The Daily News is brought to you by George Spafford, Principal Consultant at Pepperweed Consulting, LLC.  Pepperweed is nationally recognized as a leader in IT Management and was recently recognized as one of the Inc. 500 fastest growing privately-held companies.  For more information, check out our website at www.pepperweed.com or call 888 229-0145. Please let us know if you see stories you think should be included in the next issue of the Daily News, and feel free to forward this email on to others.

 

"Don’t confuse a plan with execution.  A plan is good intentions.  You don’t win with good intentions.” – Lr. General Russel, Honore, Joint Task Force Katrina

 

The Picks of the Day

The Hollowing Out of Destiny

“After World War II, the US was the preeminent economic and military power by default. We were at the right place at the right time with the right people and the right culture. Our factories hadn’t been bombed, our military-industrial complex was bustling and the world was calling. What an amazing time it was. People from all over the world came to the United States for undergraduate and graduate educations and often stayed to partake in the wealth and betterment of life. It was a wonderful phase and like all phases, the world has moved on to new things.”

http://www.spaffordconsulting.com/The%20Hollowing%20Out%20of%20Destiny.html

 

Security group ranks human error as top security worry

“Paller's organization compiles an annual report on the top to Internet security targets. This year ‘human vulnerabilities’ will make their first appearance on a list that is typically made up of software products like Internet Explorer, databases, and file sharing applications.  

That's because the human factor is being exploited in a growing number of targeted attacks as more and more criminals come online in Eastern Europe and Asia, Paller said.”

http://www.infoworld.com/article/06/11/15/HNhumanerror_1.html?source=rss&url=http://www.infoworld.com/article/06/11/15/HNhumanerror_1.html

 

PCAOB: Revised AS2 to Debut by December

“The accounting board plans to make the standard governing audits of internal controls ‘more clearly scalable to companies of any size,’ says Mark Olson, the board's chairman.”

http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/8192307/c_8192345?f=alerts&x=1

 

IT Process Improvement / Quality Management

The Thriving Business of Poor Quality

“It’s interesting how expectations are set and evolve over time. Computer systems reflect our ability as creators to craft services that facilitate outcomes. Yet all too often the actual delivered services are flawed and the burden is pushed to the customer.”

http://www.spaffordconsulting.com/The%20Thriving%20Business%20of%20Poor%20Quality.html

 

IT Portfolio Mismanagement

“Some IT organizations are using portfolios of IT projects to manage risks in an attempt to yield positive benefits to their organizations. The idea originated in finance and makes sense when the assets being held are relatively independent in nature, however, are IT projects truly independent variables like a third party investment?”

http://www.spaffordconsulting.com/IT%20Portfolio%20Mismanagement.html

 

Webcast:  Requirements to Consider When Selecting ITSM Tools

This webcast covers issues to consider when selecting a tool to support IT Service Management initiatives.  It includes philosophical considerations, high-level requirements and then suggests requirements to consider for each of the core Service Support and Service Delivery areas plus vendor selection considerations.

Webcast:  http://www.jupiterwebcasts.com/_archives/2006/webcast_11-13-06/files/lobby.html

PPT:  http://www.spaffordconsulting.com/nov%2013%20-%20itsm%20tools.ppt

 

Legal and Regulatory Compliance

Rule Britannia

“Regulators of London's financial markets are concerned that Sarbanes-Oxley could make its way across the Atlantic.”

http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/8131048/c_8192345?f=alerts

 

Sarbanes-Oxley changes will aid firms, Cox says

“Rule changes for corporate financial controls will be significant, aimed at reducing compliance costs for companies while ensuring that investors are protected, the head of the Securities and Exchange Commission said yesterday.”

http://www.boston.com/business/markets/articles/2006/11/17/sarbanes_oxley_changes_will_aid_firms_cox_says/

 

Webcast:  Using ITIL to Improve SOX Processes

Many organizations have experienced cost and frustration associated with some of the processes that they have implemented to comply with Sarbanes-Oxley. ITIL offers many comparison processes that groups can leverage to improve their efficiency and effectiveness.

Webcast:  http://cp.jupiterweb.com/index.php/3051_default/f6b43f7439c13d42ce47c70c7d2f2215

PPT:  http://www.spaffordconsulting.com/oct%2031%20-%20ITIL%20%20SOX_gs_v2.ppt

 

Security and Risk Management

Banks pull out the big guns to guard online users

“Financial institutions must balance the ticklish task of selling new services while maintaining a secure system. In their haste to offer fast, convenient services that are more attractive than those of competitors, bank executives are ever mindful of a security breach that could scare away consumers.”

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/computersecurity/2006-11-19-guarding-online-banks_x.htm?csp=34

 

Analysis: Physical/Logical Security Convergence

“Physical and logical security staffs, both tasked with protecting enterprise assets, are seeing increased technology and budgetary overlaps. Now, technological shifts, budgetary realities and a major government initiative are adding further impetus for convergence of these two factions.”

http://www.networkcomputing.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleId=194200006

 

Researchers discover security flaw in microchips

“The danger of hackers breaking into computer chips, using a technique known as Branch Prediction Analysis (PBA), previously necessitated a very large number of attempts to decipher a cryptology key.”

