tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9241248848608093142024-03-18T05:47:43.831-04:00Ptak Associates Tech BlogPtak Associates paints the big picture on Cloud, Mobile, Mainframes, Blockchain, DevOps,Cognitive Computing,Quantum Computing, etc. Partnering with us, IT organizations understand and prioritize their needs within the context of IT trends, and technology vendors refine their strategies. We provide both with market insight, actionable recommendations, and deliverables that communicate the business values of their products and servicesPtak Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069618857253303098noreply@blogger.comBlogger205125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924124884860809314.post-34828514525043513502023-02-17T17:33:00.002-05:002023-02-17T17:33:51.016-05:00The Handler: A Nick Reagan Thriller<p>A little break from technology - here's a review of an entertaining read:</p><p></p><p>T<i>he Handler introduced me to Jeffrey Stephens as an author. Decades of reading about terrorist plots, bad guys, and evildoers and the agents, officers, heroes, as well as anti-heroes attempting to frustrate their plans and bring them to justice, tends to make one a bit leery of new entries.</i></p><p><i>Could the adventures of agent Nick Reagan hold my interest. Or, would it lapse into cliched crudities, obvious plot-lines stitched onto the latest fashionably/culturally-correct evils that too many authors can't seem to avoid?<</i></p><p><i>Mr. Stephens provides a very well-written and entertaining story of agent Reagan's adventures. He balances intense action, reflection, problem-solving analysis, and romance in a way that holds your attention and keeps you turning pages. </i></p><p><i>Mr. Stephens poses believable challenges to his characters along with reasonable solutions that (generally) work as intended. He establishes believable settings and interaction among his characters. The action takes place internationally and realistically. He is adept at establishing a genuine feeling for each location with an economy of detail. Having been to both Washington and Paris, I believe he does them justice. I look forward to visiting the Mall of America. </i></p><p><i>To summarize, I'm hooked. I look forward to reading more about agent Reagan assuming Mr. Stephens continues to tell the stories. If you want believable, straight forward characters, and an honestly, entertaining read; you will find it in these pages. </i></p><p><i><br /></i><br /></p>Ptak Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069618857253303098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924124884860809314.post-68118789000198609522022-11-10T15:48:00.004-05:002022-11-10T16:32:27.671-05:00<p> <b><i><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;">Can Artificial
Intelligence technology satisfactorily tell us “What Makes Us Human?”</span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">“<i>What Makes
Us Human?”</i> attempts to answer that question
has kept humans busy for thousands of years. It has occupied artists,
musicians, authors, theologians, philosophers including the brightest, best,
and worst of humanity. Now, AI (Artificial Intelligence) has entered the effort.
The results are interesting and really not all that surprising.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Bestselling
author/poet, Ian S. Thomas with technologist/philosopher/researcher, Jasmine
Wang worked with GPT-3, an artificial intelligence technology to get the answer.
Working from GPT-3’s responses to a dynamic list of over 200 questions, the
author/editors provide a lightly edited collection of GPT-3 answers. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">GPT-3 was pre-trained
with some 570 GB of digitized data consisting of a sampling of the contents of
books, scrolls, and texts representative of humanity’s wisdom and knowledge
articulated over thousands of years. The responses ranged from a single word to
multi-paragraph text, some comic, some profound. GPT-3 at times embraces a
self-centered hedonism over self-disciplined morality. Or, conflates the soul
with spirituality. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">The
author/editors’ goal was to identify the essence of the human spirit from a
source (GPT-3) with no prejudices, instilled beliefs, or preconceived loyalties.
GPT-3 has no emotion, guilt, nor fixed moral framework. The team compares GPT-3
to Christianity’s Adam and Eve as they were before they took a bite of the
Apple from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. An interesting viewpoint. Especially
since GPT’s answers seem to be imbued with all of these<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">This is not Aristotle,
St. Augustine, Buddha, Peter Jordan, nor has it any base rock theology,
psychiatry, or moral philosophy. Neither is it a consistent polemic. It doesn’t
engage in deep analysis or pose a coda for living. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">GPT-3
responses can be occasionally evasive, even contradictory. Its statements can
be puzzling at times, lyrical at others. It does provide interesting
observations and commentary. The overall
effect is surprisingly reflective of humanity’s own uncertainty about the
answer. How do you maintain a true sense of self, while adhering to broad
social values or moral principles that challenge personal preferences but are
necessary for a cohesive society? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">As the
authors point out, one can read straight through the Q&A in the order
presented. However, they suggest a potentially more satisfying approach is to
search out and focus on questions immediately relevant to the reader. Some of
the responses require significant reflection, especially when addressing
fundamental life questions. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I took a
combined approach. Reading selectively at first, eventually reading straight
through. Both proved interesting and thought provoking. GPT-3 conclusions
appear as an amalgamation of sometimes discordant ideals, even ideas. Again,
not all that inconsistent what happens in human life. There are parts of the
text that sound like the lyrics and themes used by artists and musicians in
every age and generation. Other responses are direct quotes from one or more of
the multiple sacred texts that make up GPT-3’s data base. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">In the end,
I found it an interesting read. It didn’t reveal any shockingly new concepts.
It provides very good, sometimes excellent advice. Just as frequently it offers
a smorgasbord of overlapping semi-conclusions; forcing the reader to reflect more
deeply to draw their own conclusions. All
in all, reading and re-reading was time well spent. It provides no
earth-shattering revelation. Not surprisingly, the conclusions and advice
culled from all that data actually validates in a very fundamental manner what
we should all have learned a long time ago. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">It seems
that <i>The Beatles (among a host of others) </i>in one (and actually more) of
their songs provided a very excellent opinion. The answer is…well, I’ll leave that for
you to find out from the book. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">For those
who can’t wait, go here for a </span><a href="https://tinyurl.com/28nenh7a"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">hint</span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> (</span><a href="https://tinyurl.com/28nenh7a"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">https://tinyurl.com/28nenh7a</span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Ptak Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069618857253303098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924124884860809314.post-62322459376130808042021-11-08T10:51:00.003-05:002021-11-22T15:48:21.786-05:00Will it be acquisition fever, staff turnover, or in-house e-Mail update issues that trip up IBM?<p> <b><i><span style="font-size: medium;">By Bill Moran, Rich Ptak</span></i></b></p><p><span style="color: #1f497d; text-align: justify;"> Recently, much ado was made over IBM’s problems in
integrating its internal email system. As we understand it, the project
involved returning IBM’s email services in-house after they had been outsourced
to an India-based company. Things did not go well.</span></p><p></p><div class="WordSection1">
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #1f497d;">First, a little background on email systems. During an
early 2000’s acquisition binge, a major Palo Alto-based IT company set about integrating
three separate email systems. After multiple years of problems, frustration,
confusion, and communications issues, the project was successfully completed. The
results were not that surprising to us. A not-so-long ago survey had enterprise
executives identify the most critical in-house task that IT departments weren’t
addressing. Fixing corporate email problems was at the top of the list! Apparently,
that continues today. </span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">All our
information is current as of November 8, 2021.</span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #1f497d;">Back to IBM, several </span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">questions came to mind: why would a leading sophisticated
technology, product, and service provider be motivated to outsource a critical
task like email to another company? Did no one consider the downside risks of
such a move? One can imagine IBM encountering and dealing with numerous email
system challenges while managing customer systems. Why not use this experience
to fix their own problem?</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #1f497d;">Any of these or a number of other issues might trip up the
company that was once the undisputed industry giant and leader. The challenges confronting
an enterprise attempting to successfully complete very large, complicated IT
projects are neither unique nor unknown. (See our Appendix – On the Failure of
Large Projects.) Current IBM challenges include identifying (and implementing) the
best strategy to enter a fiercely competitive market dominated by large
players. Or integrating a series of acquisitions, multiplying lawsuits,
employee retention, etc. Each must be viewed in proper perspective if it is to
be resolved. Isn’t there enough on IBM’s plate already? We believe further
examination is merited.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #1f497d;">Our goal is to provide commentary and observations, not
solutions. Limiting the number of issues examined allowed us to keep to a
reasonable length. While not exhaustive, this list provides insight into the
range, timeliness, and variety of challenges facing IBM.</span></p>
<h1 style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .25in; margin: 0.25in 0in 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Potential Tripwires<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"> Of the large
and variety number of problems IBM faces, we chose nine <a name="_Hlk82786994">for
</a>our commentary. Not in priority order, these are:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><ol><li><span style="color: #1f497d; text-indent: -0.25in;">Completing
the Red Hat integration.</span><a name="_Hlk82787074" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: text2;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></a></li><li><a name="_Hlk82787074" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Increasing profitable growth</span></a><span style="color: #1f497d; text-indent: -0.25in;">.</span><a name="_Hlk82787175" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: text2;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></a></li><li><a name="_Hlk82787175" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Lawsuits involving GlobalFoundries, age
discrimination, etc.</span></a></li><li><a name="_Hlk82787220" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Integrating numerous recently
acquired small companies</span></a><a name="_Hlk82787255" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: text2;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></a></li><li><a name="_Hlk82787255" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Completing Kyndryl creation and
launch</span></a><span style="color: #1f497d; text-indent: -0.25in;">.</span></li><li><span style="color: #1f497d; text-indent: -0.25in;">Preparing
for and winning serious competitive battles in cloud, AI, and Quantum</span></li><li><a name="_Hlk82787363" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-themecolor: text2;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Rationalization of the management team</span></a><span style="color: #1f497d; text-indent: -0.25in;">.</span></li><li><span style="color: #1f497d; text-indent: -0.25in;">Internal
IT issues.</span><span style="color: #1f497d; text-indent: -0.25in;">Other internal morale issues, etc.</span></li></ol></ol><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .25in; margin: 0.25in 0in 6pt;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">What could
possibly go wrong? <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><b><span style="color: #1f497d; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text2;">Item 1 – Completing
the Red Hat integration</span></b><b><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">.</span></b><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"> Obviously,
integrating Red Hat (13,000 employees, market value over $26 billion) into IBM was
going to be tricky. Many Red Hat customers are direct IBM competitors e.g.,
Microsoft. A great deal of Red Hat’s value depends on its preserving “Swiss-like
neutrality</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202021%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/IBM%20Challenges%20-%20%20FINAL%20-%2011.8.2021.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #213f7d; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[1]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">” in the marketplace. This makes integration
of the IBM and Red Hat sales forces very difficult, perhaps impossible. We
suspect there exist additional integration dilemmas for other functions. In
some sense integration is necessary, but operational independence must be
preserved.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #1f497d;">Notably, IBM’s (then) President Jim Whitehurst’s reply to
a query about where he spent most of his time said it was on “Red Hat issues”.
This speaks volumes about the need for full-time executive focus on the issue.
It also implies integration is far from complete. Given Red Hat’s size, number
of people involved and the radical difference in cultures, this is no surprise.
Add-in the neutrality issues that restrict IBM’s options, the complexity of the
task is clear. We believe “neutrality” is not a short-term threat but has the
significant potential to become a long-term threat. Failure to maintain
absolute Red Hat neutrality (by favoring IBM products) would hurt IBM badly in
the marketplace.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #1f497d;">Whitehurst’s resignation was a surprise. His past success
along with Red Hat open-source </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">credibility could have provided a much-needed
boost to IBM’s operating culture. IBM customers have been very positive about
Red Hat sales and support staff.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p> W</o:p></span><span style="color: #1f497d;">hitehurst will continue as an “advisor” (no further details
available). Our hope (and advice) is that IBM move quickly to assign an experienced
executive to focus on the integration while maintaining as much Whitehurst
involvement as possible.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Item 2</span></b> – <b><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Increasing profitable growth.</span></b><span style="color: #1f497d;"> This is a serious long-term issue totally
belonging to IBM CEO Arvind Krishna. He must build and drive the infrastructure
to accomplish this. IBM Storage has been a bright spot (not so much in the
latest results), but it can’t do it alone. For instance, IBM’s Cloud-based
business continues to grow, but at a slower rate from a smaller base than competitors,
AWS, Microsoft, and Google. More on this later.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><b><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Item 3 – Addressing Lawsuits involving GlobalFoundries,
age discrimination, etc.</span></b><span style="color: #1f497d;"> Lawyers have day-to-day responsibility for legal issues. Serious issues
may require Board-level decisions and significant CEO involvement. Without case
details, we simply identify the broad risks for IBM. Any litigation can
potentially lead to a problem negatively impacting success. Close monitoring by
an executive will help to avoid surprises.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Item 4</span></b> – <b><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Integrating numerous recently acquired small companies.</span></b><span style="color: #1f497d;"> Companies important enough to buy
typically need exceptional staff to achieve maximum benefit. IBM’s track record
of both successes and failures at integration raises concerns. Today’s stream
of small acquisitions (BoxBoat Technologies, Bluetab Solutions Group, etc.) magnifies
the issue. To us, an ongoing flow of acquisitions appears risky and unnecessary.
Not simply because failure is costly in itself; but because it means missed opportunities.
It consumes resources (time, funds) that could have been invested/utilized more
profitably. An issue although not typically an existential threat,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Item 5</span></b> – <b><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Completing Kyndryl creation and launch.</span></b><span style="color: #1f497d;"> CEO involvement should continue until
the Kyndryl spin-off is complete and fully functioning independent of IBM. We believe
the risk to IBM is minor. Of more
concern are inflated expectations of large benefits to IBM <a name="_Hlk84427903">from </a>an independent Kyndryl. Time will tell whether Kyndryl’s
board and management will see their best interest lies in supporting IBM’s
cooperative vision. Similar ideas of a bright future with GlobalFoundries fell
flat. In addition to lawsuits, there is GlobalFoundries’ potential links with
an IBM competitor. (See the Quantum market discussion.)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><b><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Item 6</span></b> – <b><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Preparing for serious competitive battles in Cloud, AI,
and Quantum.</span></b><span style="color: #1f497d;"> Very fierce
competitive battles will be fought for each of these markets. Every major
vendor, as well as many emerging ones are engaged here. CEO Krishna cited
statistics asserting that the company “providing the platform” will get 90% of
the value. AWS, Microsoft, and Google agree. All are competing to claim that
position. All have significantly larger market penetration, and annual growth
rates surpassing IBM. Red Hat’s open-source positioning and technology are key
IBM advantages. But Swiss-like neutrality may very well prove a double-edged
sword in this competition.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #1f497d;">CEO Arvind Krishna further seeks to avoid “useless”
competition through partnerships and alliances. That strategy may initially
deliver successes. However, historically, particularly when involving large
competitors, the payoff is usually disappointing. Initial willingness to share
succumbs to pressures of converging products and services as technology
advances. As these overlap, conflicts increase and margins shrink. The fiercest
battle for market share is and will be fought at the point-of-sales. Especially
as rapidly evolving user interfaces make the underlying technology increasingly
opaque.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #1f497d;">To illustrate this point, let’s take a deeper look at
Quantum. IBM provides an impressive technology and popular development platform
to a wide variety, quality, and number of quantum computing users. They
dominate the absolute volume and variety of circuits run on quantum platforms. They
offer a sophisticated, open implementation environment with Qiskit. They have made
numerous contributions and advances to quantum computing. However, some
competitors have a track record of success at gaining market share even without
the best technology. Quantum is evolving more rapidly than expected, with
surprising results as the parameters change. Error correction/rate reduction
provides us an example.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><span style="color: #1f497d;">Inherently large error rates remain a major challenge for
quantum hardware driving furious competition among competing architectures. IBM
and Google both forecast a million-qubit error-corrected system by the end of
the decade. On the other hand, M12</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202021%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/IBM%20Challenges%20-%20%20FINAL%20-%2011.8.2021.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-themecolor: text2;">[2]</span></span></span></a><span style="color: #1f497d;">-funded
PsiQuantum (in partnership with GlobalFoundries) projects mid-decade delivery
of a fully error-corrected quantum computer. PsiQuantum has sufficient Wall
Street/Investor credibility for a recent cash infusion to boost total funding
to $665M and a valuation exceeding $3.1B. But market success requires more than
impressive technology and massive funding. It requires strong marketing to
attract customers, and sales expertise to persuade customers to buy. China’s delivery
of quantum supremacy with an optically based quantum device adds pressures. </span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><span style="color: #1f497d;">Time and again it’s been proven that the BEST technology
can, and frequently will lose to a BETTER sales/marketing team. IBM will have
to avoid repeating go-to-market and sales missteps that squandered past advantages
of best in-class, and first-to-market products. Remember Microsoft’s Windows
was (and for many remains) a kludgy, inelegant, not-so-wonderful user interface.
