Today’s global supply chains carry risks that run the gamut from pirates off the coast of East Africa to bad guys tampering with goods in transit. And international supply chains also put companies at risk of violating legislation and policies mandating corporate social responsibility. How can your company make responsible decisions for your supply chain under these conditions?Improving the security of the global supply chain system is a key part of the strategy. With billions of dollars of goods at stake, many companies are working at solving the problem. Blockchain firms like Skuchain have developed ways to secure supply chain information to improve tracking. Other firms like CNL Software and Esri focus on improving the security process at key facilities like ports and warehouses. And firms such as Fleetmatics, Shaw Tracking and Optical Lock are working on securing the “moving supply chain” of trucks, railways, ships and planes. Whether your supply chain includes service providers, software services or goods, there are important risks to be mitigated.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here(Insider Story)
Today’s global supply chains carry risks that run the gamut from pirates off the coast of East Africa to bad guys tampering with goods in transit. And international supply chains also put companies at risk of violating legislation and policies mandating corporate social responsibility. How can your company make responsible decisions for your supply chain under these conditions?To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here(Insider Story)
For the ambitious IT professional, there are a number of ways to take advantage of today’s hot job market. You could patiently climb the ladder at your organization or jump to an attractive opportunity at another company … or you can go into business for yourself as a consultant.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here(Insider Story)
For today’s knowledge workers, heavy workloads and slow productivity growth is a major challenge. Some products and services emphasize processes and systems such as continuous improvement and removing wasteful steps. Others emphasize the human aspects of productivity — a manager training a junior employee to take over a task, for example. AI assistants offer another approach to the workplace productivity challenge, but are they ready for “prime time” use in the enterprise?To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here(Insider Story)
In 2017, strong demand for IT talent will continue in several roles and industries. Understanding how to wring business value from vast stores of data, knowing how to protect that data from increasingly sophisticated threats and navigating the murky waters of freelancing will characterize the tech job market.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here(Insider Story)
Few managers look forward to negotiating contracts. In large companies, there are many stakeholders to consult and it’s easy to make a misstep. And then there’s the expense involved in working with lawyers.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here(Insider Story)
Few managers look forward to negotiating contracts. In large companies, there are many stakeholders to consult and it’s easy to make a misstep. And then there’s the expense involved in working with lawyers.Smart contract technology promises to simplify the contract process and provide greater transparency.[ Also on CIO.com: Blockchain: You’ve got questions; we’ve got answers ]What are smart contracts?
Early approaches to smart contracts included some that were merely “augmented by technology,” says Houman B. Shadab, professor of law at New York Law School. “In a sense, you could view contract signing and management services like DocuSign as an example of [smart contracts].” Other approaches automated the production of traditional contracts using templates.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here(Insider Story)
A new project between General Electric and Gerdau, a large steel manufacturer in Brazil, had a simple objective: Improve productivity by reducing equipment failure and related problems. Early indications suggest that goal was achieved with flying colors.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here(Insider Story)
Landing that dream developer job is hard work, but it all starts with the resume. Your code may be tight and you may have a wide range of deep experience, but if you shortchange the time spent on your resume, you may not get recognized in the job marketplace for your true worth. You might even sabotage your chance of being invited for interviews.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here(Insider Story)
In recent years, the concept of employer brand has taken hold as companies compete for talent. Just as a strong market identity gives a company the capability to charge premium prices — think Apple, American Express and BMW — a strong employer brand assists with recruiting in a competitive job market.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here(Insider Story)
With the Wells Fargo fake accounts scandal fresh on your mind, it’s hard to feel sorry for banks these days. But the pressure on big banks to innovate has never been higher.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here(Insider Story)
Tech skills are in high demand. But maybe leaving your full-time IT gig in pursuit of a hot new career as a mobile developer or data scientist isn’t the best bet. Or perhaps your employer doesn’t offer enough growth opportunity and you want to expand your skills and experience without giving up all your benefits and starting from scratch.There’s another, more flexible way to cash in on today’s high demand for tech: Start a part-time business in your spare time. According to "Freelancing in America: A National Survey of the New Workforce," 14 million Americans engage in a part-time business (also known as moonlighting, freelancing, or running a side hustle). And in tech there is no shortage of part-time projects and contracts on offer, some of which will be in your wheelhouse, while others will provide an opportunity to learn new skills.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here
The recent success of Pokémon GO offers food for thought for online-offline integration — not so much in the world of video games, but in retail.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here(Insider Story)
Today’s financial technology startups (“fintech” for short) are taking on some of today’s greatest security challenges. Armed with drive and a need for innovation, these companies have created new services and security approaches that are changing the financial industry. Here’s how three such companies are competing based on security.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here(Insider Story)
Today’s financial technology startups (“fintech” for short) are taking on some of today’s greatest security challenges. Armed with drive and a need for innovation, these companies have created new services and security approaches that are changing the financial industry. Here’s how three such companies are competing based on security.Know your client
Proving personal identity is a key component of security for the financial industry. Most major financial institutions require customers to open accounts in person, present government-issued identity documents and wait hours or days to open an account. But customers today expect faster services — including the account opening process.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here(Insider Story)
Companies face demographic change as Baby Boomers continue their steady departure from the workplace. At the same time, recruiting and retaining employees to work in large companies is becoming more difficult as freelance and entrepreneurial ventures become more popular, especially among Millennials. These challenges make attracting and developing talent critical for organizations that seek to keep pace.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here(Insider Story)
There’s an old saying in corporate America that nobody gets fired for buying IBM. Buying from the big players is viewed as a safe move. And large companies have a reputation for stability and reliability.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here(Insider Story)
Technology professionals and managers are used to being in high demand, but no sector is immune to layoffs and economic disruption.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here(Insider Story)
Supply chain management is the ultimate back office function. It doesn’t receive as much attention as websites, marketing technology and app development. Yet improving the supply chain yields major bottom line benefits.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here(Insider Story)
Help desk jobs have long been seen as a stepping stone to other roles, but that perception is out of date. Today’s help desk professionals are taking on more complex work and they’re in high demand.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here(Insider Story)
Bruce Harpham