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VOIP TESTING OVERLOOKED
I noted a constantly overlooked point in "Making Strides With VoIP" [July issue]. People believe that they are replacing traditional private branch exchanges (PBX) with a more software-driven PBX based on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). But we are really replacing hardware-based PBX with software embedded with a three-tier software application that supports phone calls. This is like implementing three-tier Oracle business applications without a trained database administrator available, without a test system and without testing all three layers whenever a change is made. Yet in implementing VoIP, no one talks about a test system.
Fernando Gonzalez
CIO
Byer California
San Francisco, Calif.
A SEXIST OVERSIGHT?
I opened my CIO Decisions August issue and was outraged by an editorial decision that displays incredible disrespect to a member of our country's Armed Forces -- and one whom you were trying to honor.
On page 3, the photo caption identifies "Donna Cottrell and Capt. Mark Butt." Both are pictured in uniform, and both are clearly commissioned officers of the U.S. Coast Guard. One holds the title of commander; the other the grade of captain. Your choice to identify Butt using his proper title but to identify Cottrell only by name was inappropriate. It would be acceptable to use a title for both or neither, but it is an obvious affront to the commander to omit her title while using the captain's. In the article itself, the same omission is made twice more.
Surely this cannot be the editorial policy of your magazine. Because Cmdr. Cottrell and Capt. Butt are different sexes, and because the female was slighted, I have to wonder if these omissions reflect unspoken assumptions among your staff members.
Cragin Shelton
Retired Col.
U.S. Armed Forces
Alexandria, Va.
The Editors Reply: We regret the omission in our photo caption and article and meant no disrespect to Cmdr. Donna Cottrell, one of our award winners in the 2005 Technology ROI Awards program.
PROJECT SPONSORSHIP IS KEY
I just finished "Successful Sponsorship: Only Leaders Need Apply" [Project Expert, May issue ] and completely agree with your analysis. In addition to your five questions directed to the vice president of sales, I would have asked, "What are you doing to make the IT project manager successful?" Upper management may assume that managers can achieve their deliverables, but they can't without a lack of cooperation from other stakeholders. The article correctly recommends treating in-house projects no differently from those contracted outside the company; it's necessary to have regular verbal and written communication between all affected parties.
As an IT manager and an experienced computer systems project manager, I've been involved with several successful and a few less-than-successful projects. Sponsorship was the key. Thanks for the great article.
Tony LaRosa
Advanced Mixed Waste Treatment Project
Bechtel BWXT Idaho
Idaho Falls, Idaho
KUDOS
Thank you for "Their First CIO" [July issue]. It's always enlightening to read how others perceive our company; to our relief, we really like your perception. The magazine looks great. We found several articles relevant to our technology initiatives. Kudos to your team.
Kit-Bacon Gressitt
VP of Marketing
FFF Enterprises
Temecula, Calif.
BROAD BUSINESS EXPERTISE
While "Talent Crisis Redux" [July issue] is interesting, it presents a skewed view of this talent pool. The cited high ratio of business analysts (BAs) within IT departments represents those who have "smokestack" expertise and are frequently focused on users' experience of a single system. Typically these BAs have a great deal of experience but such a narrow business focus that they can't achieve enterprise-level results.
Few BAs have deep cross-organizational expertise in multiple business areas. Most have developed their skill sets over decades of enterprise-level project work within multiple industries, and usually on a global scale. These people have a proven track record of enabling major change within a short time. I consider these people to be the "true" BAs, and they are the scarcest of resources, which your article doesn't mention.
As my peers in this area retire, and with new talent scarce, your article strikes a chord. But I don't like being lumped in with a larger group of BAs when we are vastly different. In any case, thanks for the article.
Rand Reed
Senior Business Analyst/Project Manager
Ness Technologies
Hackensack, N.J.
We Want to Hear From You: CIO Decisions welcomes letters to the editor. Write to us at editor@ciodecisions.com and include your name, company and a day-time phone number for verification. Letters may be edited for clarity and length.
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