Computer Weekly articles from February 2004

Computer Weekly archives from February 2004

British computer society ; BCS collaborates on international software testing qualification.
February 3, 2004... John Kavanagh john.kavanagh@rbi.co.uk A single international syllabus and certification scheme for software testing specialists is being developed by the BCS and other national bodies working through the new International Software...

operating systems; Analysts warn of lock-in dangers as Microsoft previews Longhorn.
February 3, 2004... l Any powerful OS should provide integration, says Gatesl Concern as to how third-party products will interact with Longhorn Cliff Saran cliff.saran@rbi.co.uk Microsoft is aiming to develop the next generation operating system as...

banking; Egg pilots smart client computing.
February 3, 2004... Cliff Saran cliff.saran@rbi.co.uk Online bank Egg has begun a proof-of-concept project with Microsoft to look at how its banking platform needs to evolve to meet the future expectations of customers. The project uses the pre-alpha...

CRM; Microsoft releases 'bare bones' CRM package for SMEs.(customer relationship management; small- and medium-size enterprises)
February 3, 2004... Cliff Saran cliff.saran@rbi.co.uk Microsoft has finally released its customer relationship management package in the UK - the next phase in the company's plan to offer enterprise software to small and medium-sized businesses. In...

Demand for IT contractors up 25%.(information technology)
February 3, 2004... Bill Goodwin bill.goodwin@rbi.co.uk The demand for IT contractors in the final quarter of 2003 was up 25% year-on-year, providing confirmation that the IT jobs market is recovering from its biggest slump in a decade. Demand for...

Beginners should learn XHTML.
February 3, 2004... Nick Langley computer.weekly@rbi.co.uk What is it? The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) described HTML (Hypertext Markup Language) as "the lingua franca for publishing on the world wide web". It is universal, easy to use and very...

striding; into recovery.(the information technology industry)
February 3, 2004... ganisations only, Unix was the skill most in demand, rising from third place last time, probably as a result of the increase in recruitment in the finance sector, where Unix is particularly strong. Finance companies account for nearly one third...

Things just got tougher.(managing staff in the information technology industry)
February 3, 2004... Dominic Connor Opinion In terms of managing staff, IT directors have had it easy over the past few years. A slump in the job market has meant that unhappy and unmotivated staff have often been forced to stay put. But with growing...

Downtime.(management training courses at Microsoft)
February 3, 2004... Friend first, a boss second, entertainer third They are queuing for management training courses at Microsoft after the UK wing of the company teamed up with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the brains behind hit TV show The Office, to...

training; Firms rewarded for their creative approach to IT employee training.
February 3, 2004... James Rogers james.rogers@rbi.co.uk The standard of IT training is going up, according to Colin Steed, chief executive of the Institute of IT training. Speaking to Computer Weekly ahead of the institute's awards ceremony at the...

storage ; University aims for three-year ROI from storage overhaul.(University of Huddersfield )
February 3, 2004... James Rogers james.rogers@rbi.co.uk The University of Huddersfield has embarked on a [pounds sterling]1m overhaul of its storage infrastructure from which it expects to recoup its investment within three years. The move involves...

IT directors must look to retain key staff as jobs market shows signs of recovery.(information technology)
February 3, 2004... Antony Savvas computer.weekly@rbi.co.uk The upturn in the jobs market revealed by the latest SSL/Computer Weekly Quarterly Survey of Appointments Data and Trends should encourage IT directors to consider their strategies to retain...

CRM ; Interface hopes for quick return on global CRM.(manufacturing giant Interface )
February 3, 2004... l Manufacturer rolls out sales force automation across 20 countriesl Reduced staff training time could lead to ROI within nine months Daniel Thomas daniel.thomas@rbi.co.uk Manufacturing giant Interface has embarked on a global...

e-government ; UK only mid-table in Europe's e-gov league.(The UK ranks only eighth in Europe for providing sophisticated e-government services, according to a report from consulting firm Cap Gemini Ernst & Young)
February 3, 2004... James Rogers james.rogers@rbi.co.uk The UK ranks only eighth in Europe for providing sophisticated e-government services, according to a report from consulting firm Cap Gemini Ernst & Young. The study of 18 countries, undertaken...

groupware ; Lotus unveils Java web services and creates roadmap to stop users moving to Microsoft.
February 3, 2004... l New versions of Notes and Domino launched at Lotusphere user eventl Integration and collaborative working are main benefits Antony Savvas computer.weekly@rbi.co.uk Lotus has launched a series of linked Java-based web services and...

