Podcasts about align it

Business transformation is not a roadmap that your business will follow, step by step, milestone after milestone, until you reach a destination or end-goal called “digital transformation.” A final destination does not exist—transformation is more like an on-going charter—you set out with well-reasoned and well-supported intentions (a strong business case and buy-in from the C-suite) for your business to venture into the future. The unexpected will occur, but your business will learn from it. Listen to this episode to learn about 6 guidelines for crafting a charter for your business transformation: Define what transformation means to your enterprise and your customer. Align IT and business. Laser-focus on one thing you do really well. Lead with a Tiger Team—and make it a brilliant one. Innovation is the key driver of transformation and, to innovate, you must allow for iteration and failure. Build in security and privacy.

As children we are enthralled by the stories that we hear. Stories teach us and fire our imaginations to what is possible in this world. And as adults, we're not much different. It's one thing to hear about a process, product or idea, but hearing the story of the trials and triumphs that accompanied the implementation of that process, product or idea is what sticks with us and gives our imagination flight as to the possibilities within our own situation.Case studies are like stories and there are a whole host of them that Microsoft has put together on a variety of technologies and solutions. There are 79 just on private cloud implementations and a number on Windows Azure have been highlighted on the Windows Azure site. However, there is nothing quite like hearing the story right from the author, or in this case, right from one of the people in the story.In July, Mary Jo Foley was on the show and talked about Microsoft's cloud offerings from an industry perspective. For our next show, we thought it would be interesting to talk to a few folks who have actually been working on cloud solutions using Microsoft technologies either internally or for their customers. Hosts Jonathan Rozenblit and Ruth Morton chat with Bruce Johnson and John White about public and private cloud implementations they've done for their companies and for their clients. They also share stories of the barriers they had to overcome and the successes they enjoyed.ResourcesSign up for a Windows Azure 90-day FREE trial to see Windows Azure Virtual Machines in action Learn more about Windows Azure Virtual Machines Download evals of Private Cloud: System Center and Windows Server PodcastThis episode will be available as a podcast shortly.Listen Now - COMING SOON Download as MP3 - COMING SOON Subscribe with Zune >> Subscribe with RSS Feed >> Subscribe with iTunes >>About AlignIT Manager Tech Talk The AlignIT Manager Talk is a monthly live streamed video series hosted by Ruth Morton (LinkedIn) and Jonathan Rozenblit (LinkedIn). Each Tech Talk episode airs on the 2nd Thursday of the month from 12:00pm to 12:30pm EST. The show focuses on a range of topics for both infrastructure and development managers and is interactive, taking questions via a live chat and providing answers on airAbout AlignIT The AlignIT program is dedicated to keeping IT leaders informed about what really matters in business and technology. We do that through in-person events, web casts, our blog and of course, this podcast series. You can find more information about the Align IT program at www.alignit.ca. If you have comments, suggestions, and ideas for future topics please let us know by connecting with us via email, Twitter, or LinkedIn.Visit the AlignIT site >> Follow AlignIT on Twitter >> Join the conversation on LinkedIn >>

Apps enable a new level of customer engagement and are ushering a new wave of business for new and existing organizations. Are you thinking of app opportunities for your organization? The opportunity may or may not be obvious, but it is there. Hosts Ruth Morton and Jonathan Rozenblit explore the motivations behind enabling business through Apps.ResourcesVisit W00t – a site centered around building apps. The Windows Phone Dev Center will get you started building applications for Windows Phone. The Windows 8 Dev Center will get you started building applications for Windows 8. Jean-Luc DavidJean-Luc David is the CTO for Digiflare, an interactive agency that helps brands discover new opportunities to enhance and expand their businesses through interactive experiences through the web, mobile, connected TVs, and emerging digital platforms. Prior to Digiflare, Jean-Luc was the Senior Manager for the Yellow Pages Group API & Mobile team and worked at Microsoft in the Developer & Platform Evangelism group.PodcastThis episode will be available as a podcast shortly. Listen Now - COMING SOONDownload as MP3 - COMING SOONSubscribe with Zune >> Subscribe with RSS Feed >> Subscribe with iTunes >>About AlignIT Manager Tech Talk The AlignIT Manager Talk is a monthly live streamed video series hosted by Ruth Morton (LinkedIn) and Jonathan Rozenblit (LinkedIn). Each Tech Talk episode airs on the 2nd Thursday of the month from 12:00pm to 12:30pm EST. The show focuses on a range of topics for both infrastructure and development managers and is interactive, taking questions via a live chat and providing answers on airAbout AlignIT The AlignIT program is dedicated to keeping IT leaders informed about what really matters in business and technology. We do that through in-person events, web casts, our blog and of course, this podcast series. You can find more information about the Align IT program at www.alignit.ca. If you have comments, suggestions, and ideas for future topics please let us know by connecting with us via email, Twitter, or LinkedIn.Visit the AlignIT site >> Follow AlignIT on Twitter >> Join the conversation on LinkedIn >>

