need to do more to build their fitness? Article published by the CM Pros Newsletter, Sep 2007.

Key Steps to Successful Programme and Project Management

Sun, 16 Sep 2007 17:27:45 +0100

I will be speaking at the "Key Steps to Successful Programme and Project Management" conference in November. This conference aims to promote the essentials for achieving market leadership and performance excellence for the project and the organisation.

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "Screen Test"

Sun, 16 Sep 2007 16:44:08 +0100

Some more thoughts about project and service guarantees. Published by EvaluationCentre.com, Sep 2007

Business 550 - "IT Project Insurance"

Sun, 16 Sep 2007 16:45:04 +0100

Software development is often compared to film production. What could we learn from the movie industry about project guarantees? Published by Business 550, July 2007

"Earthquakes in the project portfolio" - British Computer Society, July 2007

Fri, 3 Aug 2007 12:37:42 +0100

Projects can only succeed when they deal with reality. This article looks at my experience of using project reviews to support the reflection and dialogue necessary to keep in touch with reality. Article published by the British Computer Society, July 2007.

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "A necessary evil"

Fri, 3 Aug 2007 12:36:17 +0100

Could the open source movement survive without Microsoft? Sometimes we need to live with paradoxes. Published by EvaluationCentre.com, July 2007

"e-Teaching -- teamwork and the new technology" - Teaching Times, July 2007

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 20:59:43 +0100

What is the role of teaching in the brave new world of personalised learning and e-learning technologies? Article published by Teaching Times, 12 July 2007.

"Assuring Agile Projects" - Presentation at Agile and Test Driven Development, July 2007

Sat, 7 Jul 2007 15:55:02 +0100

Agile teams can deliver value very quickly. However, they are also very vulnerable to pressures on the "gatekeeper" roles (e.g. product owners and project managers). Independent review and assurance teams may help bridge gaps and promote agile adoption.

Financial Times article - "It doesn't always pay to be too tidy"

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 10:03:06 +0100

Web and CMS consolidation is in vogue. This article, published in the Financial Times on 13 June 2007, identifies the questions you should ask before starting to consolidate.

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "Let me count the ways"

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 09:54:36 +0100

What do sonnets and Service Oriented Archiectures have in common? It's all to do with standards. Published by EvaluationCentre.com, June 2007

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "Service, Process or Collaboration"

Sun, 27 May 2007 18:43:23 +0100

The combination of SOA and BPM could be a viable approach to delivering business flexibility. But is it be too late? Published by EvaluationCentre.com, May 2007

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "Too many tools"

Sat, 28 Apr 2007 12:34:34 +0100

How do you choose the right tool for the job? How do you make best use of the tools you've chosen? I like to keep it simple.

Question CMS Consolidation

Sat, 31 Mar 2007 14:16:38 +0100

When your CIO starts to get excited about the cost savings that CMS consolidation will release, what questions should you be asking? Article published in CMS Watch , March 2007.

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "A two-way street?"

Sat, 24 Mar 2007 13:15:45 +0000

What is a commodity? Just as people were starting to say "IT is infrastructure - why do you need a special department to run it, you don?t have a director of electricity?", electricity started to find its way into boardroom conversation. What other services might go the same way?

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "Tragedy of the Commons"

Sat, 24 Feb 2007 16:51:10 +0000

Many companies are developing new web services, but users can?t find services to do what they want -- and don?t fully trust the ones they can find.

Keeping in touch with reality

Fri, 9 Feb 2007 16:06:21 +0000

Projects and programmes begin to fail when they lose touch with reality. Reviews can help them keep in touch, if you set up the reviews appropriately. A podcast on Controlling Chaos , Jan 2007

Project Reviews, Assurance and Governance

Sat, 3 Feb 2007 17:00:53 +0000

I have signed a contract with Gower Publishing to write a book on project and programme reviews and assurance. Watch for more information.

Running Effective Project Reviews

Sun, 7 Jan 2007 16:28:44 +0000

2007 dates for my seminar on "Running Effective Project Reviews" have been announced by Unicom. The course gives a practical, hands-on view of some of the issues of running project reviews and assurance, and helps participants to think about ways to address these issues.

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "Test Drivers"

Mon, 1 Jan 2007 12:01:48 +0000

Test driven development is catching on. Is it primarily a tool for developers, or can we also use it to communicate confidence to our customers?

Article in Free Software Magazine: "Creating a Managed Website, Part 2"

Mon, 1 Jan 2007 12:00:45 +0000

Final part of my series on web content management: selecting a CMS, installing it, setting up and promoting your site.
This article was published in Free Software Magazine in December, 2006.

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "Where have all the managers gone?"

