Tymans Group

23/12/2023

Merry Christmas to everyone, everywhere. You are in our thoughts.

27/02/2023

Design thinking for mere mortals.

Design thinking has been around for a while. But are we using it in our day-to-day deliverables? Is it only for the early stages of new product development? Or can we use the Agile concept of Minimally Viable and make our customer's day?

While design thinking is often associated with "the next BIG idea," I like to apply it to more down-to-earth endeavors and make our clients and staff happier faster.

https://tymansgroup.com/index.php/docs/the-briefs/design-thinking-for-mere-mortals

10/02/2023

Do you believe in absolute efficiency?
Weekend read. Hence I post this a bit later on Friday.

As neither LinkedIn, Facebook, nor Instagram allows the full content, please do click the link to the full article: https://tymansgroup.com/docs/the-briefs/do-you-believe-absolute-efficiency

Lately, I've been fascinated by infinity. And in infinity, some weird algebra pops up. Yet that weirdness is very much akin to what our business stakeholders want, driven by what our clients demand, and hence our KPIs drive us. Do more with less. And that is what absolute efficiency means.

I told you, this is weekend reading, so don't run away just yet. Save this post and read it when you have time.

In an area of mathematics called Category Theory, it is essential to pay attention to the axioms of something called "set theory." And one of the axioms in "set theory" is the "axiom of choice."

Before we go further, let me explain what an "axiom" is. An axiom is a basic assumption or a self-evident statement that serves as a foundation for a system of knowledge, such as mathematics or physics. Axioms are used to establish a theory's fundamental principles and deduce logical consequences from these principles. In mathematics, axioms are the starting point from which theorems can be inferred using logical reasoning.

Based on this, we can come to some fascinating conclusions.

09/02/2023

ChatGPT: Beyond the hype.
Download the deck at
ChatGPT is a generative AI tool developed by OpenAI, a non-profit founded by Silicon Valley titans, including Elon Musk and Sam Altman. It is designed to interact with users in a way that mimics human dialogue. The tool became available via a research release on November 30, 2022, and was an immediate hit – within a week; it attracted more than a million users. Functionally, ChatGPT is designed to answer questions, but it is not the first one. The concept has existed for decades. While it is very powerful, it has also attracted criticism.

It can be used for various functions, such as enterprise support, customer interaction, and product development. The deck includes three recommendations for incorporating generative AI products into your service catalog.

Further, we look at the next steps, apply a framework, analyze a capability map for professional services, and review use cases.

08/02/2023

2023 Q1 Research Agenda
This time, the content is in the slide deck. Get it at https://tymansgroup.com/docs/the-briefs/2023-q1-research-agenda

Discover the seven trends shaping IY's path in 2023 and explore the use cases for emerging technologies, cost optimization in recessionary times, Key metrics, ESG, ChatGPT, Zero trust, and so much more.

Gain Improved decision-making: Obtain valuable information and insights that can be used to make more informed and confident decisions.

Increased efficiency: Leverage best practices and strategies that can improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your work. Work with us to ensure any "best practice" is adjusted to fit your company and culture.

Enhanced innovation: Explore new ideas and perspectives, drive new initiatives, and develop tailored new products or services.

Align with organizational goals: Understand how IT can better align with the organization's overall goals and objectives.
Be better prepared for future market trends and developments: Stay on top of the latest trends and developments in the IT field and face the future head-on.

07/02/2023

12+ actions to protect yourself against security breaches and cyber threats

Attractive a target, I do not make, hmmm? Yoda-speak with a slightly inquisitive tone, indicating that he means the opposite. And many (small) business owners also feel they are no target. But 61% of SMBs were attacked already. And large corporations also still have a ways to go. Security, implemented in a way that fits your company, enables you to enjoy the freedom and get your work done at speed while keeping you from crashing into the ocean.

Catch the first six actions here already:
1. Regularly update software and operating systems {Lifecycle management).
2. Keep software and systems patched and up-to-date (Vulnerability management).
3. Back up data regularly and keep backups in a secure location. (Backup and restore)
4. Consider using a threat intelligence service to monitor for and respond to emerging threats. (Security management)
5. Conduct regular security audits and pe*******on testing. (Business process control and internal audit)
6. Use encryption for sensitive data in transit and at rest. (Security strategy and management)

Read more and get links to the toolkits at https://tymansgroup.com/docs/the-briefs/12-actions-to-protect-yourself-against-security-breaches-and-cyber-threats

06/02/2023

When at the gun factory..... do as the gun runners? Or make out like bandits?

You'd hope that companies dealing with lethal products have excellent standards regarding hiring people and internal processes. Any company dealing, especially those dealing with highly-sensitive systems, secrets, military and related products, money, high-tech products, and so on, must have air-tight internal controls. That is easily said but much harder to do.

The recent story of a gun manufacturer with internal control issues caught my eye. Come check it out.

IT Risk and IT Operations consulting, Tymans Group solves IT Operations and IT Risk problems and implements solutions.

