Presentation Archive
IAITAM ITAK Articles
Presenters for IAITAM ACE sessions also contribute an article for the IAITAM magazine ITAK - Information Technology Asset Knowledge. Through 2015 IAITAM made article reprints available for me to share here. As of 2016, articles are available via a link to the ITAK site; this includes links to my earlier articles.
Presenters for IAITAM ACE sessions also contribute an article for the IAITAM magazine ITAK - Information Technology Asset Knowledge. Through 2015 IAITAM made article reprints available for me to share here. As of 2016, articles are available via a link to the ITAK site; this includes links to my earlier articles.
Managing the Fine Print – Working with Terms and Conditions
Spring 2016 ACE, New Orleans
Every time you install software – either by hand or through software delivery – you accept a EULA and agree to certain terms and conditions. Many of these T&Cs can be negotiated with the software publisher, and certainly every EULA should be evaluated prior to installing the first copy of the software. This session will discuss what to look for in the T&Cs that you might have adjusted in advance and the kinds of changes you should request. We’ll also look at some process suggestions to make sure you don’t inadvertently agree to terms you haven’t evaluated.
Find the article here.
Spring 2016 ACE, New Orleans
Every time you install software – either by hand or through software delivery – you accept a EULA and agree to certain terms and conditions. Many of these T&Cs can be negotiated with the software publisher, and certainly every EULA should be evaluated prior to installing the first copy of the software. This session will discuss what to look for in the T&Cs that you might have adjusted in advance and the kinds of changes you should request. We’ll also look at some process suggestions to make sure you don’t inadvertently agree to terms you haven’t evaluated.
Find the article here.
So You're Going to Get Audited - How to Prepare Now and for the Future
Spring 2015 ACE, San Diego
The fateful day has arrived, and with it your audit letter. Now that the panic has subsided, exactly what are you going to do next? What are your rights and responsibilities going into the audit? This session will look at how to prepare for the audit process, what you are allowed to do to prepare and things that you definitely may NOT do. Along the way we’ll point out proactive steps you can be taking every day to make the inevitable audit less painful.
This article was the basis for a presentation of the same name presented at the Spring 2015 IAITAM Annual Conference and Exhibition in San Diego, California, April 28-30, 2015. Reprint made available courtesy of IAITAM, Copyright 2015 IAITAM, all rights reserved.
Find the article here or download it below.
Spring 2015 ACE, San Diego
The fateful day has arrived, and with it your audit letter. Now that the panic has subsided, exactly what are you going to do next? What are your rights and responsibilities going into the audit? This session will look at how to prepare for the audit process, what you are allowed to do to prepare and things that you definitely may NOT do. Along the way we’ll point out proactive steps you can be taking every day to make the inevitable audit less painful.
This article was the basis for a presentation of the same name presented at the Spring 2015 IAITAM Annual Conference and Exhibition in San Diego, California, April 28-30, 2015. Reprint made available courtesy of IAITAM, Copyright 2015 IAITAM, all rights reserved.
Find the article here or download it below.

ITAK Reprint 2015 Spring ACE - Audits | |
File Size: | 3231 kb |
File Type: |
The Zen of Software Asset Management
A Modern, Practical Twist to Centuries-old Advice
Spring 2014 ACE, Henderson, NV
Sometimes it seems that everyone is out to get the software asset manager – management wants you to save money but offers minimal support; users want their software and don’t care about budgets or licensing; and your head is on the block if an auditor comes calling! Here are some thoughts on how to bring clarity to your tasks, harmony to your relationships with vendors and software manufacturers, and peace to your user community.
This article was the basis for a presentation of the same name presented at the Spring 2014 IAITAM Annual Conference and Exhibition in Henderson, Nevada, April 29 - May 1, 2014. Reprint made available courtesy of IAITAM, Copyright 2014 IAITAM, all rights reserved.
Find the article here or download it below.
A Modern, Practical Twist to Centuries-old Advice
Spring 2014 ACE, Henderson, NV
Sometimes it seems that everyone is out to get the software asset manager – management wants you to save money but offers minimal support; users want their software and don’t care about budgets or licensing; and your head is on the block if an auditor comes calling! Here are some thoughts on how to bring clarity to your tasks, harmony to your relationships with vendors and software manufacturers, and peace to your user community.
This article was the basis for a presentation of the same name presented at the Spring 2014 IAITAM Annual Conference and Exhibition in Henderson, Nevada, April 29 - May 1, 2014. Reprint made available courtesy of IAITAM, Copyright 2014 IAITAM, all rights reserved.
Find the article here or download it below.

