This is a guest post from Jim Farmer, Chairman of Sigma Systems, Inc. [Editor’s note: I have had this post from Jim for a while now and am only now getting a chance to publish it. Apologies to Jim and to you.] On August 4th Hellman-Friedman LLC filed with the Security and Exchange Commission a […]
Charles Severance’s “Sakai: Free as in Freedom:” A Review
This is a guest post by Jim Farmer, instructional media + magic inc. Jim has been Treasurer of the Sakai Foundation since December. When building a complex software system developers want to use the latest technology. Users want business processes and data presentations that serve them and their “customers.” Management focuses on the allocation of […]
Investment Bankers and Blackboard’s Future, Part One: If …
This is a guest post by Jim Farmer, Chairman of Sigma Group Inc. On Friday July 1,st after this was written, Blackboard Inc. was acquired by “affiliates of Providence Equity Partners” for $1.64 billion. They will also assume approximately $130 million in net debt. Providence will pay $45 per share; it closed Thursday at […]
Software Patent Wars: Is Linux next?
This is a guest post by Jim Farmer, instructional media + magic inc. and contributor to Intellectual Property Magazine. It was sunny day, 76 degrees, in Tyler, Texas on April 15th, 2011 when the jury foreman handed the single page decision to Judge Davis, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas [EDTX]. There […]
Higher Education Recession: A new role for information technologists?
This is a guest post by Jim Farmer. Jim is Chairman of instructional media + magic. Monday, 11 October the Browne report, “Securing a Sustainable Future for Higher Education,” was released in the UK.1 If implemented there will be major cuts in funds available to U.K. universities and higher tuition for students. The combination of less […]
Restructuring higher education: NCES Stats-DC 2010 Conference
This is a guest post by Jim Farmer. As you know, the Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems program is funding states’ work to improve their data systems. Over the past four years, 41 states and the District of Columbia have received more than half a billion dollars from this program. It has supported states as they […]
Why Not Go to a Party School?
This is a guest post by Jim Farmer. Jim is Chairman of instructional media + magic. Analysis of data recently released by PayScale Inc. and published in Bloomberg Business Week show starting salaries for graduates of Party Schools begin fifth of seven sectors moving up to third place by mid-career. Party Schools have a rate […]