Some of the best conversations happen when you least expect them – after that important meeting has finished, before the official interview starts, in the cafeteria over lunch or coffee. Jonathan and Ruth noticed it was the same with the AlignIT broadcast. So for the last few months they decided to keep the cameras rolling after the live broadcast was finished and here is the result – some very relaxed, very passionate, very real conversations with their expert guests.Hosts Ruth Morton and Jonathan Rozenblit review some of the conversations they've had with their guests "off the air" and unplugged, so to speak.ResourcesDownload evaluation software from the Evaluation Center Learn more about Microsoft Public Cloud solutions Learn more about the Microsoft Private Cloud platform For anything and everything development, always start with MSDN. PodcastThis episode is also available as a podcast.Listen Now >> Download as MP3 >> Subscribe with Zune >> Subscribe with RSS Feed >> Subscribe with iTunes >>About AlignIT Manager Tech Talk The AlignIT Manager Talk is a monthly live streamed video series hosted by Ruth Morton (LinkedIn) and Jonathan Rozenblit (LinkedIn). Each Tech Talk episode airs on the 2nd Thursday of the month from 12:00pm to 12:30pm EST. The show focuses on a range of topics for both infrastructure and development managers and is interactive, taking questions via a live chat and providing answers on airAbout AlignIT The AlignIT program is dedicated to keeping IT leaders informed about what really matters in business and technology. We do that through in-person events, web casts, our blog and of course, this podcast series. You can find more information about the Align IT program at www.alignit.ca. If you have comments, suggestions, and ideas for future topics please let us know by connecting with us via email, Twitter, or LinkedIn.Visit the AlignIT site >>Follow AlignIT on Twitter >> Join the conversation on LinkedIn >>

Recent surveys indicate that while cloud computing is a top priority for Canadian CIOs, assurance in cloud services remains the principle inhibitor for adoption. 2012 is proving to be the year of accelerating adoption as organizations gain a deeper appreciation of cloud services and how they can be adopted in a trusted manner. Host Jonathan Rozenblit, and guest, John Weigelt, National Technology Officer for Microsoft Canada, as they explore the security and privacy considerations of Cloud Computing.ResourcesRead detailed information on Windows Azure's security, privacy, and compliance practices Read detailed information on Office 365's security, privacy, and compliance practices For more on this and similar topics, read John Weigelt's blog John WeigeltAs the National Technology Officer for Microsoft Canada, John Weigelt is responsible for driving Microsoft Canada's strategic policy and technology efforts. In this role, Mr. Weigelt helps business and governments innovate with technology while avoiding the unintended consequences that might arise.  He leads Canadian outreach for Economic Development, Environmental Sustainability, Accessibility, Privacy, Security, Critical Infrastructure Protection, Government 3.0, Interoperability and other policy related activities.PodcastThis episode is also available as a podcast.Listen Now >>Download as MP3 >> Subscribe with Zune >> Subscribe with RSS Feed >> Subscribe with iTunes >>About AlignIT Manager Tech Talk The AlignIT Manager Talk is a monthly live streamed video series hosted by Ruth Morton (LinkedIn) and Jonathan Rozenblit (LinkedIn). Each Tech Talk episode airs on the 2nd Thursday of the month from 12:00pm to 12:30pm EST. The show focuses on a range of topics for both infrastructure and development managers and is interactive, taking questions via a live chat and providing answers on airAbout AlignIT The AlignIT program is dedicated to keeping IT leaders informed about what really matters in business and technology. We do that through in-person events, web casts, our blog and of course, this podcast series. You can find more information about the Align IT program at www.alignit.ca. If you have comments, suggestions, and ideas for future topics please let us know by connecting with us via email, Twitter, or LinkedIn.Visit the AlignIT site >> Follow AlignIT on Twitter >> Join the conversation on LinkedIn >>

