Graham Oakes updates

Why you need real options

Fri, 03 May 2013 14:00:28 GMT+01:00

Sometimes it pays to be decisive. At least as often, it pays to keep your options open. Econsultancy, April 2013

Nordic Project Zone

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 14:54:28 GMT+01:00

I am speaking on "Using Reviews and Assurance to manage Program and Portfolio Risk" in Copenhagen in November. Discounts on the conference fee are available - contact me at graham@grahamoakes.co.uk for details.

Perceptions of Agile Governance

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 16:43:11 GMT

Slides from my talk on agile governance at Unicom's "Agile in the Public Sector" conference in London on 8 Mar 2013.

Why you need to avoid governance vacuums

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 16:41:35 GMT

If you avoid discussing governance, vacuums and standoffs become entrenched. Econsultancy, Mar 2013

Why do IT projects fail?

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 16:40:34 GMT

Slides from my project review simulation at itSMF in Glasgow, 5 Mar 2013.

Moving to the Cloud

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 16:51:21 GMT

Slides from my Oxfam case study, talk given to the BCS on 12 Feb 2013.

Pause, observe and take decisive action

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 16:50:21 GMT

The OODA loop works as well for social marketeers as it does for tennis players or pilots. Marketing, Feb 2013

How we buy technology

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 16:49:35 GMT

Organisations like to pretend they're objective. It's not that simple. Econsultancy, Feb 2013

Projects fail when...

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 16:48:24 GMT

Slides from my talk to the APM on 31 Jan 2013.

Big Data: Teams not Technology

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 15:48:05 GMT

Big data may be tough on our technology stacks, but the real challenges lie elsewhere. Econsultancy, Jan 2013

Internet of Things

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 15:46:57 GMT

My column for Marketing magazine explores what Internet of Things might mean for marketeers. Marketing, Jan 2013

What makes a good project reviewer?

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 15:45:27 GMT

Reviews help project teams keep in touch with reality. But what are you looking for when you're looking for people to conduct reviews? APM PMO SIG, Jan 2013

APM Masterclass - Project Reviews, Assurance and the PMO

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 15:43:43 GMT

Notes from the masterclass I did for the APM PMO SIG in December are online. APM PMO SIG, Dec 2012

Big data needs teams not technology

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 18:43:41 GMT

There's a lot of hype behind Big Data, but there's also something real there: whenever I explore data, I often find value. Getting to that value is mostly a team problem, not a technical one. Web Managers Group, Dec 2012

Web Teams: Make it visible

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 18:44:01 GMT

When work is invisible, a spiral of death builds up. How can we break that cycle? Econsultancy, Dec 2012

Is "best practice" really best?

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 10:28:24 GMT

Sometimes the best practice is simply to be flexible and adapt your response to the situation in hand. Do standards get in the way of this? Published by Econsultancy, Nov 2012

Writing a Business Case

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 16:46:26 GMT

Tutorial on how to write a business case. Looks at this from the perspective of winning support from the people you'll need throughout the project, not just creating a document. Presented at JBoye Aarhus, Nov 2012.

Kanban for Web Operations - LSE's experience

Fri, 16 Nov 2012 16:44:51 GMT

Case study of kanban work I've been doing with the web operations team at London School of Economics. Presented at JBoye Aarhus, Nov 2012.

Does the device matter?

Sat, 27 Oct 2012 14:16:06 GMT+01:00

Innovation is increasingly going to shift from the device to interaction between multiple devices. Published by Econsultancy, Oct 2012

The fortress will not hold

Sat, 22 Sep 2012 02:10:02 GMT+01:00

Security doesn't come from building castles. It comes from people taking action to defend themselves. Published by Econsultancy, Sep 2012

What's governance got to do with effective software development?

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 09:19:08 GMT+01:00

Governance doesn't have to end in bureaucracy. Maintain and refine your governance structures to reap the rewards of improved decision-making. Published by StickyMinds, Aug 2012.

Slow Decisions

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 10:17:38 GMT+01:00

Good decision making isn't about appearing decisive. It's about managing the context so we achieve the outcomes we desire. Published by Econsultancy, Aug 2012

Six challenges for big data

Sat, 28 Jul 2012 15:53:59 GMT+01:00

Big data is about more than Hadoop and a bunch of fancy technology. There are some very real organisational barriers too. Published by Econsultancy, July 2012

What big data means to marketers

Sun, 24 Jun 2012 15:22:17 GMT+01:00

What is Big Data? What do you need to do to address it? Published by Marketing magazine, June 2012

How will organisations evolve in the face of mobile interaction patterns?

