Sunday, September 20, 2009

A Day in the Life of an IT Manager: Staying Connected

Pencils and Moleskines 04Image by Paul Worthington via Flickr
Over the past few years, I have heard a number of questions regarding my management of time and information. Common questions include:
  • How do you find time to read and share all that information?
  • As one working on a doctoral degree, raising a family, and working full-time, how do you find the time do anything?
  • Do you ever sleep?
After reading Chris Brogan's Shape of My Game and learning how Dan Brown writes his books, I thought it might be interesting to some, and helpful to others, to see how I manage my day.

My Schedule


  • 4:00 am - Wake Up
  • 4:05 am - Check e-mail, Twitter, and Facebook via the Blackberry
  • 4:15 am - Shower and dress
  • 4:40 am - Eat breakfast while watching the morning news
  • 5:00 am - Make lunch and coffee
  • 5:10 am - Scan Google Reader
  • 5:40 am - Leave house to meet up with carpool
  • 6:00 am - Commute to work (if not driving, I will review Twitter and Google Reader)
  • 6:50 am - Arrive at work
  • 7:00 am - Check Numara Footprints help desk system for open, WIP, and SLA tickets
  • 7:30 am - Check/compose e-mail
  • 7:50 am - Check voicemail
  • 8:00 am - Review web statistics in Google Analytics, Webmaster Tools, and Feedburner
  • 8:20 am - Review and respond to MyEOL's bulletin board and Get Satisfaction
  • 8:45 am - Review Google Reader for industry news, blogs, and latest happenings
  • 9:30 am - Meet with Web Services team for our Daily Scrum
  • 9:50 am - Write a blog
  • 11:00 am - Meet with department liaison regarding updates to site
  • 12:00 pm - Review Google Reader, Twitter, Facebook, e-mail, and voicemail for updates
  • 1:00 pm - Work on the doctoral dissertation/Lunch
  • 2:00 pm - Meet with ITS leadership concerning latest issues and opportunities
  • 2:35 pm - Do a walk-a-round in the office and talk with ITS colleagues
  • 3:15 pm - Review Google Reader, Twitter, Facebook, e-mail, and voicemail for updates
  • 3:50 pm - Close down computer and straighten office
  • 4:00 pm - Leave work
  • 4:17 pm - Meet up with carpool and commute home (When not driving, I use my Blackberry to make calls or check upon social networking sites)
  • 5:15 pm - Head to the gym
  • 5:30 pm - Workout
  • 6:40 pm - Finish workout and head home
  • 6:55 pm - Get home and spend time with family
  • 7:40 pm - Eat dinner
  • 8:00 pm - Get ready for bed
  • 8:15 pm - Work on dissertation while watching a little television
  • 9:30 pm - Bedtime
Note: On weekends, I spend more time writing the dissertation, with family, and watching movies on Netflix. Additionally, weekends are typically when I spend time at Church, Boy Scouts, and Kappa Alpha Psi.

Quick Tips

Zero Inbox
In the case of my e-mail, Facebook, Google Reader, and voice mail, I like to keep my inbox clean. This means that I rarely allow items to stack up past a day. During the times when I do check my various inbox locations, I will do one of the following things:


  1. Read: My first glance at the inbox reveals items that I am most interested in reading. This may include e-mails from my boss, team, key individuals on campus, family, or friends.
  2. Respond: After reading item, I will typically respond to sender with a short note. If the item requires a long response, or something more substantial, I add it to my to-do list.
  3. Archive: Meaningful items that I wish to keep for later retrieval are quickly ushered into the archive folder. At work, I keep just about everything that comes from coworkers and campus leaders.
  4. Act: About 20 percent of items that make it into my inbox require some form of action. Outside of a simple response, I need to do something with this information. If the action can be done within a few minutes, I will do it immediately. However, if it is something that requires more time, I will add it to my backlog of to-do items. For Google Reader, I will either send to Twitter, share, or e-mail to friends.
  5. Delete: With most of my inbox items, I delete them. I get a lot of spam, newsletters, e-mail group responses, and notifications/alerts. I spend a great deal of time moving these items into the trash bin. In the near future, I plan to set up more filters to remove much of this noise.
Keyboard Shortcuts
On both the Blackberry as well as the laptop, I find that keyboard shortcuts save time. My ability to see more information and channel it where it needs to go helps me do more in less time. Below are some of my favorite shortcuts.