The recent beta release of Visual Studio 11 and Team Foundation Server, as well as the discounts available for upgrades will have you contemplating whether you will make a case for an upgrade. What will you gain by upgrading and what will it mean to you, to the dev teams, to the infrastructure teams, and to the business stakeholders? What are the pros and cons of making this move and do they make it worthwhile? Make the right decision for your team. Join Ruth Morton, Jonathan Rozenblit, and guests, ObjectSharp partners Dave Lloyd and Barry Gervin for the debate.ResourcesTo see the changes for yourself, download Visual Studio 11 Beta and give it a try. Take advantage of current prices and discounts before things change with the next release. Watch Adam Gallant's DEV380 – What's New in Visual Studio 11 Beta on TechDays Online. Dave LloydDave Lloyd is a founding partner of ObjectSharp. He has 25+ years of experience in the IT industry designing and building software solutions for a large number of clients in varying industries. Dave is a seasoned project manager with a great deal of experience implementing process into development teams, from small and large ISV's to in house development teams. Dave has also spent time during his career implementing test solutions for clients. Working with the most current automated test tools and implementing successful test environments. Dave brings to the table 20+ years of teaching experience.Because of Dave's experience in the many roles of a software development team it's only natural that he would gravitate toward Team Foundation Server and the ALM (Application Lifecycle Management) world. A lot of Dave's assignments involve helping teams with their development process and to better utilize Team Foundation Server to enhance their Software Development Lifecycle. Dave has received the Microsoft MVP award for ALM.Barry GervinBarry Gervin is a founding Partner of ObjectSharp. As a Principal Consultant and Instructor with ObjectSharp, Barry provides technical leadership to his valued clients, staff, and the development community. Over his 17 year career in the IT industry, he has helped many development teams architect and successfully deliver large software projects within tight schedules and budgets that consistently perform for their end users. He currently holds several technical designations including MCSD.NET, MSF Practitioner and MS Certified Trainer. Barry currently serves as a MS Regional Director in Southern Ontario and has received the Microsoft MVP Award for Solutions Architecture for the past 3 years.PodcastThis episode is also available as a podcast.Listen Now >> Download as MP3 >> Subscribe with Zune >> Subscribe with RSS Feed >> Subscribe with iTunes >>About AlignIT Manager Tech TalkThe AlignIT Manager Talk is a monthly live streamed video series hosted by Ruth Morton (LinkedIn) and Jonathan Rozenblit (LinkedIn). Each Tech Talk episode airs on the 2nd Thursday of the month from 12:00pm to 12:30pm EST. The show focuses on a range of topics for both infrastructure and development managers and is interactive, taking questions via a live chat and providing answers on airAbout AlignITThe AlignIT program is dedicated to keeping IT leaders informed about what really matters in business and technology. We do that through in-person events, web casts, our blog and of course, this podcast series. You can find more information about the Align IT program at www.alignit.ca. If you have comments, suggestions, and ideas for future topics please let us know by connecting with us via email, Twitter, or LinkedIn.Visit the AlignIT site >>Follow AlignIT on Twitter >> Join the conversation on LinkedIn >>

There's no denying that virtualization has transformed our datacentres and redefined how we do IT, giving us more capacity and savings. Now, private cloud capabilities take us one step further providing the agility IT needs to truly provide IT as a service.The beauty of a private cloud is that it takes characteristics of a public cloud (resource pooling, elasticity, self-service, and pay per use) and combines those characteristics with management and security built on dedicated resources to provide services to a select group. System Center 2012 brings you that single pane of glass you need to manage your applications and services across your public, private, hybrid or traditional infrastructure. Within the System Center suite, Endpoint Protection provides give you control and security while Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 provides world-class virtualization through Hyper-V.In this Tech Talk, we're joined by Islam Gomaa, IT Manager for E-Academy, Inc., and William Bressette, Network Architect for Horn IT Solutions, to discuss the challenges of managing a private cloud and the capabilities of System Center 2012, an integral part of Microsoft's Private Cloud solution. ResourcesDownload Private Cloud evaluation software (System Center 2012 + Window Server 2008 R2) https://aka.ms/sceval Find free online training modules on Private Cloud https://aka.ms/mvacademy Islam GomaaIslam Gomaa is a Data Protection Manager MVP from Ottawa, Canada, specializing in System Center Products, disaster recovery and system infrastructure running on the Microsoft server technology stack. Islam brings over 12 years of expertise in helping organizations align their business goals using Microsoft technology and deploying Microsoft-based solutions for the private and public sector. He is also a member of the Windows Springboard Technical Expert Panel [STEP] for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 having delivered STEP presentations in Ottawa.He has authored several webcasts on Data Protection Manager 2007& 2010 including "Protecting Applications with DPM2007" and "DPM and Opalis Automation for Disaster Recovery". Islam presented at TechEd 2011 in Atlanta Georgia, and the I365 Worldwide summit in Salt Lake City. He is a frequent presenter for both OWSUG in Ottawa and MITPRO in Montreal.Islam has a B.Sc. in computer science from Montreal University, and holds several Microsoft technical designations. He is an active member of the IT community. Islam enjoys sharing his adventures and ideas about system administration through his blog at http://owsug.ca/blogs/islamGomaa.William BressetteWith Horn IT Solutions since 2007, William is an award-winning member of their team (2010 Microsoft Most Valuable Professional Award and of the "Impact Award 2008" for Infrastructure Design). William is responsible for implementing and managing Horn IT Solutions participation in the Microsoft Partner Program and for Horn achieving Gold Certified membership Level with 5 competencies: Advance Infrastructure, Network Infrastructure, Infrastructure Worker, Licensing and Security solutions along with Small Business Specialist.As Network Architect William performs Network and Data Center Design for medium sized organizations across Canada, implements network monitoring tools for customer sites and creates and manages IT Policy for customer locations. His excellent project management skills are applied to small and large customer projects as he manages technical services as well as development and management of the Microsoft Packages Service Program at Horn IT.He graduated from Georgian College in Barrie in 1996 with a major in mathematics.PodcastThis episode is also available as a podcast.Listen Now >>Download as MP3 >> Subscribe with Zune >> Subscribe with RSS Feed >>Subscribe with iTunes >>About AlignIT Manager Tech TalkThe AlignIT Manager Talk is a monthly live streamed video series hosted by Ruth Morton (LinkedIn) and Jonathan Rozenblit (LinkedIn). Each Tech Talk episode airs on the 2nd Thursday of the month from 12:00pm to 12:30pm EST. The show focuses on a range of topics for both infrastructure and development managers and is interactive, taking questions via a live chat and providing answers on airAbout AlignITThe AlignIT program is dedicated to keeping IT leaders informed about what really matters in business and technology. We do that through in-person events, web casts, our blog and of course, this podcast series. You can find more information about the Align IT program at www.alignit.ca. If you have comments, suggestions, and ideas for future topics please let us know by connecting with us via email, Twitter, or LinkedIn.Visit the AlignIT site >> Follow AlignIT on Twitter >> Join the conversation on LinkedIn >>  

