ITBM qualifications - a step in the right direction

By Jenny McLeod, G2G3

As we all know, the relationship between IT and business management is an immensely important (and sought after) bond. Its smooth running is a veritable must-have as the cornerstone of efficient and productive operations, and this is particularly true during times of change. However, this marriage is often a rocky one and in too many cases a lack of communication and understanding creates unnecessary friction for everybody involved. IT professionals feel that they don't have the support of business executives (who rarely belong to IT fields) and managers take issue with altering business processes to suit IT needs.

I was always told that there is simple solution to everything and it seems that in this case, going back to basics might be the most effective way to improve this alignment. For this reason, 13 universities and a number of major IT employers have come together to create a pioneering new qualification - the Information Technology Business Management (ITBM) degree. It has been designed on the premise that IT professionals must not only enable the technology to support business initiatives, but be aware of where the business is going, tactically and strategically. This combination of design, implementation and management aims to produce well rounded graduates who can lead in an effective and relevant manner, and this could be extremely relevant in many problem situations.

The bottom line is that it makes sense. The capacity to communicate more effectively can only be an organizational benefit, which, coupled with improved understanding, will oil IT/business relations so that they run smoothly. Not only that - the ITBM is rooted in an ongoing dialog between universities and prospective employers, so that its industrial relevance is secured. People communicating - now, that is a simple solution.

The future of gaming

By Jenny McLeod, G2G3

I was born in 1985. Admittedly, twenty two is not old – but even at this age I sometimes feel a bit overwhelmed by the speed at which technology has progressed in the past two decades - never mind ten. If you read the story about Olive Riley last week then you will know that at 108 years old, this Aussie centurian has just passed on her title as the world's oldest blogger. Yes, the women was born in 1899, finished her education in 1914, and at the age of 107 began networking online in her very own blog. Anyone impressed?

I was thinking about Olive as I read about the 13th E3 Media and Business Summit in Hollywood – an annual highlight in the electronic gaming world. This year, Nintendo announced the arrival of the Wii MotionPlus, an advanced console that, according to the BBC, will add more “realism and depth” to the Wii's capabilities. Playstation and Microsoft also made it clear that they want to broaden the scope of their consoles and games, so that gender and age are no longer the defining feature of users. It seems that games are set to play a much more significant role in every aspect of our lives.

Critics of games usually cite their negative impact on society and social interaction. I have a friend who has spent more than half of this year playing World of Warcraft in his bedroom, and unless our society starts to resemble Azeroth then I'd be tempted to agree. But, these new games are different. There is a social and interactive element to Singstar, Rock Band and the Wii's sporting creations that previous games do not have. An increasing number of releases are casual lifestyle titles and family orientated games, and these aim to create a rallying point for families, and the wider community. Microsoft's Don Mattrick's said himself, that the new place for the console is “at the heart of the living room” and these games are about human interaction as much as anything else.

Is this the future of gaming? Can you see your grandparents as the latest edition to your electronic rock band? I'm not entirely sure, but the versatility of gaming, and its potential social function are increasingly apparent. And if Olive Riley can start blogging in her 107th year, then maybe the answer is yes.

Free the PDF!!

By Derek Watson, G2G3

Adobe’s Portable Document Format (PDF), one of the World’s most commonly used formats for electronic documents, is now an ISO International Standard (ISO 32000-1). Adobe have decided to release control to ISO, who are publishing the specifications for the current version (PDF 1.7) and updating and developing future versions.

The advent of the PDF has changed the way designers work with clients as so many meetings and presentations can be achieved by telephone with the designs being viewed closely to how they will be produced either on screen or by using a reasonable quality color printer.

The files are then sent to the printer as a PDF removing the need to send any large images or ensuring the printer has the typefaces employed.

At G2G3 we use the online commenting feature which allows numerous remote people to check and comment on the same file at the same time and automatically feed the comments back to us.

Some parts of the games kit documentation for our Simulations can also be stored online as PDFs and downloaded by the trainer for printing prior to an event rather than shipping excessive amounts of material around the globe.

And the best bit is… the viewer is free so no excuses for not having it!

IT has to get creative!

By Jenny McLeod, G2G3

Edward de Bono is a wise man. He is the godfather of the term lateral thinking, which essentially means we should strive to be more creative in the way we make decisions.

Creativity is essential in the business world. It is in constant flux, and at the moment it seems that a tide has turned. Economic growth has slowed and many sectors, including IT, have been adversely affected. Over the past months, many IT organizations have slashed their training budgets, claiming it to be the most expendable part of operations. In my mind, nothing could be further from the truth.

Effective training lies at the heart of any organization. It increases efficiency, bolsters productivity and ensures that staff are aware of the importance of their role in a wider context. These elements have a immediate impact financially and psychologically – nothing lightens the burden of economic strain like money and morale! And whilst it may seem a sensible option, it is only a short term solution. Increasing the knowledge and skill base of staff can only be a benefit once the tide comes back to shore. Without effective training and operational awareness, the current may be far too strong.

I appreciate that this is not breaking news – yet, training budgets continue to disappear. This is where de Bono comes in. It is not training as a whole that deserves to be cut, but the ineffective methods that many traditional learning techniques fall victim to. It's time to get creative! At G2G3 we have created a range of high-impact simulations and contextual learning solutions, which use real life experiences to accelerate understanding and illustrate the importance of individual roles in context. Simulations can be as effective in half a day as three or four days of traditional learning techniques, which provide de-contextualized information.

Now more than ever, the popularity of these informal techniques must continue to grow. Traditional methods instill knowledge, but cannot translate this information into value without creative techniques that contextualize the training process. These effective solutions are the way forward and are essential for the IT industry now, and for the future. Lateral thinking is definitely in – de Bono will be proud.