Steve's Library

This section contains links to a number of publications, white papers, positions papers, and real-world examples that Steve has written over the years. Please feel free to download them and read and apply to your business. 

Viewing these documents may required additional software, such as Adobe Reader. You can download the latest version of software for your computer by clicking here.

Picture
Download
CAN THE PMO JUSTIFY ITS EXISTENCE IN 2014 AND BEYOND? (10-2014)
by Steven W. Smith in collaboration with Les Worley: Hi-Tech Content Writing

With more companies questioning the value of their central Program Office, can you save yours? 

As an IT leader in 2014, are you in a squeeze between rising vendor prices and the cost-cuts your CFO is demanding? Between the constant barrage of new project requests and the groaning of an over-extended staff? And between mounting pressure to “cut the fat” and just keeping the systems up and running?

You’re in a dilemma. Every team is under scrutiny – and in danger of being cut if you can’t prove its value. That includes your Program Management Office – the PMO. Read more...
Picture
Download
USING THE CLOUD: ASSESSING YOUR COMPANY'S RISK TOLERANCE (02/2012)
by Steven W. Smith

The potential benefits and cost savings for moving some or all your company’s equipment and applications to the cloud are immense: no more servers, networks, software upgrades, etc., to maintain.  All this comes at a price, of course, but it comes with great potential savings.  Are the savings greater than the costs eliminated? 

Not so fast.  Read more...
Picture
Download

RISK MANAGEMENT: THE BEST APPROACH FOR PROFIT RETENTION (03/2010)
by Steven W. Smith, as published in CFO Magazine website

The concept of managing risk is an inherent part of every CEO and Executive Team’s life and as such is a crucial aspect of every corporate effort.  Many Executives often assume risks without ever formally assessing the risk or attempting to mitigate the risks.  Risk management is an attempt to predict future outcomes based on current knowledge, so it is not a precise science.  However, it is possible to reduce risks and prevent risk events from occurring by using a risk management approach.  Read more...
Picture
Download

DEVELOPING VALUE-BASED IT THINKING (02/2007)
by Steven W. Smith

A strategic thinking organization is one that contributes both directly and indirectly, to the organization's ability to execute its business plan.  For virtually all organizations, this business mission is concentrated outside of the IT organization and generally includes such core functions as building products, selling products, and getting paid for those sales.  Therefore, strategic thinking for management must include an analysis of the impact major decisions will have outside of the IT organization.  Only with a value or benefit methodology will IT move from being considered an overhead element that should be minimized, to being an integral contributor to the top line, the revenue line, of the balance sheet.  Read more...
Picture
Download

SW SMITH PROJECT MANAGEMENT CUSTOMER BENEFITS (04/2006)
by Steven W. Smith

The ability to quickly and efficiently add new information technologies or redeploy existing ones, is essential for maintaining a competitive advantage in today’s highly competitive business environment. 

SW Smith & Associates Project Management Services provide comprehensive, flexible project management to ensure information technology projects are completed on time and within budget, resulting in increased capabilities for which they are intended.  Read more...
Picture
Download

ESTABLISHING A PMO (10/2001)
by Steven W. Smith

Many projects and programs are large or complex enough that their performance can significantly affect the overall financial performance and business operations of the organizations involved.  An established, well-understood project management structure will improve project results by enabling the project team to focus their efforts on the work, rather than on the mechanics of getting things done.  The Project Management Office (PMO) enables this to happen.  Read more...
Picture
Download

COMPETING  THROUGH STANDARDIZATION (04/2000)
by Steven W. Smith

As global competition by Solution Companies intensifies, leading businesses are increasingly adopting an emerging management discipline as part of their business strategy.


The discipline is called process standardization, and the effective management of it can open new markets, increase sales, reduce trade barriers, and ensure a company's competitiveness and profitability.  Many successful companies have used this same discipline to their own advantage for some time.  Read more...
Picture
Download

A PROJECT TURNED BAD (02/1998)
by Steven W. Smith

In June of 1997, a large service company began the initial planning phase for a 13,000 device desktop rollout, and the migration of 171 Novell servers to NT.  The project was a common office environment (COE) standardization project with the mission to deploy a standard platform consisting of Windows 95, Office 97, Winzip, Internet Explorer and Adobe Acrobat across North America.  The company had never attempted a project of this magnitude, but did not anticipate any significant showstoppers, after all, you just take'em out of the box and plug'em in, right? With high hopes and fanfare, the project train pulled away from the station staffed with a Project Manager, two Project Leads and a Server Manager (that's it.).  The existing Desktop Support staff would manage shipping and receiving, desktop configuration, desktop deployments and return of old equipment.  Read more...