But it permits non-IT, non-programming staff to leverage the power of the
computer with relative ease. Smart sales and marketing facilitated its market
domination until Apple computers and eventually the iPhone</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202021%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/IBM%20Challenges%20-%20%20FINAL%20-%2011.8.2021.docx#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-themecolor: text2;">[3]</span></span></span></a><span style="color: #1f497d;">
arrived on the scene.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #1f497d;">We think IBM’s competitiveness in the cloud, quantum and,
and AI marketplace is a very serious risk for the company. Efforts attempting
to finesse marketplace competition does not appear a particularly wise
long-term strategy.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><b><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Item 7</span></b> – <b><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Rationalizing the management team </span></b><span style="color: #1f497d;">IBM has multiple areas in need of
exceptional leadership. Today, apparently overlapping, and confusing role
definition makes it difficult to determine where responsibility for success
resides. Cloud and Sales roles appear especially impacted. IBM must win significant
sales contracts. Once IBM had the sales and marketing talent<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202021%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/IBM%20Challenges%20-%20%20FINAL%20-%2011.8.2021.docx#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-themecolor: text2;">[4]</span></span></span></a>
that was world-class, the envy of competitors. We’ve had IBM customers bemoan
the lack of talented sales reps. To succeed, world-class sales and marketing
expertise and field experience is mandatory. It is not there today.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #1f497d;">As smart and experienced as the current CEO is, he has no
experience in direct sales or marketing. We could not identify any field sales
rep experience for any of the 21</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202021%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/IBM%20Challenges%20-%20%20FINAL%20-%2011.8.2021.docx#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-themecolor: text2;">[5]</span></span></span></a><span style="color: #1f497d;">
members of IBM’s executive team. Some have sales management experience. Unfortunately,
such management is no substitute for real in-field experience</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202021%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/IBM%20Challenges%20-%20%20FINAL%20-%2011.8.2021.docx#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-themecolor: text2;">[6]</span></span></span></a><span style="color: #1f497d;">.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #1f497d;">As mentioned, Red Hat requires senior management
attention. This need extends to the integration of acquired companies. Also, IBM’s
culture is very strong. Mainframers live in their own world; managing it would
be a significant challenge for any newcomers to that world. Good judgement is
needed when assigning new hires to senior executive roles.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p> </o:p></span><b><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Item 8</span></b> – <b><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Internal IT issues.</span></b><span style="color: #1f497d;"> Clearly the email fiasco requires a response; it is
neither the greatest nor least of IBM’s current IT challenges. CEO Krishna can
go hands-on or initiate a major internal IT overhaul with a trusted CIO. We recommend
the CIO route.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.3in;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p> </o:p></span><a name="_Hlk78811053"><b><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Item 9</span></b> – </a><b><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Other internal morale issues, etc.</span></b><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"> Finally, our instincts, experience, and research hint at troubling
undercurrents in IBM today. Employees are concerned about past mismanagement and
poor decisions. Trust in the company has weakened; morale needs attention. Industry
surveys indicate many employees are looking to change jobs/employers as pandemic
lock-downs ease. Combined with low morale, the situation can become critical. Managers
need to recognize the signs, and act quickly to resolve underlying issues.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: .25in; margin: 0.25in 0in 6pt; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together; page-break-after: avoid;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk86158874;"><b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-themecolor: text2;">Final
</span></b></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk86158874;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Observations and Comments<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together; page-break-after: avoid;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk86158874;"><span style="color: #1f497d; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text2;">We started by asking which
challenge facing IBM would trip them up. We examined a subset of possible
issues. All are significant to some degree, most are confronted and dealt with
in any significantly large company. Some are recurring; as such they will require
continuing consistent managerial time and attention. A few are self-inflicted
and are relatively straightforward to resolve. </span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="color: #1f497d; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text2;">T</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">he chart below summarizes our thoughts. Further elaboration of our
conclusions resumes after the chart.</span></span></p>
<div align="center">
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span></span><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: medium none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
<tbody><tr style="height: 23.35pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td colspan="3" style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; height: 23.35pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt;">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><a name="_Hlk87256784"><b><i><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">Potential IBM
tripwires <o:p></o:p></span></i></b></a></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 17.25pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; height: 17.25pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 130.25pt;" width="174">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><b><i><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">Issue<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-color: currentcolor windowtext windowtext currentcolor; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-top: none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; height: 17.25pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.25in;" width="216">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><b><i><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>LT<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Int Term<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Short Term<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-color: currentcolor windowtext windowtext currentcolor; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-top: none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; height: 17.25pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 175.25pt;" width="234">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><b><i><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">Comments<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></span></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 30.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; height: 30.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: .75pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 130.25pt;" width="174">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">1<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Red Hat
Integration<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-color: currentcolor windowtext windowtext currentcolor; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-top: none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; height: 30.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.25in;" width="216">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>##<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>#<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-color: currentcolor windowtext windowtext currentcolor; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-top: none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; height: 30.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 175.25pt;" width="234">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">A manageable problem with short term spikes. Long term
risk.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 30.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; height: 30.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: .75pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 130.25pt;" width="174">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">2<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Profitable
Growth<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-color: currentcolor windowtext windowtext currentcolor; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-top: none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; height: 30.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.25in;" width="216">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>##<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>##<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.1333px;">#<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-color: currentcolor windowtext windowtext currentcolor; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-top: none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; height: 30.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 175.25pt;" width="234">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">Major issue both intermediate & long term, not as
critical in short term.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 44.7pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; height: 44.7pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: .75pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 130.25pt;" width="174">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">3<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Legal Issues<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-color: currentcolor windowtext windowtext currentcolor; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-top: none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; height: 44.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.25in;" width="216">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>?</span></b></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-color: currentcolor windowtext windowtext currentcolor; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-top: none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; height: 44.7pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 175.25pt;" width="234">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">Potentially large problem. IBM lawyers handle and keep executive
management informed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 44.25pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; height: 44.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: .75pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 130.25pt;" width="174">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">4<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Integrate acquisitions<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-color: currentcolor windowtext windowtext currentcolor; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-top: none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; height: 44.25pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.25in;" width="216">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-color: currentcolor windowtext windowtext currentcolor; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-top: none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; height: 44.25pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 175.25pt;" width="234">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">Careful management needed to realize the expected
benefits and avoid loss of opportunistic benefits. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 30.3pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; height: 30.3pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: .75pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 130.25pt;" width="174">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">5<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kyndryl Launch<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-color: currentcolor windowtext windowtext currentcolor; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-top: none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; height: 30.3pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.25in;" width="216">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b>#<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-color: currentcolor windowtext windowtext currentcolor; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-top: none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; height: 30.3pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 175.25pt;" width="234">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">Long term could be troublesome, may not match IBM
expectations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 30.75pt; mso-yfti-irow: 7;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; height: 30.75pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: .75pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 130.25pt;" width="174">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">6<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Competitive
battles<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-color: currentcolor windowtext windowtext currentcolor; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-top: none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; height: 30.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.25in;" width="216">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>##<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>##<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>#<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-color: currentcolor windowtext windowtext currentcolor; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-top: none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; height: 30.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 175.25pt;" width="234">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">Very difficult to resolve, requiring long term solution.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 44.25pt; mso-yfti-irow: 8;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; height: 44.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: .75pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 130.25pt;" width="174">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">7<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rationalize
Mgmt. Team<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-color: currentcolor windowtext windowtext currentcolor; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-top: none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; height: 44.25pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.25in;" width="216">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>#<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-color: currentcolor windowtext windowtext currentcolor; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-top: none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; height: 44.25pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 175.25pt;" width="234">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">Short term that CEO must solve e.g., who is in overall
charge of Cloud activities?<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 31.2pt; mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; height: 31.2pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: .75pt; mso-border-color-alt: windowtext; mso-border-left-alt: .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: .5pt; mso-border-style-alt: solid; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 130.25pt;" width="174">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">8<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Internal IT
issues<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-color: currentcolor windowtext windowtext currentcolor; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-top: none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; height: 31.2pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.25in;" width="216">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>---<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>#<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-color: currentcolor windowtext windowtext currentcolor; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-top: none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; height: 31.2pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 175.25pt;" width="234">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">An able, empowered CIO can solve the problems. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 36.15pt; mso-yfti-irow: 10; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: 1pt solid windowtext; height: 36.15pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .75pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 130.25pt;" width="174">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">9 <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Staff morale,
turnover<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-color: currentcolor windowtext windowtext currentcolor; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-top: none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; height: 36.15pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 2.25in;" width="216">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><b><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>#<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>#<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>#<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></p>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; border-color: currentcolor windowtext windowtext currentcolor; border-left: none; border-right: 1pt solid windowtext; border-style: none solid solid none; border-top: none; border-width: medium 1pt 1pt medium; height: 36.15pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt; width: 175.25pt;" width="234">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><span style="color: #002060; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">An ongoing problem but should be manageable.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk78811053;"></span></div>
<div class="WordSection3"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Definitions:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l19 level1 lfo30; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">Long
term is more than 5 years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l19 level1 lfo30; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">Intermediate
is 18 months to 5 years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l19 level1 lfo30; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">Short
term is now (Sept 2021) to the next 18 months.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l19 level1 lfo30; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">#</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;"> - a significant issue that is bad,
troublesome, and difficult to handle. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l19 level1 lfo30; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">##</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;"> - a major issue with potential to do
real damage to the corporation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l19 level1 lfo30; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b><i><span style="color: red; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">---</span></i></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><b><i><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;"> </span></i></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">a real but not fatal issue that should be dealt with by management with
minimal fuss.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></span><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b><b><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">Assumptions:</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l22 level1 lfo44; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">Issues
of serious interest to the financial community may impact ratings. See Motley
Fool </span></span><a href="https://www.fool.com/amp/investing/2021/09/08/3-reasons-to-buy-ibm-and-1-reason-to-sell/"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">discussion</span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202021%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/IBM%20Challenges%20-%20%20FINAL%20-%2011.8.2021.docx#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn7;" title=""><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #213f7d; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;"> of IBM positives and risks from an investor’s viewpoint. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l22 level1 lfo44; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">Economic
recovery will be allowed to continue without another massive lockdown. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l22 level1 lfo44; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">Also,
in any discussion of the future are Nassim Taleb’s “black swans</span></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202021%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/IBM%20Challenges%20-%20%20FINAL%20-%2011.8.2021.docx#_ftn8" name="_ftnref8" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn8;" title=""><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #213f7d; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%;">, i.e., Events (good or bad) unpredicted and/or even unpredictable which may
necessitate radical alterations in strategy, tactics, plans, etc. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk87256784;"></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #1f497d;">To us, the competitive
market battles and the need for profitable growth loom large. The most unsettling
issue is the lack of field sales expertise on the management team. IBM’s anemic
market share poses a serious problem, compounded by sales force weaknesses as
relayed to us by customers. IBM market growth needs to exceed that of
well-positioned, sales and market powerhouse rivals in AI and Cloud markets.
The emerging Quantum market will require exceptional marketing plans and sales
effort. IBM cannot repeat earlier new technology product market entry missteps.