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061118/tc_afp/scienceitcomputers_061118163938

 

Human Error / Safety

Global warming to hit Alps hard

“New projections for New Zealand warn that as the weather hots up, the fastest warming will happen in the coldest parts of the country - the Southern Alps.”

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3866248a10,00.html

 

E.ON says human error caused Nov. 4 power blackout

“A power blackout that originated in Germany and spread to many parts of Europe on Nov. 4 was caused by a human error, German utility E.ON said on Wednesday.  E.ON's northern German power network was overloaded when a cable was shut to allow a cruise ship to pass along a river.”

http://asia.news.yahoo.com/061115/3/2sxw0.html

 

Bird flu vaccine has short shelf life

“Some of the first doses of bird flu vaccine in the nation's stockpile are growing weaker with age. If the shots are needed anytime soon, there will be enough for a million fewer people than previously thought”

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061117/ap_on_he_me/bird_flu_vaccines_1

 

Outsourcing / Globalization / International

Russia signs deal with U.S., paving way to WTO

“Russia and the U.S. signed a key trade agreement on the sidelines of a meeting of Pacific Rim leaders Sunday — a major economic milestone that paves the way for Russia’s entry into the World Trade Organization.  As the largest economy still outside the 149-member WTO, which sets the rules for global trade, the deal with the U.S. is a powerful vote of confidence in Russia’s investment climate.”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15793470/

 

Back to the future?

“With every new record export total reached by China, many other nations are becoming increasingly nervous about the country's economic rise. India, for its part, is also on the fast track toward attaining a much more significant role in the global economy. What percentage of world gross domestic product did China and India account for back in 1870?”

http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2006/11/19/back_to_the_future/

[This is an interesting article built around some simple questions with surprising answers.]

 

Outsourcing hits a new class of workers: Journalists

“Remote-control journalism is the scornful term that unions use for the shift of newspaper jobs to low-cost countries like India or Singapore with fiber-optic connections transmitting information all around the world.  But the momentum for "offshoring" to other countries or outsourcing locally is accelerating as newspapers small and large seek ways to reduce costs in the face of severe stresses from sagging circulation and advertising revenue to shareholder pressure.”

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/11/19/business/outsource.php

 

Philippine call center business booms

“As India moves more up- market in outsourcing, the Philippines is fast gaining a share of the customer- contact call center business. It might be low-end and low-margin, but for the Philippines it has been an employment boon.”

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/11/20/business/call1.php

 

Tripos falls victim to Indian outsourcing

“After losing one contract after another and cutting staff repeatedly, Tripos Inc. Chief Executive John McAlister had to face facts: The Brentwood-based company's chemistry-services unit couldn't keep up with low-cost competitors in India.”

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/business/stories.nsf/0/0D53DA9F2A6E7F018625722A0010C0BB?OpenDocument

 

Chinese customers big winners in banking reforms

“Chinese consumers will be the big winners in banking reforms that are expected to deliver higher-quality foreign financial services and force Chinese banks to shape up and meet the competition.”

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061119/bs_afp/chinaeconomysectorbankingreform_061119060620

 

Economics / Business / Misc.

Pigou or NoPigou?

“Pigou advocated taxation as a way to combat the negative externalities, or side-effects, associated with certain activities. These have been used to justify levies on cigarettes, alcohol and even traffic congestion.”

http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/8163335/c_8192345?f=alerts

 

Forecasters Look for Economy to Slow

“The U.S. economy has been battered by a bigger-than-expected slump in housing but will keep growing next year as consumers get relief from soaring energy costs.  That is the view of a panel of 50 top forecasters in a survey released Monday by the National Association for Business Economics.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/20/AR2006112000155.html

 

G10 sees low risk to economy-BoC's Dodge

“Risks to the world economy are low and this benign environment is set to continue, Bank of Canada Governor David Dodge said after a meeting of top central bankers.  Dodge, in Sydney for a meeting of Group of 10 central bankers, said authorities were more confident about the global financial system's resilience following the way it coped with a bout of emerging market turmoil in May and June of this year and a high-profile hedge fund failure.”

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061120/wl_canada_nm/canada_economy_g10_dodge_col_1

 

Microsoft counts on Vista to recharge stagnant stock

“The company is counting heavily on Windows Vista — the new version of the operating system, five years in the making — along with a parade of product launches beginning this month. That could give Microsoft's long-stagnant stock a boost; already, shares have been growing since hitting a low point in June.”

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003437957_vista19.html?syndication=rss

 

End Notes

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Pepperweed Consulting, LLC, was founded by IT professionals who recognized a need for quality IT Management tools and specialists peaked in their implementation and use. Today, Pepperweed is nationally recognized for its unique ability to provide optimal infrastructure and process designs and to deliver on the promise of those designs through hands-on implementation of selected technologies. Recently listed as one of the Inc. 500 fastest growing, privately held companies, Pepperweed is one of the largest IT Management practices in the U.S.

 

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George Spafford Principal Consultant Pepperweed Consulting, LLC® Office:  269-556-9597 Mobile:  269-208-1832 FAX:  208-978-6295 George.Spafford@...

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