More and more people today are getting eager to learn about Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio Express (SSMSE). Why? Simply because SQL Server Management Studio Express serves as the major interface into SQL Server Express. It is also for this reason why more and more lessons are being provided online. These lessons essentially demonstrate the important skills and techniques that are needed to effectively connect to database instances, attach and detach as well as back-up databases, navigate the inquiry window including scripting database objects, and many more.

Basically, SSMSE is a graphical management tool for organizing SQL Server 2005 Express Edition as well as SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with highly developed services. In addition, SSMSE is also capable to organize instances of the SQL Server Database Engine produced by any SQL Server 2005 using any edition. This tool is also perceived great by many because this is not only simple to use but is also free. However, SSMSE tool has its own imperfections too. Like for instance, this tool is not capable to run SQL Server Analysis Services, Notification Services, Integration Services, Reporting Services, SQL Server 2005 Mobile Edition, or SQL Server Agent.

For a more effective operation of SSMSE, a system must have Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 or Windows XP Service Pack 2 as supporting operating system. Ideally, computer must have fast processor; 1 GHz is suggested. It is also recommended for the computer to have more than 512 MB RAM. More information concerning to SQL Server Express is made available in SQL Server Express page on MSDN. This page features more of its editions as well as downloadable components.

SQL Server columnist Brian Kelley wrote an article entitled “Understanding SQL Server Services” in the online knowledge center for database professional, Database Journal. According to him, only few among the Database Administrator (DBA) truly understand the essence of SQL Server Services. He said that one reason why this happened is because Microsoft itself provides an easy installation process for SQL Server 7.

Unfortunately, he claimed that knowing how the SQL Server Services works including their effects can serve as a key to any troubleshooting effort in case something goes wrong. With this case, Kelley explained in detail the two important services for SQL Server— MSSQLServer and SQLServerAgent. Essentially, SQL Server operates under the Network MSSQLServer; meanwhile, SQL Server Agent operates under SQLServerAgent. These two services can be programmed to operate the following user conditions: Local System Account; Local User Account; and Domain User Account. Now, SQLServerAgent and MSSQLServer do not have to operate under the same user conditions according to Kelley although they use to in some instances.

To provide better understanding, Kelly further explained more about the user conditions. He said the Local System Account is an existing account on the machine wherein SQL Server is installed. This has administrative privileges so it can operate as a service. A Local User Account varies though since this is a type of account that is produced by an administrator on the mechanism for SQL Server. Hence, it may not be considered as a component of the local administrator group. Lastly, the Domain User Account, this is likened to the Local User Account since an administrator identifies the kind of permissions it has to the mechanism for SQL Server. This is also not required to become a component of the Local Administrator group.

With technological advances, sharing information via the internet or intranet has never
been easier.  You can now share information securely or via online posts that are
available to the public.  This is because content management has been implemented in
most web sites and programs today by automating menial tasks (like cities, field titles,
status, etc.).  Another big advantage of content management is the easy change of field
titles and other information.  Resumes for jobseekers, 201 files for employees, school
records for students among others can already be easily updated via content management
systems.

Aside from changing field titles, status, location, etc., content management can also
automatically convert any information submitted and saved into its system into any form
of document that is ready to be reviewed and printed by authorized people.  Documents,
images that have been scanned can also be integrated into the system for easier sharing.

The goal of content management is the sharing of information.  Therefore, in an effective
content management system, authorized individuals and organizations should be able to
easily access, edit, search and retrieve documents, forms and other information.  Editing,
updating, revising and correcting information should not be complicated and the
changing of titles, location and other pertinent information should be easily done. 
Templates, help wizards and other forms of easy to follow instructions should be
available.

Securing of data is also one of the major features of content management and any
information in the fields cannot be changed by unauthorized individuals.  Therefore,
fields entered and stored in the system are protected and secured.

The intention for IT Service Management (ITSM) processes is to deliver the best possible service to meet a customer’s business needs within agreed resource levels. That is, service delivery that is professional, cost-effective and with risks that are understood, accepted and managed. It is necessary to have some mechanism to measure service delivery and quality.
Working towards standards compliance is a strategy to enable measurement of quality that many organizations around the world have freely adopted. Since the 90s with ISO 9001 and other international standards, organizations have used standards as a way to demonstrate the quality and effectiveness of their process.
More recently the ITSM standard has been BS 15000 (and AS8018 in Australia). In December 2005, ISO 20000 has superseded BS15000 and represents an industry consensus on quality standards for ITSM. With the introduction of the international standard we have seen considerable activity in organizations seeking to achieve certification. Currently there are 84 Certified under ISO 20000 (and BS 15000). This number is certainly on the increase given the interest around the world for training in ISO 20000 consulting courses being offered by The Art Of Service, one of the few internationally accredited ISO 20000 training organizations.

