Last time I blogged I was all excited about the possibility of using the Microsoft Office Score Card Accelerator. As it turned out we could not use it, because the user's requirements were a bit more unique than what the Accelerator made provision for. We did however build a really cool score card engine. By changing settings in the data base we can determine how each objective will be scored - and there are three seperate scoring methods - also parameter driven. Best of all, we are using Excel to manage the score card engine - it was faster than building an adnministration module. It works like a charm and I could still use “the wonders of Office“ .

Working at Microsoft has been a real wake-up call. The learning curve is incredibly steep. This does mean that there is never a dull moment though! I have been working so hard that I neglected www.SAArchitect.net and my blog. The rewards have been excellent though: I attended MGB (Microsoft Global Briefing) in Atlanta. What a mind blow! There were at least 10 000 delegates. I still managed to bump into people that know my husband though. The IT world stays small no matter where we go.

 

 

 

 

Always looking for the quick solution that still complies with Best Practise (the patron god of software development), I am truely impressed with the Office Accelerators. Imagine: A proper solution in a fraction of the time it would have taken you to develop it from scratch!

I am currently busy (with a lot of help from BI specialists!) implementing a Balanced Scorecard solution at a client. In stead of developing the whole thing from scratch, we are implementing the Microsoft Office Business Scorecards Accelerator. We will leverage off the web services the accelerator implements to create a user interface the business wants. The accelerators comes with its own SharePoint web parts, but these have a requirement of IE 6.0, which the client cannot comply with currently.

The Accelerator requires SQL Server 2000, SQL Server 2000 with Analysis Services, Sharepoint Portal Server or Windows Sharepoint Services (for the front end), Windows Server 2003 and Visio 2003 or Visio 2003 Viewer (for users who build the Strategy maps).

I am now all fired up to investigate more of the depth and breadth of Office Tools. I hate to reinvent the wheel and with the power and agility of Office Solutions, why should I try?

Check out  Microsoft Office Business Scorecards Accelerator for more information.

I have finally settled in in Jo'burg and it is time to get going again :).

We have all heard a lot about VSTS, we might have seen a bit of it, but do have an idea how big this new baby is going to be?

On the 5th of May, Willy-Peter Schaub will do an interactive presentation on VSTS. This is a new way of presenting this vast subject and promise to be very informative. If you attend, you will go home with a hand-out or two that will put you one step ahead of any-one else.

We will also share share some information around the potential licensing structure.

If you want to attend, please drop me an email at tina@erwee.com - purely for catering purposes.

Oh yes:
When? 05/05/05 (nice architectured date!)
Where? Microsoft offices - Bryanston
Time? 18:00 - 90 minutes unless you stay to chat, eat and drink!

Prizes will be books that are architecture related! 

All Gautengers! The Erwee house warming is happening this coming Saturday - the 5th of February any time from 15:00 onwards.

I would like to meet the people I have spoken to and shared ideas with over the past few months as well as every single person who offered help and sympathy with the move. It was greatly appreciated and you all made me feel very welcome in JHB.

We are living in our new house, the kids are almost settled in school and I have started my new job early! MS is a great place to work. I enjoy the company of my new colleagues and my first assignment is challenging indeed. What fun!

Everyone is welcome to our party - it is a “Dop and Tjop“ affair. Drop me an email and I will forward the directions.

 

 

 

I am astounded! It is the end of yet another year. Tonight we finish off 2004 like a good bottle of wine: with friends and food (and more wine of course). What a way for communities (SADeveloper, SAArchitect and the Cape Town MVP's) to end a year filled with success and opportunities grabbed! The lamb we are going to spit might not necessarily agree with us though.

At the moment we have guests from Slovenia with us - Matjasz and Tamara. Matjasz is an MVP and this is why we know them. The communities bring us into contact with people we never would have met otherwise.

We have been showing them various places in and around Cape Town. Unfortunately I have to work, so I missed Robben Island, Green Market Square and the wine tour (again!). I did however go along to Boulders, where we picknicked on a rock in the water, surrounded by penguins. Afterwards we had sundowners (while the sun was really setting) on Chapman's peak drive. It is wonderful to see our country through the eyes of foreigners. I checked Slovenia out. They come from a very picturesque world - I would love to visit them! They still think our country is beautiful. I am so proud to be South African!

Now it is time for the Groot Trek. In a week's time, the movers begin packing up all our earthly posesssions in order to unload it a week later in JHB. All this while I am still working. The ray of sunshine is - they are unloading all our stuff at my dreamhouse! Yes, I found my dreamhouse at a prize we can almost afford. It was waiting for us, standing empty and an urgent sale. Now it is mine, all mine!

