As an IT professional, one question I’ve heard more than once is: “Why do I need you – I can setup a computer, a web server, a database, etc”. My answer varies based on the audience but essentially comes down to: if you are entrusted with a company’s...
At SPK and Associates we are often asked for direction with respect to versioning control systems. The management of software and related artifacts is core to your development process and a key factor in determining the operational productivity of your...
One of the most time-consuming tasks as an IT Administrator is setting up a new workstation for a new user. A workstation is typically a laptop these days, but could still be a traditional Windows desktop or possibly a Linux-based workstation. As part of SPK's...
I just came to the realization that I've been working with Network Appliance filers for over a decade now. They're great -- rock solid stability, an ever expanding feature set, excellent tech support, and they're certified against many enterprise applications...
Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) and Agile methodologies like Scrum, Kanban, and SAFe are powerful frameworks designed to boost productivity and keep teams aligned. OKRs drive strategic goal-setting and measurable outcomes, while Agile approaches like Scrum focus on...
Meeting deadlines and staying within a budget are important to business success, but continuous achievement requires more than these two factors. Modern organizations understand that a strategic project manager (PM) is vital to project success. A PM’s role extends...
For years, I’ve enjoyed working with clients on difficult projects. In my early career, I did a lot of work for a cloud and infrastructure company where I mainly worked with internal teams. However, when I did get the chance to work with external clients, I found...
Goal-setting is vital to business success, but it is not without its challenges. Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) are a popular framework for aligning teams and driving results. Despite knowing about OKR practices, companies still commonly fall into traps that derail...
Have you ever found your team sacrificing long-term stability for short-term speed? This is unfortunately a common practice as businesses try to keep up with new technologies and emerging competitors. This practice leads to “technical debt” otherwise known as the...
Businesses are becoming more reliant on technology than ever before, meaning that disruptions such as system failures, data breaches, or natural disasters are more impactful to operations. Additionally, these can lead to a loss of revenue and customer trust. Disaster...
The dynamics of product development have shifted dramatically in the past 5 years. Teams are no longer confined to a single location or even a single time zone. Instead, they span continents, collaborating across borders to bring products to market faster than ever...
When working in the engineering and manufacturing fields, it is common to encounter unfamiliar terms. In this glossary, we define important terms that describe processes and components in the engineering, manufacturing, service, and sustainability industries. General...