Brisbane

ISACA

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Although it stands for Information Systems Audit and Control Association, ISACA has grownwell  beyond that compliance-based beginning into a real professional association for information systems people, and in particular has a lot of relevance for business systems people.

I joined in about March and I haven’t regretted the subscription yet.  In particular it has a great deal of resources about best practice and IT governance that is very relevant to me as an information systems professional.

Their website is www.isaca.org, and I’m proud to be a card-carrying member.  Brisbane chapter is here.  Doesn’t mean I’ll ever stop being a CPA – I note this latest accountant tom-foolery to put some crazy sounds on your mobile – but ISACA is a professional association focussed on business outcomes.

High-Definition Television – Oh how sweet it is

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I was asked the definitive ‘question in the hallway’ by a partner this week about high-definition TV. I don’t want to become a gadget reviewer, but I thought it was interesting to update the current state of play. The partner in question has just purchased a 50″ plasma TV (drool).

Essentially – if you have Foxtel, do you still need a high-definition set-top box?

For a review of the current state of HDTV services – it’s about 20 hours per week – go here:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,18863685-12280,00.html

A quick review on the internet confirms that Foxtel is planning to introduce 2 HD channels next year (!) and that they only rebroadcast Standard Definition digital signals for free-to-air channels (but not 7 & 10, who are apparent holdouts):

http://www.foxtel.tv/digital_1290.htm#1431

To reproduce what Foxtel have to say for themselves:

FOR EAST COAST SUBSCRIBERS (ie: Sydney Melbourne Brisbane)

FOXTEL has agreements with the Nine Network, ABC and SBS to retransmit their digital signals (standard definition digital signal only) on FOXTEL Digital’s cable and satellite platforms.

Negotiations to retransmit Seven and Ten’s digital signals on FOXTEL Digital’s satellite platform continues. FOXTEL retransmits Seven and Ten’s analogue signals on cable.

Satellite subscribers can continue to receive the Seven and Ten signals in their homes using the current terrestrial reception system, as they do today.

So therefore the answer to the question is that you will currently – and for the foreseeable future – need the HD set top box to get HD free-to-air TV. Although I wonder whether HD is worth it, on balance with a 50″ screen it’s probably something that falls into the category of A Really Good Thing.

The next point of frustration will be the Personal Video Recorder – which is what you will need if you want to pause live tv and record in digital widescreen etc. However, since PVRs won’t work with Foxtel anyway, you’re probably better off holding off until the PVRs come down in price, or are compatible with Foxtel (the whole problem is Foxtel has analogue cables and the PVRs only have digital inputs).

And that is the HD TV State of Play – you do need the set top box.

Career Watch – me six years ago

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Six years ago (!) I was profiled in the CPA Australia journal – in their career watch section, nothing too special. It was in order to promote the IT Specialisation for CPA Australia (technically, I am a ‘Certified Practising Accountant (Specialist in Information Technology); my full handle is a bit cumbersome.

I decided I probably should record it for posterity – see how we’re travelling so to speak.

For the record, Horwath Brisbane Chartered Accountants merged with BDO Kendalls in November 2002 – which is why the names have changed. Incidentally, at least one good reason to merge is the apparent difficulty people have always had with Horwath (here it’s been reproduced as Howarth, and on my first day at Horwath I got a rude shock from a client who pronounced it as ‘whores & whores’ (and they weren’t trying to be rude))!

Fortunately I think I can say confidently that we are developing a niche systems consulting area of the firm, although perhaps not in the direction I thought we would go six years ago!

Career Watch – Micheal Axelsen (30) [editor: well, I was then!]

Micheal Axelsen, B. Comm (Hons), CPA, MinfmSystems, is MD of Horwath Business Technology Solutions Pty Ltd, in Brisbane. He is a specialist in IT, and holds a Master of Information Systems.

How did you specialise in IT? I tutored in information systems (IS) at University of Queensland in 1991. In 1996 when I qualified as CPA, I knew IS was more appealing. I pursued my MinfmSystems degree and knocked on doors until Bruce Hatcher of Horwath gave me a job.

Who has been the major influence on your career? Charles Rheault (my old boss at Brisbane’s Anglican Church Grammar School). He taught me the value of looking after staff, that those with talent should contribute to the community, and to always keep a sense of humour in a crisis. He also taught me the value of eating pizza when working late.

What is the best career advice you have ever had? ‘The patient has the disease’ – you need to be objective, and if you are going to have a long successful career, you need to have balance and be able to draw a line between work and home.

Who do you admire in business? Paul Allen, who co-founded Microsoft with Bill Gates in 1975. He was ill in the mid-80’s and was brave enough to walk away from day-to-day involvement (with a considerable amount of cash in his pocket!) and change his lifestyle.

Where will you be in 10 years? Professionally, I hope Howarths has developed into a niche systems consulting firm. Personally, I hope to have attained this elusive ‘balance’.

This article has been posted through to my publications section.

Building an Intranet that Delivers

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This article was co-written with Belinda Thompson of BDO Kendalls. At the time of writing, Belinda was Senior Consultant in Intellectual Capital with BDO Kendalls in Brisbane, Australia. The article was published on CEO Online. Belinda’s passion is in the implementation of corporate intranets that achieve business value from the knowledge management initiatives intranets offer.

Belinda is now BDO’s National Knowledge and Information Manager.

This article presents six strategies for successful intranets.

Building an intranet that delivers
Six strategies for successful intranets

Introduction

Stay calm and serene with your intranetIn recent years, corporate intranets have moved from “nice to have” to “must have” status in virtually all industries. In many cases, they have evolved into information and knowledge sharing platforms that companies rely on to survive in a knowledge-driven economy. Designing, developing, and deploying an intranet that is highly valued by the organisation can be a challenge. Nevertheless, certain strategies, when carefully executed, can simplify this process.

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IT outsourcing – selecting the ‘best’ infrastructure model

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This article was published on CEO Online a month or two ago, and I did promise I would post it here eventually.  And as I am of course absolutely certain that there is a raft of readers out there who would like to see the full article on the basis of that promise (delusionment is a wonderful thing) I am posting the article here.

In order to keep us all sane, you will need to click through to see the full article.

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