Sun, 24 Jun 2012 15:20:45 GMT+01:00

Small, frequent, fine-grained interactions erode organisational boundaries. How will organisations evolve as mobile interactions increase? Published by Econsultancy, June 2012

What happens when you can't meet demand?

Fri, 25 May 2012 15:57:44 GMT+01:00

When a team can't meet customer demand, that demand starts to go underground. This can have unintended side effects. Published by Econsultancy, May 2012

Lessons from a coalmine

Fri, 25 May 2012 15:55:48 GMT+01:00

Contracts are important, but it's the actual, achieved service levels that really matter. Published by EvaluationCentre.com, April 2012

Big Data: It's not just about social media

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 18:37:05 GMT+01:00

Data is kind of like alligators. When you're surrounded by too much of it, it's easy to lose sight of your original purpose. Published by Business Computing World, April 2012

Why online projects fail

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 18:35:41 GMT+01:00

Problems rarely kill projects. What kills them is failure to recognise and address problems. Published by Econsultancy, April 2012

Project Reviews, Assurance and the PMO

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 18:31:59 GMT+01:00

The secret to success is to learn from experience, and to identify incipient failures before they become catastrophic. The PMO can play a vital role in doing this. Published on APM blogs, Mar 2012

Dull and Cloudy

Sun, 22 Apr 2012 18:30:24 GMT+01:00

Saving money is the least interesting aspect of the cloud. Published by EvaluationCentre.com, Mar 2012

Service and the seam of coal

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:29:13 GMT

Service level agreements get broken all the time. That's as true in the physical economy as it is in the digital one. Published by Econsultancy, Mar 2012

Get Real!

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:26:09 GMT

Sometimes the model fits reality. Sometimes is doesn't. Projects aren't the only way to organise work. Published by EvaluationCentre.com, Feb 2012

Does the cloud have to be grey and dull?

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 14:28:33 GMT

If the Cloud is just about cost savings, then it's pretty dull. It could be about so much more. Published by Econsultancy, Feb 2012

Long live the Integration Team

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 14:26:27 GMT

IT is less about technology and more about integration & teamwork. But can IT departments make the transition? Published by EvaluationCentre.com, Jan 2012

Anarchy is governance too

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:02:14 GMT

Good governance requires trade-offs, e.g. between centralised and devolved control. In the right circumstances, anarchy can be a good model. Published by Business Computing World, Jan 2012

What is governance anyway?

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:00:45 GMT

You need to decide and act quickly. That's what governance is about. Published by Business Computing World, Jan 2012

Project or flow?

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:59:02 GMT

Projects don't come about through some law of nature. They're a mental construct. If the construct doesn't fit with reality, go with reality. Published by Econsultancy, Jan 2012

Making good decisions about information

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:39:33 GMT

Most people see "information governance" as being about compliance and bureaucracy. But really it's about making good business decisions. Published by Government Technology, Dec 2011

Where to start when you don't know where to start

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:38:39 GMT

My interview with Bill Fox is now live on the 5 Minutes to Process Improvement Success site, Dec 2011.

The death of IT?

Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:37:05 GMT

IT departments can create a lot of value when they engage with the messiness, human and technical, of integrating systems. If they sit behind their firewalls chanting verses from the ITIL, they will die. Published by Econsultancy, Dec 2011

Cloud allows Oxfam to focus on the front line

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:20:41 GMT

Discussion with The Cloud Circle about my work with Oxfam GB. This case study describes some the thinking behind their shift into the cloud. (See also the comments in Cloud Circle's Industry Trends report.) The Cloud Circle, Dec 2011

Too Tired to Decide

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:19:03 GMT

Another take on decision fatigue and how you might manage it. Published by EvaluationCentre.com, Dec 2011

How's your decision energy?

