FEBRUARY 27th - MANAGING COSTS – THE PEOPLE PERSPECTIVE
The
issue of managing costs hasn’t changed for many years. It’s still about
people, the cost of them and how they are managed. However today it is
significantly more complex and there are many ways of solving the problem. More
importantly we now have a significant skills crisis, deteriorating month by
month and without a concerted effort from Government this is a problem that will
not be solved in the long term.
This briefing will focus on both the skills issue and potential solutions. More
specifically we will cover:-
· Cost Management: what does it really mean?
· Does outsourcing bring real benefits and, if so, what are they?
· What is the cost of ownership and what should be considered?
· Annual IT skills survey – which areas are worst affected?
· Managing end to end – user expectations
· Applications development – an off-shore case study.
Once, a user profile and a menu system hiding a command entry line were all you needed to keep your users where they should be. But now every accounts clerk knows FTP, IBM has given them Ops Navigator and all the back doors are open to hackers…Don’t believe it? Come to Warwick, and find out at least 10 new things to worry about. And then what to do about them.
The two leading AS/400 security vendors, PerntaSafe Security Technologies and SafeStone ,will be covering the heart and soul, and the nuts and bolts, of I-series security – creating a security policy, commonsense measures, closing the doors IBM has opened – and then moving on to how to protect your e-commerce server from the evils of the internet, secure web-serving and FTP exit programming.
In addition we will be looking at the real threats from the Internet with IBM’s global services – how sites are hacked, how they are subverted and what is happening to your site RIGHT NOW. And IBM should know – they run an ethical hacking practice. If you’re not sure what that is, come and find out.
April
24th - APPLICATION
SERVICE PROVISION – I-SERIES 400 HOSTING
Is the ASP/Software Hosting concept the way to the future or just a tired
old computer bureau service given a glitzy makeover?
Should you trust your core business processing to a Hosting Service just
to get the problems off your desk and handled by the ‘experts’.
But what types of software product are suited to being offered as ASP
services and which are a disaster?
There are few commentators who suggest that the ASP Service is the
universal solution to all processing needs.
So when should you consider it and when should you reject it?
How do you identify the correct route to follow.
And how do you ensure you can get flexibility from a Service without
losing the economies of scale?
Having identified the technology profiles
suitable for Hosting and outsourcing what about whole business processes?
And how much should you pay for the Services, what are the pricing
structures and then how do you ensure you actually get the service level your
business needs?
With all the above questions to be sorted out we have
assembled a range of speakers who have practical experience of the ASP and
Hosting arena. They will give
straight answers to the questions with no punches pulled. And to ensure the sessions stick to the principle, we have
secured the services of one of the most forthright personalities in IT, John
Hayward – European CIO of Jones Lang LaSalle.
July
5th - EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES - IBM Laboratories - Hursley
Due to popular demand the CUA is once again holding this ‘Emerging Technologies’ day at IBM’s research centre at Hursley.
Specialists from the labs have offered to share with members the latest trends and directions of IBM developments.
So for a close look at the latest thinking in the industry come to Hursley on 5th July.
September
20th - JOINT
CUA and Guide Share Europe (GSE), Executive eBusiness Briefing
Whether you have already moved into an eBusiness strategy or not, this briefing is invaluable in understanding the risks and benefits involved.
We have speakers from across the whole spectrum on the subject. Member installations who have recently implemented eBusiness and industry specialists covering infrastructure, development and tools. The opening keynote speaker will be Brian White, Labour MP who will give a political view of where eBusiness is going and what initiatives the Government has put in place.
Attendance will give you a clear insight into the "warts and all" situations experienced by companies such as Interbrew, Hays and Johnson Matthey. Share their learning curves and gain your company maximum benefit as you steer your company into the commercial world of eBusiness.
November
1st - IBM Business Partners briefing
This
group - formed by active IBM CUA volunteers has been established to ensure that
the UK Business Partner community is able to work in the most effective way,
ensuring maximum benefit is derived for Business Partners from their
relationship with IBM.
Much
has changed since the introduction of the IBM Business Partner programme, in
fact 'change' is the normal state of business relationships in our industry, at
least it feels like that. As an IBM Business Partner – do you feel that you
are aware of all the implications of changes since you 'tied the knot' with IBM,
worth examining as a review point 'what is in it for me ?' possibly also
considering - 'what is in it for IBM ?' Well then you need to attend this
meeting.
Our
speakers will clarify the current goals and objectives of the Business Partner
programme and take a look at where you can expect things to develop in the
future. An invaluable insight in to the future Business Partner world.
November
14th - Multi-Vendor Service Levels and Quality
‘What
a Pain, I Can’t Get Anyone to Own Up to the Problem and When I Can It’s
Certainly Not the Level of Service I’m Paying For’
Common
Quote from a frustrated user
Why
is it that for the last twenty years the above statement has been the bane of
the bewildered user community? It is because the service they see is totally
different from that the IT department is continuously bleating out with
excellent levels of service and quality?
Is it because the users expectations have been set too high?
Is it because the quality is so poor?
OR is it just perception?
·
Monitoring quality and the user
perception
·
Managing Multi-platform
scenarios for service and quality
·
Monitoring vs management –
managing user expectations
· Using Service Level Agreements to manage service.
December 3 - 4 - Common
UK, Winter Symposium
The CUA in conjunction with IBM is proud to announce the first iSeries Symposium to be held by Common UK. A two-day residential event combined with a large technology and service provider exhibition. The Symposium is targeted at iSeries technicians and decision makers. Delegates will be able to explore the practical aspects of IBM’s recent announcement updates and functional developments. The theme for the event is “Getting it right with iSeries in the E-Business world”.