Google Reader:

  • J/K - Toggles up or down through the list of items
  • Space Bar - Pages down
  • S - Star (favorite)
  • Shift-S - Shares item
  • Shift-D - Shares item with a note
G-Mail for Blackberry

  • D - Delete
E-mail for Blackberry

  • Delete - Delete
  • I - Move item to a folder
Note: I recognize there are more shortcuts for the above applications, but these are what I use most often to fly through my incoming items.

Getting Things Done (GTD)
I have tried a number of strategies for completing tasks and often find myself going through each of them from time to time. The following are a couple of those items.
  • Pen and Paper: Over the years, this has been my most successful approach. Each morning I review my list of things to complete and mark them off one by one. It can be a little tedious to write tasks over and over each day, but it helps remind me what is on my plate.
  • Calendar: Much like a well run doctor's office, I use the desk or Outlook calendar to keep track of to-do items. Knowing that I can only do so much throughout the day, I make time to focus on important tasks. When my time is full, I move on to the next day. Just remember to leave some free time for unplanned items. It's better to anticipate the unknown than it is to assume an uneventful day.
  • Eat the Frog: Taken from Brian Tracy's book Eat That Frog, I try to knock off the least fun and enjoyable things first. The sooner I get those things out of the way, the less stress I have and the more freedom to to the things I like. This takes a lot of discipline, but it can be done.
  • Timebox: Borrowed from my experience with Scrum, I put a time frame on each task. I try to cut large projects, like my dissertation and web sites, down to manageable size chunks. At the end of my scheduled time, I have the option to keep working on the task or move on. In real life, I do not have the luxury to sit for hours working on one thing, so each task must help move the project forward. Although, I must admit my dissertation still looks overwhelming and I don't write as often as I should. I know it is sad, but true.
Final Thought
Managing ones time and resources is not easy. Each day brings new opportunities and challenges. Some of those challenges are from external influences, but most fall on me. My discipline gets called into question each minute of each day. At any given moment, I can follow my plan or choose to deviate from it. Some days I am very productive and other days I fail miserably. The aforementioned information serves as a guide for what I do most times. Therefore, do understand that I struggle like the best of them, but it is the sum of my efforts that helps me succeed.

Until next time...


Thursday, September 17, 2009

5 Steps to Win at Office Politics

As a young web developer, I often heard terrifying stories about office politics. In some cases, events turned dirty and included personal attacks on ones character. At other times, it was merely a disagreement in how something should be done. The higher I go up the corporate ladder, the more exposure I get to the internal struggle between major power players.

In the United States, we see fierce attacks from both Republicans and Democrats. One news program is clearly supportive of one party while another program is supportive of the other. At times the arguments and accusations resemble childhood behavior. As of late I find myself laughing at the silliness. That is until I experience the drama first hand.

In this article, I would like to offer a few suggestions on how to make the most of office politics. For the longest time I chose not to play, but I am learning that in higher education it is inevitable. However, politics does not have to be a negative word as long as you understand the game.

Below are five steps you can use to increase your chances of surviving politics at work. These points were adapted from Kelly Pate Dwyer's How to Win at Office Politics.

Step 1: Figure Out Why (and If) You Want to Play
You can either engage in the game or allow others to make decisions for you. Based on my experience, office politics will happen with or without you. The question you should ask is when is the right time to get involved, if ever. Dwyer points out that it depends upon your goals. Do you want more money, higher position, or a specific perk? Whatever your goals are, think about who you have to influence to get it.

Step 2: Create Strong Relationships
A large part of politics is dependent upon who you know and the relationships you have fostered over the years. Everyone from the ground floor to the penthouse suite is important and maintains some degree of influence. Therefore, find value in all people, learn to treat them right, and seek to help others often. Kelly states that "90 percent of people will return the favor."

Step 3: Observe and Listen
The game of politics is happening around you right now. From the brief conversation at the water hole to the golf game on weekends, people are growing strong relationships and doing the right things. The key point here is to watch how successful people get what they want. Are they approaching the boss in a certain way? Are they close with someone in particular? Learn to identify what others do and seek to do them too.

