For now we are just using it on our blog site, but will then be implementing it on our main IT Dashboadrd site in the next few weeks

I would recommend other IT professionals that want to keep an eye on their web traffic in a cost effective manner to take a look at Woopra.

The short answer to the question is as follows

• an incident is something that has happened,
• a problem is the cause of something that has or could happen,
• and a risk is something that could happen

The following provides a more detailed explanation of each item

Incident

An incident is an event outside normal operating service that has caused or may cause a disruption to service for the end users. An incident may give rise to the identification of a problem, whose root cause needs to be identified. However, in the ITIL framework the incident should be resolved, or a work around implemented, quickly to allow end users to be able to use the service.

Problem

A problem is the cause of one or more incidents. The cause is usually not known at the time the problem record is created, and the problem management process is responsible for further investigation.

Risk

A risk is a possible event (rather than problem) that could cause harm or loss, or affect the ability to achieve objectives. The risk score is calculated by multiplying the probability the risk will happen (a score between 1 and 5) and the impact that risk would have on the business if it occurred (again a score of 1 to 5)

The IT Dashboard allows you to easily manage your IT wide or project based problems and risks

why not signup to see a view only account at IT Dashboard

or signup for a 15 day trial at IT Dashboard

However, rather than do nothing at all we are going to look at a number of minor modifications which we will incrementally implement over the next few weeks.In general we will be concentrating on code cleanup exercises that will not be that noticeable by our client base. What these enhancements will allow us to do is to write future modules in a more efficient and consistent manner.

The first thing that we have completed is a re-write of our css code (the code that controls how the site looks and feels). We have done this as we noticed some inconsistencies and inefficiencies starting to appear.

Now that this has been completed we can move on to our next enhancement which will be to implement CMS style code for updating all of the static content on the site. This will allow us to update the home pages and help files without having to update the entire code base (a much needed enhancement)However, not wanting to deprive you of any feature enhancements at all we will be looking to implement the following features:

• WYSIWYG text editing for areas such as project objectives
• PDF reporting, allowing you to export a PDF version of the module reports
• InPlace editing
• Faster RAG update code
• More control over how the registers are viewed

Once this has been completed we will get to grips with coding the CMDB module. We should have   a head start on the coding as we have already completed most of the table and logic design of that module, just need to write the code!

See if you can spot the difference with the new CSS code, and while you are at it check out the current features of IT Dashboard

The module is fully integrated with the project management module and can therefore be used as either an ITIL based business risk management solution or as a PRINCE2 project risk solution.

We feel that this module further enhances the site’s ability to provide more transparency and greater IT governance of your environment.

More details of the module can be found at the IT Dashboard site

We will now be looking to enhance some of the visual aspects of the site, before starting coding the CMDB module

- Greater transparency for their clients (the taxpayer)

- To demonstrate a cultural change in the attitude towards their clients

- To enhance their reputation for the way they are spending the money

These are all the same reasons that IT teams should be creating their own dashboards. The dashboard is not only a great tool for them to use themselves but is also an excellent way to connect with, and demonstrate value to, their clients – i.e. the rest of the business.

If there is any doubt about whether clients are interested in this kind of information, the federal IT Dashboard site has to date had in excess of 20 million hits. This is an easy way for them to connect with their clients and gain credibility.

So if the US Government are doing this then so should you. With The IT Dashboard (www.itdashboard.co.uk) you can demonstrate the value of your IT team by providing transparency in the way that you spend your budget, run projects, as well as handling risks and problems. What’s more, all the hard work of creating the site has already been done for you

Why not check out the features of The IT Dashboard

This is not an Apple

My first major step to taking off the Apple training wheels has been to stop using Entourage and to use Apple’s Mail, iCal, and Address book applications.

Now at first sight this looks like a bit of a step backwards to Outlook’s predecessor, Exchange client and Schedule+. However, Entourage has enough annoying habits that it is worth a go, and after all this is an exercise to see if I can remove my Microsoft dependency.

At the same time I have started to use Google Mail to see if I really need to use an Exchange 2007 server. Now the most remarkable aspect of that test was that when I set-up my iPhone to sync with the Google calendar, Google’s instructions made use of an Exchange connection. This says to me that Google is using Exchange 2007 for some of its mobile connectivity. Suprising to say the least.