UK users welcome greater integration in Lotus.
February 3, 2004... Antony Savvas computer.weekly@rbi.co.uk UK-based users of Lotus products have reacted positively to the announcements made at the Lotusphere show in Florida. Keith Hollins, IT architecture manager at Durham County Council, said,...

e-government; Socitm calls for talks over e-gov targets.(the Society of IT Management)
February 3, 2004... James Rogers james.rogers@rbi.co.uk Whitehall's e-government plans do not reflect local needs and could damage councils' ability to meet the 2005 deadline for delivering services online, according to the Society of IT Management. ...

licensing; IT firms top piracy list.(information technology; software piracy)
February 3, 2004... Daniel Thomas daniel.thomas@rbi.co.uk Software suppliers themselves, along with IT services and other technology organisations were the worst software piracy offenders, accounting for 24% of settlements last year, according to the...

Security; Gartner: MyDoom could be one of the most damaging worms ever.
February 3, 2004... l MyDoom spread faster than previous wormsl Users advised to quarantine attachmentsl IT should scan all Windows PCs for Trojans Cliff Saran cliff.saran@rbi.co.uk The MyDoom worm that hit businesses last week was one of the...

software; Push MS for renewal discounts.(Microsoft )
February 3, 2004... Cliff Saran cliff.saran@rbi.co.uk Corporate customers will have the opportunity to negotiate big discounts and improved contract terms with Microsoft in the next six months as the software giant tries to get its existing Software...

NHS IT; Trusts concerned over local cost of national plan.
February 3, 2004... computer weekly campaign NHS ITWATCH Tony Collins tony.collins@rbi.co.uk The director of information at a South London trust has expressed reservations about how quickly his organisation will be able to take up national...

nhs it; National plan needs more user buy-in.
February 3, 2004... Tony Collins tony.collins@rbi.co.uk Assist, the Association for ICT Professionals in Health and Social Care, has expressed strong support for the [pounds sterling]2.3bn national programme for IT - but has warned that the plans are now...

security; Passport Service plans better ID verification.
February 3, 2004... Agency is running a pilot programme to check details of driving license holders against databases held by the Department of Work and Pensions. The Passport Service plans to bolster the identity checks by calling in passport applicants for...

outsourcing; Sainsbury's cuts out IT outsourcing middleman.
February 3, 2004... l Supermarket buys out intermediary to simplify outsourcing contractl Deal will give retailer greater control of its IT systems and data Daniel Thomas daniel.thomas@rbi.co.uk Sainsbury's is simplifying its IT outsourcing contract...

software; Newham sets a precedent.
February 3, 2004... Antony Savvas computer.weekly@rbi.co.uk Microsoft could face pressure from local authorities to match software licensing discounts it has offered Newham Council, following its trial of Linux. The Newham deal will help the council...

Letters.
February 3, 2004... London trusts support NHS national plan for IT Christine Outram North Central London SHA chief executive and senior responsible officer, London IT programme Your article "London Hospitals to face hefty bill for IT plan work"...

Recognising the best places to work in IT.(information technology; IT departments for Computer Weekly's Best Places to Work in IT 2003 awards )
February 3, 2004... Selected from 500 nominees, the shortlisted IT departments for Computer Weekly's Best Places to Work in IT 2003 awards represent leading-edge thinking on how to create a positive workplace. Look out for coverage of the awards in our 10...

NEXT MOVE.
February 3, 2004... The question Return to industry or stay in academia? Since being made redundant from my job as a software developer, I have been working as a computer science lecturer, teaching at HND and BSc level. I keep my skills...

health; UK's sick employees avoid taking time off.(a survey by the Trades Union Congress)
February 3, 2004... Antony Savvas computer.weekly@rbi.co.uk Too many employees are turning up to work when they have colds and other illnesses, according to a survey by the Trades Union Congress. The TUC said almost 33% of respondents had struggled...

retail; Mid-size shops at risk without chip and Pin.
February 3, 2004... Daniel Thomas daniel.thomas@rbi.co.uk Medium-sized retailers must begin to implement chip and Pin-compliant electronic point of sale systems or risk falling into a new retail underclass. The warning, from analyst firm Butler...

Plan now to avoid being caught out by a jobs upturn.
February 3, 2004... The longest journey starts with a single step, according to the proverb, and given the malaise that has affected the IT sector over the past few years there is no doubt that the road to recovery will be lengthy. At last though it appears that...

How to choose the right offshore IT model.(Editorial)
February 3, 2004... Tim Pullen Opinion A growing number of UK companies are moving IT systems and business functions overseas to lower-cost countries such as India in a bid reduce costs. However, there are various types of offshore outsourcing and it...