Step 4: Promote Yourself, Tactfully
Kelly states that doing good work is not always the key to success. To get noticed, you should be comfortable with "tooting your own horn." This means sharing your successes with others and displaying your talents, when appropriate. There is a fine line between bragging and self-promotion. The secret is finding the right balance.

Step 5: Help Your Colleagues

Having support from others is the byproduct of your investment in the relationship. The final step in building a winning political strategy is to look for ways to aid others in need. Dwyer suggests that you seek to help others before they even ask. As a result of your assistance, people are most apt to be there for you when you need them. Think about how you can use your skills, knowledge, and influence to do for someone something they can not do for themselves. Remember, Pay It Forward.

Conclusion

The game of office politics can be a vicious and hurtful exchange between rivals, but it is not always that way. In this article, we looked at five ways to strengthen your influence and increase your chances of success. I would encourage you to apply these ideas and seek to build political credit through goodwill and a sincere desire to help others. As a result, you may experience a more fulfilling life with strong professional and personal relationships.

Until next time...

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Confused With Facebook's New Mention

Image representing Facebook as depicted in Cru...Image via CrunchBase
We learn today that Facebook's highly publicized @mention feature is now live. After spending a few minutes playing with it and including status updates with coworker's names, I find little to be excited about. Maybe it is due to my own ignorance, but I do not understand what I am supposed to do with it.

My initial excitement about the feature was surrounding the ability to tag friends on updates. There are times that I find something online and share it with Facebook friends, via Twitter, Friendfeed, or Google Reader. At the time of sharing, I might have someone specific in mind, but they, most likely, are not using anything other than Facebook. In this case, I would love to tag the update, which notifies my friend directly and posts the shared item on their wall.

As I understand, or maybe misunderstand, the @mention feature, I can tag someone, but it looks like I am talking to them specifically. What if I have a list of people, do I have to openly tell the world who I am talking too? Is there a limit on the characters I can use in an update? If so, it just does not seem as useful.

Adam Ostrow, from Mashable, mentions that this feature make it a competition with Twitter, but I do not see how Facebook is anymore of a threat than it already was. What does this thing do that it was not essentially doing before?

While I may fail to see the obvious advantage of this new feature, I do see that my posts, when shared with @mention, posts to my friend's wall. Therefore, anyone who is a friend of my friend will see my update. This could be one way to gain more publicity for an update, but is it really worth it?

I look to you for guidance.

Until next time...

Micromanaging With Scrum

Crime Fighting TeamImage by ittybittiesforyou via Flickr
On Sunday, Mike Cohn wrote a blog entitled Ssssh.....Agile Is All About Micromanaging. In the article he states that "agile is about micromanagment, but it’s about the team micromanaging themselves and for their own benefit." The article could not have come at a better time, since my very own team and I have engaged in a few discussions about this very thing.

In one of those conversations, I stressed the importance of the team and the responsibility of each member to ensure user stories are done on-time and with the highest quality. To accomplish this, members should check progress against estimated time and sign off on any completed work. Tasks and user stories would require all members approval before moving on, which means tasks are held to the highest standard of the team.

The response to this suggestion was positive, but some felt uncomfortable about confronting other members when things are not going as planned. Instead, they preferred that the Scrum Master (manager) take that responsibility. I understand the hesitation, but having served in a self-regulating team, it only took one or two conversations from the team to get most people on board. On a few occasions the team took the issue to higher authority, but that was very rare.

As the Scrum Master (manager) for Web Services at North Carolina Central University, my interest is in the completed project. With the customer's assistance, I identify the specifications, time line, and priorities, but leave the how it gets done to the team. Should there be any impediments, my role is to help remove those stumbling blocks.

To my managers, Scrum Masters, and leaders, how do you handle delegation? What is your view on micromangement by self-regulating teams? I would love to hear your feedback.

Until next time...

Sunday, September 13, 2009

OpenID For Higher Education Web Sites

The OpenID logoImage via Wikipedia
This past week we learned that the United States Government will run a pilot program using OpenID. The press release reveals the ten industry leaders as Yahoo!, PayPal, Google, Equifax, AOL, VeriSign, Acxiom, Citi, Privo, and Wave Systems. "This open identity initiative is a key step in President Obama’s memorandum to make it easy for individuals to register and participate in government websites — without having to create new usernames and passwords. Additionally, members of the public will be able to fully control how much or how little personal information they share with the government at all times."

