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Chad Dickerson
 

 
 
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Passing the baton   
This is my last column, but you'll get even more real stories from the column that replaces mine 




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  Passing the baton   
This is my last column, but you'll get even more real stories from the column that replaces mine 
 
  Exiting in good faith   
It's time for this CTO to move on. But before I go, I'm doing my best to ensure a healthy IT department 
 
  The last few inches   
A dab of manual labor is enough to sink the most sophisticated multipart Internet transaction 
 
  Focusing on innovation   
The best reason to farm out nonstrategic IT chores is to free up time for stuff that matters 
 
  The last word on outsourcing   
Today's practical realities trump devotion to old-fashioned, do-it-yourself IT principles 
 
  Farm out or farm in?   
The pundits tell you to keep the core and outsource the rest. But deciding what's core isn't always easy. 
 
  Open source calling   
The clash between open source and proprietary telephony solutions has arrived 
 
  Code jag in Vegas   
Sometimes getting ugly is necessary, but be sure to document your quick fix 
 
  Intel at Apple's core   
Thanks to open source, Apple's big shift from IBM to Intel will have little effect in the real world 
 
  Money talks   
Understanding any IT operation begins with a hard look at where the money is going 
 
  Secrets of a great off-site retreat   
Fire up the lasers, order the pizza, and stay no longer than absolutely necessary 
 
  Terminal security   
Before you fire an IT employee, especially one with network privileges, prepare for the worst 
 
  A fresh look at Excel   
A slight change in perspective leads to new respect for a commonplace tool 
 
  Hear it now   
Exploring new IT frontiers begins with talk. Now you can listen for yourself 
 
  The IT talent "crisis"   
  
 
  Does IT demand too much commitment?   
Work the long hours, but don’t sign your life away 
 
  Little points of failure   
Better establish PDA management policies now, before users really screw something up 
 
  Sanctioning software   
Determining which software solutions users can and cannot use involves some tough choices 
 
  Options add to end-user complications   
End-users will love you for letting them choose desktop hardware, until something breaks 
 
  Under Mac attack   
Call off the dogs -- we really do support Macs at InfoWorld, it's just not a religious thing 
 
  Want a Mac? You’re on your own   
I love Macs and I use one myself, but I can’t afford to spend time supporting them 
 
  Beyond the blog hype   
Many IT managers see blogging as a waste of time, but they're missing the practical value 
 
  Ignorance of the law   
The best antidote to compliance paranoia is to learn the legal details -- before it’s too late 
 
  Your CEO, exposed!   
Paris Hilton’s wayward handheld can teach us all a lesson about the security of mobile devices 
 
  The ones that get away   
Now that the IT recovery is under way, it will be harder to retain the best employees 
 
  What it takes to get ahead   
Your technology chops may be second to none, but to get to the top, brush up on your people skills 
 
  Get your IT house in order   
As my closet demonstrates, organization products aren’t enough to get you organized 
 
  IT's moment of truth   
It all comes down to where you focus your efforts and where you should relinquish control 
 
  Backing into disaster   
Sometimes the most pedestrian procedures are the ones that really protect your job 
 
  Subscribe vs. build   
Purists, particularly the open source variety, ignore the outsourcing option -- to their detriment 
 
  The perils of customization   
We all think we’re one of a kind. Readers chime in on why IT systems should avoid specialness 
 
  A heyday for open source?   
This may be the year when enterprise apps go fully mainstream, even if small fees are attached 
 
  Your shiny new wreck   
Ultra-custom cars and made-to-order IT projects have something in common 
 
  A CTO's downsized holiday wish list   
With the holidays upon us, I ask for less than I did last year, but expect better behavior 
 
  Life in the IT fun house   
As IT operations get more automated, new and different opportunities always arise 
 
  It's all about open source options   
Firefox adds another technology solution to an expanding roster of open source winners 
 
  Radical simplicity   
Industry luminary Adam Bosworth issues a rallying cry for simple software design 
 
  Keeping up, looking ahead   
Are you ahead of or behind the technology curve? The employees you serve will let you know 
 
  Wiki goes to work   
Here’s how Wiki can provide a collaborative staging area for solving IT problems 
 
  Is Wiki under your radar?   
Your staff may already be using one of the most productive collaboration tools ever built 
 
  When good vendors go bad   
Pushy vendors getting you down? Fight back with your wallet 
 
  Open source or outsource?   
Commercial software has its place, but open source and hosted solutions now dominate 
 
  Join the CTO club   
Feeling lonely at the top? CTO clubs provide a great venue for mutual support 
 
  Why can’t Johnny compute?   
Readers weigh in on whether users’ basic computer literacy should be IT’s responsibility 
 
  My PowerBook odyssey   
Great hardware and OS design goes a long way, but I still need my ThinkPad 
 
  The whining class   
Is it time to crack down on willfully clueless users who soak up support bandwidth? 
 
  Real-world laptop recovery lessons   
Don't drink the water -- and never, never go to Baja without your Windows XP boot CD 
 
  Readers weigh in on IDEs   
To IDE or not to IDE? A matter of preference becomes a religious argument 
 
  Dreams of service-oriented b-to-b integration   
In pursuit of an SOA to clean up business processes and reduce human interaction 
 
  The great IDE debate   
Whether your shop opts for an IDE or not, it’s vital to decide one way or the other 
 

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