Windows Phone goes beyond email and calendaring to deliver productivity to the enterprise. Mobile access to corporate applications like Office and SharePoint come out of the box, but line of business can be extended to the phone using skills and tools your infrastructure and developer teams already have. Ruth Morton, Jonathan Rozenblit, and guest Paul Laberge, Developer Advisor at Microsoft Canada and Windows Phone expert discuss how you can leverage Windows Phone to extend your applications and enable a mobile workforce. ResourcesSee it for yourself. Download the SDKs, samples, documentation, videos, and more. To learn more about Windows Phone, deeper content, etc, check out TechDays Online. Learn more about Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2012 and download the Release Candidate for evaluation. Featured Guest: Paul LabergePaul is a Developer Advisor with Microsoft Canada, based in Mississauga, Ontario. Paul brings over 12 years of technical experience working with some of the largest North American Fortune 500 companies to the role and has been with Microsoft for almost 5 years. His experience includes being a lead developer, development manager, lead application architect and IT management for a wide variety of technical solutions. Currently, Paul leads Microsoft's developer engagement around Windows Phone 7 and in that role, he can be found working with mobile developers of all walks of life, speaking at events, providing information on various social networks and, of course, driving the great Canadian developer ecosystem to building amazing Windows Phone apps. Paul is also passionate about Microsoft's cloud computing strategy and HTML5 as a way to drive great cross-platform experiences.PodcastThis episode is also available as a podcast.Listen Now >>Download as MP3 >> Subscribe with Zune >> Subscribe with RSS Feed >>Subscribe with iTunes >> About AlignIT Manager Tech TalkThe AlignIT Manager Talk is a monthly live streamed video series hosted by Ruth Morton (LinkedIn) and Jonathan Rozenblit (LinkedIn). Each Tech Talk episode airs on the 2nd Thursday of the month from 12:00pm to 12:30pm EST. The show focuses on a range of topics for both infrastructure and development managers and is interactive, taking questions via a live chat and providing answers on airAbout AlignITThe AlignIT program is dedicated to keeping IT leaders informed about what really matters in business and technology. We do that through in-person events, web casts, our blog and of course, this podcast series. You can find more information about the Align IT program at www.alignit.ca. If you have comments, suggestions, and ideas for future topics please let us know by connecting with us via email, Twitter, or LinkedIn.Visit the AlignIT site >> Follow AlignIT on Twitter >> Join the conversation on LinkedIn >>  