03/02/2023

The saying goes, "as time goes by," but these days, we should say "as speed picks up." We're already in month two, so high time we take a look at the priorities you hopefully already set at the end of last year.

See how your priorities stack up against what TY and Info-Tech have identified. If you are still working on them or have not yet started, these may be a great starting point.

And if nothing else, it's a great weekend read. Enjoy!

The 2023 CIO Priority report is free for you to download here: https://tymansgroup.com/docs/the-briefs/what-to-look-for-in-2023

02/02/2023

Once upon a time, a young woman named Emma lived a hectic professional life. She was always running around, making decisions, and trying to stay ahead in the competitive world of entrepreneurship. However, she felt overwhelmed and stressed on the battlefield, and she couldn't seem to make the right choices no matter how hard she tried.

One day, Emma decided to take a step back and go on a much-needed vacation. During her time away, she discovered the beauty of nature, and she could reflect on her life, work and choices. She slowly realized that she had been so focused on the day-to-day and short-term goals that she had forgotten about what she wanted to attain.

IT Operations can be exactly the same. The day begins at 6 am, and before you know it, incidents, interruptions, endless operational meetings and myriad other topics await your attention. At the end of the day, you have done 1/10th of what you wanted to do.

Now imagine Emma in IT Operations. What can she do? Read on and discover it at

IT Risk and IT Operations consulting, Tymans Group solves IT Operations and IT Risk problems and implements solutions.

01/02/2023

Oh, you thought you were alone in facing some embarrassing moments? I can reassure you; you are not. Most companies face a myriad of issues with their IT. The key is to manage them to support your business efficiently.

Nobody asks that all systems operate at 100% all the time except in some situations.

So, what are some common IT Operational problems?
1. Downtime and system failures
2. Security breaches and cyber threats
3. Data loss through hardware failures or data corruption
4. Capacity planning and resource allocation issues
5. Trouble managing complexity and updates
and several more.

This list is too long to tackle in a single post, so let's concentrate on downtime and system failures.
These are typically caused by
- an overly complex IT landscape
- insufficiently documented systems
- monitoring issues
- misalignment with business needs
- and architectures that do not emphasize reliability.
Additionally, there are human factors, such as
- IT processes that do not align with your corporate or departmental culture
- too much emphasis on feature development versus maintainability
- understaffed teams
- a culture of fear (wow, did I really just write that?)
The topic of people management deserves its own conversation.

To return to the hard-skill elements, here's what you can do:
- Reduce your IT landscape complexity, one system at a time
- Implement redundant systems and network components.
- Conduct system performance and security audits regularly.
- Regularly update software and hardware systems.
- Monitor and maintain your network infrastructure.
- Train employees on best practices for data backup and system usage.
- Establish incident response protocols.
- Develop relationships with vendors and service providers.
- Have a documented IT strategy and IT operations plan in place, aligned with the business

And, to just slip in one people item anyway: eliminate any fear in your organization.

31/01/2023

The IT ecosystem consists of at least 9 main areas. And every day, new challenges come to the forefront. Ultimately, it is about serving our customers and giving them the best possible customer experience. Every. Single. Day.

Regardless of company size, that starts with having reliable systems supported by engaged people, serving up services that people want.

How do you get there? One step at a time. Each of the 46 topics in our 9 areas has a toolkit to get you started.

If you are looking for a single area to enlighten you or want to overhaul your whole IT, our guides and toolkits offer you suitable stepping stones to get the job done. And if you need to talk something through, help is available, in bite-size or full-blown. Take advantage of the free executive summaries at https://tymansgroup.com/improve-your-core-processes

31/01/2023

High in the top 5 of the most-asked questions by IT executives, managers and business owners, we find "How can we optimise our IT operations to increase efficiency and reduce costs?'

IT operations are the day-to-day management and maintenance of a company's technology systems and infrastructure. This includes tasks such as ensuring the availability and reliability of technology systems, managing and storing data, ensuring the security and privacy of information and providing technical support to employees.

IT operations play a critical role in supporting and enabling the smooth running of a business. Without effective IT operations, a company's technology systems can become unreliable and impact the productivity and success of the business. This requires a clear view of what you need to service clients and optimise your value chain.

Some specific activities involved in IT operations include:
- Monitoring and maintaining network infrastructure and systems.
- Implementing and enforcing security and privacy protocols.
- Providing technical support and troubleshooting for employees and customers.
- Managing software and hardware updates and upgrades.
- Storing, backing up, and retrieving data.
- Managing capacity and resources to meet business needs.
- Ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Developing and implementing disaster recovery and business continuity plans.
- Continuously improving and evolving IT operations processes and procedures.

These hard-skill tasks fit within the larger context of service, financial, security, development and strategic considerations. And it holds regardless of your business' size.

Luckily, you do not need to tackle all these areas in one go. Pick those topics first that cause you sleepless nights. You will then see items to correct in adjacent regions and pick those up next. You can methodically work your way towards a well-balanced IT Operations department.