News

Beyond Meritocracy: 6 Ways IT Employee Performance Evaluations Are Changing

Neither employees nor their managers look forward to annual performance reviews. That's why experts suggest using methods and tools that provide valuable, real-time feedback on how employees are doing.

CIOs: Welcome to the Age of the Customer

Early STEM Education Will Lead to More Women in IT

A leading advocate for introducing girls to computer science argues that educators must develop required programs at the K-12 level to resolve gender imbalance in the tech sector.

Retail Must Reinvent Itself for the Omnichannel Future

IDG Communications CEO Michael Friedenberg offers his take on the latest IDC predictions about retail customers, big data, supply chain and more u2029

Why CIOs Should Look Outside for Data Expertise

Still building your in-house data analytics operation? External providers can supplement your capabilities — fast.

Fashion Retailer Adds ‘Tech Tables’ to Stores

Chico's, a womenu2019s clothing retailer, is adding in-store 'tech tables' and a digital magazine to flesh out its omnichannel strategyu2029.

Don’t Hate Microsoft for Pulling the Plug on Windows XP

Microsoft is right to drop support for Windows XP, according to CIO.com blogger Bill Snyder. Here's why.

IT Provides Business Edge in Battle of Archrivals

In retail, manufacturing and logistics there are no bigger rivals than Home Depot vs. Lowe's, GM vs. Ford, FedEx vs. UPS, respectively. We look at how these fierce competitors are exploiting IT to gain an advantage.

Why Microsoft Office for iPad was Worth the Wait

After much speculation, Microsoft released official Word, Excel and PowerPoint Office apps for Apple iPad tablets. CIO.com blogger James A. Martin says Office loyalists will be very happy with the apps, despite a few caveats.

Why CIOs Shouldn’t Worry About March Madness Productivity Losses

The long-term benefits of an engaged workforce can outweigh company losses in productivity during March Madness. Here's why business leaders should see these 19 days of hoops as an opportunity.

VMware, Nvidia Revolutionizing Secure Cloud Desktop

The thin client has been largely disappointing from the beginning, but a partnership between VMware and Nvidia may finally give the thin client the performance, scalability, security and price it needs to catch on.

CIOs Need to Focus on Competitive Threats

Today's executives can boast about their companies' tech prowess, but they also need to keep an eye on archrivals and new competitors, says Maryfran Johnson.

Corporate Boards Are Hungry for IT Info From CIOs

Many board members want CIOs to give them more and better information — especially about IT risk.

7 Tips for Managing Digital Information Overload

Email, social media, texts. Today's business and project managers have more electronic distractions than ever. So how can busy managers successfully navigate the electronic jungle? Organization and productivity experts share their top tips for b

As IDC Sees It, Tech’s ‘Third Platform’ Disrupts Everyone

What IDC deems the third platform of computing — social, mobile, cloud and big data — is transforming IT much faster than the first (mainframe) or second (client/server) platforms ever did. This has tremendous implications for the IT industry, yes,

Web Giants Join Forces for Open Source MySQL Scalability Project

Engineering teams from Facebook, Google, LinkedIn and Twitter have begun work on WebScaleSQL, an open source project designed to address the challenges of running MySQL at Web scale.

With CRM Data, More Isn’t Always Merrier

The cornerstone of CRM systems (and any sales or service transaction) is interaction between your people and your customers. But more people records in the system isn't necessarily better, as many data quality problems in CRM are caused by the c

Financial Services Firms See Mobile Boom, But Blackberry and CIO Roles Fade

The financial services industry is on the verge of a mobile explosion. The number of smartphones will double in the next year. However, BlackBerry use is headed in the opposite direction as companies migrate to other mobile platforms. The role of CIO

Inside the Shadowy World of Data Brokers

Data brokers operate in the shadows of the Internet. Most consumers are unaware or unsure how to put restrictions of their activity. In fact, one U.S. senator called these companies and their practices 'the dark underside of American life.'

Global Mobile Data Traffic to Surpass 15 Exabytes Per Month by 2018

A recent report from Cisco predicts that global mobile data traffic, which hit 1.5 exabytes per month in 2013, will be 10 times as high by the end of 2018. Smartphones will drive the bulk of this traffic growth, but the Internet of Things will also p

Continuous IT Innovation Shapes the Future of Financial Services Firm

Under CIO Victor Fetter's leadership at LPL Financial, the IT group has moved from 'working on projects' to delivering solutions that shape the business and the marketplace.

CIOs: Welcome to the Age of the Customer

Forrester analyst Peter Burris says CIOs will need to work on two tracks: internal IT operations and the business systems focused on the customer experience.

How the 9 Leading Commercial Hadoop Distributions Stack Up

All of the leading commercial Hadoop distributions are compatible with Apache Hadoop, so what sets them apart? Here's how the leading commercial distributions identified by Forrester Research compare.

BlackBerry’s iOS/Android Security Software Gets U.S. Gov’t Cert

BlackBerry's Secure Work Space for iOS and Android data-segmentation software received the NIST's FIPS 140-2 certification, and it can now be used by government agencies that require FIPS 140-2 compliance, according to BlackBerry.

Online Video Beats Social Media in the Enterprise

A new study from Wainhouse Research reports that viewership of live online video for business purposes is more than double that of social media. Total hours of viewership in the enterprise reached 1.12 billion hours last year and could hit 3 billion

Millennials Rule the Valley: Enjoy It While It Lasts

Gen Y wants — and is getting — the most sexy jobs in the Silicon Valley. However, CIO.com Senior Writer Tom Kaneshige lets millennials in on the dirty little secret of the valley.

