Tag Archives: lotus

3/4 of Australian websites are not optimized for smartphones

Posted on by Vaughan Rivett

A news article on a New Zealand website claims that 3/4 of Australian websites are not optimized for smartphones.  I shudder to think what this may be like for New Zealand websites.  Recently, I have seen comment that some ISP’s are reporting that mobile data usage is now exceeding that of other connection types.

It is now important that websites are developed to cater for mobile devices, while still providing traditional users with the full features which they would expect on a full browser based site.  The problem which is now created, is that for many sites, a massive “refresh” will be required.  Not only, that, but the site will need to be developed with support for multiple browsers and devices.  I am yawning while writing this.  Yes, a big job ahead.

What’s required is a set of development tools which enable a developer to code once, in a way which will allow content to be available in an agnostic manner.  The content must be able to be separated from the presentation layer (what the user sees).  By doing so, the content will be able to be displayed appropriately once a device has been detected.

This is where Lotus Domino Server based websites can protect the investment companies make during website creation.  Through the use of a new approach to programing, content can be easily rendered to the appropriate device, while data is aggregated from multiple sources to a single screen.  The nuts and bolts (security, reusable code, etc…) may already exist, allowing for the rapid creation of websites which are optimized for today’s technologies.

I just could not contain myself when someone called Lotus Notes “clunky”

Posted on by Vaughan Rivett

Last week, I had a meeting with a customer about the Lotus Notes/Domino road-map.  In fact, I have had similar meetings like this in just a few days.  Typically the meeting begins by someone in the room suggesting that their users find Lotus Notes to be “clunky”.  This is my favorite conversation as I just love to be the bearer of good news great news!

Typically, in conversations like this, I can hardly contain my enthusiasm as a long list of complaints is presented to me.  I sit there. I listen. I take it.  But then, it is my turn to address each of the concerns with overwhelming responses.

Lotus Notes has never been about the technology but about a solution to a business problem.  It always has been, and still is the industry leader in rapid solution delivery to a business problem.  In fact, one of the main reasons that people call it clunky, is that applications have been developed with no particular budget to solve an immediate problem.  Therefore, just a few fields on the screen and some views with a clash of colours.   People, look at your developers, do they have a great dress sense?  Probably not.

You see in most cases it is simple to improve the user experience of Lotus Notes.  Just revisit those commonly used applications and give them a makeover.  Today with the introduction of xPages, users can experience a better work environment.

The next thing I like to share with a customer is the IBM Social Business strategy.  Project Vulcan is always good discussion.  What I like the most about it is the idea of what an exceptional work experience should look like.  The whole idea of integrated social business tools within a work environment is easy for people to understand.

Project Management Duly Noted

Posted on by Vaughan Rivett

Leveraging Lotus Notes for Better Project Collaboration
Guest Blogger: Neil Stolovitsky, Senior Solution Specialist

For many knowledge workers, Lotus Notes is the lifeline to their team members, supervisors and clients. Unfortunately, in many cases Lotus notes is not utilized to its fullest potential beyond the use of email and calendaring. For those working in a Lotus Notes environment, the powerful collaboration capabilities, the sharing of documents and the simple extension of composite applications are never fully realized. In addition, the online and offline capabilities unique to Lotus Notes are not fully benefited by its users.
For the project management professional, when effectively implemented, the Lotus Notes platform can be the ideal environment to roll out an effective project management governance framework that will drive better results, increase visibility and provide a more collaborative environment among its project stakeholders.
In this paper, I will be highlighting how project management organizations can get the most out of their Lotus Notes investment.

The Challenge: Sharing Silos of Information among Project Stakeholders

Today, more than ever, project management organizations are challenged with delivering a single and accurate view of portfolios, projects, activities and resource statuses to all project stakeholders. Moreover, the effective sharing and collaboration of project details and documents are compounded by the reality of dispersed project teams, increased activities performed remotely and client expectations to deliver support within their global context.
In a project-centric environment, one the biggest challenges project leaders face is quickly accessing the right project information at the right time to respond effectively to project bottlenecks and have a clear view of the statuses of their project pipeline. Capturing detailed project information that is inaccessible and not easily shared is inefficient, and in some cases detrimental to a projects successful outcome. In many cases, project stakeholders have poor visibility into the high level details of their projects and portfolios, and cannot see the project status and tracking details in a digestible manner to make well informed decisions.
Ineffectively sharing, collaborating and tracking project details among stakeholders can typically lead to a common scenario where siloed environments are created, project priorities are determined by the loudest voice and the communication of accurate project information is lost. The result is a project environment that lacks cohesiveness and ultimately delivers sub-standard work to unsatisfied stakeholders.
Download the white paper: Project Management Duly Noted: Leveraging Lotus Notes for Better Project Collaboration