We see no evidence that IBM recognizes the problem’s size or seriousness today.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together; page-break-after: avoid;"><span style="color: #1f497d; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #1f497d; line-height: 110%;"> Acquiring Red Hat was a wise move and
very helpful to IBM. However, we believe that the “Swiss Neutrality” policy
severely limits IBM’s ability to leverage Red Hat technology to directly
benefit sales of other IBM products. Overt attempts to do so would seriously
damage both companies’ reputations and business. So far, IBM and Red Hat both
appear to be successfully avoiding any such attempts. The risk and temptation
remain. A serious potential tripwire.</span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text2;"> IBM CEO Krishna’s proven background,
intelligence, and expertise in technology demonstrate he has the strengths and
experience for managerial success. As CEO, he must choose where to focus his
efforts, what to delegate and to whom. So far, except as noted above, his
decisions have been encouraging. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"> Some
believe IBM is irrelevant in today’s technology world. Our opinion is that with
insightful, proactive management it can be a very serious contender and
contributor. Success requires correctly choosing where to focus efforts along with
clearly assigned responsibility and accountability. We think CEO Krishna can
succeed. We wish he and IBM the best in their efforts. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="font-size: 9pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt;"><b><u><span style="color: red; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Appendix - On the Failure of Large Projects<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span color="windowtext" style="line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">When large IT projects fail, it normally involves one or more
of these results:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l25 level1 lfo43; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span color="windowtext" style="line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span color="windowtext" style="line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The project is extremely late.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l25 level1 lfo43; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span color="windowtext" style="line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span color="windowtext" style="line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The project is vastly over budget.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l25 level1 lfo43; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span color="windowtext" style="line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span color="windowtext" style="line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Key functions do not work, and/or they do
not deliver expected benefits.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0.75in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l25 level1 lfo43; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span color="windowtext" style="line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">•<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span color="windowtext" style="line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The project never completes and is
abandoned.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;"><span color="windowtext" style="line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Numerous examples can be found in
government, e.g., in the US there is the Obamacare website rollout fiasco. The
UK Postal IT experienced a system foul-up which led to prosecution of some 700
innocent people. Poul-Henning Kamp’s discussion of that event appeared in the <i>Communications
of the ACM</i>, November 2021 entitled: “<i>What went wrong?</i> “ (public
access to the article is available here: </span><a href="https://tinyurl.com/ydtvwty3"><span style="line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">https://tinyurl.com/ydtvwty3</span></a><span style="line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">)</span><span color="windowtext" style="line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">. In the
private sector, failures can be and often are discretely concealed, thus
avoiding negative publicity and potential legal liabilities.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;"><span color="windowtext" style="line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">For a multi-level service vendor like
IBM, another factor comes into play. IBM does not use its best talent for
internal projects. The best will be assigned to revenue-producing customer
projects. No vendor can afford to do otherwise. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;"><span color="windowtext" style="line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">That said, it is important to not
overrate the importance of internal project failure. While such events are
embarrassing, any customer survey would reveal most, if not all prefer to have
the best of the vendor’s talent working on their problems, not the vendor’s.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202021%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/IBM%20Challenges%20-%20%20FINAL%20-%2011.8.2021.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #213f7d; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
“Swiss-like neutrality” means that Red Hat needs to treat all its partners the
same way. No favorites. No special advantages to IBM. We believe that Red Hat’s
other partners, who are IBM competitors, have launched projects to evaluate their
options if IBM compromises Red Hat’s neutrality.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202021%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/IBM%20Challenges%20-%20%20FINAL%20-%2011.8.2021.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #213f7d; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
M12 is Microsoft’s venture capital arm, thus Microsoft is a potential
PsiQuantum partner<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202021%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/IBM%20Challenges%20-%20%20FINAL%20-%2011.8.2021.docx#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #213f7d; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
IBM’s OS/2, an arguably technically superior product, lost out.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn4" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202021%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/IBM%20Challenges%20-%20%20FINAL%20-%2011.8.2021.docx#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #213f7d; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
IBM’s legendary Francis “Buck” Rogers was such an executive. His specialty was
rescuing sales situations where IBM was losing. His memoir <a href="https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-ibm-way-buck-rodgers?variant=32115071025186">“<b><i>The
IBM Way</i></b>”</a> is well worth reading. See <a href="https://tinyurl.com/yfwp6p5m"><b><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">https://tinyurl.com/yfwp6p5m</span></b></a><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn5" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202021%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/IBM%20Challenges%20-%20%20FINAL%20-%2011.8.2021.docx#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #213f7d; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
The website does list 21 people. Almost all have VP titles. Only one is clearly
identified as reporting to the CEO. Do all the rest report to the CEO or do
some report to others? Frankly, we are confused.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn6" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202021%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/IBM%20Challenges%20-%20%20FINAL%20-%2011.8.2021.docx#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #213f7d; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Not to belabor the point but both Bill Gates and Steve Jobs had extensive sales
experience when they ran their respective companies. Ross Perot started his own
company only after a (very successful) career as an IBM salesrep. Virtually all
entrepreneurs must learn this lesson. To complete the picture, the current IBM
CEO, Krishna is a long time IBMer, spent years in IBM research before he went
into management. He has a PHD in electrical engineering. He has no sales
experience.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn7" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202021%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/IBM%20Challenges%20-%20%20FINAL%20-%2011.8.2021.docx#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn7;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #213f7d; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[7]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
The Motley Fool article is at: <a href="https://tinyurl.com/ygansxmf"><b><span style="background: white none repeat scroll 0% 0%;">https://tinyurl.com/ygansxmf</span></b></a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn8" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202021%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/IBM%20Challenges%20-%20%20FINAL%20-%2011.8.2021.docx#_ftnref8" name="_ftn8" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn8;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #213f7d; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[8]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s “The Black Swan”. We <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>recommend it.<o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
</div><b><i><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></i></b><p></p>Ptak Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069618857253303098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924124884860809314.post-30266957610831724642021-07-08T15:56:00.000-04:002021-07-08T15:56:34.513-04:00Runaway Technology: Can Law Keep Up?<p><br /></p><p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
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</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><i>This is a short review of "Runaway Technology, Can Law keep up? by Joshua A. T. Fairfield and published by Cambridge University Press. I found it interesting, and thought I would share by comments on it. </i><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> Joshua A. T.
Fairfield clearly has a broad-background of interest and knowledge. He calls on
all of it as he analyzes the challenge of keeping the law relevant as
technology-driven and dominated world. This can be intimidating for some not
used to crossing across disciplines for problem solving. If one is willing to
make the effort, the results can be quite satisfying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I found with this book.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Mr.
Fairfield honestly admits to his own biases (which he generally manages to
minimize in his commentary/analysis).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
does mention the need for other points of view. He should look into Ludwig Von
Mises economic theory of praxeology to get a view of economics based on an
understanding of humans make their decisions and chose their actions. It's much
more interesting than simple selfish interest.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Mr.
Fairfield provides an interesting description and critique of the
"Law" as a human "superpower", i.e. a social technology
that allows them to create and apply "cooperative fictions" that
enable an ordered, complex social environment. He believes that the Law has
failed to keep abreast of the rapid, continuing pace of technology-driven
change that disrupts the process. Partially because of the inertia of the legal
community, and its failure to recognize Law as the adaptable, flexible
superpower that it is. He proposes the "language" of the Law be
redefined to deal with the evolving threats posed by new technologies in the
hands of technical oligarchs (my term not his).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">His analysis
and proposal to "fix" the Law is interestingly creative and
insightful. Mr. Fairfield deserves credit for his efforts. The work is
definitely worth careful consideration, and potentially pursuing. But...and it
is a big BUT</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Mr.
Fairfield's indictment of high-tech entrepreneur/business oligarchs (again, my
term) ignores a far more insidious and blatant defect in the Law today. One
that must be dealt with if this "reinvention" is to be effective.
That is, today's multi-tier Justice System permeating the entire judicial,
legal and enforcement, whereby procedure, enforcement, and punishment vary
according to wealth, social class, political affiliation, fame, and race.
Certainly, such corruption is neither new nor unique. However, the breadth and
degree of publicly admitted corruption and discrimination threatens the
"cooperative communication" necessary for our complex society. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">By all means
read this book. It covers a fair range of topics and the author clearly has a
lot to say and eventually manages to pull his thoughts together. As you
approach the end, do keep in mind that without a shared ethic based on
recognition of shared communal dependency, mutual respect and honest integrity,
any attempt at productive dialogue is doomed to failure.</span></p>
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<![endif]--></p>Ptak Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069618857253303098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924124884860809314.post-66363054914831237522020-11-16T13:41:00.061-05:002020-11-23T10:29:51.135-05:00Broadcom – adapts/innovates for client success and end-to-end security services for hybrid IT <p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><span style="color: #1f497d;">At its recent quarterly analyst
briefing Broadcom Mainframe reviewed their performance to date, announced their
new enterprise security products, and had clients describe successful projects
where</span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> Broadcom’s products and services led to significant benefits using
in-place IT infrastructure and cloud integration. All helping to validate
Broadcom’s partnering strategy to help customers achieve their goals and overcome
critical business challenges.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #1f497d;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-AyM2W-xxedKlokuKhtCijPXS0s7f1FNuQ53ERqjnVLIre14xFiYg9s6pt6fp_UTWQZ20cftKPL7uE_9KqMufTZwu90GEGp3oY2o4icp7jL06p7NO81ODjjd-mjLraax5f37vP27zyk/s2171/Broadcom_Logo_Red-Black_no-tag.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="296" data-original-width="2171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX-AyM2W-xxedKlokuKhtCijPXS0s7f1FNuQ53ERqjnVLIre14xFiYg9s6pt6fp_UTWQZ20cftKPL7uE_9KqMufTZwu90GEGp3oY2o4icp7jL06p7NO81ODjjd-mjLraax5f37vP27zyk/s320/Broadcom_Logo_Red-Black_no-tag.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #1f497d;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d;">Broadcom also discussed their
own successful efforts at adapting operations and strategies to deal with the
challenges of a business environment hampered by Covid-19-driven restrictions
and controls. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d;">Broadcom elaborated on its
commitment to an “open-first” product strategy. They are committed to building
on an extensive existing foundation of open technologies and expanding the use
of the ZOWE framework. Open-source education and open cloud
efforts are promoted as they deliver innovative solutions and services to customers.</span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d;">Broadcom raises the bar for hybrid computing services with Broadcom Mainframe Security Insights Platform which combines their own and partner products to provide pervasive security services from endpoint all the way to the mainframe.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #1f497d;">Here is a look at activities and
accomplishments since the last briefing.</span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in 3pt; page-break-after: avoid;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Investment and growth</span><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d;">The recently announced results
of the 15<sup>th</sup> </span><a href="https://www.bmc.com/info/mainframe-survey.html?vu=mainframesurvey"><span style="color: #0070c0;">State of the Mainframe Survey</span></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/Broadcom%20-%20Sept%20Update%20%20Final%2011-15.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><sup><span style="color: #1f497d;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></span></sup></a><span style="color: #1f497d;"> confirm that the mainframe continues to expand its role
in enterprise operations and transformation activities. A massive shift to
remote work, on-line commerce, and severely reduced interpersonal contacts have
escalated security requirements and staffing issues. But it also provides Broadcom
and customers multiple opportunities to leverage mainframe and existing
infrastructure strengths.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d;">While Broadcom does not report revenues
by division, they did reveal that the revenues from the Mainframe Software
Division has grown every quarter since acquisition. This along with growing staff
(nearly 150 this year) and expanding support activities suggests that it has proven
a good investment for both Broadcom and its customers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<h1><span style="font-size: medium;">Adapting to an evolving Business Environment</span><o:p></o:p></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d;">The impact of COVID-19 affects
all vendors, whether involved in banking, manufacturing, retail, services, or
technology, all are undergoing radical change in operations and interactions
with employees, customers, and suppliers. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #1f497d;">Broadcom adopted plans to assure
employees are protected while still providing high quality products and
services to customers. In-house staff rotate between on-site and remote work to
maintain continuity in communications and business operations. At any one time,
approximately 50% of the staff are working on-site. Customers decides if they
want to have Broadcom staff work on-site.</span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d;">The broadly popular Broadcom
Vitality Program (no-cost resources assigned to a specific customer) and
Win-no-Fee services program continue at the customer’s discretion. The on-going
close relationships yield significant benefits to both parties.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d;">On-site with customers means
that Broadcom staff are well positioned to recognize opportunity, and thereby
increase their contribution to customer success. Two customer examples demonstrate
how this can pay off.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #1f497d;">The first example involves a
major retailer facing staffing challenges. A Broadcom Vitality Program resident
trained in basic mainframe skills had just been placed. The residents typically
work with client staff to build core skills. However, times are not normal. The
customer faced critical project deadlines as they shifted to a digital
operating model. Some staff had to be furloughed which put these deadlines at
risk.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #1f497d;">Broadcom’s resident offered to
take on more responsibilities and a leadership role in the project. The
customer accepted. Working together, they identified new opportunities to improve
customer operations. The experience and responsibility proved beneficial and
valuable to all. And it led to the resident being offered a position as a full-time
employee.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #1f497d;">In another instance, a financial
services customer needed to deploy a self-service capability using z/OSMF, an
IBM software product. COVID-driven staffing disruptions threatened project
completion. Broadcom was offering expanded support to assist customers. This
customer challenged Broadcom to help with the deployment. Broadcom experts
familiar with z/OSMF were assigned to assist. The deployment took just two
weeks.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #1f497d;">These are just two examples that
reflect Broadcom’s expansive view of customer relationship and deep partnerships.</span><a name="_gjdgxs" style="color: #1f497d;"></a><span style="color: #1f497d;"> We suspect more such stories exist.</span></p>
<h1><span style="font-size: medium;">Increasing Remote and Digital Services, Events, etc.</span><o:p></o:p></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d;">COVID’s impact is felt not only
in business models but also in how and when in-place IT infrastructure is
leveraged. Basic to Broadcom’s strategy is “meeting the customer where they
are”. This meant lots of on-site, face-to-face skills training, customer-staffed
research fellowships, etc. As discussed</span><a href="https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/2020/08/broadcom-clients-partners-in-successful.html"><span style="color: #0070c0;"> here</span></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/Broadcom%20-%20Sept%20Update%20%20Final%2011-15.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><sup><span style="color: #1f497d;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[2]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></span></sup></a><span style="color: #1f497d;">, Broadcom offers a variety of educational and support services,
available in-person and some, on-line.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #1f497d;">COVID restrictions and mandates
made face-to-face interaction a no-go. Even before such complications, the
popularity of classes led Broadcom to plan expansions to the curriculum with some
select classes moving on-line. COVID sped up the process.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #1f497d;">Broadcom radically increased its
participation in on-line, on-demand, remote sessions, and digitized events.
They held fifteen remote </span><a href="https://mainframe.broadcom.com/mainframe-innovation-world-tour-teaser-video"><span style="color: #0070c0;">Mainframe Innovation World Tour</span></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/Broadcom%20-%20Sept%20Update%20%20Final%2011-15.docx#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title=""><sup><span style="color: #1f497d;"><sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%;">[3]</span></sup></span></sup></a><span style="color: #1f497d;"> events in ten (10) weeks. They participated in events
for SHARE, IDUG, Marist ECC, Open Mainframe Summit, etc. Registrations for </span><a href="https://mainframe.broadcom.com/mainframe-technical-exchange-digital-experience-2020"><span style="color: #0070c0;">The Broadcom Mainframe Technical Exchange 2020</span></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/Broadcom%20-%20Sept%20Update%20%20Final%2011-15.docx#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" title=""><sup><span style="color: #1f497d;"><sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%;">[4]</span></sup></span></sup></a><span style="color: #1f497d;"> held October 13<sup>th</sup> - 15<sup>th</sup> doubled
over last year’s event.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #1f497d;">Digitized education doesn’t stop
with technical staff. A significant gap in mainframe knowledge exists among a
new generation of business and IT executives. They grew up with an intimate
familiarity of personal computers, local computing, and cloud services. But they
are sadly ill-informed on the role of the mainframe, and its critical role in
enterprise computing.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #1f497d;">Broadcom’s </span><a href="https://mainframe.broadcom.com/executive-learning-program"><span style="color: #0070c0;"> Mainframe Executive
Learning Program</span></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/Broadcom%20-%20Sept%20Update%20%20Final%2011-15.docx#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" title=""><sup><span style="color: #1f497d;"><sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%;">[5]</span></sup></span></sup></a><span style="color: #1f497d;"> is designed for executives to learn about the “mainframe
as a strategic platform”. The inaugural session in August had 37 executive
participants. Originally an in-person class, it is now available in on-line monthly
installments.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: red;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #1f497d;">Broadcom’s
commitment and investment to the </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">mainframe
platform, now and for the future, was an on-going theme. This provided an
appropriate segue to a discussion about iOCO, a customer that built an entire
business model around a highly accessible mainframe. Senior iOCO executives
described how they attract and delight customers by delivering
Banking-as-a-Service across Africa. Core banking services are delivered from a
mainframe-based cloud powered by Broadcom software. Hi-level customization
allows new services and functionality to be quickly developed and reliably
delivered at scale.</span></p>
<h1><span style="font-size: medium;">Security new and evolving risks</span><o:p></o:p></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal">The mainframe has a well-deserved reputation for security.
However, existing services for encryption, complex passwords, identity, and
access administration are insufficient to secure today’s enterprise operations.
Hybrid IT computing by itself poses significant security challenges. An
explosion in remote work with increasing digital contacts is driving security
risks to new levels of variety, urgency, and complexity.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>A proliferation of bad actors in on-line communities
increases the risk of outsider threats in the form of false/compromised
identities/credentials, nation-state intrusion, rogue individuals, and hackers.