14 Mobile Certifications That Meet IT Demands

Mobile technologies are increasingly important to organizations of all sizes, but how can you best prepare your workforce? Find out which of these 14 vendor-specific and vendor-neutral mobile IT certifications — from app development to security — a

14 Tips for Creating a Paperless Office

Half a century after marketers coined the term 'paperless office,' the concept largely remains a myth. Today's businesses probably can't go completely paperless, but these 14 tips will at least help them stop wasting paper and sta

Integrated Sales and CRM System Lets DirecTV Capture More Couch Potatoes

DirecTV's new enterprise system offers sales agents a whole view of the customer — and real-time guidance to close deals.

Researchers Say NSA Could Pull Personal Info from Phone-Call Metadata

Stanford researchers tested the U.S. government's claim that data the NSA collected in its vast wiretapping operation didn't reveal private data and found the claims to be false.

Moving the IT Conversation from Cost to Value

Gerri Martin-Flickinger, CIO of Adobe, offers practical advice

Amazon Issues Kindle Credits for eBook Antitrust Settlement

As part of a 2013 antitrust settlement with eBook publishers, Amazon today issued credits to Kindle customers that can be used to purchased eBooks through March 2015.

New Google Now Voice Commands for Android Mostly Miss the Mark

Google recently added new voice commands to its Android Search app. Unfortunately, some of the commands don't work well, according to CIO.com blogger James A. Martin, and others simply aren't very useful.

Tweets About TV Programs Prove Twitter’s Earned Media Value

New industry research, commissioned by Twitter, Fox and the Advertising Research Foundation, reports that social activity around television is still mostly a live event as 72 percent of users who tweet about TV do so while watching a live broadcast.

Cybersecurity Expert and CIO: Internet of Things is ‘Scary as Hell’

Jerry Irvine, Prescient Solutions CIO and a member of the National Cybersecurity Partnership, spoke with CIO.com about "Internet of Things" (IoT) security, the connected home, and why consumers and enterprise should be wary of both.

Efficient Employee Onboarding Critical for Long-Term Success

How your organization handles the first days, weeks and even months of a new employee's tenure is critical to lasting success, company loyalty and retention.

How to Build a Customer Loyalty Program

Boston-based restaurant chain b.good started its customer loyalty program with email 12 years ago because, well, it couldn't afford much else. As the chain has grown, so has its rewards program, which now has 53,000 'Family' members us

Forrester Outlines IT Imperatives for Healthcare Providers

Healthcare providers such hospitals, medical offices and clinics face an unsettling reality, according to a recent Forrester report: Embrace the cloud, big data, mobile and other emerging technology or get acquired by a healthcare organization that&#

The Android-Powered Coffee Machine for Java Aficionados (UPDATED)

Alpha Dominche's "Steampunk" coffee machine is operated by an Android-powered Nexus 7 tablet, and its associated Android app lets baristas modify an impressive array of pour settings, as well as share custom coffee recipes with other S

Consumerization of IT in the Enterprise Starting to Pay Off

Businesses are beginning to reap ROI and productivity benefits from consumer technologies such as smartphones andntablets, according to a survey of 1,155 IT decision-makers conducted by IDG Enterprise.

3 Free Alternatives to Windows for Desktop PCs

It's an increasingly mobile world — and the mobile future of Windows is dubious. To better accommodate end users, CIOs would be wise to consider these three alternatives to Windows on the desktop — Chrome, Android and Ubuntu.

IT Leaders Share Tips on Managing Security Risks

Too much security — or too little — could bankrupt a company. These IT executives offer advice on finding the right balance.

Samsung Galaxy S5 U.S. Pricing and Availability Details

Three of the major U.S. wireless carriers announced pricing for Samsung's latest Galaxy S smartphone, and the device is expected to ship by the middle of April.

How to Bridge the Gap Between HR and IT

A poor IT-HR relationship can lead to bad IT hires. IT managers need to provide HR with sharp questions about applicants' technical skills. And HR pros need to do their homework about IT.

Patrick McGovern on How He Wants to Be Remembered

In 2000, IDG's Founder and Chairman Patrick J. McGovern was asked how he'd like to be remembered hundreds of years from now. In this video excerpt, McGovern shares his thoughts.

CIOs Must Become Technology Consultants

If the 'old' CIO had a reputation of throwing up barriers, the 'new' CIO must focus on breaking down barriers to show marketing, finance, HR and other business leaders how IT services can help them become better within their parti

What VCs Look for in Big Data Startups

Getting ready to pitch venture capitalists on your big data startup? Here's a hint: Don't call yourself a 'big data company' and don't pitch by analogy.

Are Apple and Gartner Afraid of Analytics?

In theory, analytics should help firms make key business decisions. In practice, companies ignore analytics because it's likely to tell them the bad news they don't want to hear. This week, the actions of Gartner and Apple illustrated this

Ukraine’s Growing IT Outsourcing Industry in Danger of Disruption

The increasing threat and possibility of further violence in Ukraine is likely to impact its growing IT outsourcing industry. The current tensions threaten service delivery both in the short- and long-term.

Small Data Plays a Big Role in IT Recruiting

Job applicant tracking systems capture massive amounts of info on candidates. But all that data doesn't help if the best candidates aren't able or willing to complete the process. Going more simple and streamlined can make it easier to find