Columns
December 2008 Archive

What The Coming Year Holds For Growing Businesses

December 18, 2008 | Unfortunately, the financial crisis will continue to take a toll on smaller businesses in 2009. But cloud computing and SaaS, green IT, and social networking are three markets that should evolve significantly next year and offer the prospect of reducing costs for growing companies while often enhancing quality.
By Benjamin Tomkins

Looking Back At 2008's Key Network Developments

December 18, 2008 | As 2008 winds down, it's a good time to reflect on some of the major networking trends of the past year. The three trends that matter most to small and midsize businesses: the emergence of new players in the cell phone market, the slow rollout of WiMax technology, and consolidation among network equipment suppliers.
By Paul Korzeniowski

A Business Is Not A Family

December 17, 2008 | Lots of businesses say that they're like a family -- but they don't really mean it. Calling your business a family may sound warm and fuzzy, but are you really ready to take on the obligations of a family?
By Fredric Paul

Ask Steve: Which Wireless Service Provider To Choose?

December 16, 2008 | More and more businesses are going mobile and with good reason, but many business owners wrestle with how to decide on the right wireless provider. Yankee Group analyst Steve Hilton shares his insights in this month's Ask Steve.
By Steve Hilton, Courtesy of Yankee Group

Beyond The Meltdown: A Look Back At How 2008 Affected Your Business

December 15, 2008 | If you can somehow look past the fall's economic meltdown, there actually were other important developments in 2008, from cloud computing to smartphones to social networking and host of other notable opportunities and trends in technology for growing businesses.
By Fredric Paul

Prepare For Cyber Crooks Unwanted Holiday Gifts

December 11, 2008 | It's the time of year for making lists and checking them twice, but unfortunately, those who are naughty will take advantage of those who are nice. With the holiday season in full swing, the IT staffs of small and midsize businesses have plenty to worry about from inventory systems to order tracking to database management. But, they also need to be on the lookout for new variants of malware because hackers plan to deliver some special gifts this season.
By Paul Korzeniowski

Strategy Matters: How To Develop Criteria For Achieving Business Goals

December 11, 2008 | When the economic picture shifts, so does the criteria for success. How do you know you're winning? How do you change goals when the competitive ground is different, yet still keep the team aligned? Criteria development is crucial to the establishment of new or revised strategy.
By Nilofer Merchant, CEO of Rubicon Consulting

Nortel's Woes Leave Growing Business Holding The Equipment

December 4, 2008 | Nortel, once an industry-leading supplier, has been on a downward trajectory the past few years, and it appears that the company won't recover. Now that it's locked in a death spiral, competitors are circling to pick the carcass clean. Nortel's impending demise leaves small and midsize businesses that rely on the company's equipment in a tough spot.
By Paul Korzeniowski