"I can still hear the MS rep on the phone a couple years ago when she told me, 'We do not take unsolicited suggestions from the public.' And, yes, she specifically told me it was OK to quote her. Does anyone consider customer needs over corporate profits anymore?"

Gregg Keiser's article in ComputerWorld contains the following downright scary quote from Microsoft's Vista program manager, Nick White in the MS Vista blog, "So far, we've been able to determine that this problem only affects a small number of customers in unique circumstances...” (From The Network!: “We sure hope that your company isn't one of those unique companies.”)

White goes on to say: “Microsoft has not yet produced a fix for users whose machines either won't boot or reboot constantly.” (From The Network! “Because, if you are a Vista user with “issues”, you've probably been living with systems that simply refuse to boot for over three months. Of course, that won't impact your company bottom line, will it?”)

If you are an information technology asset manager (ITAM or TAM), this unfortunately common “type” of new operating system defect report should serve as a serious heads-up. There is another perspective of the article above HERE by Trisha Leibert at TechRepublic. You should read it. When it comes to technology asset management or enterprise asset management (EAM), your abilities to clarify to executive management why your company isn't playing with the latest and greatest tech toys could easily spell doom or boom for both you and your company. Read on for more...

Alright. Let's try something different. My friends tell me that I'm always way too serious about the technology games. So here's a tongue-in-cheek blog item about new tech. Try and grin just a bit as you read. I'm trying to see the humorous side of this one...

We love ya, Bill (well kinda), but many of us are a tad nervous. OK: We're a LOT nervous. Let's see... A voice activated synchronizing (please don't say control) system for automobiles...? As in built into vehicles traveling at 65+ miles per hour...? That would be a closing speed—or potential impact speed—of 130 MPH, or so... Oh, goodie. Now we can converse with—maybe even argue with—our car. At speed. For that matter, should we all still be a bit concerned even if the other guy might only be clipping along at 20 miles per hour? That's still a potentially big—and downright costly—dent in yonder fender.

Only four more short paragraphs--read on, if you will...

You need to learn to Quantify, Baseline, Change, & Measure what you accomplish. If, for instance, you want to improve your internal purchasing process, you first have to establish and place a value on where that process stands—right this minute. Stop right there! I know what you are thinking. You probably hate the concept of statistical analysis as much as I do.

“Unfortunately, the vast majority of companies, especially small companies, tend to over-complicate nearly every new idea they discover."

Quit trying to force perfection through increased complication. Don't make the business process improvement concept confusing—it doesn't need to be. Try these very basic success ideas to change your range.