Build Vs Buy and more...

I honestly believe that the way Information Technology is done is becoming archaic. For example the typical Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) is still geared towards to client-server based technologies. Can we say Visual Basic 6, FoxPro, Sybase with back-end relational databases in Oracle, SQL Server, Access? Unfortunately working in the Enterprise space, I have realized that businesses don't want to build every application they desire. There are Custom Off The Self (COTS) software which can be configured to a point where it can used out-of-the-box. The big question in the Enterprise is Build verse Buy. This means do we build the application or buy the application and then use it with mininal configuration. Enterprise Architecture expands the Build Vs Buy problem to Build Vs Buy Vs Reuse functionality from existing applications. In theory this sounds great however there are drawbacks going the enterprise route. There is greater dependency on the enterprise for reuse functionality from existing applications. However if the enterprise is not mature enough then we have to go the "Silo'ed" route since silos impede information flows and exchange but they also protect the systems and programs from risks in an immature enterprise.

In the end, enterprise level IT is good however it is bad if the enterprise level IT is extremly immature. Do we trust our neighbors or do we trust ourselves?

Wave needs work

I finally got my account on Google Wave "Preview" version a few weeks ago. I invited bunch of techie geeks like myself and now we wave. Right?! Wrong!!!! People just don't know how to use it. Wave's email doesn't work. So if you want to email me at enoch.moses[at]googlewave.com then it will get bounced back. There attachments functionality does work yet . I tried sending a descent sized PowerPoint slide deck and I believe it is still loading. Wave folder functionality doesn't work. I guess most of the stuff doesn't work because it's a "Preview" version. I would rank Google's "Preview" version as Oracle's "Production" version. Stuff is supposed to work but it simply doesn't.

I do like the concept and I tried to wave but no one waves back because you really cannot wave. Not even blip well. So get an account and be patient.

Goodluck!