As one who works for a state-funded institution, this new information is enough to spur conversations on our very own practices. At North Carolina Central University, we have recently launched prospective student and alumni portals. In both cases, visitors create accounts in order to access personalized tools and resources. Creating accounts requires the completion of a short registration form.

In the past, Web Services considered using Facebook Connect and Google Friend Connect as creative ways to simplify the account creation process. At the time of this entry, the team has successfully implemented Facebook Connect but has not released it into production. With the U.S. Government's continued support of Web 2.0, I see OpenID as a noteworthy option for higher education web sites. Assuming the pilot program goes well, this adoption of identity management may soon unleash a race to implement across the country. Maybe now is a good time to begin testing OpenID for your institution as well.

Until next time...

Friday, September 11, 2009

Facebook Goes Lite But It Feels Like Friendfeed

Image representing Facebook as depicted in Cru...Image via CrunchBase
I just finished reviewing Facebook Lite. If you have not yet heard, the company released a simplified beta version to accommodate users that do not have the bandwidth to use the original powerhouse. Based upon my initial observation, the site seems to load faster and without a lot of extra distractions, which is a plus.

After a few minutes of exploration, I got the feeling I had seen this layout before, but where? Rob Diana's entry entitled, "Facebook Lite Is Why They Bought Friendfeed," provided the answer.

Overall, I like the new design and plan to continue using it with high hopes for more functionality. As of now, I would like to see the feed automatically refresh and reorganize itself based upon activity. If someone were to comment on a feed, it would find its way back to the top of the list without any intervention from me. Many of us have seen this feature on Friendfeed. With the acquisition of Friendfeed and the subsequent launch of Tornado, I think this feature should be arriving soon. Well, I at least hope so.

What is your first impression of Facebook Lite? What other features would you like to see in place?

Until next time...

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Publishing Your Blog to the World at the Speed of NOW

In Search Of Lost TimeImage by bogenfreund via Flickr
In the world of web technology, there have been a number of new and exciting advancements. Today, I would like to explain what I know about RSSCloud and PubSubHubBub and how these developments may affect you.

The Low Down

To begin, let us first take a look at what all the chatter is really about. By now you may have seen RSSCloud or PubSubHubBub come across your screen on Twitter, Facebook, or Friendfeed. So, the question remains, what is really going on?

On Monday, September 7, 2009, Dave Winer announced that WordPress supports RSSCloud. In short, this change to WordPress means that millions of people can update their blog and push out updates to RSS Readers immediately.

Ok, So What Has Changed?

Today, if you post a blog, it could take between minutes and hours to reach your RSS readers.

In the age of Twitter, Facebook, Lazyfeed, Lifestreaming, and Friendfeed, information is more immediate and in real-time. We have come to expect news on the fly. With RSSCloud and PubSubHubBub, you can begin to do that very thing. You can write a blog and it go out to the world in seconds versus hours.

Is There a Difference Between PubSubHubBub and RSSCloud?

While I will not go into great detail about the inner workings of either technology, I will express to you that both serve the same purpose. Each one helps to push your blog out to the world. For a more comprehensive comparison, take a look at PubSubHubBub vs. RSSCloud.

Why Should I Care About Real-Time?

That is a great question. Let me explain with a quick story. My first memorable experience leading me to value this update happened weeks ago. When I learned that Facebook bought Friendfeed, I immediately wrote a blog entitled, "A Game Changer: Facebook acquires Friendfeed". Do you know how long it took before Google Reader posted my item? The answer is hours.

One by one, I watched other authors write about the event until my own perspective got lost in the mix. Had my blog been connected to RSSCloud or PubSubHubBub, you would have seen my entry much earlier than you did. In the information game, timing is everything.

Next Steps

Now that you understand the basics of real-time and why it is important, let us look at what can you do with this knowledge?

WordPress
For those using WordPress.com, the change is already in place. However, if you host your own instance of WordPress, then the following instructions, by Corvida, should serve you well. See: Installing WordPress RSSCloud Plugin.

Blogspot
Similar to WordPress, Google's Blogspot supports PubSubHubBub. In this case, nothing further is needed.

