An interesting post on the Gov 2.0 Australia community got me thinking about the future of open source software, the growth of collaborative communities, and Government business systems. Open Source is something we’ve moved into quite heavily in terms of our business systems focus due to the maturity of many of the vendors – like SugarCRM, Talend,  Atlassian etc.

The author of the post – Wayne Eddy raises the question about Government expenditure on proprietary software and whether Government would deliver better value to their constituents by embracing open source and using this to build a Government software suite.

As I thought about this the idea really intrigued me so I started making a list of pros and cons and a rough outline of how this ‘might’ look.

The Barriers (are not with Open Source)

I hate to start on a negative but I have to as I think the barriers to making this happen are quite significant.

1. The major software giants have deep pockets and will spend a lot of money to kill off an initiative such as this. They all have a vested interest in keeping open source in its cute cubby hole.
2. Add to this the threat O/S poses to the big system integration vendors. That’s a pretty big bear you’re stealing cake from…
3. How do you distinguish between raw open source and commercial open source? Or are we simply shifting the customer/vendor paradigm?
4. The Culture of “nobody got fired buying IBM”. There’s safety in dealing with global giants – though I bet there are a few GOC’s and Departments around the country who beg to differ…
5. The inherent disorganisation of the open source crowd. Let’s face it, O/S people are well different. I’d argue it’d be a bit like herding cats

The Opportunity for an Open Source Government Software Suite

Depending on how you approach this I can see merit in this idea and I can see an attractive model being developed.

I view this as an ecosystem of solutions that can be tied together with a common glue. Realistically we’d need to have a panel of O/S vendors for each core area along with an agreed set of protocols as to how data and integration is managed. You would also need to create a certification program so that any vendor wanting to be part of the panel has to meet a minimum set of standards with these standards covering core areas such as stability, documentation, development standards etc.

The real opportunity by doing this is that Government fosters broad collaboration as listed vendors can co-create solutions amongst themselves and in conjunction with Government. For example, a group of vendors could collaborate to create a small council business system – where the functionality is pared back such that the ‘product’ suits many of the smaller regional councils in Australia where resources and budgets are limited.

I think the ecosystem would also be attractive for the SI vendors. It gives them a chance to foster innovation and sponsor development that is owned by the Government and O/S community and is there for the benefit of Government. This shouldn’t be new for some of the major SI companies given the likes of Cap Gemini and Logica already have relationships with leading O/S vendors like Talend.

Most importantly, you start creating an IP pool that remains in Australia and is there for everyone in Government to benefit. Any international vendor wanting to utilise IP overseas could be expected to pay a royalty back to the Australian ‘pool’.

500 candidats pour 500 postes devraient être pourvus, avec 15 exposants, le salon de recrutement hier en informatique salons Marengo rappeler des jours meilleurs. “Cela ne signifie pas que tout le monde peut trouver un emploi, les profils d’intérêt pour les recruteurs sont souvent les mêmes, pressé sur le côté de l’organisateur, le site Lesjeudis.com ordinateur.” Cette année, nous prévoyons de recruter entre 150 et 200 personnes Grand Sud de la France, a déclaré Elodie Detant, chef de Cap Gemini stand IT géant français. Il est un peu moins que l’an dernier, où nous avons recruté 260 personnes. «L’industrie continue d’embaucher. Mais quel est le profil que les recruteurs ont combattu? Haut de la liste, des techniciens en informatique.

“Nous préférons recruter à Bac + 5, car ils sont formés dans tous les types de langages informatiques, ils ont plus d’expérience dans la gestion, l’administration …” Full Karine Pizzolato, qui recrute également pour Cap Gemini. “C est dans les activités de maintenance qui souffrent de la crise, c’est-à-dire le côté plus technique de l’informatique», a déclaré Emeric Bonafous, recruteur, y compris la société Altenburg. Or Alexander, un designer de 37 ans, estime que l’industrie n’est pas beaucoup à craindre. Dans l’ère du “Web 2.0″, les programmeurs de l’Internet ne manque pas de travail. “Les entreprises ne peuvent pas faire un projet. Ils sont parfois en retard, mais il arrive toujours.”

Par conséquent, certains choisissent de continuer, parfois trop tard. C’est le cas de Patrick Fischmann, 52, qui avait un Bac + 2 en tant que technicien en informatique. Il reprend des études et sera bientôt tenue d’un Bac + 6 dans le domaine du logiciel. “Il est clair aujourd’hui, plus on est diplômé, plus les chances de trouver du travail. Il vaut mieux être jeune, mais pas trop», dit-il, mi amusé, mi-inquiet.