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:17:37 GMT

Making decisions requires mental energy. When your energy is low, decision fatigue sets in and some fairly predictable biases result. Published by Econsultancy, Dec 2011

Moving to the Cloud: Oxfam's experience

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:15:19 GMT

Case study of my work with Oxfam GB, helping them to move their web systems into the Cloud. Published by Fundraising, Nov 2011

If it Hurts

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:29:43 GMT

'Ignore it and it'll go away' is a fantasy. Painful testing & integration are signs that something isn't working. It's worth addressing the pain points as soon as possible. EvaluationCentre.com, Nov 2011

Far from the Madding Crowd

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:27:57 GMT

Crowdsourcing works when you have the right problem and the right relationship with your audience. But you need to be prepared to invest time, thought and credibility to make it work. Business Computing World, Nov 2011

The illusion of strategy

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:46:55 GMT+01:00

The problem is, even in retrospect it's hard to recognise a good strategy. As often as not, we end up creating a myth. Published by Econsultancy, Oct 2011

Slowly does it

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:45:30 GMT+01:00

Many projects feel like a full frontal assault. In our obsession with speed, we often fail to spend time looking for less showy but more effective options. Published by EvaluationCentre.com, Oct 2011

More pain please

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:43:32 GMT+01:00

Pain is a sign that new information is available. If we want to improve, we need to accept and deal with that information. Published by Econsultancy, Sep 2011

How solid is the cloud?

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 13:11:01 GMT+01:00

One of Amazon's data centres goes down and it's like the entire cloud has vanished in a puff of smoke. Let's look at some basic truths about system reliability. Published by EvaluationCentre.com, Sep 2011

9 Steps to Good Governance

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 13:08:52 GMT+01:00

Some factors to be considered when setting up governance structures for your projects. Published by EvaluationCentre.com, Aug 2011

Has open source software's day finally arrived?

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 17:14:50 GMT+01:00

Open source has many attractions for the public sector. But there are also several bottlenecks that are preventing adoption. Published by Government Technology, August 2011

Governance: 9 steps to good decision making

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 17:12:56 GMT+01:00

Organisations that avoid discussing governance end up spending a lot of time on it. They define it afresh for each decision. Published by Econsultancy, August 2011

How reliable is the cloud?

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 19:33:18 GMT+01:00

Datacentres go down. It doesn't matter who runs them, nor how much redundancy you build into them, eventually something happens that takes them down. Published by Econsultancy, July 2011

Cloud is a management model

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 19:32:04 GMT+01:00

Cloud isn't about technology. It's about management. If you're not thinking about how to manage resources, then you may be stuck in the grey fuzz. Published by EvaluationCentre.com, July 2011

Governance: Central or Devolved?

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 19:30:56 GMT+01:00

Say the word "governance" and what springs to mind? For a lot of us, it's bureaucracy. It doesn't have to be that way. Published by Econsultancy, July 2011

Overview of Oversight

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 15:52:23 GMT+01:00

Architectural oversight is tough: it's about balancing different perspectives. Should oversight be centralised or devolved? Published by EvaluationCentre.com, June 2011

Where do the cost savings lie?

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 15:32:17 GMT+01:00

Is Free and Open Source Software the best way to reduce costs? I think you're better off looking to use it to mitigate some common risks. Published by e.manager, May 2011

How to specify cloud infrastructure

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 15:30:38 GMT+01:00

When resources are scarce, you grab them and hold on to them. Managing the cloud requires a different approach. Published by Econsultancy, May 2011

Locking up the cloud

Sat, 04 Jun 2011 15:29:25 GMT+01:00

Security is about the entire system. That includes the people. When you look at what people actually do, the cloud might be more secure than most datacentres. Published by EvaluationCentre.com, May 2011

Why should I care about governance?

Sat, 14 May 2011 12:21:28 GMT+01:00

Organisations that don't address governance end up spending a lot of time on it. They discuss it over and over again for each decision. Econsultancy, May 2011

How real is the Cloud?

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 18:18:16 GMT+01:00

The Cloud is indeed like the electricity grid. The electricity grid of the 19th century. Until standards stabilise, you need to be careful about what you commit to. Opinion piece published by Computing, April 2011.

A fool with a tool

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 18:16:24 GMT+01:00

Tools rarely address the things that really kill our projects. As often as not, they get in the way and divert us from the real issues. Published by EvaluationCentre.com, April 2011

Risk Avoidance Creates Risks

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 17:09:26 GMT

"The mindset that you can identify, understand and mitigate every risk before you initiate a project is itself a pretty big risk factor." Published by EvaluationCentre.com, March 2011

The Cloud - how safe is your data?

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 17:06:37 GMT

Security is the dark lining to the silvery cloud. Or is it? How safe is your data where it's currently stored? Published by bytestart, March 2011.

Breaking down the barrier between IT and Marketing

Sun, 27 Feb 2011 12:04:09 GMT

"Professionalism" is great, but we need organisational practices not departmental ones. Opinion piece published by Computing, Feb 2011.