A lot of technology and application specialists who used to spearhead management of IT projects from beginning to end see project managers as competition. This becomes a source of disempowerment – the single biggest hurdle, in terms of organizational transformation in IT – when IT leaders start to introduce a Project Management Office (PMO) group. My point of view is completely the opposite. If there are enough project management resources, I would rather have PMO support all my projects. Here are the top three reasons why IT needs a PMO group:

Bring More Bang for Your Buck

A number of IT professionals are seeing increased budget and head-count reductions as more large business decision-makers turn to cost-cutting measures. Because of this, projects are watched very intimately by IT leaders – reining in projects more closely than ever. This challenge has lead IT to turn to project management offices (PMOs) as an approach to boost IT efficiency, optimize cost, and deliver projects on time and in full. We have to bear in mind, however, that establishing a PMO team is not a short term strategy for lowering costs. Numerous studies have indicated that the longer companies have been operating PMO, the better the results in terms of accomplishing project goals.

Standardize Project Management Practices

For large corporations, scores of projects happen at the same time and more often, it is just too hard for the CIO to keep track of them. This is where PMO provides its biggest contribution to IT. PMO introduces economies of repetition in the execution of projects and makes it easier for the CIO to track progress and results. It is the job of the project management office to make sure that the projects follow the established project management standards. The PMO group is responsible for defining and maintaining the standards of processes related to project management. It is the source of documentation, guidance and metrics on the practice of project management and execution.

Facilitate IT Portfolio Management

The implementation of a PMO group is a stepping stone to IT portfolio management. I have reiterated this several times but I think it is important to note that progression from project management to portfolio management is intertwined with the maturity of the IT organization. If the organization doesn’t have a strong project management discipline and Project Management Office, it is difficult to even imagine how IT portfolio management can be achieved. PMO should have a staff of program managers who can manage multiple projects that are related – such as infrastructure technologies, desktop applications, processes, business model implementation and so on – and allocate investments and resources accordingly. IT Portfolio Management is focused on investments and business results as compared to the focal point of Project Management which is project deliverables. This will bring IT (and the business) double bang for its buck!

Someone who has experienced working with an effective project management office surely can give more than measly three reasons – but to me the three that I have just mentioned are the most essential. There is no uniform recipe to success when establishing a Project Management Office (PMO). PMO is not a quick-fix solution only created to deliver immediate savings. It is an important component of the organizational maturity of an IT organization. It is important that the PMO structure is closely aligned to the team’s culture. A final note:  Projects exist in virtually all areas of the company – the  PMO practice can also be implemented there. In some companies, IT’s project management office provides support and internal consulting to other departments.

mysimpleprocesses.com/2010/05/29/pmo/

Customer Surveys are vital for helping organizations determine the different types of customers who make up their customer base or customer categories. This information is very important so that the business will improve and expand.

Customer Surveys help improve customer retention rates significantly. Customers are retained by an organization if the customers are satisfied. Data from Bain & Co. consultant Fred Reichheld noted that when customer retention rates improve by at least 5%, this produces a corresponding gain in profits ranging from 25% to 95% – though this may depend on what kind of business is being pursued.

Customer Surveys help customers show what they perceive is wrong with the organization so that the small problems do not escalate into much bigger problems later on. It might be said that Customer Surveys help organizations maintain the close ties with their customers that help guarantee long-term customer contact and patronage. And every business needs the patronage of clients to survive for the long-term.

It is important to know when Customer Surveys are appropriate to have customers fill out and when the organization should hunker down and wait. A weekly survey might make you feel productive to analyze but in reality there really is not much difference between customer behavior in one week and customer behavior the next week. Even supermarkets know this, which is why they launch promos in seasonal format rather than keep changing promos from one week to the next. If you issue Customer Surveys on a weekly basis, that will just cost you money and will not reveal any significant data that will be useful for identifying customer behavior trends that you can use.