So how do I feel about the change? Here are my random thoughts

• I soon got used to the multiple applications and liked their simplicity
• The fact that I can have all my calendars be driven off a single account is great and means I have a clean snap shot of my day
• Mail has a few oddities that I am getting used to, mainly its use of attachments and how folders (or mailboxes) work; but overall a good experience

The exciting news of the last couple of days is that Snow Leopard, the next release of Mac OS X, will have full support of Exchange 2007 out of the box. So maybe I will stick with Exchange …

On a different note I have started to use Merlin as my project management software. This is a great alternative to Microsoft Project and is able to open and save to the Microsoft Project format. So that’s another off the list!

If QuickBooks would just release a Mac version of their sofwtare (as they do in the US) my transition would be complete

After many months of coding, designing, re-coding, testing, re-coding, and battling with payment processing services the main IT Dashboard site has gone live. It is now available at www.itdashboard.co.uk.

The site currently includes page to register; problems, budgets, and projects. To being it all together there is a dashboard that provides an overview, including RAG status, of all these items.

Over the next 2-3 months risk management and configuration management will be added to the site.

So why not take a look and let me know what you think

I was (am) also, and this is an understatement, an Excel fan. The fact that I thought it was reasonable to create an excel spreadsheet with conditional formatting to plan holidays I think speaks for itself.

Ever since my trusty IBM X40 blew up I started an experiment in using Apple computers and the Mac OS X operating system. This has been an interesting exercise that has sometimes been frustrating but overall has been enjoyable. Making myself think in a different way has been a good thing.

However, I have been using what you might call training wheels in this Apple experiment…You see I still have the following software installed on my MacBook;
•    Mac version of Microsoft Excel and Word
•    Entourage for email (that is connected to a hosted version of Microsoft Exchange 2007, yes I still can’t let go of that one)
•    Microsoft messenger
•    Parallels with Windows XP and;
o    Windows version of  Excel for when I do complex spreadsheets that include macros for other people
o    QuickBooks. The charity I am involved with uses QuickBooks, and I have the need to view QuickBooks file. Now QuickBooks make a US Mac version of QuickBooks. However, in their wisdom they do not make a UK version. Due to the difference in accounting systems I have to use a UK version, so …
•    IE6, IE7, and IE8 : this is mainly for testing browser compatibility issues

So over the next few months I intend to take off these training wheels and go native. My initial investigation has thrown up the following observations:
•    iWork 09. Numbers, Pages and Keynote look interesting products that I can see myself using. Numbers has some really interesting strengths over Excel on the visualisation front, however lacks its power in advanced usage. The interoperability is good, although the inability to create CSV files is  …. Annoying. As I am doing very little spreadsheet work for others these days this looks like a viable route.
•    Entourage. Well it would seem that the next version of Mail in Snow Leopard (the next version of the Mac OS X) is becoming a bit more grown up and can act as a collaboration tool. Still vapourware at this stage though
•    Exchange 2007. This really depends on how well the next version of Mail and iCal work with Google mail and allow me to do the things I want to do. That being said the next version of Mail is meant to work better with Exchange, so I may have to hang on to that one. You have to allow me some sentimentality, and I still believe that Exchange is the best email solution out there.
•    Messenger.  There is a solution, but it seems painful and overly complicated, as iChat does not play nicely with the MSN network. The conclusion there is to move away from MSN, but that seems really painful at this stage.

So that’s where I am, stay tuned to see how I do with removing those training wheels.

The concept behind the IT Dashboard is to enable IT managers provide better visibility of what is going on within IT to their team, themselves and most importantly the business. It is by providing better visibility that IT teams will get the credibility they rightly deserves and therefore get the funding to implement the things they really want to do. Well that’s the theory anyway.

It is my current aim to use the blog to not only keep you up to date with what we are doing to make IT Dashboard even better but to also discuss other IT related subjects with a general IT governance theme.

And just to add in a bit of variety I’ll also be blogging about my transition from Microsoft based applications to the Mac.  I should stress that is not through any hatred of Microsft or any blind love of Apple, I just thought I should give it a go and see how I get along.