Articles on Social Media and "Information Obesity"

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 17:39:05 GMT

Content used to be King. Then social media came along. How has this changed things? I think social media is a tool to help us manage "information obesity".

Several magazines have picked up this discussion. Thoughts at:
- bytestart: http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/24/24_6/social-media-content.shtml
- Business Computing World: http://www.businesscomputingworld.co.uk/content-is-the-king-dead/
- U Talk Marketing: http://www.utalkmarketing.com/pages/Article.aspx?ArticleID=20276&Title=How_social_media_democratised_content

Articles on Free and Open Source Software

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 17:31:44 GMT

Several magazines have picked up my discussion on the benefits of Free and Open Source Software recently.

The bottom line: it may or may not reduce licence and implementation costs, but it may well help you manage risk. And managing risk is probably the best way to reduce costs in the long run.

Articles are at:
- Business Computing World: http://www.businesscomputingworld.co.uk/free-and-open-source-software-where-do-the-cost-savings-lie/
- bytestart: http://www.bytestart.co.uk/content/15/23_5/open-source-software.shtml
- EvaluationCentre.com: http://www.grahamoakes.co.uk/downloads/Expert_View_EAI_Feb_11.pdf

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "Lies, Damned Lies and Roi"

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 10:01:43 GMT

"Now it all comes down to personal preference, prejudice and shouting matches." Ever been on a project like that? What are ROI calculations really for? Published by EvaluationCentre.com, January 2011

Free and Open Source Software: will it reduce costs?

Mon, 24 Jan 2011 09:59:44 GMT

Will open source software reduce my costs? If so, where do the cost savings lie? Opinion piece published in Computing, January 2011

9 steps for Information Governance

Tue, 04 Jan 2011 19:40:49 GMT

The BCS has published a summary of my article on information governance. BCS, December 2010.

Information Governance

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 19:38:36 GMT

Computer Weekly has published my white paper on Information Governance, based on my chapter in the TIMAF book Information Management Best Practices.

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "Why Projects Fail"

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 19:36:33 GMT

Projects fall apart when they lose touch with reality. How can we prevent this? Article published by EvaluationCentre.com, December 2010

JBoye 2010 Aarhus

Sun, 07 Nov 2010 13:33:30 GMT

JBoye 2010 Aarhus was another great conference. Slides from my sessions are available at the conference website. http://www.jboye.com/conferences/aarhus10/program/speakers/graham-oakes/

Plone Conference - Open Source Document and Content Management

Sun, 07 Nov 2010 13:31:20 GMT

Slides from the talk I did at the Plone Conference in Bristol on 26 Oct, 2010.

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "The Real Question"

Sun, 07 Nov 2010 13:28:48 GMT

Estimation or Negotiation? What is really going on when you discuss dates and resources? EvaluationCentre.com, November 2010

Open Source Content Management in the Public Sector

Sat, 09 Oct 2010 14:47:08 GMT+01:00

Here are the slides from my talk to BCS Manchester on 7 October

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "Too small to SOA"

Sun, 26 Sep 2010 13:37:50 GMT+01:00

Can you be too small to develop a Service Oriented Architecture? Maybe not, but you need to be clear about just what you mean by "SOA". EvaluationCentre.com, September 2010

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "The Blame Game"

Sat, 04 Sep 2010 15:58:17 GMT+01:00

When projects start to go wrong, people start to think about ownership and accountability. If they did that sooner, fewer projects might go wrong. EvaluationCentre.com, August 2010

Oracle Enterprise 2.0 event

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 17:39:05 GMT+01:00

Computer Business Review covers my discussion on security, culture and Enterprise 2.0

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "Avoiding Pain"

Sat, 24 Jul 2010 17:30:21 GMT+01:00

Projects are messy: we get things wrong more often than we get them right. To succeed, we need to engage with the mess and learn from it. EvaluationCentre.com, July 2010

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "Team Talk"

Sat, 08 May 2010 12:18:17 GMT+01:00

To build a coherent architecture, focus on building effective teams. EvaluationCentre.com, April 2010

EvaluationCentre Expert View - "Steps in the Dark"

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 14:33:25 GMT+01:00

Every time we create a new service, we intervene in a complex socio-technical system. To do this effectively, we need to consider unintended consequences. EvaluationCentre.com, Mar 2010

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

"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.

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

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.

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

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

"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.

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

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 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.