Was that Assignment # 1,000,000?

Well, two things accomplished tonight so far - eating too much candy and I completed my Chapter 8 MindMap - Assignment # 1 million. I still am working on my comparison, but the drop box states that it is available until tomorrow at 11:55, so I have some more time. Also, I am one paragraph away from finishing up my essay for BA2663. I am overachieving in completion time on that one! I actually thought it was due today, so I worked on it all weekend - that is one way of getting something done ahead of time...trick yourself into thinking it is actually due earlier than it is supposed to be! Anyways, don't have the energy to post much of anything else tonight, but I can tell you that I chose a MindMap instead of the CMAP. I know the CMAP has been getting a lot of bad press lately, but honestly I believe it is the MindMap that has gotten the shaft these days. The mindmaps seem to be more relevant for actually learning the material. I know that the concept maps are great for the overall relationship and "concept" of the material, but for some reason the MindMap just works better for me. I like to think of myself as a "concept" thinker, but the CMAP stuff is making me second guess myself. Anyways, here's to another week ahead ...filled with left over candy and guilt about eating to much of it!

Will post mindmap later....blogger photo seems to be on the fritz 2nite - edit 11/7 finally got the picture up...!

How to Manage Smart People...

In case anyone out there is managing smart people...checkout this essay. Highly recommended by Miss Evil Anna and myself

What is with the weather?

Have you noticed the crazy weather outside the last two days? It is windy enough that my poor Lhaso Apso almost could do a lift off when going outside for the regular "outside" rituals. I hope this is not an omen of what is to come this Winter. I really love the snow, but the cold puts a definite damper on the whole Winter Wonderland idea in my books. I vote for white cotton candy this winter instead of snow and maybe a little sherbert to give us that seasonal feel. Where did this come from? I have no idea!

Where does time go?

I am exhausted...I mean terribly tired and just really wanting to go to bed. So, why am I up still? Well, there are a few things that keep me up at night:

1. Work - thinking about what needs to be done, how much time I will need to get it done, what is even the value in what I am doing and of course the actual doing of the work

2. School Work = it never ends either. Reading / mapping/assignments / midterms

3. Laundry....as well as other household chores. It is amazing how quickly laundry and just about everything else at my house can turn into mess in a blink of an eye. I wish the laundry fairy would come to my house

Those are the main things. Why do I write this? I dont really know...just to complain I suppose.

What is Software as a Service model?

What is Software as a Service model?

Summary Of Work Effort

Prior to embarking on this subject, I did not know a lot about SaaS. For the most part I thought it was mainly online spreadsheet, mail and documents and the odd photbucket program. I was surprised to find out that SaaS is much more than that and really emcompasses a wide variety of programs, which range from CRM applications to Financial Management systems which support companies every day. The SaaS providers are many and there are avenues available to link up requirements and providers due to the large demand. I would say for me the biggest part of this project was of course the research and learning about a subject which I knew very little about. I was for the most part done a few days ago, putting the final touches on the eve the paper is due. I truly did learn a lot about SaaS providers and am glad I chose the topic so I can be more of a participant in conversation when a discussion occurs. I would consider my paper: clear, articulate, thorough and shows a lot of effort put forth on a subject that was very much new to the writer. I would give myself a solid B+ or A.

Mark =

Good research and an interesting paper! I've tried to provide some ideas and suggestions throughout that might be useful for future papers. And there are a few times when the wording of some sentences seems a bit long or awkward. Finally, there maybe could have been a bit more about the types of technology behind SaaS. Otherwise, good stuff. Mark = A- -Drfleet 11/7/06, 10:27am

References

Ambarkhane, Saket. (2006). Firms Open Up to Software as a Service. CRM BUYER. Retrieved Oct 28, 2006,. (http://www.crmbuyer.com/story/cMn2a6yFuiX7Uu/Firms-Open-Up-to-Software-as-a-Service.xhtml)

Banks, Martin. (2006). SAAS Goes Customizable. Channel Register. Retrieved Oct 27, 2006,. (http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2006/10/25/netsuite_customise)

Beal, Barney (2005). Making a big deal out of hosted CRM. SearchCRM.com. Retrieved Oct 29, 2006,. (http://searchcrm.techtarget.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid11_gci1093176,00.html)

Chaudhary, Rajendra . (2006). SaaS Security Concerns Are Cynical. CXOTODAY.COM. Retrieved Oct 30, 2006,. (http://www.cxotoday.com/India/News/SaaS_Security_Concerns_Are_Cynical_Say_Experts/551-73540-908.html)

NetSuite, Inc. (2006). NetSuite Kicks Off 'Service as Software' Revolution With SuiteFlex. Yahoo Finance. Retrieved Oct 28, 2006,. (http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/061026/sfth033.html?.v=80)

Smith, Howard (2006). Software as a Service (SaaS) Sightings, Directory and Showcase. Blogger.com. Retrieved Oct 29, 2006,. (http://saassightings.blogspot.com/)

Think Strategies, Inc. (2006). The Software As A Service Resource Center. SAAS Showplace. Retrieved Oct 29, 2006,. (http://www.saas-showplace.com/industrynewsevents.html)

Wikipedia, Inc. SaaS. Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved Oct 20, 2006,. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SaaS)

My report in the making....

I am using writely to do my "personal" project...check it out!

Assignment 10 Concept Map

Well, it's done. The concept map that is. I struggle to no end doing these things. I think I should have stayed with the old mindmap. It was quick, easy and pretty neat looking once I got it done. I think I had it down pat...and even enjoyed writing the notes on the side. Now, my concept maps are just a glob of disjointed relationships that dont seem to want to work together to accomplish a true reflection of the chapter. Oh well, I have tried and for those of you out there still mind mapping...keep up the easy cheezy way...at least your assignments will make sense.

Now, speaking about exceeding expectations in terms of performance. This class is one of those classes that makes you feel like you are at work a bit. I do wonder if there is any relative contribution considerations made when you get down to all the great work effort put forth by a few top achievers. I mean isnt that the way the world works now adays? It is a scramble to the top...those who get lucky among the best of the best get the grade. Really though, when you are working for a company it is like a grade when you get that "exceeds" or "outstanding" result for the year. It is not a letter grade, but if it was it would be the coveted A+ or 4.3 that makes us all want to celebrate!

So, yes....it is that time again at work. My ranting does have purpose. The whole relative contribution, performance rating thing has me at odds every single year. Don't get me wrong, for all years I have done very well. The company has always provided me with a rating that I believe fits the overall work I have put forth that year, but still every year it drives me a little closer to the brink thinking about what on earth I could get.

Now, my friends will tell you that I am a bit competetive....I do tell them no, knowing full well that they know I do have an ever so slight tendancy ....so I know that just a tad of my wondering and hoping about the annual performance rating is that I really just want to get that "I did great things" result or ...win the 1! Doesnt everyone think they are grand though? I mean, you dont meet many people who will offer up during a performance rating discussion that they really did a terrible job at everything during the past year and they deserve a super low rating and please give me less pay even if they reallly did deserve both.

It is pathetic really..why wouldnt almost outstanding be okay? It has been for some years, but still when you work hard every day, do everything you can to make it work you wonder how you could potentially fall short. But...did you fall short? If you are lucky enough to get in the bucket of "maybe you did great" people...it really just boils down to relative performance to enable a definite "you are great" rating.....and that can suck...I mean maybe everyone is just "great".

I guess it boils down to this: Gone be the days where there are only so many outstanding people allowed in one organization.

In fact, don't organizations want a ton of outstanding people? I know, I know...it is the constantly raising the bar, which is a truly wonderful concept.