Which reminds me: the official community roof wetting of the Erwee house in JHB will take place on the 4th of February 2005! All will be welcome. It will be a “dop & tjop” affair and you can help unpack some of the boxes (only kidding!).

My best wishes for an exciting and prosperous 2005! May it bring plenty of learning opportunities and pockets full of money to each and everyone of you.

The year 2004 is almost gone. What a year! This year has brought me wonderful opportunities and great friends. I went to my first Tech-Ed and I got involved with SAArchitect.net. I learnt much about myself, my strengths and weaknesses. I have realised that I truely like people and want to see them succeed. As long as I spend my energy on people, I will excell at what ever I do, because I am doing something I am truely passionate about. Oh, yes and technology is quite cool too!

Next year will start out with quite a few upheavels. The move to JHB and my new job. My husband also starts a new job. I know our stress levels will go through the roof and we will have a few fights over petty things. The kids will miss their friends and hate the new school uniforms. This is what makes life interesting. Is it worth all the upheavel? We shall see. Soon I will be a proud and enthusiastic employee of Microsoft South Africa! Evan will have a really challenging position too. Carreer wise the move to JHB is a clever one for us. Based on the overwhelming reaction I got on my previous blog and the e-mails I received, we will also not be friendless strangers in a scary place. We will have a home in a new city with friends waiting to make us feel welcome. 

To each and everyone of you, have a wonderful festive season! May you find your passion in 2005 and ride on the wave of success it brings.

PS. http://dotnet.org.za/tina/admin/EditGalleries.aspx?catid=648 Pics of my friends and I at the Shoprite year-end function

So, I almost have my dream job. I have about a month to find a house, an au pair and to move. Panic is running quite high. How do you organise all of these from adistance? This is a move from Cape Town to JHb we are talking about!

Today I drove to Wellington. The mountains were stunning, full of green and blue hues. I will miss this beauty very much. Gauteng is a strange and scary place for me. I will miss the mountains, the wine farms (the poor service?) and most of all the wonderful friends.

No more impromptu cocktail parties with Ruari, no more Liesl popping in for a cigarette and a glass of wine, no more "skinder" sessions with Nikki and Marise.

I will still have SAArchitect though, and I am sure I will make new friends in JHB. Already people like Kevin Trethaway and Fengol are going out of their way to assist where they can.

JHB, here I come, ready or not. I am bringing a little bit of Cape Town with me. the mountains are too big to drag along, so it will have to be a few crates of wine...

 

Last night some of the saarchitect members came over to my house for a braai. What fun it was. Some folks who did say they will come, did not show up. This is Cape Town, so it is to be expected. I will not rant about it, I will accept it, I will know that they are messing with their own Karma and they missed one heck of a party!

I am going to stay in bed all day, so that I don't have to look at the dishes staring at me, begging to be washed. They can wait. The kids can eat the leftover meat and I can dream of having a digital camera.

Why now? Because I only ever get to see the photos later. I don't get the opportunity to “embarras” Ruari or Roaan with pics that I have taken.

A digital camera will also solve the problem of people asking me what my kids look like. No, I do not carry pics of my children in my wallet. I only have old photos of them. I can never eternalise some of the funny moments. I think I will also take photos of them when they are fighting, to show it to them afterwards. That should teach them...

Now I will just have to dream on. My salary covers all the bare necessities. There is no small change for a camera. I'll just have to rely on others to post the pics of last night ASAP...

Now I know why Roaan and I get along so well...

You speak eloquently and have seemingly read every
book ever published. You are a fountain of
endless (sometimes useless) knowledge, and
never fail to impress at a party. What people love: You can answer almost any
question people ask, and have thus been
nicknamed Jeeves. What people hate: You constantly correct their
grammar and insult their paperbacks.

What Kind of Elitist Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Yesterday http://www.saarchitect.net had its very first session. I was a nervous wreck, especially after receiving 36 RSVP's. That might not sound like much, but it is a brilliant figure for architects! Around 22 people showed, which is also a good turn out.

I was really nervous doing the introductions. Roaan had such a comfortable attitude though that when I did my bit on RUP, I was relaxed and I enjoyed doing my very quick overview. The audience was wonderful. They asked questions, laughed and did not throw me with items to get me to shut up :)

The networking over food afterwards was probably the most valuable part of the session. I met some very interesting people. I suffer from Information Overload though and can remember only a few names.

I have to thank Chad again. He created PowerPoint templates with the SAArchitect logo for us. He also helped Roaan and I to set up our shows so that it looked a whole lot more professional. Chad, you rock! 

We will definitely have more of these sessions. Members have submitted a very long list of potential subjects.

There is a strong possibility that I will move to JHB in the new year. I will then work on having sessions in JHB as well. 