Keep financial goals flexible and forecast an accurate budget with real-time software.(Editorial)
February 3, 2004... Richard Pierce Opinion You have to question the relevance of the annual budget in today's business world. Terrorism, globalisation, intense market pressures across all sectors and the increasing volatility of once stable Western...

Recognise the five IT outsourcing myths before committing yourself to a contract.(Excerpt)
February 3, 2004... BOOK extract A firm can outsource any type of business process IT assets and activities can take many different forms, but they can be categorised into critical differentiators, critical commodities or useful commodities. A...

Passport Service paves way for ID cards.
February 3, 2004... Bill Goodwin bill.goodwin@rbi.co.uk The success of the government's plans to introduce electronic ID cards will hinge on the ability of the Passport Service to cheaply and quickly record millions of fingerprint, iris and facial images....

How do I get the board to define a strategy?
February 3, 2004... I know we need to align our IT strategy with the firm's business strategy, but my department has great difficulty obtaining a definition of the strategy from the board. How can we persuade the board to provide a suitable response? IT...

inside the BCS; Professional grade awards simplified.(British Computer Society)(Brief Article)
February 3, 2004... John Kavanagh john.kavanagh@rbi.co.uk Landmark changes giving IT specialists simpler access to a BCS professional membership grade have been given the go-ahead by the Privy Council. The changes - expected to bring 50% annual...

skills; Demand for contract IT workers grows.
February 3, 2004... ment of Information Systems, said, "If employers are going to invest, they are going to invest in India because it is cheaper and they can get tax breaks. This means that individuals are going to have to train themselves if they want to compete...

People and their achievements are the true hallmarks of the best places to work in IT.
February 3, 2004... Business guru Stephanie Shirley supports the Best Places to Work in IT Awards equal opportunities. Having pioneered new ways of working geared to women, my interests have now morphed to support multi-cultural diversity. For example,...

Don't rely on super-users.(Editorial)
February 3, 2004... Omar Sharif Opinion IT consultancy firms are in business to maximise their returns, but in the more unscrupulous firms, this pursuit will often drive them to exploit their clients' weaknesses; primarily, their lack of IT knowledge and...

Real Time Club; IT directors list cyber threats as top priority.
February 3, 2004... Firms failing to report attacks on their IT, phishing, unexpected cyberattacks and cyberterrorism are the four biggest "banana skin" risk areas for IT leaders in 2004, according to a report by the Real Time Club based on a debate and membership...

The state of business intelligence in 2003.
February 3, 2004... Nigel Pendse Tech Talk Online analytical processing (Olap) is a method of extracting business information and allowing users to view it from different "dimensions", such the sales for one product, in a chosen country, over a defined...

data retention; Oracle and EMC unite to tackle data retention.
February 3, 2004... James Rogers james.rogers@rbi.co.uk EMC and Oracle are working together on a set of products and services to target historical data which is generally stored on business systems. Businesses have a legal responsibility to store...

operating systems; Microsoft's Longhorn platform promises to remove middleware.
February 3, 2004... l Longhorn will combine XML, web services and managed codel Stateless PC will allow applications and data to run from server or client Cliff Saran cliff.saran@rbi.co.uk Microsoft's chief software architect Bill Gates took centre...

British computer society ; Human failings can compromise the best IT security configuration.
February 10, 2004... John Kavanagh john.kavanagh@rbi.co.uk Even the best IT security can be let down by people's shortcomings and the processes surrounding systems. That was a key message from last month's annual Turing Lecture, organised by the BCS and...

Web apps need standards.
February 10, 2004... Mike Lucas Opinion Since the world wide web took off a decade ago, businesses have been using the internet to get closer to their stakeholders: shareholders, employees, customers and partners. Web services offer the opportunity to...

IT directors plan system upgrades as SAP pulls R/3.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2004... Cliff Saran cliff.saran@rbi.co.uk The death knell sounded last week on the software that chang-ed the face of global business. The German software giant has stopped shipping R/3 and will end normal support in 2009. SAP R/3,...

SMEs and public sector pull IT out of the slump.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2004... Computer Weekly reporters computer.weekly@rbi.co.uk Spending by IT departments has accelerated at its fastest rate for 18 months, the latest Computer Weekly/Kew Associates survey has revealed. Spending by end-users grew by 5.2% in...

Best Places to Work in IT 2003 awards.
February 10, 2004... Champagne corks were flying as 17 award winners celebrated victory at Computer Weekly's Best Places to Work in IT 2003 awards last week. The awards attracted thousands of entries from companies, charities and public sector organisations. IT...

Solaris 9 rises to Linux challenge.
February 10, 2004... hot skills In the SSL/CW list of top IT skills, Solaris is number 21 Nick Langley computer.weekly@rbi.co.uk What is it? Solaris is the best-selling implementation of Unix and holds about one third of the market. However, its...