With any big change to your IT infrastructure comes risk, but of course you're hoping that the rewards will out weigh those risks. In fact, you're doing more than just hoping – you're planning, strategizing, and putting your organization in a good position to mitigate those risks.Deploying a new operating system throughout a company can be disruptive and complex because so much is dependant on that OS – the applications running on top of the OS, the drivers that allow peripherals like printers to work, to name but a few. If all goes well, the operating system should be invisible to the end user but if all doesn't go well...well, we've all been there. It sucks.A good plan that's well executed can result in an organization having use of technology that can help achieve higher productivity, better collaboration and more opportunities for innovative ideas. This episode of Manager Tech Talk is all about putting together a good plan for Windows deployment success.Ruth Morton and Jonathan Rozenblit and guest Dave Kawula, Senior Consultant with 1E, talk about the benefits and challenges of deploying Windows 7. They explore what tools are available and what "gotcha's" to watch out for. Plus: Ruth, Jonathan, and Dave share tales from deployments past.Featured Guest: Dave KawulaDave Kawula is an MCSE and CNE with over fifteen years of experience in the IT industry. His background includes data communications networks within multi-server LAN/WAN environments. He has experience with project management, network strategic planning, network design and integration. He has led the architecture for NT, SMS/SCCM, Exchange and Internet Gateways, including managing migration paths and issues as well as implementation. He has supported a variety of network infrastructures as well as architecting and defining technical standards.ResourcesSpringboard - for all your deployment needs App Compat Toolkit Managing Shims Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V) All about licensing PodcastThis episode is also available as a podcast.Listen Now >> Download as MP3 >> Subscribe with Zune >> Subscribe with RSS Feed >> Subscribe with iTunes >> About AlignIT Manager Tech TalkThe AlignIT Manager Talk is a monthly live streamed video series hosted by Ruth Morton (LinkedIn) and Jonathan Rozenblit (LinkedIn). Each Tech Talk episode airs on the 2nd Thursday of the month from 12:00pm to 12:30pm EST. The show focuses on a range of topics for both infrastructure and development managers and is interactive, taking questions via a live chat and providing answers on airAbout AlignITThe AlignIT program is dedicated to keeping IT leaders informed about what really matters in business and technology. We do that through in-person events, web casts, our blog and of course, this podcast series. You can find more information about the Align IT program at www.alignit.ca. If you have comments, suggestions, and ideas for future topics please let us know by connecting with us via email, Twitter, or LinkedIn.Visit the AlignIT site >> Follow AlignIT on Twitter >> Join the conversation on LinkedIn >>

It is that time of the year. You are most likely sitting down with each of your team members and are helping them with their personal development plans. On this episode of AlignIT Manager Tech Talk, Ruth Morton and Jonathan Rozenblit talk with Stuart Ngai about the importance of training as part of personal development, as well as when and how training can and should be weaved into employees' busy schedules.ResourcesFree online training at the Microsoft Virtual Academy Get Microsoft virtualization certified Download the Own Your Own Future eBook Download trial software at the Microsoft Evaluation Center Featured Guest: Stuart NgaiStuart Ngai, Director of Technology Solutions at VERAX, is an IT professional with over 25 years of experience. As a development manager, lead enterprise architect, and a Senior Leadership Member, Stuart has led the delivery of many leading edge systems through several technology eras and guided many IT professionals in enriching and re-energizing their careers. With 7 years teaching software courses at Seneca College of Applied Sciences followed by another 7 years teaching software engineering courses for the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering at the University of Toronto, personal development through perpetual training has been a theme in which Stuart helped many IT professionals to achieve and sustain their career growth. Stuart is a certified P. Eng. and PMP with a Masters degree in Engineering from McGill University and a management degree from McGill's School of Management. He has been with the software consulting firm VERAX Solutions Corporation in Toronto since 1993 focusing on building strong delivery teams and delivering results to their customers in the financial sector.PodcastThis episode is also available as a podcast.Listen Now >>Download as MP3 >> Subscribe with Zune >> Subscribe with RSS Feed >> Subscribe with iTunes >> About AlignIT Manager Tech TalkThe AlignIT Manager Talk is a monthly live streamed video series hosted by Ruth Morton (LinkedIn) and Jonathan Rozenblit (LinkedIn). Each Tech Talk episode airs on the 2nd Thursday of the month from 12:00pm to 12:30pm EST. The show focuses on a range of topics for both infrastructure and development managers and is interactive, taking questions via a live chat and providing answers on airAbout AlignITThe AlignIT program is dedicated to keeping IT leaders informed about what really matters in business and technology. We do that through in-person events, web casts, our blog and of course, this podcast series. You can find more information about the Align IT program at www.alignit.ca. If you have comments, suggestions, and ideas for future topics please let us know by connecting with us via email, Twitter, or LinkedIn.Visit the AlignIT site >>Follow AlignIT on Twitter >> Join the conversation on LinkedIn >>