I recently heard a debate on cloud computing and the impact that it would have on Customer Relationship Marketing. Although it was really a debate about cloud computing as a whole.

There was an impressive panel of technology savvy/business leaders from SAP, IBM, Cap Gemini, Netsuite, Oracle, Microsoft, Salesforce and Rightnow.com.

The debate essentially talked about Software as a Service (SaaS), information on demand outside the network firewall – it was about leveraging computer power. The protagonists agreed that the cloud is the future, and some of them even said that every application should work on the cloud.

Some of the key benefits that were identified were a lower barrier to entry, it’s scalable and the risk had been reduced. What risk, you may ask, and I will come to that later.

It will lead to pay on demand software provision, subscription pricing and outsourced datacentres. It becomes an operational expenditure as opposed to a capital expenditure.

However, they all agreed that it was definitely not something that could happen overnight and that for any company it requires small modular steps in order to progress to real cloud computing, seeing the benefits and then taking the next step.

The guy from Salesforce suggested that we should all forget about paying Microsoft for licenses for their software as it will all become available over the web, sorry I should say ‘the cloud’. However Google, Microsoft and Amazon are pushing forward plans to deliver information and software over the internet anyway.

So is this the way it’s going to be, it seems that the experts say so?

But Richard Stallman, founder of the Free Software Foundation, said that cloud computing was simply a trap aimed at forcing more people to buy into locked, proprietary systems that would cost them more and more over time.
“It’s stupidity. It’s worse than stupidity: it’s a hype campaign”.
“Somebody is saying this is inevitable – and whenever you hear somebody saying that, it’s very likely to be a set of businesses campaigning to make it true.”

His comments echo those made by Larry Ellison, the founder of Oracle, who criticised the rash of cloud computing announcements as “fashion-driven” and “complete gibberish”.
“The interesting thing about cloud computing is that we’ve redefined cloud computing to include everything that we already do,” he said. “The computer industry is the only industry that is more fashion-driven than women’s fashion. Maybe I’m an idiot, but I have no idea what anyone is talking about. What is it? It’s complete gibberish. It’s insane. When is this idiocy going to stop?”

All the IT people that I have spoken to have indicated that it’s not for them, they want and need control, ownership and responsibility for their data – and as we all know IT people are control freaks and a good thing to. What about security and the risks referred to earlier, especially with customer data? Well the experts say they have reduced the risks – haven’t we heard that before when a civil servant leaves a laptop on a train with all our personal details on the hard drive?

The IT guys argue that they would be dependent on someone else for their technology with cloud computing, and that can limit flexibility and even creativity. In fact, the personal computer itself arose because the old model of business computing, in which companies had big mainframes (aka clouds) and everyone connected to them via “dumb” terminals, was enormously frustrating for the people sitting at those dumb terminals.

They could only do what they were authorised to do. They were dependent on the computer administrators to give them permission or fix problems. They had no way of staying up on the latest innovations. The personal computer was a rebellion against the tyranny of centralised computing operations – and of the IBM mainframe world in particular.

So don’t fall into the trap; listen and learn and take advice from all sides and visit the Hardware.com website to get the best deals to manage your capital expenditure and operating expenditure, get the best technical advice and the best way to manage your network and datacentre.

Mark Cadbury
Marketing Director
Hardware.com

A bunch of cool Lombardi-related news bits came out last week.   I’ve been a bit slow on the uptake so I thought I’d put them together into one entry.

Lombardi Announces ‘08 Results

A cause for celebration!

Last week we announced results for last year (our fiscal and calendar years are the same).  It was our best year yet and particularly cool was that fact that our software sales grew 47% year over year.

My favorite quote from the release was from our president Phil Gilbert,  “[customers] need to lose fat while building muscle. Lombardi helps our customers do both.”

And of course I’m biased but my favorite bullet from our release was:

• SaaS Adoption: Surpassed 4,500 companies using Lombardi Blueprint, an on-demand process-documentation tool that is used to collaboratively map an organization’s business processes, identify problems, and prioritize improvement opportunities, making it the most widely used Software as a Service (SaaS) BPM product.