Feedburner
For those, like me, that use Feedburner to disseminate our feeds to the world, check out Gina Trapani's "How to PubSubHubBub-Enable Your Site's Feed" for specific directions. At this point, Feedburner does not support RSSCloud but offers PubSubHubBub in its stead.

Closing Note

It is important to note that not every RSS Reader (such as Google Reader and Outlook) supports the latest update. This means that until they do the real-time syndication will still post minutes to hours later. However, making aforementioned changes will ensure that when available, your stuff will go out in the speed of NOW.

For those interested in a RSS feed aggragator that does support RSSCloud, take a look at Winer's River2.

Until next time...

Monday, September 7, 2009

What Happens If I Don't Finish The Dissertation?

my desk at home while i am writing dissertationImage by .snow via Flickr
When people ask me what I am doing or what my plans will be for the weekend, I typically mention writing the dissertation. I find myself saying it so much that it just rolls off my tongue without a moments thought. With all this talk about writing, I should be done by now, right? Wrong!

Last night, before I went to sleep, I reviewed my mentor's notes and reread a few sections I wrote months ago. If the message was not clear before, I now understand the magnitude of this assignment. It is huge!

One of my earlier facilitators explained that writing the dissertation may be one of the most significant and challenging assignments of our lives. From where I stand today, I am beginning to agree.

In processing past assignments, I recall being able to sit down for a day or two and knock out most of my written papers. Unfortunately, that strategy does not work for me today. Why? Because there is no way I can read, process, and write what is necessary in a weekend.

As a result of my review, I silently asked the question, "What happens if I don't finish the dissertation?"

I hear my close family and friends yell at their computer screens, "Don't you dare think that!" To which I reply, "How can I not?"

To some, the fear of failure is enough to motivate action. Therefore, in order to scare myself into doing what I set out to do, I must look at the possibilities of not finishing my dissertation. Hopefully, I never experience the pain of failing, but what if? Below is a short list of things that come to mind.

  1. Loans - In order to pay for school I had to take out student loans. I guesstimate a series of loans equaling around $80k. Whether I finish the program or not, I am responsible for repaying this money. My belief has been with a degree comes more opportunities and the financial means necessary to repay obligations. Without a degree, I can look forward to paying the same bill but with my current salary. I prefer the first option.
  2. Self-Esteem - As a child, my mother repeatedly expressed her belief in me. She said that I could do anything I put my mind to and I believed her. Any failure I may have experienced throughout my life has always been a temporary setback. In almost every case I can remember, I have come through the fire and done what was required of me. To attempt a terminal degree in business is a huge risk. Many people I know have failed to obtain the degree. If I were quit or take too long to finish, I would carry a heavy weight that may plague me for life.
  3. Role Model - As a father of three children, I have young eyes watching me. I know they will forever love me regardless, but if I can finish a doctoral degree so can they, if a degree is something they really want. Outside of my children, I also have other relatives that may secretly look up to me. If I fail, some may never even try thinking it is too hard.
  4. Opportunity - There have been many smart and innovative thinkers who have done exceedingly well without a college education. However, I believe they are the exception and not the rule. Based upon my own experiences, I find that education has opened many doors for me and my family. To earn a terminal degree would provide an opportunity for career advancement. Having worked in higher education for over 10 years, I recognize the importance of a doctorate. Therefore, without the dissertation, I limit my opportunities in higher education and all that it brings.
  5. Graduation - One of my biggest fears in school was being left behind. From kindergarten all the way up to 12th grade, I completed assignments so that I could progress through life with my friends. If I were to fail a grade, I would miss the opportunity to graduate with my classmates. That would have been a great loss for me.

    Yes, college is a tad bit different. As an undergraduate, I took five years to finish but it wasn't that big of a deal since I made tons of friends that were younger than me. Additionally, I went to school outside of Washington State so I was a bit disconnected, anyway.

    In the doctoral program, I have made new friends. We have progressed through adversity and made plans to graduate together. If I do not finish this dissertation, I will miss out on the opportunity to walk, stand, and be hooded next to my friends. That is enough to bring nightmares.

As a student of the University of Phoenix's School of Advanced Studies, I have been challenged. Fortunately, my journey is not yet over and I still have something to learn. The most gratifying reward will be finishing this massive project we call a dissertation.