Don’t you wish sometimes that you had a crystal ball showing you what technology is coming down the pipe and if it’s going to disrupt your status quo? It would just make life so much easier. No more guessing what the CIO is going to insist be deployed ASAP just because he read about it in PC magazine. You’d be ready for it already. No more jumping through hoops because a competing company is harnessing IT innovations allowing them to steal your customers and undercut your business. You’d be doing it already.Ok well, we can’t quite show you the future, but we can give you 30 minutes with Mary Jo Foley. Mary Jo has been covering the tech industry for over 25 years focusing specifically on Microsoft and Microsoft technologies for most of that time. She has had a front row seat, watching, observing and chronicling new advances and innovations as they’ve unfolded, putting her in a unique position to be able to understand how certain trends will likely impact the industry.Mary Jo joins Jonathan Rozenblit and Ruth Morton for a special edition of the AlignIT Manager Tech Talk. In this episode, Mary Jo talk about what’s new at Microsoft and in tech.Featured Guest: Mary Jo FoleyMary Jo Foley has been a tech journalist for more than 25 years. She has worked for a variety of tech publications and Web sites, including PCWeek/eWeek, CRN and ZDNet. She is the editor of the "All About Microsoft" blog on ZDNet, and the author of the book "Microsoft 2.0: How Microsoft Plans to Stay Relevant in the Post-Gates Era" (John Wiley & Sons). She also is the co-host of the Windows Weekly show on the TWiT network and a frequent commentator and speaker on all things Microsoft-related on TV, radio, podcasts and at industry events.PodcastThis episode is also available as a podcast.Listen Now >> Download as MP3 >> Subscribe with Zune >>Subscribe with RSS Feed >>Subscribe with iTunes >> About AlignIT Manager Tech TalkThe AlignIT Manager Talk is a monthly live streamed video series hosted by Ruth Morton (LinkedIn) and Jonathan Rozenblit (LinkedIn). Each Tech Talk episode airs on the 2nd Thursday of the month from 12:00pm to 12:30pm EST. The show focuses on a range of topics for both infrastructure and development managers and is interactive, taking questions via a live chat and providing answers on airAbout AlignITThe AlignIT program is dedicated to keeping IT leaders informed about what really matters in business and technology. We do that through in-person events, web casts, our blog and of course, this podcast series. You can find more information about the Align IT program at www.alignit.ca. If you have comments, suggestions, and ideas for future topics please let us know by connecting with us via email, Twitter, or LinkedIn.Visit the AlignIT site >>Follow AlignIT on Twitter >>Join the conversation on LinkedIn >>

While you're working hard with today's technologies, you need to stay abreast of tomorrow's innovations. In this episode of the AlignIT Manager Tech Talk, Ruth Morton and Jonathan Rozenblit chat with Sam Guckenheimer, the man who wrote the book on Agile and Visual Studio, about how development teams can optimize Application Lifecycle Management, utilize advanced methods to deliver higher-value software faster, and systematically eliminate waste and inefficiency throughout the entire development lifecycle.They discuss the concepts in Sam's latest book, Agile Software Engineering with Visual Studio: From Concept to Continuous Feedback including, but not limited to:Empowering and engaging multidisciplinary self-managing teams Overcoming causes of software waste, missed schedules, and poor quality Reengineering development to remove overhead: make individuals more productive and empower high-performance teams Featured Guest: Sam GuckenheimerSam has 28 years of experience as an architect, developer, tester, product manager, project manager, and general manager in the software industry in the US and Europe. Currently, Sam is the Group Product Planner for Microsoft Visual Studio. In this capacity, he acts as chief customer advocate, responsible for the end-to-end external design of the next releases of Visual Studio. Prior to joining Microsoft in 2003, Sam was Director of Product Line Strategy at Rational Software Corporation, now the Rational Division of IBM. He holds five patents on software lifecycle tools. A frequent speaker at industry conferences, Sam has guest lectured at Florida Tech, MIT, Harvard, and Yale. Sam is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Harvard University.AlignIT Manager Tech Talk PodcastThis episode is also available as a podcast.Listen Now | Download as MP3Want more IT manager audio podcasts? Subscribe to the Align IT: IT Manager Podcast Series >>ResourcesALM Webcast Series: Microsoft invites you to participate in a five part webcast series designed to help you explore opportunities to minimize development costs within tight timelines while remaining agile throughout software development and test cycles. Managing Complexity with Process, People, and Tools: Development teams are constantly challenged to deliver highly secure, quality software in an environment of growing business demand and quick time-to-market. Development managers are taking a more holistic approach to software development to help create an efficient and effective development process. Delivering High Quality Software Through Agile: Delivering high quality software is a risky undertaking. Development and Quality Assurance managers are in a tight partnership over the war against software bugs. Software quality issues not only delay the time to market for a solution while increasing costs, but they also delay the subsequent benefits to the business. Unify Your ALM Platform: A shared collaboration infrastructure based on Visual Studio Team Foundation Server can help teams break down barriers and deliver value to the customer while leveraging earlier tool investments. Magic Quadrant for Integrated Software Quality Suites: See why Microsoft and its application lifecycle management platform are viewed as "Visionary" in this Gartner report. About AlignIT Manager Tech TalkThe AlignIT Manager Talk is a monthly live streamed video series hosted by Ruth Morton (LinkedIn) and Jonathan Rozenblit (LinkedIn). Each Tech Talk episode airs on the 2nd Thursday of the month from 12:00pm to 12:30pm EST. The show focuses on a range of topics for both infrastructure and development managers and is interactive, taking questions via a live chat and providing answers on air.About AlignITThe Align IT program is dedicated to keeping IT leaders informed about what really matters in business and technology. We do that through in-person events, web casts, our blog and of course, this Manager Tech Talk series. You can find more information about the Align IT program at www.alignit.ca.Comments, suggestions and ideas for future topics can be left below as a comment or emailed directly to the Align IT program feedback alias at alignit@microsoft.com.

