IT contractors: Keep track of your real customer

Your true customer is the person who decides whether to use your services again, regardless of the chain of command... more

Amazon and the Kindle: A case of corporate contradictions

Every entrepreneur runs the risk of competing with themselves. Case in point: Amazon and its Kindle value proposition... more

Don't let layers of management obstruct the flow of information

At every level, managers are guilty of spinning bad news and sheltering their bosses from real developments... more

Enforcing an unwritten policy when your boss doesn't have your back

When carrying out policies that exist only in your manager's brain, tread carefully to avoid damaging your own reputation... more

IT pros: Don't let business managers dictate your smarts

As an IT pro, you might be considered the smartest person in the room -- it could be worse. Still, it's a good idea to temper your colleagues' expectations... more

When running IT as a business, don't start at the service desk

Symantec serves as an example of how running IT as a business can get in the way of real work, such as handling parallel responsibilities... more

A dysfunctional group is a leadership opportunity

When you're involved in a board, committee, team, or any group that can't seem to collaborate, it's your chance to stand out... more

How do you persuade executives to care about compliance?

If your concerns about PCI or HIPAA compliance are being dismissed, you still have some recourse in pushing the issue to the executive team... more

You're hiring, and a friend needs a job -- now what?

Here are some ways to deal with the challenges when your job-seeking buddies don't meet your work requirements... more

When raises dry up, negotiate hard to get what you deserve

If your boss expects extra effort but won't provide extra compensation, you have to push for your hard-earned reward... more