Cap Gemini goes with Lombardi

Under the heading “with a little help from our friends” (especially the ones who are big Systems Integrators), we announced that Cap Gemini’s Business Process Outsourcing Platform “will deploy Lombardi Teamworks as the standard process framework for all of its BPOpen 2.0™ BPO managed processes and will make it available to both existing and future customers as a way to help drive further efficiencies in their businesses.” (And for those of you prefer your announcements in French, voila).  (Or Dutch).

Gartner 2009 BPMS Magic Quadrant released

And under the heading “everyone’s favorite 2×2 matrix,” Gartner released its ‘09 Magic Quadrant for Business Process Management Suites.  (Man are there a lot of players in the space these days!)  Lombardi was very pleased to find itself in the leaders quadrant once again.  To see exactly where, click here.

All in all, a good week last week

Pau for now…

Design Strategy Corporation’s H1 Candidates available for anywhere in the US

Ashish S. has 5+ years experience in JAVA/J2EE

• Sun Certified Java Programmer and Web Component Developer
• Skilled in JAVA, JSP, Servlets, Struts, JDBS, HTML, XML etc
• Strong background in Client-Server and Web Based Applications
• Industry experience at HSBC/Cap Gemini and SunGard

Murali has  5+yrs experience in JAVA/J2EE

• Sun Certified in JAVA
• Skilled in Multi-Tier Programming, Design patterns, Struts, EJB, WebLogic, QA, UNIX, etc
• Industry experience at Verizon, Vignette Corp

Please contact DSC for more information at 908-809-7800 or hr@designstrategy.com

Ohio is arranged among the 35 greater states in the United States. It is also 7th according to its number of population. The nickname of the state is �the heart of him all� due to the device in form of heart of the state in the chart. With this, much of places and hotels placed high ahead can be found in this area.

Found in the United States, along its part of Midwest is the state of Ohio. The state of Ohio has the lake Erie in its border of north. On its southernmost part, Ohio is framed by states of Indiana, of Michigan, of Kentucky, of Virginia Occidentale and Pennsylvania, with the Ohio river. Except this, Ohio divides its borders with Ontario, Canada. This relates to the lake Erie mentioned above.

As for its ground, he is regarded as mainly flat, particularly along the part of the North-West of the state, which had with his ancient glaciers. As ground moves towards the east as well as of south-east, going in Appalache and from the ranges of mountain of Allegheny, it more hills become obvious.

Except the big lake of Erie and Ohio river, This state also comprises a forest of state. This is located in Wayne and its exact place would be in the valley of Cuyahoga. In this sector, you will find several reserves national, like islands located on the lake Erie. The capital of Ohio east Columbus, which is located in the central part of the state.

Except this, Ohio is arranged among the 35 greater states in the United States. It is also 7th according to its number of population. The nickname of the state is �all the heart of him�. It is due to the fact that the form of the state is similar to a heart. It is also centrally located in the part by inhabited weight of the United States, which contains all the commercial big cities, of industries, grounds cultivable of small towns as well. This concludes the name given to the state as �a center from America�, probably referring to its agricultural sector in Midwest and its industrial base in Great Lakes.

The following hotels among the best are arranged when it has suddenly had a relaxation and a pleasant stay in Ohio:

Hotels of Columbus

1. Westin Columbus

Addresses: 310 main street of the south, Columbus, OH, the USA 43215

The hotel of Westin Columbus is located well at the center of the downtown area of Columbus. It is also a limiting terminal of hospitality. The hotel is also localised several minutes starting from center of convention of Columbus. Except this, it is close to the German village, the theatres of Ohio, the majestic palate like the admirably renovated southernmost theatre.

Approvals and devices:

. Restaurant
. Center physical shape
. Thermal spa
. Business district
. Bar and living room
. Mini bar
. Familiar animals licence
. Parking
. Services of laundry/servant
. Compartment of safe
. Coffee manufacturer inside part
. Hairdryers available

2. Columbus hotel of continuations of embassy

Addresses: 2700 exchange of corporation, Columbus, OH, the USA, 43231

The Columbus hotel of continuations of embassy was renovated just recently. It is located three miles starting from the place of mode of pole star, then six miles starting from the center of Easton Towne. More, it is right 11 miles starting from the left international airport of Columbus (CMH).