While you're working hard with today's technologies, you need to stay abreast of tomorrow's innovations. On this episode of the AlignIT Manager Tech Talk, Ruth Morton and Jonathan Rozenblit chat with Sam Guckenheimer, the man who wrote the book on Agile and Visual Studio, about how development teams can optimize Application Lifecycle Management, utilize advanced methods to deliver higher-value software faster, and systematically eliminate waste and inefficiency throughout the entire development lifecycle.The discussion centers around around concepts discussed in Sam's latest book, Agile Software Engineering with Visual Studio: From Concept to Continuous Feedback including, but not limited to:Empowering and engaging multidisciplinary self-managing teams Overcoming causes of software waste, missed schedules, and poor quality Reengineering development to remove overhead: make individuals more productive and empower high-performance teams Featured Guest: Sam GuckenheimerSam has 28 years of experience as an architect, developer, tester, product manager, project manager, and general manager in the software industry in the US and Europe. Currently, Sam is the Group Product Planner for Microsoft Visual Studio. In this capacity, he acts as chief customer advocate, responsible for the end-to-end external design of the next releases of Visual Studio. Prior to joining Microsoft in 2003, Sam was Director of Product Line Strategy at Rational Software Corporation, now the Rational Division of IBM. He holds five patents on software lifecycle tools. A frequent speaker at industry conferences, Sam has guest lectured at Florida Tech, MIT, Harvard, and Yale. Sam is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Harvard University.AlignIT Manager Tech Talk PodcastThis episode is also available as a podcast.Listen Now | Download as MP3Want more IT manager audio podcasts? Subscribe to the Align IT: IT Manager Podcast Series >>ResourcesALM Webcast Series: Microsoft invites you to participate in a five part webcast series designed to help you explore opportunities to minimize development costs within tight timelines while remaining agile throughout software development and test cycles. Managing Complexity with Process, People, and Tools: Development teams are constantly challenged to deliver highly secure, quality software in an environment of growing business demand and quick time-to-market. Development managers are taking a more holistic approach to software development to help create an efficient and effective development process. Delivering High Quality Software Through Agile: Delivering high quality software is a risky undertaking. Development and Quality Assurance managers are in a tight partnership over the war against software bugs. Software quality issues not only delay the time to market for a solution while increasing costs, but they also delay the subsequent benefits to the business. Unify Your ALM Platform: A shared collaboration infrastructure based on Visual Studio Team Foundation Server can help teams break down barriers and deliver value to the customer while leveraging earlier tool investments. Magic Quadrant for Integrated Software Quality Suites: See why Microsoft and its application lifecycle management platform are viewed as "Visionary" in this Gartner report. About AlignIT Manager Tech TalkThe AlignIT Manager Talk is a monthly live streamed video series hosted by Ruth Morton (LinkedIn) and Jonathan Rozenblit (LinkedIn). Each Tech Talk episode airs on the 2nd Thursday of the month from 12:00pm to 12:30pm EST. The show focuses on a range of topics for both infrastructure and development managers and is interactive, taking questions via a live chat and providing answers on air.About AlignITThe Align IT program is dedicated to keeping IT leaders informed about what really matters in business and technology. We do that through in-person events, web casts, our blog and of course, this Manager Tech Talk series. You can find more information about the Align IT program at www.alignit.ca.Comments, suggestions and ideas for future topics can be left below as a comment or emailed directly to the Align IT program feedback alias at alignit@microsoft.com. 