Currently, I still rest in DOC 733 while I finish the proposal (first three of five chapters). This class makes a second time around. Based upon the amount of work I still have left, it looks like I'll be back for a third. The question I have now is how long can I continue to take this course before I submit the proposal? The answer is not long.

Having looked at my schedule, my current date of completion is March of 2010. Graduation is somewhere between June and July, assuming I look at last years commencement schedule. This means if I do not pull my proposal together and submit successfully within a class or two, I may miss my graduation next year and that is totally unacceptable.

I would love to hear your story. If you are working on your course work, comps, proposal, dissertation, or just thinking about it, I would really like to connect with you. Together, we can finish strong.

Until next time...

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Saturday, September 5, 2009

Sharing Stuff Online: Are You Willing to Put Your Name On That?

Iker seal of approvalImage by Rafael_cercedilla via Flickr
This past weekend I had an eye opening experience. One that I feel passionate about and one that I hope you learn from. No, I would not say it's life or death, but it may cause some problems if avoided.

If you are anything like me, then you typically peruse the Internet for the latest news and interesting finds. Right? So, here I am going through my Google Reader and when I find something of value, I pass it on. Most of the time, I just click the "Share" button or send an e-mail to individuals. Up until this weekend, everything was working as planned.

I recall one item came into my Reader and it talked about how Google hires people to work from home. I immediately thought about a few people that stay at home and in need of some extra cash. With a quick once over, I sent it on. I even shared it with all of my Twitter, Friendfeed, Facebook, and Google Reader friends.

It was not until this morning that I learned the Google "package" cost a couple of dollars for shipping and handling. I started scratching my head and asked to see the link I sent. With a fresh set of eyes, I knew this link was a scam. Following the link, I noticed the image quality on the site was poor, the footer contained a disclaimer that the site was not associated with Google, and they were asking for money.

For a moment, I could not believe I had been duped. Here I am looking at a scamming site and I passed it forward to thousands of people.

Not long after I realized what I had done, my sister chimed in and said the same. Unfortunately, she had already paid the $2 before she realized it. Later, a couple of readers asked me to do a better job of reading these shared items before I endorse them.

I was stunned. I made a mistake and it negatively affected others. How did this happen?

The first answer I have is that people trust me. I have spent years working in the Internet industry and building my experience. I do my best to share interesting and informative information with others by sifting through thousands of items a day. People have come to expect certain kinds of information from me. As a result, they trust me. They trust that I will not lead them astray.

Unfortunately, I slipped and sent information that was not what it seemed and I put my reputation at risk. Yes, people should always be careful, but ones guard may come down some when it relates to trusted sources.

The Lesson
What I have learned today is that people trust me and I have a responsibility to protect that trust. As I move forward, I will be more careful to better screen information before I send it out.

The question we must ask ourselves before we consider sending something out to the world is this material worthy of my name?

Remember, when we share or retweet something, we are essentially saying that we endorse this link or content. As a "router" of information, our positive reputation is very important if we seek to have a long career. So, I encourage you to learn from my mistake and avoid ever having to apologize.

Special Note
To those who followed the link to a Google Scam site, and to those that even submitted personal information, I humbly apologize for sharing that piece of information. I hope that you will maintain your trust in me, as I seek to help and not to hurt. Moving forward, I will be more cautious about what I endorse because I value you and your trust in me.

Thank you!

Until next time...

Friday, September 4, 2009

What is RSS? A Brief Overview.

Really, REALLY BIG RSS feed buttonImage by HiMY SYeD / photopia via Flickr
What is RSS? I get that question often and I think it is time we talk about it.

RSS is short for Really Simple Syndication. For many, this means nothing. So, to explain, let us look at a common scenario.

If you have spent any length of time on the Internet, then you must have at least one or two favorite web sites. Outside ones e-mail account, I find many people like to visit news sites like CNN, Fox News, or a local newspaper. On any given day, you may stop on the site, read a few articles, and then go about your business. Sounds easy enough, right?

Well, what happens when you find a dozen or so sites that offer interesting news or funny content? The first thing one must do is remember to visit the site on a regular basis. This is not a problem when you go to one spot, but with more sites comes more to remember.

