Eric Bloom

Member for

12 years 11 months

Eric P. Bloom is the president and CTO of Manager Mechanics LLC, a training company specializing in Information Technology (IT) leadership and the governing body for the ITMLP © and ITMLE © certifications. He is a keynote speaker, author, certified professional coach, nationally syndicated columnist, and president-elect of the National Speakers Association (NSA) New England.

Job Function

IT Operations

Country

United States

Eric Bloom

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	Moving from Information Technology to Business TechnologyNew technologies such as big data, the Internet of Things, and enhanced mobile capabilities call for new processes. Today, IT departments must have a deeper understanding of the businesses they serve, the professions they automate, and how technology is best employed—from a business perspective.
	Aligning IT with the Business: The Age-Old DebateThe topic of IT–business alignment is a subject that has been discussed, debated, theorized, and proceduralized for decades. Why is it still a topic at all? Well, mainly because of differing beliefs about IT’s job function. How do you define the relationship between IT and the overall organization?
	When IT Falters, So Does the CompanyManual procedures are rarely used today. On the upside, computerization has dramatically increased employee productivity and reduced the cost of automation. On the downside, a company cannot run without it. This means that IT operations are crucial to company success—not just a necessary evil.
	No IT Training Budget? Think YouTube and MOOCsIf training budgets don’t exist, there is a wealth of free and informative instructional material available on YouTube and through massive open online courses (MOOCs), free vendor web seminars, white papers, and other related sources. You can still construct a well-orchestrated training curriculum.
	The Many New Forces Driving Who Becomes Your Next CIOThis is a fascinating time to observe the role of CIO due to the many important forces simultaneously driving CIO selection criteria in different directions. The combination of data security and new IT trends may lead to the hiring of CIOs with a tech background first and business knowledge second.
	Working with Your IT Talent to Support More Mobile Devices While supporting multiple devices certainly has its business advantages, it also means the need for knowledge of multiple operating systems, device-specific idiosyncrasies, and having to hire or train staff for the skills necessary to perform the required tasks. Eric Bloom addresses these concerns.
	Should Just-in-Time Training Be Just in Time?Conventional wisdom suggests that technical training should be provided just before its actual business use. The theory is that if you provide the training too soon, the person will not remember much of what was taught. But at its best, technical training is not an event—it’s a process.
	Three Great Travel Gadgets for Techie Road WarriorsAre you a road warrior or simply someone who wants to get work done while traveling? Eric Bloom highlights three travel gadgets that will allow you to maximize your work productivity—and make life easier—when you're on the road.
	Best of Breed vs. Integrated Systems: The Battle ContinuesThe debate between buying best of breed software products versus fully integrated systems has raged on for as long as there have been integrated platforms. There are pros and cons for each approach, but the interesting thing about this debate is that there is no clearly defined right or wrong.
	Be a Lifelong Technology Student or Fall BehindLifelong learning is a necessity of those in technical professions. As technologists, we have two full-time jobs: perform the tasks required by our employer and enhance our technical knowledge. Eric Bloom highlights the six general areas on which technologists need to focus.
	IT’s Conflicting Goals: The Data Center vs. Software DevelopmentConflicting goals within IT are in many ways a very good thing. If managed correctly, positive conflict can create motivated employees, innovative solutions, and cost-effective, high-quality results. Eric Bloom looks at the conflicting goals of the data center versus software development.
	Concierge Tech Support: A New Name for an Old ConceptLet’s face it, helping an executive in your company isn’t really a request—it’s a requirement. Eric Bloom looks at the idea of Concierge Technical Support and what you can do administratively to properly plan and budget for high-end technical support requests.
	Choosing an LMS? Know Who You Are and Why You Want ItBefore choosing a learning management system (LMS), know who you are and the reasons you want it. If you don’t, you may select a system that doesn’t meet your needs. Eric Bloom offers three different perspectives on how to look at LMS functionality.
	MOOC—A Free and Very Cool Approach to Online LearningYou may have heard that many of our country’s most prestigious universities are offering free, online courses to anyone who wishes to attend virtually. MOOC (massive open online course) technologies are the primary delivery mechanism for these types of classes, and the classes are very worthwhile.
	Can Gamification Help Make eLearning Fun?eLearning is an efficient and cost-effective way to learn new skills, train your staff, and reinforce traditional classroom-based instruction. For all of its advantages, however, eLearning has a reputation of being boring, not engaging, and more of a chore than a privilege. Can gamification help?
	Why Techies Should Watch Their BackupsBacking up your work isn’t the sexiest topic on the block, but if it’s not done correctly, it can cost you time, money, your job, or your professional reputation. Eric Bloom details important things to consider regarding backing up your work.
	Development and Marketing—Can't We All Just Get Along? When building software for sale, it may seem that software development managers and product marketing managers should get along great. One team builds the software; the other team finds people to buy it. Eric Bloom looks at the primary reason why these two teams sometimes don't get along.
	Cloud Computing Could Be the Ticket for Project Managers and AnalystsWith the rapid advancements in technology, perhaps no job title is truly immune from possible layoffs. But could your project management or business analysis skills on your resume help you keep—or even land—the job of your dreams? Eric Bloom thinks that you can find job security in cloud computing.
	How to Avoid Embarrassing Yourself on a Culturally Diverse TeamThere are few things healthier in the workplace than a culturally diverse team of professionals—provided that everyone knows how to play by the rules and respect the differences that make each team member unique. Make sure your actions aren't misconstrued for something they are not.