As everyone knows, the Internet’s body of knowledge is growing at a
tremendous rate. I recently read that there are now over 100 million web
pages accessible to the busy executive. One challenge has been the
harnessing of this information into competitive advantage.
While as purely cut-and-paste approach to Web content will no produce a
world-class IT function, leveraging that content on a regular basis can
greatly expand an organization’s capability. In fact it is becoming a
necessity for corporate and career survival.
In the accompanying chart I have identified a variety of best practice web
sites that address a variety of critical issues facing all CIOs and IT
managers. Next column we’ll focus on Web sites that provide useful
information on: 1) electronic commerce initiatives; 2) the need for
effective IT security in this increasingly connected world; and 3) Year 2000
initiatives.
I would also like to obtain your feedback, particularly on the web sites
that you regularly rely on to perform your job. Feel free to send me an
email with your “best” web sites.
SITE OF THE MONTH
The featured site this month is focussed on software engineering. Accessing
www.sei.cmu.edu/about/website/sitemap.html/ will lead you to the
Carnegie-Mellon Software Engineering Institute web site. This US Defense
sponsored organization has developed numerous publications and papers on
improving IT management practices. In addition, it is one of the most
comprehensive repositories of current information regarding information
management I have come across. Enjoy!
REPORT OF THE MONTH
The featured report this month is a best practice study report by the US
General Accounting Office. It is entitled Executive Guide – Measuring
Performance and Demonstrating Results of Information Technology Investments.
Released in March 1998 it can be found at
www.gao.gov/special.pubs/publist.htm -the report reference number is
gao/aimd-98-99.
Dan Swanson is a management consultant with LGS Group in Winnipeg. He
specializes in audit and management consulting and can be reached at
dswanson@lgs.ca
LEADING INFORMATIVE WEB SITES
Best Practices for IT
www.sei.cmu.edu
www.itpolicy.gsa.gov
www.cio.gov
Year 2000 Support
www.mitre.org/research/y2k
www.year2000.com
www.nerc.com/y2k
www.y2k.gov
Project Management
www.pmi.org
Electronic Commerce
ec.fed.gov
IT Security
Csrc.nist.gov
www.gits.gov
Disaster Recovery
www.drj.com
www.disaster-resource.com
Government Reform
www.npr.gov
www.policyworks.gov
Performance Measurement
www.gao.gov
Audit and Control
www.isaca.org
www.theiia.org
www.itaudit.org
www.auditnet.org