What I have learned out of the experience, is that I definitely need to get a digital camera! Roaan, I'll get you back by taking loads of pics of you and post them! 

OK, so I have said it on the forums in both SADeveloper and SAArchitect. I love the philosophy around people in MSF.

I am sure in the wrong hands it can still be a nightmare. How would an autocratic manager live with MSF? Why is there no proper adoption of MSF in South Africa (that I know of)? Is it possible that we still have too much of the “Baas en Klaas“ (boss and servant) mindset?

I know for a fact I do not want to be a manager (in the taditional sense). I want to be a leader. There is a huge difference. Think about it. Of course we need the managers - someone has to do the dirty work (wink). I want to inspire people to reach their full potential. I do not believe holding a stick or a carrot can ever do that. I believe the right mirror can though. That mirror should be the respect and admiration I show; both to myself and to the people I am in contact with.

Right, definitely time for bed! If I get on the topic of people, leadership, management and full potential I get quite passionate and might just not stop in time...

BTW, Craig, how could you give a signed copy of a TP book away! I think you are either a true friend (and I am not that good a friend to anyone) or you had a momentary lapse of reason... (hmmm so much for respect and admiration)

 

 

 

OK, I'll have to say it publicly, otherwise I'll never do it. I am going to write an article on replacing legacy systems. I already have the title “ Eating the elephant” and the intro. This is a topic that I feel strongly about. Why rip and replace your existing systems? You are only exposing your company to high risk - especially if the functionality being replaced is critical to the business. There are a few better options with less risk. I have never heard or seen a rip and replace that went without serious hick-ups.

So, now I have made the promise public. I have to keep my word. Where to find the time? I just bought Terry Pratchetts latest book “Going Postal“ and can't wait to read it. I will have to exercise restraint or...who needs sleep anyway?

 

OK, I'll admit to it. We are kinda geeky. After dancing our legs off at the TechEd farewell party, we lounged around outside and chatted -  about Agile Methodologies, COM+, corporate stupidity, the practicalities of webservices in the South Afrian context of poor bandwidth and so forth.

What will I remember about TechEd? Kaylash and Danny went to extra-ordinary lenghths to promote the communities. Danny wore his SAArchitect shirt and cap during the close off key note! The Chalk and Talk sessions were really great (I think we should organise regular ones in our local communities) and that as IT professionals we should be aware of each others worlds.

I sat in on a session that Carlos and Evan held on AD and ADAM. I learnt about Auth Man - now I will have to do the research. It sounds as if we can stop breaking our heads about authorisation inside our applications (or app DB's) and start using this great tool. It was also great to see my husband in action. Evan, I am proud of you!

After the three hectic TechEd days, I can only say that I am very impressed with the organisation of the event, the dedication of MS and the sponsors to the communities and with the MVP's willingness to share their in-depth knowledge of their respective specialities. A very special congrats to Ruari on his demo of ASP.net. You had us all eating from your hand! Well done, but now we owe you a party since you missed out on the fun preparing for your excellent presentation.

I finally met all the SADeveloper leads. Roaan's presence as active SAArchitect member was very welcome. At least I was not alone. Thanx Roaan! Chad, I'll will definitely start posting on Project Firefly. It was great seeing what you are doing, especially around usability. I think I will call on you to do a talk on it soon for the architect community, maybe even invite the SADeveloper guys along as well.

TechEd will definitely see me again, even if I have to borrow the money! Thanks Kaylash and Danny for the opportunity you gave me to attend. It is more deeply appreciated than you will ever know. MS rocks!

 

Yip, I took the test as well. At least I am not boring  ;-)

Which File Extension are You?

For those of you who know me, is this true?

 

OK, so we went to bed at 4 am! I firmly believe that I am fine, except that my body is not agreeing with me. My knees hurt, my skin ache and I hope those pics don't make it to the communities!

 

Last night's beach party was a blast, regardless of the poor turn out. Come on Geeks! We are allowed to party as a larger group! The beach balls were a great idea. I got kicked (accidentally), hit in the face by balls (only sometimes accidentally) and I still had fun.

 

The only reason people gave me for leaving early, is that there was not enough women. Gee, more often than not companies send the men to TechEd and not the women. Change that and the parties will *really* rock! Aparently my large and loud presence was not enough :-(

 

On to the more serious stuff. The Chalk and Talk sessions led by the MVP's are really worth attending. The groups are smaller, there are some really knowledgable people around and the discussions are lively. Team System looks awesome. Ahmed did a great job of running us through TS. I think it should have been at least two sessions. There was not nearly enough time to show all and to have a Q&A five minutes.

 

The communities have really grown the last two days. I hope that at least some of the guys will get involved and gain the advantage of being part of  SADeveloper and SAArchitect.