Another common occurrence is the failure of one or two sites to update their news. Take a blog for example, the author may only write twice a week. Instead of trying to guess when the site will receive an update, wouldn't it be nice to simply receive a notice when they have? Enter RSS.

With RSS, you can visit one of your favorite web sites and subscribe to it. This means you will receive an update from the site only when the author writes something. With RSS in place, you no longer have to guess when something new has arrived because it will come to you automatically. How does that sound? Cool, I hope.

To use some of the RSS lingo, we call automatic updates "Feeds." Have you ever heard that term before? I know that I have said something like, "I just went by some web site and subscribed to their feed." Basically what I am saying is that when the site is updated, I will receive a notice.

How will I receive a notice?
If I said, "via e-mail," then you would immediately turn to your Gmail, Yahoo, MSN, or Outlook, right? Well, to read RSS feeds, you turn to something like Google Reader, which is basically an inbox for feeds.

How do I subscribe to a feed?
The easiest way to subscribe to a RSS feed is by clicking on the little orange icon shown above. This icon can be found all across the Internet on most blog and news sites.

When clicked, your browser will load a page that lists a number of current stories or blog entries. At the top of this screen, you should see an option to select your RSS feed reader. In our case, we choose Google Reader.

Once selected, Google Reader will load a similar page and ask you to subscribe by clicking on the "Subscribe" button (see below).


After you successfully subscribe to the feed, you will visit Google Reader like you do your email account. Anytime a favorite web site updates its page, you will see all of the new items listed in descending order. To read an article or blog, simply click on the title of the document within Google Reader and enjoy.

Please note that some feeds only show a title and brief description, while other feeds show the title and the complete story. In the case that you can only see a summary with a link to "Read More". To read the entire article, you may have to click the link and read the story on the original site. However, more and more web sites allow Google Reader to show everything. In this case, you never have to leave Google Reader.

That's all for now. I hope this was helpful. If there is anything else I can do to help you better understand RSS or other web technologies, please let me know.

Until next time...

Building Forms and Surveys in Google Docs

google doc 3Image by NedraI via Flickr
At North Carolina Central University, Web Services receives a number of requests for submittable forms and surveys. Typically, we begin the tedious task by taking a static Word or PDF file and transforming it into an online form. This process requires us to develop a front page (the form), a backend (to submit), and add verification scripts to insure users submit only valid information into the system.

For years, I had a healthy dislike for online forms. Don't get me wrong, I like when they're done, but hated building them, especially for something temporary.

Today, more university employees and students seek online forms that submit via e-mail or in a database. It makes perfect sense and if I were in their shoes, I would want the same thing. However, from a development perspective, we needed a solution for the temporary projects (such as events, quick surveys, and last minute requests). Additionally, we are not in the position to give access to our database. Therefore, customers that want to review submitted information have to keep requesting reports. Not a good model if you ask me.

For projects that meet the aforementioned description or for individuals that lack the time and energy to create some fancy web form, I recommend Google Docs.

Within minutes, users can develop surveys, questionnaires, or forms and send them out to the intended audience via e-mail. Access to responses and summary reports are easy, too.

Interested in making the form shine? Google Docs even offers 68 themes to choose from. It is so easy to create and edit, that I encourage even the most technology challenged users to give it a try.

For those with a little experience in form/survey development, I recently learned that Google Docs now offers some enhanced features. From the Google Docs blog, we see that the company has spruced up their tool to include grid questions, improved summary results, and prepopulation.

A grid question is where you ask one question and allow users to rate from poor to excellent or strongly agree to strongly disagree. The options are endless.


The enhanced summary report now provides charts and graphs in addition to the numbers. This feature makes for a more user-friendly and visually appealing report.

Finally, for those using Google Apps, users can auto populate the form with known information. This makes for less typing and increases the chances for more completed forms/surveys.


If you have not yet taken the time to explore what Google Docs has to offer, I would encourage you to take this opportunity.

Until next time...

Thursday, September 3, 2009

RSS is Dead. Oh Really?

Really, REALLY BIG RSS feed buttonImage by HiMY SYeD / photopia via Flickr
There has been a number of blogs talking about the death of RSS. Earlier today, while scanning my RSS feeds in Google Reader, I fell upon the following story, "Oh, RSS Is Definitely Dead Now: Feedburner CEO Dick Costolo To Become Twitter COO."