It's a bit of a Catch-22 – deploying a new operating system can be an expensive proposition, but not using up to date technology can cost a business worker productivity, recruitment of top talent, and integration with customers and partners. For development shops, making sure your application runs on the latest platform contributes to the longevity of a useful product. It's exhausting trying to keep up but not to do so can mean obsolesce.The question is, are there things you can do today to make things easier tomorrow? Coming hot on the heels of the BUILD conference and the release of the developer preview of Windows 8, Ruth Morton and Jonathan Rozenblit talk with David Remmer, Depth Evangelism Manager at Microsoft Canada and former Architect Evangelist about what you need to do to get your applications and infrastructure ready today to take advantage of tomorrow's advances.Featured Guest: David RemmerAn industry veteran and former Senior Architect Advisor, David Remmer now heads up the Depth Evanglism Team for Microsoft Canada. David has worked solutions for the financial, multi-media, security, manufacturing, services and health care industries and specializes in leveraging advances in technology in order to realize ongoing business value within organizations.Connect with David at dremmer@microsoft.com. Additional ResourcesSpringboard for Windows 7 - Resources for evaluating, deploying and managing a Windows 7 roll out in your organization. scriptjunkie{} - Essential cross-browser code, information and discussion. gallery - A showcase of sites using HTML5 markup. Beauty of the Web - Amazing Sites - Gallery of sites optimized for Internet Explorer 9. Design. Code. Scale. - A developers guide to getting started with the Cloud. AlignIT Manager Tech Talk PodcastThis episode is also available as a podcast.Listen Now | Download as MP3Want more IT manager audio podcasts? Subscribe to the Align IT: IT Manager Podcast Series >>About AlignITThe Align IT program is dedicated to keeping IT leaders informed about what really matters in business and technology. We do that through in-person events, web casts, our blog and of course, this Manager Tech Talk series. You can find more information about the Align IT program at www.alignit.ca.Comments, suggestions and ideas for future topics can be left below as a comment or emailed directly to the Align IT program feedback alias at alignit@microsoft.com.

By now, you've heard the term "Cloud", but what does it actually mean to your developers and architects, your IT staff, and your organization. For developers and architects, the Cloud is a flexible and familiar environment to easily create and host applications that can have nearly infinite scale. For IT staff, the Cloud means on-demand computing with the right infrastructure to host, scale, and manage all your services with ease and speed. For your organization, it means being always available and being global while cutting down on maintenance and operational overhead costs by paying for a service.But at the end of the day, what does that all mean? How do you transition from the way things are today to a Cloud model? In this episode of AlignIT Manager Tech Talk, Ruth Morton and Jonathan Rozenblit sit down with Joel Varty, Director of Research and Development at Agility CMS in Toronto, Ontario, and talk about moving to the Cloud. The discussion focuses around the business problems Windows Azure can solve, the opportunities that can arise, and what it takes to transition developers, architects, and IT staff from traditional application development to the Cloud. Joel shares how he worked with his team to get up to speed on Cloud development and their strategy for moving applications to the Cloud.ResourcesCloud Optimization - Expanding Capabilities, while Aligning Computing and Business NeedsFor many applications, the cloud is an ideal solution. For others, moving parts of an application's architecture to the cloud is preferable. To determine which applications are likely to derive the greatest benefit from cloud computing, organizations will want to explore a number of considerations. Delivering a New Kind of Business Value Using the CloudCloud computing with Windows Azure means that your developers can deliver a new kind of value to your business. Scott Guthrie, corporate vice president of Microsoft's Server and Tools division, talks about the new world of development and how to get started building Cloud applications today. Strategy and Training as Pre-Requisites to Cloud Development"Developing for the Cloud" seems to be the phrase these days. You see and read about it everywhere, and as such, many will just jump right in. To ensure the success of your organization's journey to the Cloud, you need to take a step back and tackle two very important things first - your cloud strategy and training plans. AlignIT Manager Tech Talk PodcastThis episode is also available as a podcast.Listen Now | Download as MP3Want more IT manager audio podcasts? Subscribe to the Align IT: IT Manager Podcast Series >>About AlignITThe Align IT program is dedicated to keeping IT leaders informed about what really matters in business and technology. We do that through in-person events, web casts, our blog and of course, this Manager Tech Talk series. You can find more information about the Align IT program at www.alignit.ca.Comments, suggestions and ideas for future topics can be left below as a comment or emailed directly to the Align IT program feedback alias at alignit@microsoft.com.