Insider risks are increasing in multiple ways including rogue users, password
sharing, unintentional errors, benign shortcuts to save time - all compromise security systems.</p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">External threats escalate as remote, distributed access
raises questions of who can be trusted – the classical identity problem. Is the
user who they claim to be? Mandated regulations and standards meant to protect
personal as well as enterprise data, privacy and information have increased
financial/legal risks in policy setting and administration. <a name="_Hlk55916215">To address these evolving risks, Broadcom expanded its line
of security service products and offerings. They announced their Security
Insights platform and discussed synergies with the Symantec solution. </a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in 3pt; page-break-after: avoid;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Broadcom Security: Partnering and investing for customer success</span></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in 3pt; page-break-after: avoid;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">Broadcom expanded into enterprise security in a big way. Combining Broadcom’s Mainframe Security Insights Platform, Top Secret, CA ACF2 and Symantec’s Secure services, they can now offer complete end-to-end (mainframe, distributed, cloud, endpoint, payment, etc.) security services. They have customers willing to testify to the quality and ease of implementation of the comprehensive solution.</span></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5LMsl9ES_0HMp2hNavoFN8dXJtnjK4GWRFwHCyvUk7yo0jc7aLq97Ik7i2kyYRHBaD848LEqXduBxbjRueCzrQNRLXQBwvl26ZybEScduywRRENvhaHMPH6Jzk-EE9wIgl_HrJUQC5Y/s478/Security+Insights.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="478" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr5LMsl9ES_0HMp2hNavoFN8dXJtnjK4GWRFwHCyvUk7yo0jc7aLq97Ik7i2kyYRHBaD848LEqXduBxbjRueCzrQNRLXQBwvl26ZybEScduywRRENvhaHMPH6Jzk-EE9wIgl_HrJUQC5Y/w254-h237/Security+Insights.JPG" width="254" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of Broadcom, Inc.</span></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in 3pt; page-break-after: avoid;"><o:p> </o:p>The Broadcom’s Mainframe Security Insights platform will
identify and assess where to focus enterprise efforts to address security risks
and threats. It leverages existing security tools and capabilities to collect data
from mainframe and other infrastructure tools<span style="color: red;">. </span><span>Automatically correlated and analyzed
data feed standard and custom reports covering security status and risks
including:</span></p>
<ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="color: #1f497d; text-indent: -0.25in;">Assessments
that identify risks, security gaps, health checks, etc.</span></li><li><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;"> <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="color: #1f497d; text-indent: -0.25in;">Identify
gaps in the security lifecycle</span></li><li><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="color: #1f497d; text-indent: -0.25in;">Analytics-based
advice and best practices guidance risk reducing action.</span></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="color: #1f497d;">Access to Security
Insights is included with licensed Broadcom Mainframe Security products. </span>We
expect to hear more about this product. For now see: <a href="https://www.broadcom.com/products/mainframe/compliance-data-protection/security-insights-platform">Broadcom
Mainframe Security Insights Platform</a><span class="MsoHyperlink">.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Illustrating the workings of Broadcom’s partnership
activities, M&T Bank discussed bank-specific security challenges. They
provided details on how Broadcom services and products helped them to
significantly reduce risk and improve identity management. They described
leveraging Broadcom security services to provide an exceptional experience and
secure bank services to both employees and banking customers. And they
exemplify points made earlier about partnership as they are working with
Broadcom on future capabilities for the security portfolio.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<h1><span style="font-size: medium;">The Final Word</span><o:p></o:p></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d;">Broadcom’s dedication to the success
of its customers is clear. It lies at the very core of their operations. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At every opportunity, they emphasize, and
provide concrete examples, of real services related to education, analysis,
training, advisory, and research that are directed to customer success.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d;">Broadcom is unique in the range
and number of services provided at no cost to customers. The emphasis of staff
on-site at customers is first and foremost on identifying and delivering what
is necessary for customer success. It isn’t a tactic to pump up sales, but to
get the most out of existing infrastructure and identifying opportunities to achieve
the customer’s goals.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d;">We have promoted the concept of
identifying and tailoring services to helping customers</span><span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">achieve their goals. Broadcom is proving
itself not only dedicated to but significantly adept at applying that ambition.
We think their customers agree.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/Broadcom%20-%20Sept%20Update%20%20Final%2011-15.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span color="windowtext" face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%;"> See: </span><a href="https://tinyurl.com/yxz9357u"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%;">https://tinyurl.com/yxz9357u</span></a><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/Broadcom%20-%20Sept%20Update%20%20Final%2011-15.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span color="windowtext" face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[2]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%;"> See: </span><a href="https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/2020/08/broadcom-clients-partners-in-successful.html"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%;">https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/2020/08/broadcom-clients-partners-in-successful.html</span></a><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/Broadcom%20-%20Sept%20Update%20%20Final%2011-15.docx#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span color="windowtext" face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[3]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%;"> See: </span><a href="https://mainframe.broadcom.com/mainframe-innovation-world-tour-teaser-video"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%;">https://mainframe.broadcom.com/mainframe-innovation-world-tour-teaser-video</span></a><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn4" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/Broadcom%20-%20Sept%20Update%20%20Final%2011-15.docx#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span color="windowtext" face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[4]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%;"> See: </span><a href="https://mainframe.broadcom.com/mainframe-technical-exchange-digital-experience-2020"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%;">https://mainframe.broadcom.com/mainframe-technical-exchange-digital-experience-2020</span></a><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn5" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; mso-border-shadow: yes; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/Broadcom%20-%20Sept%20Update%20%20Final%2011-15.docx#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><sup><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><sup><span color="windowtext" face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[5]</span></sup><!--[endif]--></span></sup></a><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%;"> See: </span><a href="https://mainframe.broadcom.com/executive-learning-program"><span style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%;">https://mainframe.broadcom.com/executive-learning-program</span></a><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div><br /><p></p>Ptak Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069618857253303098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924124884860809314.post-18799960022715256852020-10-01T15:38:00.028-04:002020-12-26T11:16:15.694-05:00IBM reveals its roadmap to a commercialized quantum system<p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicFlmJYk7KwlZr4WNsy1XqS5f4ZGt3hAs8duNUGsMu93u1In4N7t_odxFvQYS2XgmSWUnlhfQjyVwicfbIgeqGGL_s6X9_wCj3TnrA4j_wvW8Bpu6fWcN-HZMg48x7Ol8POfr4KTdUSQ/s290/IBM+QC+exec.png" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="231" data-original-width="290" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicFlmJYk7KwlZr4WNsy1XqS5f4ZGt3hAs8duNUGsMu93u1In4N7t_odxFvQYS2XgmSWUnlhfQjyVwicfbIgeqGGL_s6X9_wCj3TnrA4j_wvW8Bpu6fWcN-HZMg48x7Ol8POfr4KTdUSQ/w269-h214/IBM+QC+exec.png" width="269" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Figure 1 Next Gen IBM Q "Super Fridge"</span></i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" id="_x0000_t202" o:spt="202" path="m,l,21600r21600,l21600,xe">
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<w:wrap type="square">
</w:wrap></v:shape>IBM recently published its roadmap to the 2023 delivery of IBM
Quantum Condor, a 1121-qubit quantum <b><i>system</i></b>, a major and significant
advance over today’s “noisy, small-scale devices”. The Condor system opens the
door to 1 million+ qubit devices and sets the stage for systems with the
stability, reliability, and scalability necessary to realize the full advantages
of quantum computing, actual demonstration of quantum supremacy and eventual commercial
exploitation. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">IBM’s roadmap describes the transition from today’s
small-scale quantum research<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/IBM%20Quantum%20Roadmap%20to%201K%20-%20FINAL.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #213f7d; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> and relatively
limited function devices to a system that will allow fuller engineering exploitation of quantum systems. It describes
annual capacity increases and evolving functionality that will address and
reduce today’s challenges in stability, error reduction, and scalability. It
anticipates knowable emerging challenges and will be adaptive to address
unknown, emerging challenges. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">From IBM Quantum System One to IBM Quantum Condor</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here is a quick summary. Today, IBM provides public and
clients with access to over two dozen stable IBM quantum systems hardware via
the cloud. To date, a quarter of million users have accessed, created, and run some
300 billion hardware circuits on these devices. These devices are the most
intensively and exhaustively used quantum devices in the world. The devices range
from the 5-qubit IBM Quantum Canary to the largest, most recently released 65-qubit
IBM Quantum Hummingbird. IBM will release incrementally larger systems each
year the127-qubit IBM Quantum Eagle in 2021 and the 433-qubit IBM Quantum Osprey
in 2022 which ends the IBM Quantum System One family. The1121-qubit IBM Quantum
Condor arrives in 2023. It is the first in a new generation of IBM quantum
systems.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Part of the transition entails a shift from circuits running
on today’s quantum devices to those running on quantum motherboards that can be
“connected” to allow scaling to multi-million qubit systems. This will involve
further miniaturization of quantum components and a shift of some management
and control functions to the motherboard.</p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5Xh6a_dLdqE-Tu_p6MZCXp_R7ImL7sQnCYxWr2_Z4IB7qqHfE1pUfoyJnp6AWD86Nt_RxAUrTek29vWJ2gi0xAJJKymXEMbKyaed_9qHCWfgDsMAd1OyeJq0v-wX0ZOn6QKcuwwYL1c/s267/Picture5.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="134" data-original-width="267" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit5Xh6a_dLdqE-Tu_p6MZCXp_R7ImL7sQnCYxWr2_Z4IB7qqHfE1pUfoyJnp6AWD86Nt_RxAUrTek29vWJ2gi0xAJJKymXEMbKyaed_9qHCWfgDsMAd1OyeJq0v-wX0ZOn6QKcuwwYL1c/w267-h125/Picture5.png" width="267" /></a><br />
<p class="MsoNormal">To accommodate post IBM Quantum System One scaling, a much larger dilution refrigerator is needed. IBM has already started developing the larger “SuperFridge” chamber. See Figure 1. This roadmap dramatically illustrates an acceleration in the pace of quantum’s evolution.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">IBM’s public statement underscores once again their deep
understanding, broader vision and continuing influence on the advancement of
quantum computing. The IBM announcement is available <a href="https://www.ibm.com/blogs/research/2020/09/ibm-quantum-roadmap/">here</a><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/IBM%20Quantum%20Roadmap%20to%201K%20-%20FINAL.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #213f7d; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[2]</span></span></span></a>. It is
well worth reading.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<h1><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">IBM’s visionary quantum systems<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<p class="MsoNormal">IBM, and others have been involved in quantum research and
technology for some time. There are large number of quantum devices mostly
simulators or specialized devices. Some boast having a significant number of
qubits. Aside from the impressive speed
and promises of IBM’s development cycle, what makes this so special? A short
review of how and where IBM got to this point provides an answer. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Over the last two decades and operating at the extreme edge
of scientific knowledge, the path from scientific theory to usable technology
to a workable quantum computing system was incredibly challenging and,
consequently expensive. It requires significant changes and involves activities
extending far beyond what a single company could possibly manage alone. It requires building and servicing a global
quantum-informed and -educated community along with a commercial ecosystem to develop,
drive and support a market.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>IBM’s comprehensive vision and the development path taken was
unique, contributing to their significant success. They understood introducing
something as radically different as quantum technology would require a large
community of different interdependent efforts. They envisioned a large
multi-faceted project akin to the Apollo program of many decades ago. An
“agile” community with multiple parallel lines of activity undertaken by a
variety of different players, competitors, partners, customers and others as
time and circumstances dictated. Relationships, roles, participants and
activities changed and adapted outside and beyond IBM’s control. IBM had to
identify where to focus their efforts, what not to do, as well as where and how
to exert influence to assure independent, but vital efforts were undertaken.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>IBM’s strength was as a builder of systems. Their goal was
to deliver a real quantum computing system, not a simulator, not an emulator,
not a limited single-function optimizer. They started at the most basic level
of hardware, expanding as needed to include operating and eventually
development software.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>As dictated by events and opportunity, IBM undertook complementary
activities, projects, partnership, etc. These involved internal, as well as external
parties spanning an increasingly global quantum community. IBM participation
ranged from initial launch and delivery of services to technology and tool
contribution all helping to grow a community and network built on open
standards.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">IBM has offered unique direction and been a major influence
in the development of quantum computing. Here are just three significant areas:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">IBM
conceived of a complete quantum computing system, not just a research project.
They understood that to make quantum real required wide access to actual quantum computing system hardware.
They also recognized that success depended upon the execution of parallel
development efforts with direct IBM influence in multiple areas and indirect
contributions in many more.</span></li><li><span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">I</span>BM
fostered the growth of a quantum community through mass democratization of
access to quantum devices and tools for research, education, development, and
application. They provided access via a combination of free and for-fee services
to some two dozen quantum devices positioned around the world (<a href="https://quantum-computing.ibm.com/">IBM Quantum Experience<span title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><u><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[3]</span></u></span><!--[endif]--></span></span>,</a>
<a href="https://newsroom.ibm.com/2020-01-08-IBM-Working-with-Over-100-Organizations-to-Advance-Practical-Quantum-Computing-Signs-New-Collaborations-with-Anthem-Delta-Airlines-Goldman-Sachs-Wells-Fargo-Woodside-Energy-Los-alamos-National-Laboratory-Stanford-University-Georgia-Tech-and-Sta">IBM
Q Network</a><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/IBM%20Quantum%20Roadmap%20to%201K%20-%20FINAL.docx#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #213f7d; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>,
etc.).</li><li>IBM
encourages and contributes to an open source quantum environment with tools (<a href="https://qiskit.org/">Qiskit</a><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/IBM%20Quantum%20Roadmap%20to%201K%20-%20FINAL.docx#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #213f7d; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>, an Open
Source quantum development kit), performance metric (Quantum Volume (QV)) and
open cooperation and information sharing. </li></ol><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt; margin: 12pt 0in 3pt; mso-outline-level: 2; page-break-after: avoid;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">The Final Word<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In September of 2017, we published a commentary (<a href="https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/search?q=on+the+road+to+commercial+computing"><i>IBM
Research on the Road to commercial Quantum Computing</i></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/IBM%20Quantum%20Roadmap%20to%201K%20-%20FINAL.docx#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><i><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #213f7d; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[6]</span></b></span><!--[endif]--></i></span></a><i>)
</i>about IBM and quantum computing. We were motivated by IBM’s efforts to
advance quantum computing from a research project to the status of an emerging
technology with potentially significant benefits to enterprises of all sorts.
Potential applications ranged from creation of exotic materials through
molecular manipulation to optimization of asset utilization for scheduling
delivery routes, allocation of market trading funds, etc. At that time,
speculation was that truly commercialized quantum computing was at least 10, but
likely more years away. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>IBM, wisely, is not forecasting a hard delivery date. This
roadmap details IBM’s plan to reach the next critical inflexion point for quantum
computing as it becomes commercially viable. We believe this is encouraging
indication that we will see a commercial system within a decade from today. We
expect IBM’s efforts will significantly influence the delivery date, whenever
it comes.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Congratulations to IBM for their contributions to date. We
look forward to commenting on and discussing their efforts moving forward.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>You can find more of our commentary about IBM and quantum
supremacy <a href="https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/2019/10/do-quantum-use-cases-really-exist.html">here</a><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/IBM%20Quantum%20Roadmap%20to%201K%20-%20FINAL.docx#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #213f7d; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[7]</span></span></span></a> and on
quantum use cases <a href="https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/2019/10/do-quantum-use-cases-really-exist.html">here</a><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/IBM%20Quantum%20Roadmap%20to%201K%20-%20FINAL.docx#_ftn8" name="_ftnref8" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #213f7d; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[8]</span></span></span></a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<div><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/IBM%20Quantum%20Roadmap%20to%201K%20-%20FINAL.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #213f7d; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
See our discussion on quantum’s evolutionary path from speculative scientific
theory to exploitable engineering technology here: <a href="https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/2017/09/ibm-research-on-road-to-commercial.html">https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/2017/09/ibm-research-on-road-to-commercial.html</a>..
