Network Function Virtualisation (NFV)

“Network Function Virtualisation (NFV) aims to transform the way that network operators architect networks by evolving standard IT virtualisation technology to consolidate many network equipment types onto industry standard high volume servers, switches and storage” ETSI document, “Network Function Virtualisation (NFV); Use Cases” The above document from ETSI describes nine use cases of interest for […]

The Zorro Circle

“Positivity is such a high predicator of success rates..” Shawn Achor in his book, “The Happiness Advantage.” In Principle 5 in Achor’s book, he talks about the Zorro circle, stemming from the movie of the same name starring Antonio Banderas. In it, Zorro’s mentor draws a line in the dirt, forcing Zorro to learn how […]

Rapid prototyping

“I love taking an idea… to a prototype and then to a product that millions of people use.” Susan Wojcicki. When it comes to starting with an OSS build, I’m a big believer in the benefits of building a rapid prototype in one of the customer’s pre-production* environment. Most suppliers approach their OSS implementation projects […]

The graph-data model

“Graph databases are based on graph theory. Graph databases employ nodes, properties, and edges. Nodes are very similar in nature to the objects that object-oriented programmers will be familiar with.” Wikipedia entry on Graph Databases. I believe that Graph data models represent the likely future for OSS. And I’ve long held the belief that flexible […]

Study the behaviours, needs and frustrations of your customers

“It is my belief that it is not possible to invent truly original ideas if you absorb too much of that that you wish to differentiate yourself from. As I said, don’t overly study the competition. Study instead the behaviours, needs and frustrations belonging to your customers. Build a culture and environment that nurtures creativity […]

The chess-board analogy

“Daring ideas are like chessmen moved forward. They may be beaten, but they may start a winning game.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. At the top of the following web link, I talk about the chess-board analogy. In a regular game of chess, each of the pieces are isolated from one another, meaning that if one […]

Sacred cows

“I’ve always challenged myself and the people who work with me to take new approaches to traditional business challenges, to push the envelope and constantly ask whether our sacred cows are still producing great milk.” Irene Rosenfeld. In an earlier blog, entitled Ruthless Simplification, the topic of being ruthless in your simplification was discussed. Further […]

One-size-fits-all OSS consultancy model

“I have never believed in the Wizard of Oz theory of consulting, that I am all-knowing and all-seeing, and that everyone around me is kind of a backbencher.” David Axelrod. Today I’ll give away my model for delivering consultancy on any OSS project, no matter what shape or size. Promise not to tell anyone else, […]

Fresh Data

“Data – there sure is a lot of it and looking forward there is going to be increasingly more. The Ericsson Mobility Report found that mobile data traffic is expected to grow by 12 times between 2012 and 2018. That’s huge! So what makes data fresh? It’s the ability to use it in real time, […]

Thinking, Talking, Documenting, Doing

“Fear stifles our thinking and actions. It creates indecisiveness that results in stagnation. I have known talented people who procrastinate indefinitely rather than risk failure. Lost opportunities cause erosion of confidence, and the downward spiral begins.” Charles Stanley. When implementing an OSS, or most projects for that matter, it seems that there are four types […]

Quality vs Quantity

“Out of intense complexities intense simplicities emerge.” Winston Churchill. Dear reader, let me ask you a question…. or maybe more than one. If you engaged a consultant on a $1m assignment and they gave you a report on a single sheet of paper, would you feel aggrieved? Now what if that single sheet held a […]

From little things, big things grow

“Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things, I am tempted to think there are no little things.” Bruce Barton. Having built multi-domain OSS from the ground up I know how daunting a green-fields OSS can be. So many things to get done. So many inter-dependencies. So many facts and figures to […]

Small companies

Small companies “are uncluttered, simple informal. They thrive on passion and ridicule bureaucracy. Small companies grow on good ideas – regardless of their source. They need everyone, involve everyone, and reward or remove people based on their contribution to winning. Small companies dream big dreams and set the bar high – increments and fractions don’t […]

Self-confidence

“Self-confident people don’t need to wrap themselves in complexity and all that clutter that passes for sophistication in business. Self-confident leaders produce simple plans, speak simply, and propose big clear targets.” Jack Welch. In any line of business, have you ever noticed how the most knowledgeable exponents are also able to break concepts down into […]

OSS Leadership

Two quotes, one orator, one message today. 1. “Managers muddle – leaders inspire. Leaders inspire with clear vision of how things can be done better.” 2. To empower your people is “to turn them loose, and get the management layers off their backs, the bureaucratic shackles off their feet and the functional barriers out of […]

The patchwork quilt

“The principles of modularity, simplicity, or orthogonality, insofar as they contribute to overall simplicity, are an excellent means to an end; but as a substitute for simplicity they are very questionable” C.A.R. Hoare. There are now hundreds of vendors offering COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf) OSS tools, many of which are listed on our vendors/products […]

Using gamification in OSS

“Gamification enables you to drive, measure, and reward high-value behaviors by customers or employees. Game mechanics leverage design and behavioral psychology principles inherent in today’s social games to drive and reward specific user behaviors in business environments. Smart gamification elements—such as points, achievements, levels, leaderboards, missions, and contests—can be employed to drive desired behaviors on […]

Internet of Everything (IoE)

“People are very reluctant to talk about their private lives but then you go to the internet and they’re much more open.” Paulo Coelho. In this article, the insight from Cisco’s Chief Futurist, David Evans provides a view of the future of personal health monitoring. In the future of IoE, the device count will be […]

Carrier Billing

“An online consumer survey of more than 2,000 smartphone users in the UK and Germany, carried out by billing firm Mach and research agency Opinium in April, found significant demand for direct operator billing, suggesting it could be the preferred payment method of choice for apps and in-app purchases.” James Middleton. Carrier billing is an […]

Complex rate plans

“Simply providing a voice-and-data pipe out to a customer and collecting a monthly fee no longer is a viable business model. Savvy mobile operators realize this and are deploying OSS/BSS solutions that enable them to analyze how prepaid, postpaid and hybrid customers are using their network and then creating tailored promotions and tariffs tailored to […]