Collaborate on ID cards.
February 10, 2004... John Higgins Opinion In its submissions to the Home Office and the Home Affairs Select Committee, Intellect has argued for early supplier involvement in the delivery of a national identity card scheme. This project will only...

Downtime.
February 10, 2004... The name's Bond, or Smith or Jones... The intelligence services were a little alarmed by the government's plans to replace passports and driving licences with biometric identity cards by 2007. The cards, it was feared, could make it...

financial sector; Trades system delayed to allow for business process harmonisation.
February 10, 2004... l Euroclear delays system go-live date for one yearl Industry reports advise market harmonisationl New system estimated to save clients [pounds sterling]240m Nick Huber nick.huber@rbi.co.uk An ambitious project to consolidate the...

networks; Telecoms slump eases.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2004... Antony Savvas computer.weekly@rbi.co.uk The slump in telecoms spending is easing, according to the Communications Management Association, which holds its conference in London next week. The CMA will release the full results of its...

training; NHS trust awarded gold standard accreditation for its IT training.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2004... James Rogers james.rogers@rbi.co.uk The South West Yorkshire Mental Health Trust has become the first NHS trust to be awarded gold standard accreditation by the Institute of IT Training. The trust's health informatics training...

IT directors are balancing recruitment and training to deliver new projects.
February 10, 2004... recruitment Surveys suggest that IT spending and the jobs market are picking up. Computer Weekly asked IT leaders across the UK about their recruitment plans Computer Weekly reporters computer.weekly@rbi.co.uk Continued economic...

Victims must speak up to beat cybercrime.
February 10, 2004... interview Despite some high-profile successes, Len Hynds, head of the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit, has sympathy for companies that are reluctant to report computer crimes Bill Goodwin bill.goodwin@rbi.co.uk The National Hi-Tech...

Prescott Pentium 4; Users should wait to reap Prescott benefits.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2004... processors As PC makers introduce hardware based on the new Pentium Prescott chip, analysts are advising corporate users to evaluate its performance and price in the long term Cliff Saran cliff.saran@rbi.co.uk Users have been...

retail ; M&S to extend RFID use after trial success.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2004... Daniel Thomas daniel.thomas@rbi.co.uk High street retailer Marks & Spencer last week revealed it is planning to extend its use of RFID technology this spring after a four-week trial at its High Wycombe store proved largely successful....

Doctors question NHS IT priorities and lack of consultation about national plan.
February 10, 2004... computer weekly campaign NHS ITWATCH Tony Collins tony.collins@rbi.co.uk A key initiative for the NHS, to allow GPs and the public to book medical appointments electronically, has the firm support of fewer than 50% of...

systems; BAA goes thin client.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2004... Daniel Thomas daniel.thomas@rbi.co.uk UK airports authority BAA is to spend [pounds sterling]26m over the next three years to create a server-based IT platform, in an attempt to improve security, cut maintenance costs and reduce...

security; Gartner: MyDoom is not dead yet.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2004... Daniel Thomas daniel.thomas@rbi.co.uk IT organisations should not believe the threat from the MyDoom virus is over, analyst firm Gartner has warned. Some experts had predicted that MyDoom would die back this week after it had been...

databases; Oracle woos SMEs by cutting 10g entry price.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2004... Antony Savvas computer.weekly@rbi.co.uk Oracle has reduced the entry-level price of its new 10g database in a bid to attract small and medium-sized enterprises, but users need to be wary of management costs, analysts have warned. ...

NHS IT; National plan may break disaster-prevention rules.
February 10, 2004... computer weekly campaign NHS ITWATCH Tony Collins tony.collins@rbi.co.uk The [pounds sterling]2.3bn IT-based plan to modernise the NHS has failed to effectively engage doctors - the key stakeholders - which raises questions...

Plan site visits to select offshore providers.
February 10, 2004... outsourcing IT directors considering outsourcing abroad should look beyond the sales team's pitch and visit the supplier's site to discover its real strengths and weaknesses BYLINE: Mark Kobayashi-Hilary Opinion When choosing an...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
February 10, 2004... National programme should get real Name and address supplied Everyone in NHS IT will understand why Christine Outram had to write the letter published last week (Computer Weekly, 3 February). There is no doubt that the vast majority of...

intellect ict industry ball; IT ball helps Barnado's children.
February 10, 2004... The [pounds sterling]27,000 raised from last summer's Intellect ICT Industry Charity Ball is now helping disabled children improve their verbal communication skills at Barnado's new Spark Centre in Bethnal Green, London, which opened in...

