Transcript Slide 1

CWE from an SME perspective
John Lindström and
Lundkvist
Anders
Agenda
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Introduction
Methodology
CWE practice for SMEs over the last 20 years
Barriers for results from CWE research to become
SME practice
 Summary
Introduction
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High tech SMEs often early adopter of new/innovative tools –
improve operations, speed, quality, ability to co-operate…
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Collaborative Working Environment (CWE) tools – accepted as
common tools
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Definition of CWE
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integrated and connected resources providing shared access to contents
and allowing distributed actors to seamlessly work together towards
common goals
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Examples (and evolution) of CWE-tools
 Telephone, fax, cellphone, SMS, e-mail, web
 Conference tools, VoIP, Instant Messaging (IM) like ICQ and Skype,
Internet based project management tools, web based office suites with
shared work spaces
Introduction, cnt’d
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This paper discusses:
 CWE-tools and enabling infrastructures from a high tech SME
perspective during the last 20 years in Europe
 Barriers for results from CWE research and development to not become
SME practice
Methodology
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Arctic Group AB – high tech consulting company, SME, developing
IT-systems for public and private sector customers
Analyzed restrictions for use of CWE tools during development and
research projects where worked with customers and partners
105 projects (Sweden, Europe, Asia) during last 4 years
Categorized every worked day into type of CWE tool limitations
(project type A-C) and small – large customers
 Type A projects – no limitations
 Type B projects – some limitations
 Type C projects – strong limitations
Methodology cnt´d
Project type
2003 2004 2005 2006
A
12%
22%
27%
24%
B
53%
52%
53%
42%
C
34%
26%
21%
34%
Customer type
2003 2004 2005 2006
Public
79%
80%
64%
82%
Private
21%
20%
36%
18%
Stable sample - except
for 2005
Methodology cnt´d
Total 2003-2006
Type A
Type B Type C Sum
Small customer
15%
0%
0%
15%
1 < Small < 50
0%
0%
3%
50 < Medium < 250
250 < Large
Medium customer 3%
Large customer
6%
49%
28%
83%
Sum
23%
49%
28%
100%
CWE practice for SMEs over the
last 20 years
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Telephone and fax
Cellphone and SMS
E-mail
Web
CWE tools (conference tools, VoIP, IM, Internet based project tools, wikis,
web based office suites with shared work spaces…)
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Characteristics of SME uptake of new technology (CWE tools)
 High tech SMEs – often early adopters
 Low tech SMEs – slower (IT knowledge)
 Communications infrastructure (bandwidth)
Barriers for results from CWE
research to become SME practice
Observations from 105 projects
Barriers
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Large organizations´IT- and information security policies
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Employees tries to find ways around…
Separate ICT infrastructures…
Use security tools…
Sarbanes-Oxley act (US SEC) – paper trail of e-mail and IM-traffic
Security issues – browser problems, http, web mail, IM-tool flaws, unsecure VoIP,
H.323 and SIP protocol vulnerabilities. Hinders widely accepted use!
Barriers cnt’d
Questions
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What CWE-tools to allow from an efficiency perspective – is there a trade off or
not?
How should high tech SMEs collaborate with large organizations? Efficiency and
cut costs.
If CWE-tools are not addressed by an organization’s IT- and information
security policies and how to use them in a secure manner – that needs to
be looked at!
Summary
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Methodology
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CWE practice for SMEs over the last 20 years
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Barriers for results from CWE research to become SME practice
John Lindström, Luleå Univ.
Sr Project Mgr
[email protected]
+46 70 674 5859
Anders Lundkvist, Arctic Group AB
CEO
[email protected]
+46 70 674 5858
Questions ?