Firms challenged by ICT project management

Irish companies are finding it difficult to deal with ICT projects, with a third admitting that up to half of all initiatives are not delivered on time or on budget. A new survey by Clarion Consulting revealed that firms are having difficulties bringing their projects in on time and on budget, with undefined project parameters, unclear objectives and inadequate staffing among the most common pitfalls. Some 40 percent also rated their own project management capabilities as only satisfactory or poor. Pat Millar, managing director of Clarion Consulting, said there were a number of reasons why projects were failing, including a lack of definition of the programme's scope, the differing expectations among stakeholders and the lack of a senior sponsor for the project within the business. However, it wasn't all bad news; the survey of Irish organisations also revealed that 75 percent are employing a defined project management methodology, an increase on the 60 percent recorded in 2007. For more on this story see ENN.ie.

Young men are most active e-shoppers

More than three-quarters of Ireland's online shoppers now make 10 percent to 20 percent of their entire monthly purchases on the internet. That's according to a survey by 3V Transaction Services, which revealed that Irish online shoppers are spending EUR150 on average each month on internet purchases. Young males are the most active online shoppers, accounting for 60 percent of consumers who make regular online purchases, and 67 percent of this group said they intend to increase the amount of shopping they do online. Leisure and hobby goods and services were the main drivers of online transactions. The key advantages of internet shopping were cited as better discounts, ability to compare products and prices, and being able to check product availability. For more on this story visit BusinessWorld.

SME bosses need mobile communications

Most decision makers at small firms in the UK are spending at least five hours a week out of the office, a situation that can affect the company's ability to make quick decisions when needed. As well as spending the equivalent of 32.5 working days out and about a year, small business directors and managers are potentially out of contact for over two months each year, when holiday entitlements are factored in. A survey conducted for mobile operator T-Mobile found that almost three-quarters of respondents said that mobile communications are critical in order for directors, management and team workers to stay in contact with employees and customers while they're on the move. Nonetheless, 42 percent of SME directors believe they pay too much for their mobile communications plan. "SMEs are either paying too much or do not have policies in place to control the cost of mobile communications," said Oliver Chivers, head of business marketing at T-Mobile UK. For more on this story see VNUnet.com.

Smaller firms make more IT investments

Small and medium-sized businesses are placing a greater emphasis on investing in IT than larger firms, according to a new study by IDC. The research firm's survey of 196 Western European firms found that medium-sized businesses increased their IT budgets faster in 2008 than much larger enterprises. Interest groups in Ireland feel the picture is likely to be similar among Irish SMEs. "People are aware of their cost base and are looking at IT as a way of reducing it," said Patricia Callan, director of the Small Firms Association. "They are looking to improve the productivity of existing employees through IT rather than increasing staff." The IDC study found that security was top of the investment agenda for medium-sized businesses, followed by a greater desire to improve IT infrastructure and the service quality of IT applications. Outsourcing is also proving popular among mid-size firms, with two-thirds already using some form of outsourcing and many others looking into making an investment. For more on this story see ENN.ie.

Balancing work, life and productivity

eBay: global shop window

Case study: Dr Computer Biz

Memristor

The 'memristor', or memory resistor, is the name of a miniscule component of electrical engineering that has just been built by researchers at HP Labs. The tiny device, thought to be the "missing link" of electronic circuitry, could enable microchip manufacturers to make significant advances with memory technology, enabling the design of PCs and devices that are highly efficient and boot up instantly. The concept was first suggested in 1971 by University of California researcher Leon Chua, who thought that the memristor was the missing companion to the resistor, capacitor and inductor components normally used in circuits. The ability to construct an actual memristor has only been made possible now thanks to the advent of nanotechnology.

Clarion Hotel, Liffey Valley, Co Dublin, 23 May
This half-day seminar, presented by PraxisNow, focuses on internet marketing strategies for business owners and senior marketing managers. In non-technical terms, the programme organisers delve into areas such as strategies for converting prospects to customers on your website, techniques for building opt-in marketing lists, how to develop links with other websites, and how to bring organic search engine placement to the next level.

The company behind online venture Mytradesman.ie has just launched this new business-to-business networking website. Thesourcepool.com styles itself as a web-based marketplace, and is free to access for companies that are seeking potential suppliers in a range of industries, from legal and financial to transport and IT. Site users who post projects to the marketplace can register to receive quotes from interested suppliers via email or via a log-in area on the site.