64-bit computing; Faster 32-bit offers more than hybrid chip.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2004... Cliff Saran cliff.saran@rbi.co.uk Intel is likely to use its developers' forum next week to unveil plans for a 32/64-bit hybrid chip codenamed "Yamhill", mirroring rival chipmaker AMD's 64-bit strategy. AMD's hybrid processor,...

desktop; Corporate users want standard PC chipset.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2004... Cliff Saran cliff.saran@rbi.co.uk As chipmakers push forward price-performance barriers, corporate users are still demanding a standard desktop PC with a guarantee from the supplier that the specification will not change. James...

'In the 1980s, consultancies hired you if you could spell SAP'.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2004... Cliff Saran cliff.saran@rbi.co.uk SAP R/3 has brought more than its fair share of cheers and tears to the IT industry - and even the odd laugh. Consultants were quick to offer advice on R/3 installations, but they rapidly became...

networks; Errors cost users average of [pounds sterling]4.8m in downtime.
February 10, 2004... Cliff Saran cliff.saran@rbi.co.uk Human error is responsible for almost a quarter of network downtime, according to a study from Infonetics Research The survey of chief information officers at 80 Fortune 1,000 companies in the US...

security; Sentencing policies for hackers too lenient.
February 10, 2004... Bill Goodwin bill.goodwin@rbi.co.uk The head of the National Hi-Tech Crime Unit has called on the government and the courts to reform sentencing policy to reflect the damage caused by hackers breaking into government and private sector...

YOUR SHOUT; Have your say at ; computerweekly.com.(Letter to the Editor)
February 10, 2004... with tax revenues and the positive impact on the economy must easily offset the cost of maintaining the system. Once done internationally, I believe viruses will die out as virus writers realise there is no point in trying. Bill Self ...

NEXT MOVE.(Brief Article)
February 10, 2004... The question How can I retrain for chip and Pin? I have been with my current employer for the past 10 years, but recently I have been transferred to another company, which will work as a sub-contractor to my previous firm. My...

Best places to work provide lessons for all IT directors.(Editorial)
February 10, 2004... This week marks the climax of Computer Weekly's search to find the best places to work in IT 2003. The aim of the awards, to celebrate the UK's best employers of IT professionals, has struck a chord with many. In this week's issue, for...

End of an era as SAP R/3 takes final bow.
February 10, 2004... sap R/3 transformed the relationship between business and IT, enabling wholesale business process re-engineering. As SAP announces its demise, we look back on its 14-year reign Nick Huber nick.huber@rbi.co.uk The news that SAP has...

Start migration plans for mySAP upgrades now.
February 10, 2004... Cliff Saran cliff.saran@rbi.co.uk IT departments running R/3 have some hard thinking to do following SAP's decision to stop selling its pioneering enterprise resource planning package. SAP has given users a clear migration...

Build your business case for upgrades by adding functionality.
February 10, 2004... Nigel Montgomery Opinion Projects to upgrade enterprise software platforms can be challenging to sell to senior management, primarily because it is difficult to show what they will be getting for their money. Many IT managers and...

The country's best IT departments make a major contribution to British industry.
February 10, 2004... Patricia Hewitt Opinion The IT sector employs more than a million people in the UK, and is one of the success stories of our economy over the past 10 years. Almost all of the world's leading IT companies have a base here, with many...

these are the Best places to work in IT.
February 10, 2004... The winners of the Best Places to Work in IT 2003 awards, profiled here, represent the pinnacle of best practice in running an IT department. Over the following pages we profile the thinking behind their success and how they particularly...

Identify your goals and use mediation before taking your IT supplier to court.
February 10, 2004... dispute resolution You must have a strategy from the outset when tackling suppliers As every IT director will be aware, IT contracts are particularly vulnerable to dispute - the most frequent contentions being price, delay, and failure to...

Make a business case for flexible working.
February 10, 2004... work/life balance IT managers could benefit from introducing flexible working practices, but they must plan how to implement the changes and systems to support them BYLINE: Lindsay Wittenberg Opinion As more employees look to...

Securing a wireless network means much more than just protecting against hackers.
February 10, 2004... legal liability Make sure contracts with Wi-Fi suppliers and users limit your liability BYLINE: Chris Reed Opinion One in three Wi-Fi networks in the City of London were insecure, and nearly two thirds failed to encrypt data...

SAP R/3: you got it right or paid the price.
February 10, 2004... sap Enterprise resource planning installations can provide some real benefits or some embarrassing headlines when things go wrong. We recall some high and low points Daniel Thomas daniel.thomas@rbi.co.uk Although successful...