Providing to guests the classieux service, this hotel is located close to famous attractions of Ohio such as the capitol of state of Ohio, the university of the State of Ohio, the fairground of center and state of expo of Ohio, museum of the Science of COSI, arena spread by all the country, compartment Waterpark de Zambezi and zoo and aquarium of Columbus.

Approvals and devices:

. Restaurant
. Swimming pool
. Center physical shape or thermal spa
. Center physical shape or thermal spa, free newspaper
. Business district
. Bar/living room
. Free parking, parking
. Services of laundry/servant
. Compartment of safe
. Services of laundry/servant
. Coffee manufacturer in the room
. Hairdryers available

Close attractions:

. Anheuser Busch
. AT&T
. Grill of auricle – in the hotel
. Bank one
. Institute of Battelle
. Club of golf of Bentree
. Borden
. Complex of offices of Brooksedge
. Chemlawn
. Museum of arts of Columbus
. Ballet of Columbus
. Cold professional of Columbus

3. Hotel and center of conferences of contest

Addresses: 4300 passage international, Columbus, OH, the USA, 43219

Offers of hotel and center of conferences of contest 147 rooms in a hotel of complete service. The suitability of the place and approvals include the access of Internet to eulogistic high speed, 25 inches TV and the plays of Nintendo, sporting club on the spot of complete service comprising the swimming pools of interior and external, more late in bronzing and more massage of equipment of physical shape and exercise. More, it has a service of stage of restaurant, living room and complete service available. Moreover, a district business plus meeting rooms 17 are provided in order to meet all your needs.

Approvals and devices:

. Restaurant
. Swimming pool
. Free parking
. Parking
. Compartment of safe
. Coffee manufacturer inside part
. Hairdryers available

Close attractions:

. Arena zone
. International airport of CMH-Columbus
. Ballroom of Columbus
. Hockey of blue jackets of Columbus
. Center convention of Columbus
. The football of crew of Columbus
. Zoo of Columbus
. Conference room has
. Conference room B
. Center Science of Cosi
. Center town of Easton
. Center just expo of reasons

4. Marriott Cleveland of the center in the principal center

Addresses: 127 place public, Cleveland, OH, the USA, 44114

This hotel is located at the center of the district of the businesses in Cleveland. The hotel of the center of Marriot Cleveland is located narrowly by the arena of loans of Quicken as well as the stage of Cleveland Browns. Testing the pleasure of remaining to the highest floors of the hotel, one can really enchant according to the opinion of Cleveland in this hotel, most particularly with his horizon and lake Erie.

Approvals and devices:

. Restaurant
. Swimming pool of interior, swimming pool
. Center physical shape
. Thermal spa
. Business district
. Store of hairdresser
. Store of beauty
. External parking
. Parking
. Parking of servant
. Compartment of safe
. Coffee manufacturer inside part
. Bar-restaurant
. Visual monitoring
. Hairdryers available

Close attractions:

. Accenture
. Akron-canton
. Amtrak
. Ballroom (half)
. Blue grill of Point
. Cap Gemini
. Cleveland
. Stage of Cleveland Browns
. Center convention of Cleveland
. Cleveland of the center

5. Arcade of Hyatt Regency Cleveland

420 avenue higher, Cleveland, OH, the USA, 44114

The arcade now presents its new top of the line hotel�, Hyatt Regency Cleveland. Located in inside above of the famous limiting terminals, this hotel as well as provides to its guests great activities of purchases the district of the businesses of Cleveland of center of service.

Hyatt Regency Cleveland with the arcade is a new luxury hotel in the arcade. It comprises classieux purchases and centers of service located in the heart of the district of the businesses.

Approvals and devices:

. Restaurant
. Access of Internet
. Center physical shape
. Thermal spa
. Free newspaper
. Business district
. Bar and living room
. Store of hairdresser
. Aucuns allowed familiar animals
. Parking, parking of servant
. Laundries
. Services of servant
. Parking of servant
. Compartment of safe
. Bar-restaurant

Close attractions

. BluePoint
. Zoo of Cleveland Metroparks
. Golf
. Center Science of Great Lakes
. House Off Blues
. Lola ’s
. Vivo

6. Intercontinental private clinic of Cleveland of continuations

Addresses: Avenue of 8800 EUCLID, Cleveland, OH, the USA, 44106

The intercontinental hotel Cleveland of continuations is placed in the campus of private clinic of Cleveland. However, it is also conveniently located close to famous attractions like the Pantheon of rock’n'roll, the botanical garden of Cleveland, and the museum of Automatic-Aviation of Crawford. Moreover, there is free shuttle service going to the museum of the circle of university.

