Reframing the independent consultant debate This article is sponsored by:

I believe the success or failure of enterprise projects rides on the proper use of independents. Here's my breakdown of what needs to happen next.

Building cloud verticals - Acumatica video review This article is sponsored by:

For cloud ERP vendors targeting the midmarket, vertical solutions are a key. Here's the video story of one Acumatica partner.

Mr Ballmer's long goodbye This article is sponsored by:

Steve Ballmer is out - well, almost. But will a new person at the top of the company within 12 months be enough to get Microsoft back on track?

Facebook likes Telcos - duh? This article is sponsored by:

How are some of the major telcos making out on Facebook? If this random assessment of six vendors including Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Vodafone Spain and India, Three UK and O2 are representative then it's far from good.

SAP partners' wake-up call - video stories This article is sponsored by:

During my recent jaunt to Miami, I got a first hand look at the predicaments that SAP partners face due to cloud disruptions. Here's some video commentary and lessons learned.

Weekend rant - dealing with the analyst racket This article is sponsored by:

Is the old analyst game over? Not quite yet. Ray Wang makes an impassioned plea for change but will he be successful.

SAP's partner paradox - race to the cloud This article is sponsored by:

The SAP Americas Partner Leadership Summit in Miami brought SAP's confrontation with the cloud to a head. For an event not intended for hard news junkies, there were big stories for those willing to read the writing in the sand.

Prepare now for a 7-year famine in IT services This article is sponsored by:

The IT services industry is sticking its collective head in the sand over the impact that the shift to the cloud will have on its future revenues and staffing levels.

The underrated need for independent consultants This article is sponsored by:

No single services firm, no matter how talented or customer centric, can compensate for the need for independent views that are not tied to the main services provider. Here's why.

HfS SAP services rankings shows some surprises This article is sponsored by:

Skills gap saps SaaS success rate This article is sponsored by:

Cloud application vendors argue that their apps are so easy-to-use and rapid to deploy that there's very little call on professional services to implement them. But that attitude may be leading enterprises to under-invest in the skills and effort needed to realize the business results they hope to achieve.