We’ve all heard the stories about the late Steve Jobs and his assertion that he knew better about what the people wanted then the people themselves. While this bold attitude worked well for Apple, you have to remember that what Apple was really selling was not just a product but also a tightly controlled experience. But guess what, you’re not Apple and nor are most companies looking to grow their business. It’s really even okay that you’re not Apple, but keep in mind since you aren’t Apple you also can’t act like Apple...

I was in a meeting yesterday reviewing a business requirement document for a new marketing database project, and a discussion came up about the success criteria of the project. In the development world, every project should have a clear-cut beginning and end. Although the financial success of a project can be clearly measured through obtaining a positive ROI, the physical success of the project should be measured by the ability to both deliver on the stated business requirements and achieve the success criteria that has been defined by the line of business users...

The other day when someone asked me the simple question, “What exactly is a Database?” it hit me that not everyone is a super nerd (thankfully) like me. This simple question reminded me that I have to be more conscious about ensuring that I provide the additional detail regarding certain technologies.