In addition to the housing of hotel, Holiday Inn express also provides the accessible equipment which is in conformity with the American Law of incapacities. Please so contact the director of hotel in service of the necessary equipment are not met. To be able to seek extra informations about accessible approvals for visitors with incapacities, one can call 1-800-Holiday (Canada and the United States of America) or you can come into contact with Holiday Inn purposely directly. For those which have the deterioration of auditive perception, one can call the service of TDD (1-800-238-5544 in Canada and the United States only).

Approvals and devices:

. Restaurant
. Access of Internet at high speed
. Access of Internet
. Free newspaper
. Bar and living room
. Parking
. Parking of servant
. Laundries
. Services of servant
. Compartment of safe
. Coffee manufacturer inside part
. Visual monitoring
. Hairdryers available

Hotels of Cincinnati

7. Westin Cincinnati

Addresses: 5th and avenue of vine, Cincinnati, OH, the USA, 45202

Westin Cincinnati is a hotel which provides the finest accessibility when it comes to attractions to Ohio. It is since it is conveniently plac well with the exchange of Cincinnati in the centre town. It is also connected to the high-rise office buildings in the city as well as the center of convention of Duke Energy, by the system of skywalk inside localised. They is also some stages starting from the large park of American ball, the national centre of freedom of subway, of the stage of Paul Brown, and the center of Aronoff for the performing arts, with the center of contemporary arts and the arena of bank of the USA.

Approvals and devices:

. Restaurant
. Swimming pool
. Center physical shape
. Thermal spa
. Free newspaper
. Business district
. Bar and living room
. Store of hairdresser
. Store of beauty
. Mini bar
. The familiar animals left
. Parking
. Laundries
. Services of servant
. Compartment of safe
. Coffee manufacturer inside part
. Hairdryers available

8. Cincinnati hotel of mill�nium

Addresses: 150 5th Western street, Cincinnati, OH, the USA, 45202

The Cincinnati hotel of mill�nium is known to have received a reward to be a higher hotel of its class. It is an excellent choice for those which want to appreciate and has a great time by testing the principal places of the downtown area of Cincinnati. More, you will be gratifi� with the superb high quality service shown by the multilingual personnel of the hotel. Everywhere you go, of the zones of workshop, dining on the establishments and of the sporting meetings are just found in each corner.

Approvals and devices:

. Restaurant
. Heated swimming pool
. External swimming pool
. Snack bar of Poolside
. Access of Internet at high speed
. Free newspaper
. Business district
. Bar
. Store of hairdresser
. Parking of servant
. Laundry
. Compartment of safe
. Laundry
. Coffee machine
. Hairdryer inside part

9. Plaza of Hilton Cincinnati Netherland

Addresses: 35 fifth Western street, Cincinnati, OH, the USA, 45202

The hotel of plaza of Hilton Cincinnati Netherland is a hotel of the very last thing. Pride of catches of hotel in the unicity of its design and arranged excellence their services and if housing returned during the years.

Approvals and devices:

. Restaurant
. Swimming pool
. Center physical shape
. Thermal spa
. Free newspaper
. Business district
. Bar and living room,
. Store of hairdresser
. Store of beauty
. Mini bar
. Parking
. Laundry
. Services of servant
. Compartment of safe
. Coffee manufacturer inside part
. Hairdryers available

Close attractions:

. Cinergy
. Orchises at the court of palm
. Express PC
. Procter & Gamble
. Service of stage
. Brunch of Sunday at the court of palm
. The bar at the court of palm
. The grill at the court of palm
. Western Southerner

Hotels of Toledo

10. Hotel of frontage of a river of Toledo

Addresses: Street of top of 2 Seagate/444 NR., Toledo, OH, the USA, 43604

The hotel of frontage of a river of Toledo to the advantage of being perfectly localised close to the businesses, the meetings, the guided places and the zones of workshop. This hotel contains 241 rooms. Except this, one duly identifies it like centers conferences. Its conference room measures approximately 16.000 square feet, making him the perfect one for the sector of meeting and the place of appointment for other special occasions. This hotel is an excellent choice for the place of the marriages, the meetings, or the special events.

