Humans are inherently bad at IT security?

There's an interesting article out there speculating that we (as in the human race) are ill-equipped to deal with IT security. It's a quick read, but an intriguing one: are we really that irrational and overreactive that we are fundamentally incapable of any real IT security development? I'm sure most of us would like to think otherwise, but read the article here and think about the implications. Maybe we'll see computer-generated security software in the future to compensate for our IT shortcomings?

Google will soon make your Cheerios

What won't those silly Google folks try? While the rumors have persisted for some time, and will likely continue to do so, the "legitimate" supporters are starting to surface more frequently. What are we talking about? A Google-developed free operating system. Google is already attacking Microsoft through its Google Documents freeware, and Microsoft is striking back by getting into the advertising business. Isn't it about time that Google use its resources to develop a free and light OS (instead of buying up all those server farms)? Oh, and some free WiFi while you're at it, Google? Please?

Continuous Quality Improvement - Always Good?

*Image courtesy of www.fyconsulting.com.

Do you think there is a limit to seeking continuous improvement? That is, to what end should companies be willing to seek out new and improved systems and technologies? On the one hand, there will always be room for efficiencies, improvements, and process changes that will result in better performance and higher quality. One must admit, though, that such exercises are resource-intensive and can be costly. Moreover, the constant re-engineering in processes can sometimes have a negative impact on productivity, as employees must constantly adapt to new systems or business rules.

I'm more or less a firm believer in continual quality improvement, as it is one of the few guaranteed ways to stay abreast of the competitive landscape in a given industry and perhaps gain some competitive advantage. There might be a limit, however - especially for smaller businesses - where the marginal benefits of improvement don't offset the cost and productivity concerns.