<a name="_Hlk52369051">See also: </a><a href="https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/2017/12/ibm-q-network-moving-quantum-computing.html">https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/2017/12/ibm-q-network-moving-quantum-computing.html</a><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn2">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/IBM%20Quantum%20Roadmap%20to%201K%20-%20FINAL.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #213f7d; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
IBM’s roadmap for scaling quantum technology <a href="https://www.ibm.com/blogs/research/2020/09/ibm-quantum-roadmap/">https://www.ibm.com/blogs/research/2020/09/ibm-quantum-roadmap/</a><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn3">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/IBM%20Quantum%20Roadmap%20to%201K%20-%20FINAL.docx#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #213f7d; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
See: <a href="https://quantum-computing.ibm.com/">https://quantum-computing.ibm.com/</a><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn4">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/IBM%20Quantum%20Roadmap%20to%201K%20-%20FINAL.docx#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #213f7d; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
See: <a href="https://tinyurl.com/wokn3tb">https://tinyurl.com/wokn3tb</a><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn5">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/IBM%20Quantum%20Roadmap%20to%201K%20-%20FINAL.docx#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #213f7d; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
See: <a href="https://qiskit.org/">https://qiskit.org/</a><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn6">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/IBM%20Quantum%20Roadmap%20to%201K%20-%20FINAL.docx#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #213f7d; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[6]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
See: <a href="https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/search?q=on+the+road+to+commercial+computing">https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/search?q=on+the+road+to+commercial+computing</a>; </p><p class="MsoFootnoteText"> <a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/IBM%20Quantum%20Roadmap%20to%201K%20-%20FINAL.docx#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #213f7d; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[7]</span></span></span></a>
See on quantum supremacy: <a href="https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/2018/03/speeding-advancement-of-quantum.html">https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/2018/03/speeding-advancement-of-quantum.html</a> ;</p><p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/IBM%20Quantum%20Roadmap%20to%201K%20-%20FINAL.docx#_ftnref8" name="_ftn8" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #213f7d; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[8]</span></span></span></a>
See about use cases: <a href="https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/2019/10/do-quantum-use-cases-really-exist.html">https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/2019/10/do-quantum-use-cases-really-exist.html</a></p></div><div id="ftn8"><p class="MsoFootnoteText"><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
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tab-size: initial; table-layout: initial; text-align-last: initial; text-align: initial; text-anchor: initial; text-combine-upright: initial; text-decoration-skip-ink: initial; text-decoration: initial; text-indent: initial; text-orientation: initial; text-overflow: initial; text-rendering: initial; text-shadow: initial; text-size-adjust: initial; text-transform: initial; text-underline-offset: initial; text-underline-position: initial; touch-action: initial; transform-box: initial; transform-origin: initial; transform-style: initial; transform: initial; transition: initial; user-select: initial; vector-effect: initial; vertical-align: initial; visibility: initial; white-space: initial; widows: initial; width: initial; will-change: initial; word-break: initial; word-spacing: initial; writing-mode: initial; x: initial; y: initial; z-index: initial; zoom: initial;"></div>Ptak Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069618857253303098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924124884860809314.post-41296172101473689112020-08-30T11:23:00.003-04:002020-08-31T11:06:03.131-04:00Broadcom + Clients = Partners in Successful Transformation<p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEginY0a9JoQ8IsgzpWseZChT-pn_cHysFJbxRNyHuSBhwBB_W3Om34oRxRnACVnvYoJ4EQLt5id9FORxHgPYRzAWCIg52Gw0PawsOZYkmnHMo6OeTm58P1IWJ7IaKDZuIRa3dS-qNLK-_s/s779/Broadcom-logo.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="779" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEginY0a9JoQ8IsgzpWseZChT-pn_cHysFJbxRNyHuSBhwBB_W3Om34oRxRnACVnvYoJ4EQLt5id9FORxHgPYRzAWCIg52Gw0PawsOZYkmnHMo6OeTm58P1IWJ7IaKDZuIRa3dS-qNLK-_s/w328-h110/Broadcom-logo.png" width="328" /></a></div><span style="color: #073763;"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">As a follow-on to our earlier discussion of </span></span><a href="https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/">Broadcom’s business strategy<span style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><u><span face="" style="color: #0070c0; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[1]</span></u></span></span></span></span>,</a><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"> plans and products, we review
Broadcom activities aimed at helping
clients succeed in a changing business environment based on the results of
Broadcom’s details of successful client partnerships. We start with a
description of how the emerging business environment impacts enterprise
operation. Then, we discuss Broadcom activities. <br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Broadcom’s
strategy is based on close client partnerships dedicated to getting optimal
value from the client’s existing infrastructure, especially the mainframe.
Their plans build on a foundation of solutions that make extensive use of open
technologies and products including Open API’s, open source code, etc.,
exploiting open clouds, and enabling new enterprise innovation. Broadcom aims
to be the best partner to aid clients to achieve successful transformations.
They are increasingly convincing in that role.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span> <br /></p>
<h1>A Changing Business Environment</h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Today and
for the foreseeable future, business, education, entertainment, medicine, etc.
are undergoing radical changes in how they operate and interact with employees,
customers, suppliers, and partners. Messaging, sales techniques and processes
are evolving, driven by political and environmental pressures. These add to an
already accelerated pace in the emergence and application of new technologies,
expanding security requirements and demands for faster response times. With
much corporate data and transactions dependent and residing on mainframes, the
mainframe team plays a vital role in transformation. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">For
technology solution providers and consumers, this adds to the necessity for and complexity of
enterprise transformation. Most enterprises already recognize the need to adapt
and evolve business models and processes. As we discuss later, Mercedes
recognized a changing environment, and quickly adapted their sales process.
Both Amazon and Walmart, early movers in enterprise transformation, are reaping
the benefit today’s environment. Leveraging IT infrastructure to efficiently
supply customers with no-/minimal contact is a key factor in this success. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Many
companies still need to make the transition. Most have underutilized, under-leveraged technology, particularly mainframes, that can aid such efforts.
When confronted with a crisis, people are more willing to change. Most
enterprise teams will recognize the need for a partner to assist them. Smart
ones seek help from experienced companies, such as Broadcom for aid during
transformation.</span> <br /></p>
<h1>The New Environment for operations</h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">First, a
review of emerging changes affecting enterprise operations. Then, we look at
Broadcom’s efforts and experiences. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">One change encourages
severe limits, if not elimination of face-to-face contact. Limits, mandatory
and recommended, affect social distancing, group gathering, face masks drive process
changes while speeding the intelligent service automation even as they foster increased
cooperation and remote interaction. Security concerns expand the use of
facial-monitoring/-recognition technologies, robot/drone usage, automated
order-checking, etc. Problems vary by geography, industry, company, but
commonalities exist. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Reduced
face-to-face contact via on-line transactions has been trending for some time. But
escalating pressures for no/minimal contact expand and speed its adoption. The
impact is reflected in marketing, messaging, even delivery. One US pizza
company no longer advertises speedy delivery of hot, customized pizzas with
cheesy crusts. Instead, it is the joy of no-contact pizza procurement. From
order to delivery “untouched by human hands” thereby avoiding viral infection. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Consider
automobile purchasing. For decades, a highly personal, interaction occurring in
dealership showrooms. In a contact-intensive process, potential customers
physically examined, and test drove automobiles. Eventually, negotiating a
purchase with a sales rep. What happens when today’s contact-adverse customer
wants a car? An acquaintance wanted a high-end SUV but wanted no in-person
contact. He wanted a contact-free process from research-to-purchase. His
first-choice dealer required face-to-face contact. He found a Mercedes dealer
able to do everything on-line. From arranging the test-drive to the
post-purchase pick-up, all done with no in-person contact. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Enterprise
transformation is a must today. Fortune Magazine <a href="https://fortune.com/2020/05/06/pandemic-innovation-impetus-ceo-daily">reports</a><a href="#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face="" style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-themecolor: text2;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a>
that over 63% of executives are accelerating their investment in digital
transformation during Covid-19. The impact is felt in many areas including
planning, employee relations, staffing, personnel policies, etc. Companies that
adapt, will thrive, those delaying or refusing to adapt, will falter, even
fail. Broadcom helps customer to successfully<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>transform.</span> <br /></p>
<h1>Broadcom Partnering and Investing for Customer Success</h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Transformations
require major operational changes. It may require new or modifications to
existing apps, skills training and enhancement, or process adjustments involving
or dependent upon IT. It requires cross-enterprise coordination and cooperation
among multiple staffs. All completed as soon as possible. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Broadcom focuses
on forming close working partnerships with its customers. This helps them
develop programs that provide value beyond just software. Programs include
Win-No-Fee Services, multiple<a name="_Hlk48743041"> training/knowledge</a>
sharing options, <a name="_Hlk48744650">Consumption Licensing, and Mainframe
Resource Intelligence (MRI) which are customized <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>mainframe health, optimization, and rationalization
assessments . </a>Customer defined projects range from accelerating product
deployments to gaining larger, faster ROI from existing infrastructure. Key to
their success is the emphasis on services and products that will deliver
visible benefits. Let’s take a deeper look at some of these<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>programs. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">First,
Win-No-Fee Services provide client staff with access to Broadcom resources that
will help customers identify and pursue ways to ”get more from their
mainframe.” Resources are made available to help customers complete specific
transformation projects with defined, measurable goals. These free migration
services help speed ROI from your software rationalization efforts. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Resources
deployed include Broadcom products, SME (subject-matter-expert) services,
training, and access to specialized (proprietary, non-product) utilities/tools.
Broadcom staff can work on-site, or bring customer IT staff in-house for
side-by-side training, cooperative research, etc. Performance metrics have
included successful process revision, product deployment, portfolio
rationalization, etc. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Second, <a href="https://www.broadcom.com/support/education-training/specialized-training/mainframe-training">multiple
education and training</a><a href="#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face="" style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA; mso-themecolor: text2;">[3]</span></span></span></span></a>
options are offered. These range from basic mainframe-introduction to skills
training for experienced mainframers. Both free and for-fee activities,
training, webinars, seminars are available. Classes are offered on-line as well
as in-person. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">To help
recruit and train new mainframe talent, Broadcom's Vitality Program partners with
customers to recruit and train new mainframe talent. At no cost to the
customer, a prospect participates in a rigorous training and mentoring program.