Approvals and devices:

. Restaurant
. Swimming pool
. Center physical shape
. Thermal spa
. Business district
. Bar and living room
. Parking
. Laundries
. Services of servant
. Compartment of safe
. Coffee manufacturer inside part
. Hairdryers available

Close attractions:

. University of the State de Bowling Green
. Center of Cosi
. Metropolitan county of Wayne Strait
. Fifth third bank
. Murphy ‘place of S
. Swimming pool
. Primary education airport Toledo
. Reflexions
. Center of SeaGate
. Street Vincents
. Toledo
. Gutter of Toledo

11. Toledo inn of park

Addresses: Street of the north of top 101, Toledo, OH, the USA, 43604

The hotel of Toledo of inn of park is located close to the centre town located by districts of the businesses. It gives on the fifth and third field, as well as the river of Maumee. Moreover, outward journey with the convention of Seagate is made easy by the connection of interior of the hotel. It is also located close to Owens Corning and several companies of the center. Activities of entertainment, cultural attractions as the centers of government are also right far a short distance. The hotel provides eulogistic shuttle services in a radius of 2 miles of the hotel.

Approvals and devices:

. Restaurant
. Connections Internet without wire (located in public sectors)
. Center physical shape
. Thermal spa
. Free newspaper
. Bar and living room
. Bars of encavator inside bathroom
. The familiar animals left
. Parking of bus
. Parking of interior
. Parking of motor home
. Parking of servant
. Laundries
. Services of servant
. Coffee manufacturer inside part
. Hairdryers available

Close attractions:

. University of the State de Bowling Green
. Care of manor of HCR
. Machine of Parliament of jeep
. Libbey-Owens Ford/Pilkington
. Mike insane ‘restaurant of S
. Mud hens
. Put-in-compartment
. Center convention of Seagate
. Express airport of Toledo
. Zoo of Toledo
. Theatre of Valentine

12. Hilton Toledo

Addresses: Avenue of 3100 Glendale, Toledo, OH, the USA, 43614

Hilton celebrates Toledo is located close to the medical university of Ohio. Except this, they is only 12 miles starting from the express airport of Toledo and five miles starting from the station of Amtrak.

Approvals and devices:

. Restaurant
. Swimming pool
. Center physical shape
. Thermal spa
. Free newspaper
. Bar and living room
. Free parking
. Parking
. Laundries
. Services of servant
. Compartment of safe
. Coffee manufacturer inside part
. Hairdryers available

Close attractions:

. American union of flint glassmakers
. Betco
. Purposely of air of Burlington
. Faurecia, formerly parts of AP
. Fedex
. Fenner Dunlop
. Email of park the Franklin one
. HCR ManorCare
. National superb service
. Pilkington
. Chemicals Spartan

If you are a marketer in the technology sector, and want or need to keep track of the big technology plays, Andy Mulholland, Cap Gemini’s CTO, has pointed out two big technology events well worth tracking. These are just two events where the industries big wheels come out and define where they have spent and are spending their R&D dollars.

First up is ‘The Cloud Summit’, (or rather ‘the next generation platform’ as the event subhead suggests) and the second is Enterprise 2.0.

To stay up to date on these events, follow Cloud Summit on Twitter here, join the group on facebook here, and if you are a LinkedIn user, join the group here. The official facebook page for Enterprise 2.0 is here.

….and it would be rude not to: the Cap Gemini CTO Twitter stream is here.

Andy Mulholland, Cap Gemini’s CTO, has pointed out two big technology events well worth tracking.  These are events where the industries big wheels come out and define where they have spent and are spending their R&D dollars.

First up is ‘The Cloud Summit’, (or rather ‘the next generation platform’ as the event subhead suggests) and the second is Enterprise 2.0.

To stay up to date on these events, follow Cloud Summit on Twitter here, join the group on facebook here, and if you are a LinkedIn user, join the group here. The official facebook page for Enterprise 2.0 is here.

….and it would be rude not to: the Cap Gemini CTO Twitter stream is here.

Extreme weather does not halt another awesome challenge on Exmoor. 150 people rose above the elements over the weekend to complete the Capgemini Wild UK Challenge and in the process raised over £100,000 for the Prince’s Trust. 30 teams took on the hiking, navigating, kayaking and mountain biking despite some of the worst weather of the year. Torrential rain through Friday and into Saturday turned the tracks to streams and the camps into mud baths, but thanks to amazing sprit from the competitors and endless hard work from the Across the Divide Team the event was a huge success and a great experience for all involved.

