March 2004 Online Extras

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Case Dissection
    “We Did Nothing Wrong”: Why Software Quality Matters

    PLANNER: Calculating Costs of a Software Error-Prevention System
    If you want to start avoiding software-development problems, here’s how: A five-step plan to get out of the error-detection business and into the error-prevention business. (It’s a much better business.)

Community

    Voice over Data Networks

    Software that automates the management of personal computers can make a tech-support staff considerably more efficient.

    Be sure to check out our Dossiers on three vendors providing service for IP telephony:

    • Cisco Systems (“Reinventing the Phone”)
    • Avaya (“Grandchild of Ma Bell”), and
    • Nortel Networks (“Old Dog, New Tricks”).
Workbook

    (p. 96)
    That ringing in your head? That might be Voice over Internet Protocol — or it might be the “ka-ching” of how much money it might save you. This article dials up some facts about whether or not VoIP is right for you. And you can click here for a downloadable Quiz (“Does Internet Protocol Telephony Make Sense for You?”) that will help you decide for yourself.

    Primer: Storage Partitioning

    (p.98)
    You think you have enough capacity for your entire company? Not likely, unless you’ve also stashed away some information on this storage technique. Take this quick Quiz (“Time to Consolidate Storage?”) to help decide if partitioning’s right for you.
    PLEASE NOTE: Due to a scheduled upgrade, some links are not available at this time. Please bookmark this page and come back soon.

    Calculating Returns: Internal Rate of Return

    (p.100)
    Getting the best reurn on your technology investment sometimes depends on when you spend your money. For a more-detailed look at the various approaches to development — Waterfall, Staged and Sweetheart — check out this download (“Tool: How to Calculate an Internal Rate of Return”).
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