According to this story, Dick Costolo is leaving Feedburner for Twitter. Based on his record, he has the ability to establish scalable infrastructures, which is something Twitter desperately needs.

As I understand the issue, Steve Gillmor wrote a blog back in May entitled, "Rest in Peace, RSS" where he explained how Twitter, Facebook, and Friendfeed have made RSS obsolete. The one time powerhouse is encouraged to "gracefully step back [and] blend into the scenery."

Maybe I lack the foresight of more experienced early adopters, but I do not see RSS going away anytime soon. Yes, Twitter has real time information, Facebook has the friends, and Friendfeed has the conversations, but I find that I spend a great deal of time in my RSS Reader. Much of what I share on Twitter, Facebook, and Friendfeed comes directly from Google Reader. Doesn't that mean something?

As the IT Manager of Web Services at North Carolina Central University, I spend a great deal of time on social networks, but I miss a lot of real time information. There are moments where I am in meetings, completing assignments, or traveling between work and home. During these times I am largely disconnected from the real time phenomenon. It is when I get settled and back in Google Reader that I am able to catch up on the latest news.

Sure, it may be minutes to even hours behind, depending on how quick I return, but I get it. Have you ever tried to go back and review old Tweets? To me, it is a lost cause.

Do I think RSS is dead? Definitely not. I suspect that advancements in Google Reader, for example, will only strengthen the case for RSS' continued existence. For additional thoughts on the value of RSS and Google Reader, check out "How to Share Interesting Stuff from the Web Using Google Reader and Friendfeed" and "Could Google Reader Become the Next Friendfeed?"


What do you think about the future of RSS?

Until next time...

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

A Short Story on the Value of Social Networking Through Facebook

Two Twins, Two StrangersImage by Tiago on Vacations via Flickr
Social networking is a popular buzzword these days. Google's AdWords reveals the term, "Social Networking" has an average of 673,000 global searches per month. That is a lot of searches.

Blogs give advice on how to maximize social networks. E-books claim they can help me earn money through social networking sites. This is exciting news but what can the average user expect from social networking efforts? What is the appeal?

In this entry, I share a short story on the value and power of social networking.

This past Monday I received a telephone call from a friend I last saw over a year ago. I know that he lives in or around Durham but with work and other personal responsibilities our schedules do not allow many visits.

When he called I was a bit surprised. We do not talk that much either, especially by phone. Curious, I picked up the phone. Chris, that's my friends name, said hello and asked me if I knew this guy. The name was not immediately familiar but then I have met a lot of people in my day.

I told Chris that the name does not ring a bell and then asked why he wanted to know. He tells me that he found a wallet with credit cards, pictures, and personal information. After a brief search online, he found the guy on facebook and realized I was connected to him. Being the good citizen that Chris is, he called me.

Curious to know who this guy was, I went to facebook and searched my growing contact list. Sure enough, I knew the guy from college and found that he lived in Raleigh. Thankfully, my college friend left his phone number online and I was able to call him.

After a few rings, he picked up the phone. I quickly introduced myself and gave him a brief statement about how we know each other. Obviously, we were not close friends, but we knew many of the same people and that made it easy to continue with my mission.

Moments later, I asked if he was missing a wallet. He checked his pockets and reported that he had everything on him. I began listing a number of items Chris found in the wallet. Quickly, my college buddy realized what he had lost and was extremely appreciative for the call. I shared Chris' number and told him where he could pick up his possessions. Come to find out, my friend was only blocks away from Chris and later reported that the wallet, credit cards, personal information, and pictures had been missing for years.

Isn't it amazing how it all came together? It just goes to show how powerful and well connected we really are. The question is what are we doing with this new information? How can we use social networking sites and skills to help others. Are you leveraging the technology to connect like-minded friends? Are you routing valuable information between contacts? If not, why?

For me, I am going open up and seek out new and creative ways to use the connections. Maybe it will be to help others where they cannot help themselves, like Pay It Forward. The answer is unclear at this moment, but I know I am not doing enough with the resources I have at my fingers.

I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas. Please share them if you have them.

Until next time...

Damond L. Nollan, M.B.A.

Toll-free: (919) 912-9121
E-mail: Contact Me

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