Forms are a pain. For years I've tried to make my forms as simple as possible. Pull down for state/province or enter two letter code? One page or two? Byran Eisenberg makes great points in this article, so I expect part 2 to be usefull as well. Do Your Web Forms Show Good Form?, Part…

Perhaps it's the fact that being your own boss is the only real job security, but the short summary paragraph the post on the Groove blog really does sum it up. Technologies have matured to a point where you really can work with clients in any corner of the wired world from anywhere in the…

I complete agree with Steve Gillmor on this. Yes, GMail is a little creepy. Ads next to your e-mail can be off putting. But the technology and simplicity is revolutionary. There are a few other products I've heard of trying to do this. Zoe, X1, and Six Degrees all offer tools like this. I think…

I really like this piece of commentary. I can't live without IM. I IM with my coworkers 40 nautical miles across the Straight of Georgia in Vancouver and my wife maybe 20 feet up in her office in the house. It's fast easy and can be simpler than a phone call or e-mail. But…some folks…

The Siemens example mentioned in this posting is worth a read. Beyond the clear plug for Groove, it really is the way teams should be organized. When a project is initiated, pull all the needed team members in, set everyone on course with the same information and roll forward. And no, you don't all have…

This is a troubling trend. Very often I'm presented with an interesting article from one of my RSS newsfeeds and I'm requested to register or purchase a subscription. This isn't just happening the the States. Here is Canada the National Post and other CanWest papers are starting to go that route as well. My personal…

Interesting problem. Will short-sighted employers wake up and find the best people elsewhere telecommuting? Some moms quit as offices scrap family-friendliness By Stephanie Armour, (USA TODAY, May 4, 2004) touches on the retention benefits of telework and other family friendly policies. Employers are able to make cutbacks because the tight job market means there are…

Not only disasters, but planning telework for major disruptions like strikes and large public events. Out here the 2010 winter games are coming. I hope that by 2007 companies have made real progress in letting people telecommute. OPM Finds Agencies Are Doing Better at Preparing for the Worst by Stephen Barr (Washington Post, April 30,…

Collaboration and telework isn't about technology. Technology enables people to telecommute, but there have to be processes in place and a willingness and perceived value in picking up the phone, IMing, e-mailing, blogging, to connect with all the people in the team or group. If part of the group decides not to bother anymore, the…

I've experienced this for sure. “Oh, sorry I forgot to include you in the email” Or “We got to talking and didn't think to call you.” Bottom line, it is unavoidable. I think you can take steps to minimize it, but you're always going to be the telecommuter. You're going to be different. But if…