Mon, 27 Nov 2006 19:28:55 +0000

Offshore development can save you money, but over time the risks may begin to dominate the cost savings. Are you managing your skills pipeline?

cmf2006 - Portals, Processes and People

Sun, 12 Nov 2006 19:18:37 +0000

"Portal" means different things to different people. Worse, portal projects often assume technology will deliver benefits in itself. Focus on people and processes for real success. Presentation given at cmf2006, Nov 2006.

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "The Paradox of Control"

Sun, 12 Nov 2006 19:14:35 +0000

Controlling software development seems like a good idea. But if your control framework ignores the critical data in spreadsheets, then rigid controls may actually increase risk.

Oxfam appoints Graham Oakes to help strengthen its online presence

Sat, 7 Oct 2006 13:03:08 +0000

Graham Oakes Ltd has helped Oxfam select applications and integrators to strengthen its online presence. This press release describes the work we've been doing.

Article in Free Software Magazine: "Creating a Managed Website, Part 1"

Sat, 7 Oct 2006 13:00:03 +0000

Focus on the message, not the tools. Set up a content management system to manage your site. First part of a series on web content management.
This article was published in Free Software Magazine in October, 2006.

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "You can't buy Governance"

Sat, 7 Oct 2006 12:59:17 +0000

Governance is sexy. The word was barely on our radars five years ago, yet now every vendor is selling it. But Governance is something you have to work at.

Article in Free Software Magazine: "Introduction to Content Management Systems"

Sat, 16 Sep 2006 14:02:36 +0000

What is a content management system? How have they evolved? Who uses them? How is open source software changing the way we manage the web?
This article was published in Free Software Magazine in August, 2006.

Graham Oakes speaking on project governance, 7 Nov 2006

Sat, 16 Sep 2006 13:54:53 +0000

Graham Oakes will be speaking on project governance at a Unicom conference on "Aligning Project Management with Corporate Strategy using Techniques and People" on 7 November, 2006.

Graham Oakes to run workshop on Project Assurance, 6 Nov 2006

Sat, 16 Sep 2006 13:54:50 +0000

Graham Oakes will be running a workshop on IT Project Assurance on 6 November, 2006.

Graham Oakes to speak at CMF2006

Sat, 16 Sep 2006 13:54:46 +0000

Graham Oakes will be speaking at CMF2006, 7-9 November 2006.

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "Power to the People"

Sun, 30 Jul 2006 12:51:02 +0000

The world is changing. People are driving adoption of technology in ways very different to those which caused the growth of the corporate data centre. Can IT keep up?

Financial Times article - "There's no success like failure"

Sat, 15 Jul 2006 16:16:08 +0000

Article published in the Financial Times on 11 July 2006, looking at the reality behind project failures, and what organisations might do to deal with these failures.

Article on Project Reviews

Fri, 23 Jun 2006 15:13:48 +0000

This article describes some of the considerations for running effective project reviews. It also discusses setting up an independent project assurance organisation. It was published in the APM's Project magazine in June 2006.

Presentation to EAC 2006

Fri, 23 Jun 2006 15:10:32 +0000

My presentation on "Enterprise Architecture and Outsourcing: National Savings & Investments Case Study" has now been uploaded. This talk explores some of the issues NS&I has had to deal with in developing a joint IS strategy and enterprise architecture together with its business process outsourcing partner, Siemens Business Services.

Presentation to Process 2006

Wed, 3 May 2006 11:01:31 +0000

My presentation on "Aligning Projects, Processes and Infrastructure" has now been uploaded. This talk explores the use of a simple governance framework to clarify relationships and ownership across organisational units.

Graham Oakes organises "Open Source and Agile Development" at BCS, 25 April, 2006

Wed, 3 May 2006 11:08:01 +0000

Graham Oakes organises "Open Source and Agile Development" at BCS, 25 April, 2006

Graham Oakes to speak at EAC Europe

Sun, 12 Feb 2006 13:33:30 +0000

Graham Oakes and Joe Dall will present a case study from National Savings & Investments at Enterprise Architecture Europe, 12-14 June, London.

Graham Oakes to speak at Process 2006

Sun, 12 Feb 2006 13:31:15 +0000

Graham Oakes will be speaking on "Aligning Projects, Processes and Infrastructure" at the Process 2006 conference, 25-26 April, London.

Open Source for SMEs: Graham Oakes speaks at ICT Forum Wales

Sat, 10 Dec 2005 12:18:51 +0000

Presentation from talk to ICT Forum Wales on 21 November, 2005

Graham Oakes Ltd achieves ISO9001 certification

Sat, 10 Dec 2005 12:18:51 +0000

Graham Oakes Ltd has achieved ISO9001:2000 certification under the PCGQS scheme. This press release describes the certification, and some of the work we've been doing at National Savings & Investments.