ITAK Reprint 2014 Spring ACE - Zen | |
File Size: | 2452 kb |
File Type: |
Software – Why does it always have to be Software?
Moving from Out of Control to Ready for Anything
Fall 2013 ACE, St. Petersburg, FL
It’s elemental – it is, after all, the “S” in Software Asset Management. So how do you get your software estate from totally out-of-control to ready for anything? Start with inventory – you can’t manage it if you don’t know what’s out there. Understand which applications are licensed and which aren’t, and collect all that purchasing data. Better take care of software contracts as well. Don’t forget usage – you need that to know who’s using what so you can support everyone with cost efficiency. And once you figure it all out – do it over again, because it’s a constantly changing world!
This article was the basis for a presentation of the same name presented at the Fall 2013 IAITAM Annual Conference and Exhibition in St. Petersburg, Florida, October 15-17, 2013. Reprint made available courtesy of IAITAM, Copyright 2013 IAITAM, all rights reserved.
Find the article here or download it below.
Moving from Out of Control to Ready for Anything
Fall 2013 ACE, St. Petersburg, FL
It’s elemental – it is, after all, the “S” in Software Asset Management. So how do you get your software estate from totally out-of-control to ready for anything? Start with inventory – you can’t manage it if you don’t know what’s out there. Understand which applications are licensed and which aren’t, and collect all that purchasing data. Better take care of software contracts as well. Don’t forget usage – you need that to know who’s using what so you can support everyone with cost efficiency. And once you figure it all out – do it over again, because it’s a constantly changing world!
This article was the basis for a presentation of the same name presented at the Fall 2013 IAITAM Annual Conference and Exhibition in St. Petersburg, Florida, October 15-17, 2013. Reprint made available courtesy of IAITAM, Copyright 2013 IAITAM, all rights reserved.
Find the article here or download it below.

ITAK Reprint 2013 Fall ACE - Software | |
File Size: | 2693 kb |
File Type: |
Inventory in a Complex World
Understanding the Tools, Goals and Environments for Inventory
Spring 2013 ACE, Houston
Inventory is a core requirement for nearly all ITAM projects. This article provides a survey of factors that go into understanding how inventory tools work and the questions you should consider when selecting a tool that’s right for your environment.
This article was the basis for a presentation of the same name presented at the Spring 2013 IAITAM Annual Conference and Exhibition in Houston, Texas, April 16-18, 2013. Reprint made available courtesy of IAITAM, Copyright 2013 IAITAM, all rights reserved.
Find the article here or download it below.
Understanding the Tools, Goals and Environments for Inventory
Spring 2013 ACE, Houston
Inventory is a core requirement for nearly all ITAM projects. This article provides a survey of factors that go into understanding how inventory tools work and the questions you should consider when selecting a tool that’s right for your environment.
This article was the basis for a presentation of the same name presented at the Spring 2013 IAITAM Annual Conference and Exhibition in Houston, Texas, April 16-18, 2013. Reprint made available courtesy of IAITAM, Copyright 2013 IAITAM, all rights reserved.
Find the article here or download it below.

ITAK Reprint 2013 Spring ACE - Inventory | |
File Size: | 1747 kb |
File Type: |
BrainShare 2010 - Salt Lake City
I was co-presenter for a pair of sessions at Novell's BrainShare in March 2010. The session abstracts and presentations are posted below. Please contact me if you would like more information about either of these sessions.
I was co-presenter for a pair of sessions at Novell's BrainShare in March 2010. The session abstracts and presentations are posted below. Please contact me if you would like more information about either of these sessions.
Best Practices for IT Asset Management Using Novell ZENworks
This session will highlight best practices around IT asset management and how Novell ZENworks can support these practices—and in turn, reduce costs. We'll also discuss hardware lifecycle management, including identifying new devices, identifying devices for reuse, retiring devices, and lease and maintenance tracking. Finally, we'll discuss asset management best practices for software license management and standardization.
This session will highlight best practices around IT asset management and how Novell ZENworks can support these practices—and in turn, reduce costs. We'll also discuss hardware lifecycle management, including identifying new devices, identifying devices for reuse, retiring devices, and lease and maintenance tracking. Finally, we'll discuss asset management best practices for software license management and standardization.

BrainShare 2010 - ZAM | |
File Size: | 1056 kb |
File Type: |
Advanced Reporting with Novell ZENworks Reporting Server:
More than Asset Management
Novell ZENworks Reporting Server is the new engine that drives predefined and custom reports for the Novell ZENworks 10 family. This session will provide an overview and tour of the Novell ZENworks Reporting Server universe—the foundation for creating reports for inventory, asset management, and other capabilities of Novell ZENworks Configuration Management. We'll cover how to lay out and filter reports, as well as some of the formatting features of the Business Objects Engine that powers the engine.
More than Asset Management
Novell ZENworks Reporting Server is the new engine that drives predefined and custom reports for the Novell ZENworks 10 family. This session will provide an overview and tour of the Novell ZENworks Reporting Server universe—the foundation for creating reports for inventory, asset management, and other capabilities of Novell ZENworks Configuration Management. We'll cover how to lay out and filter reports, as well as some of the formatting features of the Business Objects Engine that powers the engine.

BrainShare 2010 - ZRS | |
File Size: | 866 kb |
File Type: |
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