IT Systems

This blog examines IT from the perspective of SMEs. Lead blogger is David Markus, the founder of Melbourne-based IT services company Combo. His focus is on big picture thinking to create value in IT systems for the SME sector.

Can IT tools help with my financial management?

12 March 2009

If you run a business, chances are that in the past three months someone has told you that now is the time to manage your cashflow. They have suggested cost cutting and tightening your payment terms and collection policies. I certainly have heard all of this advice in many of the industry briefings I attend, also in articles here on SmartCompany, and even in the SmartCompany forums. All of it is sound advice.

Ignore the advice; don’t cut back on IT

4 March 2009

I recently attended the 2009 Gartner technology briefing, along with some of Melbourne's leading CIOs from IBM, Telstra, ANZ and other big organisations. The dominating topic was on the cutbacks in IT spending that we should expect in 2009.

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Don’t be left behind by your own success

Author: David Markus on 25 February 2009

Setting up good systems is a complex proposition that takes time and costs money. If you don't spend the money, it will cost you more in the long run. You certainly can't grow without them.

Tough times and tech solutions

Author: David Markus on 18 February 2009

When the going gets tough, business leaders need to motivate and lead their teams to success. We cannot offer huge financial rewards when sales are slower, so we need to focus on other forms of motivation.

Think before you cut back on IT

Author: David Markus on 12 February 2009

Why do we put up with computers and all the problems they create and the expense of them when we are trying to cut costs? Shouldn’t we just throw them away and do without them?

First pants, then shoes

Author: David Markus on 5 February 2009

We all know the firing squad drill from the movies: “Ready, Aim, Fire!”

But have you ever heard anyone say “Fire! Ready, Aim”? Of course not, because it sounds absurd – so why do we do it over and over with computers?

Put your IT costs on a diet

22 January 2009

There has been a lot of noise about net computers, thin clients or terminal devices. Same stuff, different names. The idea is that the processing is done by a central computer and the graphics are viewed on your screen anywhere in the world.