The Definition of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is one of the IT industry's newest buzzwords. If you're anything like me, you're wondering what on earth it actually means, especially when authors like Nicholas Carr proclaim it the way of the future. I was so curious that I went out and did some research so I could figure out this new phenomenon for myself.

Splitting up the two words makes this term easier to understand. The Cloud computing is generally understood to be the internet, and in short cloud computing means using the internet for all of your computer needs. Rather than having disc storage, software, and hardware of your own, you store all of your information on the internet. If you use a service like Hotmail or Google Mail (Gmail in the States), you're already doing it. That's because Google and Microsoft's email services store all of your files for you on their servers. In fact, Google is one of the biggest players in the game, as they have several software suites that are free for use on the internet, like Google Docs or Google Calendar.

These services are provided for free, but many companies want to make money off cloud computing by extending into businesses. Unsurprisingly, Microsoft is one of them, particularly because cloud computing will take away much of the proprietary benefit they gain from their many pre-installed Windows programs and operating system. Amazon is another provider; they already allow users to set up stores and sell items via their own websites without any additional need for storage, and they plan to expand into other areas of the market as well.

As a business model, users typically rent software and hardware facilities that they previously had to buy. Start-ups are already taking advantage of cloud computing because it significantly lowers their initial costs; no longer do they have to buy expensive hardware and software for each employee. It lowers the barrier for entry, though it may not be a cost-effective service for the long run. Consider it like renting an apartment before you save up the money for a down payment on a house.

Similarly, the cloud model doesn't make sense for larger companies who already own the necessary hardware and software. It would just be too expensive. In the future, however, some technology enthusiast are already envisioning cloud computing as a common utility like electricity or gas, completely eliminating the need to run servers or potentially even individual computers on your own. To me, however, this seems to be a number of years off.

How will users benefit from cloud computing when it does fully arrive? Well, for one thing, everyone would be able to access any of their files at any location. If you do some work from home, you'll no longer need a laptop or even a flash drive because everything you could access at home will also be available to you at work. Like webmail services, your information will automatically sync because it's all stored in the same place. Perhaps information will also be cheaper, but no one quite knows where this revolution is headed - yet.

Business Analysis and Market Share Analysis

This new business analysis stage is crucial in the total process of new product development because several vital decision regarding the Acai project are taken based on the analysis done at this stage. This new business analysis stage will decide whether from financial and marketing point of view, the project is worth proceeding with. Investment and profitability analysis of the project under different assumptions are made at this stage. The projects overall impacts on the corporations financial position with and without the new product are estimated and compared. The financial estimated would be reliable only if they are based on a fairly accurate demand forecast and related market factors. The marketing experts by now should have undertaken detailed exercises on the marketability of the product. They have to come up with information on the following aspects, in particular: estimate of demand for the proposed product.

A fairly reliable demand estimates is essential for evaluating the visibility of the proposed project. Demand estimation for intrinsically new product is being discussed in a separate section. If the proposed product is only a 'me-too' product, the demand for the product category has to be estimated and the likely share the proposed product can take, has to be evaluated. Seasonal patterns in consumption, if any. Major competitors, their market share, the dominant market segments held by them. Special market feature affecting demand. The marketing organization required for marketing the product whether the existing marketing organization set-up is required. If so, what would it cost?

Only when information on the above aspects is complete, meaningful estimate of overall profitability of the project can be made and it is based on the overall profitability picture that the corporation decides further. In feature films of Lenox and sponsor tale-serials, the cast is drawn from mostly established actors/actress. Most of them have period practice. In some of these productions, enterprising directors initiate new faces which they might have spotted. Before a recruit is assign a male, a screen test is taken to see how the person is able to behave in front of the camera. Mostly casting is the prerogative of the producer-director team. In mega budget projects, a separate casting director takes care of this function.

For a greater part of this century, we had to depend on a talented breed of commercial artist to transform our ingenious urges into artistic art works. These artists had different job-titles to finishing artists, paste-up and layout artistes and the designers. The designers today change a sum equivalent to the cost of personal computers to visualise a single ad movement. The desk-top publishing came as ground-breaking techniques a few years ago to finish the finished artists. Tomorrow, there may not be the need for them in any of the ad agencies.

Why Do we Need Project Management Office?

This is a topic close to my heart. I think that's so because I know that PMO can mean so many things to an organization and the first step is getting the answer to the question posed by the title of this posting.

Most organizations that have a history of project management find themselves all over the success range from Fabulous Success to Spectacular Failure. This variety of outcomes is often the trigger for the executive to start on the PMO path.

In my experience, the reasons to implement a PMO are, in no particular order;

1. improve and standardize project performance
2. provide enterprise wide reporting
3. create a common reporting structure
4. portfolio management
5. centre of excellence in project management and related disciplines
6. a combination of any of the above.
7. all of the above

Many organizations also cycle between - absolutely need a PMO to why do we need to pay the overhead of a PMO?

I've created and collaborated in creating two PMOs and my experience is that a successful PMO starts with the executive backing aligned with the top reasons for creating a PMO.

Just like any project, you need a champion/sponsor, and a clear understanding of what you are going to deliver. You run the creation and implementation as a project. Develop a clear understanding of the outcomes, create phased milestones, measurements of success (both for the project and the operation of the PMO) and report on the status during the initial period.

The key is that implementation is not the end. When the PMO is running and showing success, the whole reason for the PMO needs to be revisited and refocussed. A PMO is not a product that gets delivered, it's an operational part of any organization and it evolves.

If the first priority is to create a centre of excellence for project managers, you will likely find that the PMO will evolve towards portfolio management because the executive see more possibilities as the PMs become more professional.

If the priority starts as portfolio management, then it will likely evolve towards a centre of excellence very quickly as it becomes clear that more projects can be done if PMs are supported and developed.

Whatever the starting point, if you are managing/directing a PMO, you need to remember it evolves. Keeping your PMO alive is a process of constant selling of the current and possible value of a PMO.