The winning team was Avanade Athletic with a record score. They like all teams involved took on the event with great energy and big smiles and despite the wet weather the event ended in the sunshine after 3 days and 100 miles through this stunning part of the West Country.

• Across the Divide
• Avanade
• Cap Gemini
• Prince’s Trust
• Wild Challange

Extreme weather does not halt another awesome challenge on Exmoor. 150 people rose above the elements over the weekend to complete the Capgemini Wild UK Challenge and in the process raised over £100,000 for the Prince’s Trust. 30 teams took on the hiking, navigating, kayaking and mountain biking despite some of the worst weather of the year. Torrential rain through Friday and into Saturday turned the tracks to streams and the camps into mud baths, but thanks to amazing sprit from the competitors and endless hard work from the Across the Divide Team the event was a huge success and a great experience for all involved.

The winning team was Avanade Athletic with a record score. They like all teams involved took on the event with great energy and big smiles and despite the wet weather the event ended in the sunshine after 3 days and 100 miles through this stunning part of the West Country.

• Across the Divide
• Avanade
• Cap Gemini
• Prince’s Trust
• Wild Challange

It was nice to be with folks at CapGemini (top 10 global outsourcing company) at the launch of their Toastmasters Club. I had to speak on Ethics, Corporate Governance and Leadership.

All that I did was to take examples from Infosys, Wipro, HP and Microsoft (interesting life experiences of the founders) to drive home the point ethics must be practiced

Corporate governance is not one more “SOX utility” but the very DNA of the company

Ethics practiced well and corporate governance at ALL levels is the only sure way of leadership

Dans le Palmarès des 5 premières SSII au monde, 4 d’entre elles sont américaines et 1 japonaise.
Rappelons qu’il faut atteindre les 10 milliard de dollars pour entrer dans le top 5.

1. IBM (US) ==> 35150 milliard de Dollars
2. EDS (US) ==> 15850 milliard de Dollars
3. Accenture (US) ==> 14 180 milliard de Dollars
4. CSC (US) ==> 10980 milliard de Dollars
5. Futjitsu (US) ==> 9955 milliard de Dollars

Creusent l’écart avec les autres SSII, IBM réalise le double du chiffre d’affaires d’EDS qui est 2eme du classement.
A partir de celui-ci, l’écart entre les concurrents se tient entre 10 milliards et 15 milliards de dollars.
A noter que les SSII indiennes progressent assez vite en chiffre d’affaires et pourraient, à moyen terme, rentrer dans ce classement.
En France, Atos Origin et Cap Gemini se situent entre 5 et 7 milliards d’euros de chiffre d’affaires annuel, soit très proche de Fujitsu.

Source: Journal du Net

EPiServer har blivit ett referenscase till Microsoft. När EPiServer står på kundsidan framgår det vilka partners företaget helst syns med.

Försäljningsmodellen presenteras tillsammans med tre partners som EPiServer väljer att namnge, de är WM-data, Sogeti och Cap Gemini.

The most interesting aspect of the Google Apps and Cap Gemini announcement was not the announcement. It was Microsoft’s response. Regardless of your opinion of Microsoft’s products, this was world-class competitive positioning. Whoever wrote this deserves a raise:

• Google touts having enterprise level customers but how many “USERS” of their applications truly exist within the enterprise?
• Google’s primary focus is on ad funded search. Their enterprise focus and now apps exist on the very fringe…
• Google’s apps only work if an enterprise has no power users…
• Google’s tech support is open M-F 1AM-6PM PST – are these the new hours of global business?…
• Google says that enterprise customers use only 10% of the features in today’s productivity applications which implies that EVERYONE needs the SAME 10%…

Now here’s what surprised me. It was not an official response. This was an internal response that was leaked. What a shame. I would like to think Microsoft is proud to produce this quality of a response to Google. I’m still impressed.

The Goggle announcement itself is terribly Ho-Hum. As fellow Enterprise Irregular Dennis Howlett pointed out on ZDnet, Cap Gemini is not a top 10 systems integrator in the US, where Google Apps have to be successful, if they ever will be. Also the desktop outsourcing business, which is what this announcement is about, is a bottom-feeder business with low margins. Why do you think Accenture concentrates on applications?

I would like to expect more from Google, but it’s not an enterprise software company, as Microsoft relishes in pointing out. Nevertheless, I would not underestimate what Google plans next.