Customers can evaluate participants, and potentially hire graduates. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">An
Executive Learning program is dedicated to help executives understand the
mainframe and its potential to contribute to enterprise success. It also helps executives
promote interaction and cooperation among IT (and other) staff groups as they
search for solutions. Originally designed as a face-to-face classroom
experience, popular demand is driving it to be offered as an on-demand, on-line
course. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">We can’t
cover all services here. Others to examine include a Mainframe Consumption
Licensing model that simplifies the pricing model to help customers manage and
maintain predictable costs and detailed assessment programs that identify
opportunities for improvement and savings through proactive maintenance (Mainframe
Health), and better workload management (MRI). These are powerful tools that increase
awareness of and extract the potential of added value residing in mainframes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span> <br /></p>
<h1>The Final Word</h1>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Broadcom
uses frequent, close cooperation and interaction with customers to better
understand and help them become more proficient at leveraging their existing
resources. This also provides insights that guide Broadcom’s future direction
and strategy. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">The
Broadcom team demonstrates it has significant technical expertise and
managerial skills. In our discussions, they handled both detailed technical
questions and business inquiries. Broadcom gave an excellent review of their
ability to aid customers in leveraging the mainframe as part of the
transformation process. They provided details on their own application of
technology to address customer needs. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Nothing
wrong there, but every technology vendor bombards clients with such details. What
few do is connect the application of technology to the enterprise customer’s
goal which is, or should be, attracting and servicing their customers. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">In many enterprises,
technology is viewed as a delivery or enabling vehicle to get a service,
product, benefit, or experience to a customer or market. Broadcom’s immediate
customers want a successful IT transformation. However, that customer’s real
success comes from effectively, economically leveraging their infrastructure to
meet their customer’s needs. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Broadcom
has demonstratively proven knowledge and expertise at training mainframe teams
to accelerate the transformation process. We suggest that the Broadcom team move
beyond technical details and challenges to address the next level of enterprise
interest, i.e. how technology, and specifically transformation help drive
business success. Broadcom’s makes this happen in their partnerships. They can
benefit by making the connection explicit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Finally, Broadcom
should consider conducting an inventory of company assets and resources with
the view of commercializing them even more. In-house tools and utilities used
to help customers migrate applications are likely candidates for
productization.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1f497d; line-height: 110%;">The more we speak with Broadcom, the more impressive
they appear to be. We look forward to hearing more from and about them.</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"> </span></p>
<br />
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face="" style="color: #213f7d; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a>
See https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/</p>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face="" style="color: #213f7d; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a>
See <a href="https://fortune.com/2020/05/06/pandemic-innovation-impetus-ceo-daily">https://fortune.com/2020/05/06/pandemic-innovation-impetus-ceo-daily</a></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText"><a href="#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face="" style="color: #213f7d; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[3]</span></span></span></span></a>
See <a href="https://www.broadcom.com/support/education-training/specialized-training/mainframe-training">https://www.broadcom.com/support/education-training/specialized-training/mainframe-training</a></p>
</div>
</div>
Ptak Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069618857253303098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924124884860809314.post-44680110346888619862020-08-27T11:48:00.002-04:002020-08-27T11:48:25.501-04:00IBM POWER10 – to arrive in 2021 with high expectations!<div><p> </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSa0Qn-mwraP7jV3W4NlbUKh1H-VqdET51XFcIC9H-gAdRQ_dPnREC98sZJ8-pBadQ9oMzFqs0MW2XRE_gueR14DHXOXe8EcGY3bwuxyoTZhk1Y0mEnWRIIelS0Bedvtwhp5LHGNFzXWY/s2048/IBM+POWER10+chip.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSa0Qn-mwraP7jV3W4NlbUKh1H-VqdET51XFcIC9H-gAdRQ_dPnREC98sZJ8-pBadQ9oMzFqs0MW2XRE_gueR14DHXOXe8EcGY3bwuxyoTZhk1Y0mEnWRIIelS0Bedvtwhp5LHGNFzXWY/w210-h140/IBM+POWER10+chip.jpg" width="210" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">POWER10 chip Courtesy IBM</span> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
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</p><p class="MsoNormal">We have followed IBM’s <a href="https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/search?q=POWER9">POWER products</a><a href="#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a>
since their first appearance as “Power PC”, when even some Apple systems had a
POWER microprocessor. We followed its evolution with commentary, analysis, and
insights on its evolution and improvements up to the current (Aug. 17, 2020) IBM
POWER10 announcement. Overall, we are fans, believing it to be a worthy challenger
to Intel’s server market domination. Here we review and comment on the
latest announcement. All quotes are from the <a href="https://newsroom.ibm.com/2020-08-17-IBM-Reveals-Next-Generation-IBM-POWER10-Processor#:~:text=Designed%20over%20five%20years%20with%20hundreds%20of%20new,2021.%20Some%20of%20the%20new%20processor%20innovations%20include%3A">press
release</a><a href="#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a>.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If it meets IBM’s expectations, POWER10 is potentially an
impressive, market-leading product. Here’s a summary of some of its anticipated
advantages as stated in the IBM press release:</p>
</div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>This will be “IBM’s first commercialized
processor built using 7nm process technology”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It “is expected to deliver up to a 3x gain in processor energy
efficiency per socket” over a comparable POWER9 chip. This “anticipated” 3-fold
improvement far exceeds the typical 30% or so of past incremental increases. It
“is designed to allow new POWER10 systems built around this chip to support up
to 3x increases in users, workloads and OpenShift container density for hybrid
cloud workloads as compared to IBM POWER9-based systems”.<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7pt "times new roman";"> </span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7pt "times new roman";"> </span></span></span>An embedded Matrix Math Accelerator is “expected
to achieve” faster AI inference performance of 10X for FP32, 15X for BFloat16
floating point and 20X for Integer. AI inference is becoming central to modern data
processing. If realized, the implications of these performance jumps are huge.<span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7pt "times new roman";"> </span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7pt "times new roman";"> </span></span></span>Memory Inception, a new technology, allows
clustered POWER10 systems to share direct access to each other’s memory. Thus “creating
multi-Petabyte sized memory clusters” without any one system having an excessive
amount of memory. Imagine the impact on memory-intensive apps like SAP, and the
cost savings from avoiding “over-provisioning” to meet demand spikes.</li><li>Security enhancements include “hardware memory
encryption for end-to-end security and faster cryptography performance…additional
AES encryption engine” meets “today's leading encryption standards” while “anticipating”
future needs such as for quantum-safe encryption protocols.</li><li>IBM POWER10 has more enhancements than we
discuss here, e.g. hardware co-optimized Red Hat OpenShift for one. These are
covered in IBM’s press release.</li></ul><div>
<p class="MsoNormal"> <b>Some Points to Ponder: </b>A close reading of the press release
reveals interesting information. IBM and Samsung collaborated to deliver this
chip. As IBM sold its chip business to Global Foundries several years ago, Samsung
Electronics will manufacture the chips.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> The press release clearly states ALL performance claims are
based on <b>“pre-Silicon” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>engineering
analysis</b> of various environments. An indication to us that they come from <b>theoretica</b>l,
most likely computer-generated<b> models</b>. There are n<b>o </b>measurements from
functioning hardware. First system shipments are expected in the second half of
2021, i.e. 12 to 16 months from now. Most customers will not see a system until
some time in 2022 when volume shipments will most likely occur. These dates (targets)
are a long time away in this industry. Many things can and will change. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> Early announcement of new POWER systems is not surprising. IBM
clearly expects to see newsworthy improvements in efficiency, performance, and
capabilities. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, we look forward to
substantive data from a real product before granting any rewards. Savvy readers
will review the press release and form their own opinions about this situation
and how it should factor into their plans and/or interest.</p>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-indent: 0.25in;"><a href="#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a>
<a href="https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/search?q=POWER9">https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/search?q=POWER9</a></p>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<p class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><a href="#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span face="" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a>
The Aug.17, 2020 press release can be found at:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://tinyurl.com/yxs4hhqk%20">https://tinyurl.com/yxs4hhqk.</a> We
recommend readers review the document. Comments are based on the version of the
document as seen Aug. 20. We use some IBM terminology in this document.</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>Ptak Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069618857253303098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924124884860809314.post-16885381724594405792020-07-20T11:42:00.000-04:002020-07-20T11:46:36.213-04:00Broadcom invests in Client success, partnering to drive customer’s growth<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4JmXep6GooMLZBNe4VnEPAvjt8umKr0QfrSucuGtiDov0DQ1kZhtsAV191n4NJe6yGnAZTrtzPOCTKMlmmgaTXWRyyfcx-sIu4LiW3Ws6WDTLhZaqRyvX6AUxXlsvs5Ge7vJxk8CkM1w/s1600/Broadcom+logo+-investing+in.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="260" data-original-width="779" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4JmXep6GooMLZBNe4VnEPAvjt8umKr0QfrSucuGtiDov0DQ1kZhtsAV191n4NJe6yGnAZTrtzPOCTKMlmmgaTXWRyyfcx-sIu4LiW3Ws6WDTLhZaqRyvX6AUxXlsvs5Ge7vJxk8CkM1w/s320/Broadcom+logo+-investing+in.png" width="320" /></a><br />
A recent Broadcom Mainframe Analyst briefing began with an overview of their business <br />
performance, followed by a description of their current strategy which is grounded in how they are “Investing in Client Success”. Broadcom’s plans are impressively ambitious as we will discuss and provide some advice for existing and prospective customers. <br />
<br />
<h3>
Overview of strategy and planning </h3>
Broadcom has a clear strategy to win client confidence and build market share. They are committed to providing mainframe programs, products, and services that will drive client success. This will be achieved with a dedicated focus on helping mainframe shops to embrace open concepts, enhance cloud integration, and enable enterprise efforts that advance innovation. In short, partnering with clients to achieve success thru growth. <br />
<br />
Specifically, Broadcom developed a strategic plan targeting the areas of: <br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>DevOps and the Open mainframe – aiming to speed application development and delivery with an enhanced offering of more integrated and open tools and solutions. The <a href="https://www.openmainframeproject.org/projects/zowe"><b><span style="color: blue;">Open Mainframe Project Zowe</span></b></a> is the core framework for Broadcom’s open strategy implemented across their portfolio through a common API model.</li>
<li>Security and compliance – modernizing security capabilities for the platform. Addressing skills through increased levels of automation in addition to adding and training staff to broaden skills to improve Broadcom’s customer support abilities. Use of Zowe will allow them to further expand product integration across the portfolio.</li>
<li>AIOps and Automation – expanding the use of and leveraging AI to increase automation of mainframe operations. Leverages the Zowe framework to drive broader integration across platforms.</li>
</ol>
<br />
To accomplish all this, Broadcom continues to increase their investment in product capability and numerous beyond-code programs specifically targeted to address:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>People – to expand and enhance in-house staffs in product development and customer services/support efforts. </li>
<li>Skills enhancement – by extending skills and growing the number of Broadcom’s field-facing resources. </li>
<li>Relationship building – expand and deepen relationships with partners, as well as existing and potential new customers through high touch, in-depth tours, technology/technical exchanges, conferences and special (training, education, technology, etc.) programs.</li>
<li>Solutions – expand efforts to materially extend solution offerings, enhance consumption licensing options and increase product innovation.</li>
</ol>
<br />
Broadcom is proving that they are invested in client success with direct action. A major factor will be to revise CA’s pre-acquisition end-of-life plans for a variety of products. CA had planned to end support for older products. Broadcom recognized that forcing a migration off an existing embedded product could lead to major problems for customers. This held true even when a clearly defined migration path (to a supported product) existed.<br />
<br />
Therefore, Broadcom cancelled end-of-life plans electing to continue support for the foreseeable future. If circumstances change, Broadcom is committed to minimizing disruption to customers. Naturally, this decision has considerable support and attraction in the existing customer base. <br />
<br />
Importantly, Broadcom has undertaken an ambitious employee growth program. Last year, Broadcom added 225 new personnel, with over 50 more new hires during the first quarter of 2020. Their plan is to exceed those numbers during calendar year 2020. This activity will proceed as quickly as COVID restrictions allow.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Product – support and implementation</h3>
Broadcom announced the acquisition of CA Technologies in July of 2018; what they actually received was a mixed portfolio of mainframe software that CA had acquired over many years. Since closing the acquisition in November of 2018, Broadcom had over 400 requisitions out for new hires, with 200+ starting in their FY 2019. Over 60 new hires have already started in FYQ1 2020. We do not know the exact numbers of the total number of technical staff coming on-board as Broadcom staff with the purchase. In the past we spoke with some of the new staff. Based on our past interactions with them, they bring impressive talents to Broadcom. <br />
<br />
Broadcom’s website lists the products along with the following details:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Product name</li>
<li>A brief functional description</li>
<li>Available documentation </li>
<li>Support</li>
</ol>
<br />
To fully appreciate what follows, you might want to examine the product list. Especially look for products critical to enterprise operations. <br />
<br />
Broadcom’s Mainframe Software Division will support their products in a varied data center environment. The products must be able to function properly even when interacting with non-mainframe and distributed hardware. Broadcom is clearly not responsible for hardware defects, but their products can be impacted by hardware problems. Support staff must be aware of and able to deal with those situations. <br />
<br />
Today, Broadcom software support plans extend only to z/OS operating system environments. They have no plans to support products running under z/Linux or other operating systems. <br />
<br />
Broadcom doesn’t state the exact number of products acquired. Our rough count identified slightly over 200. Most include product documentation and support . While Broadcom does not sell nor directly support products below, Broadcom products will interact and/or work with IBM and other vendor’s z/OS related technologies. Specifically included in that category are: <br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Multiple security products including Top Secret ACF/2. </li>
<li>COBOL -- a popular language for mainframe business apps, and other languages. </li>
<li>Popular mainframe databases including IDMS, DB2, Oracle. </li>
<li>VSAM -- an access method.</li>
<li>Datacenter connectivity with distributed systems (Widows, Linux).</li>
<li>CICS -- the popular transaction processor. </li>
<li>TSO -- the programming development & debugging tool.</li>
</ul>
<br />
Examples of supported acquired products, include:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>CA auditor for z/OS Product – identifies and controls z/OS security risks, including automated audit software. (The documentation is an excellent example of what customers dream of getting but frequently do not.)</li>
<li>CA COBOL XE – allows COBOL programmers with no knowledge of CICS command line to develop CICS COBOL online applications.</li>
<li>CA Fast Recovery for DB2 for z/OS – restores DB2 table spaces and indexes.</li>
<li>CA Top Secret – z/OS security software.</li>
</ul>
Potential customers may want to check the support status of other non-Broadcom/CA products. For example, while many Broadcom products will connect to IBM’s RACF security product; the RACF product itself is not supported by Broadcom directly. We look more closely at the security product set after summarizing the current overall state of product support/maintenance. Of course, this is not a Broadcom specific issue.<br />
<br />
It is a major challenge to provide on-going internal and customer-facing operational maintenance/support for a large and varied product set. It requires programmers with in-depth skills across a variety of specialties. For example, an OS specialist must know not only z/OS in depth, but also a fair amount about z-hardware.<br />
<br />
In addition, although many of the acquired products were not written in modern development languages such as C++, most of the new development in Broadcom’s core products do use modern languages. All major new Broadcom product innovations, new features and web front ends are either Java, C, Metal C, JavaScript, Typescript, Node.js, Angular or React. Therefore, development and debugging staff will need assembly language, and potentially other language skills. Broadcom did cite they have successfully recruited and hired skilled assembler programmers.<br />
<br />
Next, as organizations open up the platform and integrate with hybrid/cloud, proper mainframe security can’t be assumed or ignored. Broadcom’s overarching security strategy focuses in three areas – modernization to bring capabilities such as MFA or Data Loss Prevention to the mainframe, broadening value beyond Mainframe access control to help enterprises assess their overall risk posture across platforms through API’s and integrations with SIEM’s and SOC’s, and addressing the skills gaps through improved security automation based upon best practices. <br />
<br />
Broadcom commented that many customers were not necessarily aware of the downstream effects of security changes to mainframe procedures. Clearly, this can lead to serious problems. Recognizing the risk, Broadcom will offer a variety of options. These include extended support services and new APIs. Another option is security training program specifically for customers. A mainframe person knowledgeable about hardware, z/OS, and RACF could learn and understand the operations of ACF/2 and/or Top Secret. <br />
<br />
For decades, mainframe security has been an industry benchmark. Today, mainframe environmental changes and new product support requirements are introducing new challenges. For example, functional changes in the hardware, such as adding hardware implemented encryption can mandate adjustments to existing OS and security systems.<br />
<br />
The release of a new IBM Z model can necessitate changes to a daunting product list, extending throughout the datacenter, even to Windows and Linux servers. The need for enterprise asset protection, e.g. of customer data, extends across all datacenter infrastructure not just the mainframe. The potential impact on security of change must be determined and risk remediated or eliminated. <br />
<br />
New government or organizational mandated regulations are additional sources of potential disruption. Consider California’s legislated consumer data rights, or the EU’s GPDR laws. The full impact of these laws is only now becoming clear. While some US companies will remove EU customers to avoid GDPR rules, the trend is clear. Future laws can significantly impact security software procedures.<br />
<br />
Potentially, many customers will need training to maintain a secure, compliant environment. Both Broadcom and customer support staff will need expertise and education to address evolving issues emerging from existing and emerging privacy laws. Experienced staff need on-going training to upgrade and maintain skills that identify, remove, and/or neutralize vulnerabilities in any part of the data center infrastructure. Broadcom’s acquisition of Symantec’s enterprise security staff will surely help them.<br />
<br />
It is neither easy to find nor inexpensive to hire staff with the requisite security skills. CIO magazine recently published its<b> <a href="https://www.cio.com/article/3279767/10-most-difficult-it-jobs-for-employers-to-fill.html"><span style="color: blue;">2020 State of CIO research</span></a></b><span id="goog_1692693787"></span><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1692693788"></span>. The top 3 of the 12 most difficult IT jobs to fill were roles in<b> cybersecurity, data science</b> and <b>AI</b>! All areas of interest and focus in Broadcom’s strategic planning.<br />
<br />
As mentioned earlier, Broadcom has had significant success finding and hiring qualified individuals. They are reasonably certain of their ability to continue to do so when the current (pandemic related) hiring freeze ends.<br />
<br />
<h3>
The Final Word </h3>
Broadcom has an aggressive plan for internal expansion to build and increase market share built on a broad base of products and services. Clearly, they understand and have been preparing to deal with the challenges. They have and are assembling an impressive team to implement their plans to meet their goals. Success will require extraordinary focus, commitment, and effort at every level of the organization. <br />
<br />
Complicating Broadcom’s efforts is the impact of economic and operational disruption of mainframe datacenters from the COVID19-driven economic disruption. There are bound to be changes as the economy recovers. Broadcom and their customers will need a strong commitment from both its management and staff to respond to the challenges that are certainly coming. Of course, these changes will impact their competition as well. <br />
<br />
Broadcom provided us more detailed interaction with senior staff. They took the time to reveal and discuss plans and strategy with us. As mentioned, we have experience with some of the executive management and staff extending over a number of years. That history provides us a high level of confidence in their ability to address the challenges mentioned. <br />
<br />
We have also seen the amazing results that can happen with a well-managed, effectively inspired team. We look forward to hearing more from Broadcom as it moves forward. We wish them all the best. Watch for our upcoming commentary on Broadcom’s most recent briefing. Ptak Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069618857253303098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924124884860809314.post-28962400210696847702020-06-12T17:33:00.002-04:002020-06-12T17:33:34.256-04:00BMC closes on Compuware acquisition<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11pt;">On June 1, BMC announced the close of its
amiable acquisition of Compuware. This is a significant event for BMC as it
enables them to expand their reach deeper into the mainframe development space
and empowers their customers. The combined companies now have significant
potential to positively impact enterprise IT and mainframe operations and
markets.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11.0pt;">We will describe benefits and mention some
cautions based on our discussions with BMC and Compuware executives. This is
intended to help enterprises to better prepare for and understand the potential
impact of this merger.</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11.0pt;"> We
are planning a more in-depth report on how this and other significant
acquisitions are advancing BMC’s market strategy and influencing its products
available later this year.</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Plans
post-acquisition<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11.0pt;">Compuware will operate as a wholly-owned
subsidiary of BMC. Chris O’Malley (current Compuware CEO) will continue to head
the subsidiary. He will report directly to Bill Miller, President of BMC
zSolutions. Bill heads the integration task force responsible for planning
merger activities with Chris actively participating. Both executives have long,
successful involvement with mainframes. In our opinion, they make an excellent
team.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11pt;">At the center of
implementation planning for both BMC and Compuware, there resides a deep focus
on and commitment to maintaining customer well-being and benefit. To that end,
they have agreed to adhere to a policy of zero-disruption throughout the
integration period. One manifestation of this is that the Compuware management
team will remain with their current (pre-acquisition) performance objectives
unchanged.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11.0pt;">Looking further,
both companies recognize that for themselves, as well as their customers,
digital transformation will continue to be an on-going, high-priority activity.
Both companies have made extensive progress in their own internal
transformation efforts. The insight and knowledge gained from those experiences
will be leveraged as they aid customers pursuing their own transformation
projects. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11.0pt;">To further enable
successful transformation efforts, BMC will operate in accordance with their
Autonomous Digital Enterprise strategy – which has been specifically designed
to empower their customer’s success in this digital era. The strategy adheres
to the following five characteristics:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
</div>
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"></span></span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11pt;"><ol>
<li><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11pt;"><div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Transcendent
Customer Experience – create and assure exceptional, customer-focused
experiences and interfaces.</span></div>
</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Automation
Everywhere – facilitate pervasive AI and data-supported automation of
enterprise operations.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11pt;">Enterprise DevOps –
mainstream the mainframe with agile development products that are innovative,
integrated, consistent, and contemporary.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11pt;">Data-driven
Enterprise – integrate data-driven operations with comprehensive, actionable
reporting and feedback.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11pt;">Cybersecurity
– security is an essential, critical function, implement it as automated,
intelligence-driven, and adaptive.</span></li>
</ol>
</span><div>
<ol start="5" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11pt;">The current operating plan for both BMC and
Compuware is to maintain a business-as-usual approach by following their
customer procedures as they exist today. Each companies’ separate Sales and
Support teams will remain as they are today. Compuware solution development
operations will not change. They will continue their quarterly software
releases schedule. BMC will evolve their release schedule to match.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<h4 style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 110%;"><i>What happens now?</i><o:p></o:p></span></b></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11.0pt;">We found BMC and Compuware to be straightforward and
honest in their responses. The probable scenario</span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><w:sdt id="-48383404" sdttag="goog_rdk_46"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">s</span></w:sdt></span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11.0pt;"> given here reflect our own opinions.
Barring external disruptions, we foresee little deviation from this for the
balance of the calendar year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11.0pt;">We expect that standard corporate
functions, such as Legal and HR departments, will be the first to merge. Other
standard cross-enterprise functions may alter processes or procedures over
time. Customers may see changes when agreement processes are standardized. We
do not foresee any disruptive actions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11.0pt;">Normal personnel turnover will continue. We
do not foresee any exceptional activity. Policies and processes for hiring,
retiring, and dismissal may or may not change. Either way, customers should not
see any negative impact.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11.0pt;">Since both BMC and Compuware are
financially sound there exists no significant pressure for any radical action.
We believe that BMC may allow the Compuware subsidiary to prepare its own
financial plans and objectives subject only to the legal requirements for
consolidating such information for SEC and stockholder reports. Financial
planning targets for 2021 might change, but we have no data that would allow us
to provide any helpful insight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11.0pt;">The respective product portfolios are
highly complementary, with virtually no overlap. This is very good news. The
sales, product development, and support functions will continue to operate
relatively independently. BMC and Compuware are two long-term partners; both
familiar with each other’s operations, any more significant integration can be
expected to occur smoothly. As mentioned, BMC will adopt Compuware’s quarterly
model for product development and release. We expect the model of adopting what
is best from either companies’ processes will continue to benefit all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "cambria" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">The
Final Word<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11.0pt;">This is the largest merger ever undertaken
by BMC. Still, we believe BMC’s past successful record of acquisitions will
expect they will continue that success with these mergers, (we see no reason
why they shouldn’t) they are uniquely positioned to effectively assist
customers in making the transition to Digital Enterprises. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11.0pt;">BMC has an established record of
identifying, even anticipating, and then filling major much-needed mainframe
solutions. They have become effective at introducing and promoting innovative
contributions that facilitate and enhance enterprise mainframe operations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11.0pt;">Compuware’s specialty has been in making
rapid changes to mainframe solutions and then extending and evolving mainframe
development processes, methodology, and applications. Compuware’s five-year
history of quarterly updates brought them significant attention. Each company
has an established record for innovative leadership. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11.0pt;">We have followed BMC and Compuware for some
time. We observe as their respective visions and strategies evolved along
complementary paths, even in similar directions. We think this contributes
significantly to the potential for a successful merger. This is not a guarantee
everything will be bliss. But we believe customers (shared, separate, and new)
will find real benefits when the chose to work with the combined companies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11.0pt;">Our final take is that customers should be
reassured that their relationship with Compuware and BMC will not be changing
in the immediate future. Both companies are committed to being responsive to their
customers. Jointly, they can provide enormous assistance to address their
customers’ requirements for successful digital transformation. BMC and
Compuware have a credible plan for their merger. We hope they succeed with
minimal problems. Watch for further articles on their efforts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Ptak Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069618857253303098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924124884860809314.post-73272359493140305322020-06-08T10:45:00.002-04:002020-06-15T16:41:38.698-04:00Zapata Computing enabling Optimizable Quantum Solutions for the Enterprise!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<a href="https://www.zapatacomputing.com/"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="487" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkhx0_41YD6US0ZK4ht-Dj41bhQkSeZ_Iuv1drQhHOZ4lvsiOpnvSyAzxhxHKxJ9yLFH0NYto82b-ikeroRaAFejBgDMfn2ND1kuSdQpDN6YUEYim5eUPoLMI65AwXfF3VmEvhWEDpZQ/s320/Zapata+logo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
The application and commercialization of quantum computing continues to advance as the competition increases and the community of interest grows. To date, most of the attention
has been focused on the competition to build a quantum computer that is robust,
error-correcting, long-lived, scalable, and commercially accessible.</div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;">
A parallel effort underway aims to broaden and
expand a quantum-educated user community. This includes developing the DevOps
tools needed to create quantum computer applications. The result is an
expanding eco-system of quantum products, tools, students, researchers,
enterprise efforts, services, etc.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;">
The software effort has focused on development
languages, API interfaces and tools that facilitate coding and communications
between classical and specific quantum system architectures. Despite some
efforts to assure a measure of software portability among existing
architectures and products, no truly integrated, hardware agnostic development
environment existed. Until now. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;">
With the introduction of Orquestra™, <a href="https://www.zapatacomputing.com/">Zapata Computing </a>radically upends and advances efforts to bring quantum computing to
an even broader cross-section of the potential end-user market. Orquestra joins
the limited number of existing Jupyter notebook services that allow users to
compose workflows from any software library, then deploy them across a full
range of quantum and classical devices. It uniquely allows for more scalability
and flexibility across both quantum and “quantum-inspired” classical backends. Adjustments
can be quickly made, run, and produce comparable results.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;">
It is the first platform to not only abstract
the hardware’s idiosyncrasies, but also allow users to tune parameters of each
device to maximize what the latest quantum devices can do—all within a scalable
workflow system. It is in some measure, a step toward Linux for quantum hardware
architectures. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;">
Much like early UNIX and today’s Linux
platforms, it shifts the focus from adapting to the hardware to most
effectively leveraging the unique strengths of the available existing hardware.
Cloud-based accessibility to quantum computers makes it even more powerful. Zapata’s
collection of algorithms, services, architecture, and software capabilities
built around and into Orquestra, advances DevOps for quantum, even as the
underlying infrastructure evolves and matures. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;">
<b><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 19.0667px;"><i>What is the big deal?</i></span></b></div>
<div style="margin: 6pt 0in;">
For the first time, application developers do not have to fully commit to a single quantum architecture. They can develop software, run on different quantum hardware, compare results, and choose the optimal architecture for their application.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;">
Secondly, developers can select and
use code from a variety of sources, code libraries, etc. using well-known
classical computing tools. Let’s take a closer look.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;">
<b><span style="color: #444444; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 110%;"><i>What’s
going on</i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="break-after: avoid; margin: 6pt 0in;">
<span style="color: #444444;"> Now
and for the forese</span>eable future, quantum computers will operate in conjunction
with classical computers. Each working on parts of the problem. Effective
commercialization mandates that the classical computing DevOps tools be used
with quantum computing. Today most only provide single-node hosted Jupyter
notebooks. While fine for initial basic experimentation, these cannot scale to
meet enterprise need. For that, vendors will have to provide compatible tools. <o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZIfbj-Or6-wqo00c5A_d03f99guYPbi5HJy8xOzRUlY_PdLUNm8wTclLM8PSC8J2VtQ3_fOTpotPhuyGvQeIvgiDP9wVW8kjUKPFmUZM_sz2X2VXnNSEhHKkyxb9jOtV9tk7vzn-dIQ/s2323/OrquestraDiagram+%25283%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2323" data-original-width="2107" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZIfbj-Or6-wqo00c5A_d03f99guYPbi5HJy8xOzRUlY_PdLUNm8wTclLM8PSC8J2VtQ3_fOTpotPhuyGvQeIvgiDP9wVW8kjUKPFmUZM_sz2X2VXnNSEhHKkyxb9jOtV9tk7vzn-dIQ/s640/OrquestraDiagram+%25283%2529.jpg" width="579" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.6667px;">Figure </span></b><!--[if supportFields]><b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:110%'><span style='mso-element:field-begin'></span><span
style='mso-spacerun:yes'> </span>SEQ Figure \* ARABIC <span style='mso-element:
field-separator'></span></span></b><![endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.6667px;">1</span></b><!--[if supportFields]><b><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;line-height:110%'><span style='mso-element:field-end'></span></span></b><![endif]--><b><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 14.6667px;"> Qrquestra Unified Quantum Operating Environment</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoCaption" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;">Implementing a quantum workflow involves the creation of a “circuit” processed on the quantum computer. Experience has shown there exists a direct link between a quantum computer’s architectural configuration and its efficiency at obtaining results.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: left;">
Thus, matching problem circuit definitions to
a specific quantum hardware configuration can yield results significantly more
quickly and accurately. To date, much of the effort in application development
has paired classical software with software specific to a single vendors’
quantum hardware. This works but tends to make performance comparisons and/or
shifting “circuits” between different quantum computers a time-consuming,
difficult process. By changing a few lines of code, Orquestra makes it faster,
easier, and much more feasible.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: left;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;">
Zapata delivers a collection of products and
support services that integrate quantum-specific functions with contemporary
DevOps solutions and processes to build circuits from hardware “agnostic” to
hardware specific, based on the user’s familiarity with backend devices’
strengths. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;">
Users can build quantum workflows with
real-world solutions that run on multiple quantum architectures and compare results.
Clients can choose to develop using in-house infrastructure, Zapata Cloud,
external Cloud (e.g. AWS, Azure, Rigetti, IBM, Honeywell, etc.) or any
combination of these. Zapata collects data that can be used to compare and
optimize performance.<o:p></o:p></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 110%;"><i>Potential Use cases</i><o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;">
Every vendor is searching for the optimal use
case that will demonstrate quantum superiority. Zapata is searching for real-world problem cases where a quantum computer is uniquely able to provide a
superior answer more quickly and with fewer errors than today’s supercomputers. The focus is on actionable solutions to pressing problems. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;">
During April and May of this year, Zapata held
intensive Orquestra training sessions for specially selected enterprise
partners. The intent was to train staff so they can apply new research and
science to begin building solutions to real-world business problems. There are
now 100 or so staffs working to resolve problems in such areas as simulating
chemical reactions (e.g. improve fertilizer efficiency), machine learning (e.g.
improve accuracy and speed), and routing optimization (e.g. speeding
calculations to dynamically optimize a salesman’s route<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications/Zapata%20computing%202020%20Ptak-%20FINAL%20.docx#_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%;">[1]</span></span></span></a>). Other
areas of interest include finance (e.g. developing exotic derivative pricing models)
and increasing pharma/drug effectiveness and efficacy (e.g. treatment,
vaccines, etc.). <o:p></o:p></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 110%;"><i>W</i><o:p></o:p></span><i style="font-size: 13pt;">hat sets Zapata Computing apart?</i></h2>
<ul>
<li> We use some of Zapata’s own words to summarize
Orquestra’s unique capabilities:<span style="font-family: "symbol";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span>Extensible: Developers can compose workflows
from existing in-house tasks or use libraries (Zapata + open source). Mix and
match modules written using popular quantum libraries and languages (Cirq,
Qiskit, PennyLane, PyQuil). Build for any backend. Integrate with database
endpoints.</li>
<li><span style="font-family: "symbol";"><span style="font: 7pt "times new roman";"> </span></span>Hardware Smart: Beyond hardware agnostic. Can be
abstracted so non-quantum domain experts can be productive, by allowing designing
workflows that both maximize specific device capabilities and allow benchmarking
across devices. </li>
<li>Reproducible: Build new or re-run existing
workflows at scale and over time. Reproduce within team.</li>
<li>Modular: Enable all team members who are focused
on library coding, quantum science, databases, domain experts to contribute
modularly to common efforts.</li>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Scalable:</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> Manage complex data records, automate
parallelization via container orchestration. Iterate at scale. Deploy across
NISQ, quantum-inspired, and multi-</span><span style="line-height: 110%; text-indent: -0.25in;">cloud and hybrid cloud classical backends.</span></li>
</ul>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 12pt 0in 3pt;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 110%;">The
Final Word</span></i></b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;">
Zapata’s solutions represent a major advance in
the goals and thinking about commercializing quantum computing. Linux was an
elusive prize for classical computing eager for vendor independence. It took
decades to arrive as the commercial successor to Bell Lab’s Unix operating
system. To have the Orquestra environment available this early in quantum
computing’s lifecycle is somewhat amazing. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;">
Orquestra is a fully integrated software
development environment with associated services that permit more than just utilization of today’s
quantum libraries and computers. It allows the user to match the architecture
with function to get the best combination for overall performance. The solution leverages existing DevOps tools
and applications to allow construction of algorithms that run on existing quantum
hardware to address real-life problems. It lowers cost and effort barriers for
enterprises that need to become quantum-smart more than ever. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;">
A significant key to the success of Orquestra
results from in-depth customer experiences and interactions. Zapata’s platform
resulted from actively working with potential customers in-the-field as they
confronted real business problems. Zapata products, attitudes and results
reveal and reflect that their intense interest, hard-earned experience, and
expertise is in addressing the most near-term problems that quantum and
quantum-inspired devices will be helpful in solving. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;">
Zapata clearly takes pride in the research and
academic credentials of their staff. They have upwards of 20 PhDs and plenty of
sophisticated, well-published, and well-cited researchers. However, this is no
collection of lab-bound researchers and abstract theoreticians. The Zapata Computing
staff we met exhibited a solid real-world focus on prompt delivery of
actionable results. We believe their contributions will enable and speed major advances
toward the commercialization of enterprise quantum computing. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div>
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications/Zapata%20computing%202020%20Ptak-%20FINAL%20.docx#_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 110%;">[1]</span></span></span></a> Classical problem in Operations Research AKA
the Traveling Salesman problem – the subject of my Master’s in Operations
Research thesis years ago.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
<br /></div>
Ptak Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069618857253303098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924124884860809314.post-55734904622063649642020-04-15T10:22:00.001-04:002020-04-16T09:59:50.046-04:00Compuware Automates Shift-left Mainframe Performance Testing <h3>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">By Rich Ptak</span></i></h3>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizu7m1mKKtUMb6E0I1jzSNtVwobTHZi3MN0w06r2_QUoBm4x7wwmQLhcNgKOmzT8XPlsZAqr8TWEoJ5yilyNpivsuZm5CONKIDk08xP6SkTl4WjaX_Ltrizxbqj_UP7ICxQQYtWeXihR8/s1600/Framed+pics.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="777" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizu7m1mKKtUMb6E0I1jzSNtVwobTHZi3MN0w06r2_QUoBm4x7wwmQLhcNgKOmzT8XPlsZAqr8TWEoJ5yilyNpivsuZm5CONKIDk08xP6SkTl4WjaX_Ltrizxbqj_UP7ICxQQYtWeXihR8/s400/Framed+pics.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoTitle">
Compuware continues its quarterly cadence of delivering
product innovations, updates to classic offerings, integrations and partnerships
aimed at helping large enterprises increase software delivery quality, velocity
and efficiency. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Compuware’s 22<sup>nd</sup> consecutive quarterly delivery includes
a new Jenkins plugin along with a REST API for Strobe, Compuware’s application
performance management and analysis solution. The integration points enable development
teams to automate performance tests early in the development lifecycle as part
of a CI/CD pipeline. Shift-left performance testing helps teams get products
and solutions to market faster while improving quality, increasing customer
satisfaction and reducing costs. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are many other product updates mentioned in Compuware’s
announcement. These include zAdviser<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications/Ptak%20Compuware%20-%20April%202020%20Auto-Perf-test-FINAL%20.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>, a
powerful machine learning based learning tool, Topaz for Total Test, Topaz
Workbench, ThruPut Manager, support for pervasive encryption, DASD and tape
resources, etc. We highly recommend checking the Compuware website or
consulting with the Compuware sales rep to learn more. Let’s look at some
details we especially like.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 110%;">What’s the issue?<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As long as products have existed, there has been tension
between development (product creation) and operations (delivery) as they pursue
complementary, sometimes competing goals. Development wants products moved out in
volume to operations as rapidly as possible at low cost. Operations wants high
quality, innovative, defect-free products that delight (price-sensitive) customers.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, excessive speed can lead to defects that threaten quality,
raising costs. Testing reveals defects and problematic products, which will be reworked,
discarded, and/or redesigned. Effective quality control is time-consuming and
frustrating to both development and operations goals. As it diverts time, money and resources from
more productive activities, such as product innovation, development and a steady
flow of new products. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Testing has been a separate department dedicated to eliminating
defective products and processes. Over time, experience revealed early testing as the most
cost-effective way to catch defective products and eliminate problematic
designs/processes. Each step of the development/production life cycle increases
product value. Early testing minimizes resources expended on ultimately
defective products and helps to identify inefficient designs/processes needing
corrective action. Still, waterfall
application development models with last-step testing remained the norm in
mainframe shops, even as more integrated testing models emerged. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Eventually,
evolving technologies, escalating competition and closer connection to
demanding customers drove new agile application development and operational
models into mainframe shops. Continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) meant
radical changes were needed to adjust to new roles and responsibilities of IT
itself, as well as DevOps staffs. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Previously isolated and remote from operations and
customers, developers were being forced into closer, more intense interactions
with operations staff and more connected to the customer experience. Developers
had to be aware of and take account of how their efforts affect operations and the
impact on the customer experience. This meant more frequent, closer
collaboration with operations. It escalated the necessity of frequent testing
earlier in the process stream, i.e. “shifting left<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications/Ptak%20Compuware%20-%20April%202020%20Auto-Perf-test-FINAL%20.docx#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>”. It
also was driving efforts toward full integration of DevOps with end-to-end product
life-cycle processes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mainframe shops have been slow to embrace automated testing
even as the pressure mounts to increase the pace of delivery. As mainframe
operations began adopting agile development, traditional in-line, late-process
flow testing became ever more untenable as it was exposed as the most
significant bottleneck to modernization and performance improvement. A 2019
Compuware-commissioned survey<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications/Ptak%20Compuware%20-%20April%202020%20Auto-Perf-test-FINAL%20.docx#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> of
application development managers shows just how serious the situation was: <o:p></o:p></div>
<ul>
<li><!--[if !supportLists]--><!--[endif]-->53%
identified the time required to thoroughly test code as the <b>biggest</b>
barrier to integrating mainframe into Agile and DevOps.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li><!--[if !supportLists]-->77%
had <b>difficulty meeting</b> business <b>innovation goals,</b> while
simultaneously attempting to increase quality, velocity and efficiency.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->85%
said they found it <b>harder</b> to <b>deliver</b> innovation <b>faster</b>
without compromising quality and increasing risk of bugs in production.<o:p></o:p></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mainframe DevOps staff lacked fully integrated and automated
solutions able to address these problems. Building on its past successes at
developing and delivering solutions that resolve such significant challenges
facing mainframe DevOps, Compuware addresses the challenge.<br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 110%;">What is Compuware
delivering?<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Compuware previously released Topaz for Total Test to make
it easier for mainframe DevOps teams to automate unit, functional and
integration tests and perform them earlier in the development lifecycle.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<!--[if !mso]-->
<!--[endif]--></v:textbox>
<w:wrap type="square">
</w:wrap></v:shape>In this release, Compuware continues to make it easier for DevOps
teams to satisfy, even exceed the continuous integration and deployment demands
associated with Agile computing. Mainframe shops will find it significantly
easier to make the “shift left” for improved and extended performance testing starting
much earlier and extending longer through the development lifecycle.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Specifically:<o:p></o:p></div>
<ul>
<li>A Jenkins plugin for Strobe helps
manage automated testing throughout the DevOps process. </li>
<li>A Strobe REST API easily
integrates automated test routines to that detect performance problems as part
of a Jenkins CI/CD (or other CI/CD tools) pipeline. </li>
<li>Development teams can easily automate
running customized performance measurements as part of their daily development activities.
</li>
<li>Compuware ISPW, Topaz for Total
Test and Strobe can be leveraged together within a CI/CD pipeline. </li>
</ul>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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In short, by using common shared APIs and selective
integration, Compuware makes it easy to collect a performance measurement as
part of a CI/CD pipeline. This is in keeping with their extensive efforts to
provide easy access (and frequently) full integration with popular non-Compuware
DevOps tools and solutions.<br />
<br /></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 110%;">What’s the benefit?<o:p></o:p></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Shift-left
performance testing allows teams to improve their agility, deliver
higher-quality applications, reduce development costs and deliver better
customer experiences. Integration ensures applications are thoroughly
performance-tested before being released as production ready. The increased
integration and access to more comprehensive data collection, analysis and
shared communications facilitates development and operations team interaction. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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This leads
to more profitable and efficient exchange of useful insightful information.
Teams can be alerted to broken or inefficient processes, poor code that wastes
resources, low performance applications that need tuning, etc. Actionable data
and information communications lead to closer collaboration which means fewer,
shorter disruptive interruptions that decrease efficiency and productivity.
Both operations and development learn from each other and become more
effective, efficient and productive at producing solutions that provide
exceptional customer experiences. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<h3>
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The Final Word<o:p></o:p></span></b></h3>
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This marks the 22<sup>nd</sup> consecutive quarter that
Compuware has delivered on its commitment to provide solutions, services and
partnerships that will improve overall agility, deliver higher-quality
applications, lower development costs and result in a better experience for
customers. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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They have proven their ability to deliver enhanced product
integration and automation to the task of creating and implementing innovative
IT solutions and services. This time their efforts have significantly extended
performance testing, which will directly lead to improved application
development agility and increased productivity, thereby reducing time-to-market.
Early defect detection, exposure and correction of inefficient code and processes
leads to better product quality with accelerated innovation which then leads to
an exceptional customer experience. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="ftn1">
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<span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications/Ptak%20Compuware%20-%20April%202020%20Auto-Perf-test-FINAL%20.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 110%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
The service is free for Compuware’s maintenance-current customers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications/Ptak%20Compuware%20-%20April%202020%20Auto-Perf-test-FINAL%20.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 110%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Flowchart illustrations
showing processes flowing from left to right. Moving a task earlier in the
process flow was a “shift left”. The term was coined in the 1950’s. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202020%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications/Ptak%20Compuware%20-%20April%202020%20Auto-Perf-test-FINAL%20.docx#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 110%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Research conducted by Vanson Bourne. Based on a global survey of 400 senior IT
leaders responsible for application development in organizations with a
mainframe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Ptak Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069618857253303098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924124884860809314.post-19805975720399430742020-02-03T15:07:00.001-05:002020-02-03T15:10:50.210-05:00BMC Run and Reinvent 2019 => 2020<b><i>By Rich Ptak</i></b><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63p-6EOg36dQwUR4MazC4Wlc2ZVuQS1QO5mv7OngcCGElHmT5g9sjhkVEzM_JrB-LuQI1WoFFTaeTmt4SQ3rNFd-tJM3OWLJcbQrxIidG4Y-gCmc3C190Bpa1iOOmGfD1uYTVmabrm_Q/s1600/BMC+R%252BR+logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="623" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63p-6EOg36dQwUR4MazC4Wlc2ZVuQS1QO5mv7OngcCGElHmT5g9sjhkVEzM_JrB-LuQI1WoFFTaeTmt4SQ3rNFd-tJM3OWLJcbQrxIidG4Y-gCmc3C190Bpa1iOOmGfD1uYTVmabrm_Q/s400/BMC+R%252BR+logo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
At BMC Exchange 2018, we learned about
BMC’s plan, “Run and Reinvent”, by which they would become the solution
provider/partner best able to help clients
to quickly and successfully manage the transformation to be market disrupting,
leading edge digital enterprises dominating the future.<br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
We noted that BMC’s strategic
plans and tactics were both “aggressive and impressively ambitious”. And
commented that BMC must maintain extraordinary focus and impeccable execution to
successfully assist such client transformations. Finally, we said documentation
of successful results were necessary to confirm their differentiation and
expertise at this task. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At <a href="https://exchange.bmc.com/usa/ny">BMC Exchange
2019</a>, we heard numerous clients describe their success as BMC pursued its plan.
With its solutions and services, BMC demonstrated their ability to support successful
enterprise digital transformations across multiple market segments. BMC
delivered across multiple areas, including management of hybrid cloud development,
design and implementation of process and operational change involving intelligent
automation, mainframe modernization, service management, implementing
transformation strategies, etc.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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BMC had a strong history of delivering innovative solutions
and services. They had been less effective at getting the credit and revenue
associated with such leadership. With its new owners and C-level management
adjustments, BMC achieved its lofty ambitions while delivering impressive
results. The evidence appears in captured market share, increased customer
attention, replaced competitors, and rising revenues.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Exchange 2019 presentations, and informal follow-on chats
with clients gave us additional evidence of the effectiveness of BMC’s forward-looking
strategy; one that emphasizes close attention and response to client wants and needs.
In our discussions, clients mentioned both as much appreciated strengths. Let’s
look at what BMC plans to do going forward.</div>
<h3>
Digitization = Continuous, Pervasive, Disruptive Change</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No one, least of all those involved in IT, but also those providing
or consuming IT products and services can be unaware of the disruptive changes
taking place at all enterprise levels and functions. As a direct result of
pervasive digitization of the enterprise that is driven by the rapid evolution
and implementation of powerful new technologies. No matter the business,
product or service, be it education, banking, research, medicine, chemistry,
services – operations, delivery, content, access and application – powerful new
capabilities are forcing rapid change. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Blockchain, pervasive automation, augmented/artificial
intelligence, machine learning, DevOps, optimization, predictive management, 5G
networking, IoT, cyberwarfare, the list goes on. All are becoming more
accessible, useful, and fundamental to enterprise competitiveness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Some have been around for a long time, but with access
limited to specialists/experts. In a break with the past, technology is being
democratized. Non-technical staff are leveraging powerful technologies such as
AI, machine learning, automated intelligence, etc. to make technology even more
accessible and easier to apply. Business users are increasingly using sophisticated
modeling, analytics and visualization with data sets without involving experts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Roles and responsibilities of IT are changing at every level
of development, operations and delivery. IT continues to become more intimately
and immediately involved in enterprise operations than ever. IT must respond
more broadly, quickly and reliably as existing infrastructure is replaced, and its
capabilities extended. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
No single vendor will provide solutions and guidance in all
technologies and areas. The challenge for them is to identify where to place
their efforts to most effectively and best serve their customers as technology
and its application evolves. This requires identifying which technologies will
have lasting market utility and impact. It also involves understanding and
managing the shape of internal efforts and organization to best deliver solutions
and services that remain viable for the long-term. Finally, they must help
clients to prepare for and adapt to the radical change in relationships and
functioning of IT. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This then is the point of BMC’s “Run and Reinvent” strategy.
Let’s take a look at what BMC has planned.</div>
<h3>
Run and Reinvent Foundation</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
BMC itself continues its internal transformation as deals
with the rapid changes and evolution of diverse, new technologies and market
conditions. Transformation drives changes in<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>organizations, employee relations, as well as in department operations
related to development, production, marketing, sales and delivery of products
and services. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The pace of work has sped up,
while the cost of lagging transformation escalates due to inefficiencies, mistakes,
miscues, etc. BMC learns from its own transformation. It then applies the
resulting expertise to help clients identify opportunities for change
(consolidation, integration, extension, elimination) to optimize activities without
sacrificing quality or security. Figure 1 summarizes BMC’s solution set. <o:p></o:p></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56xIQyrS6wj2B94tNW_lVhwCe75mphlKX9sDDDuTttojai9ActLFDSmdKPiWPLNDBaLDqIhxqafuSvExqctsfYneLqCWvvRcFqN4wc4kvFdm55BIgeoEsmj0Vt71AORnLRf08f7Ybmzw/s1600/Run%252BReinvent+success.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="944" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56xIQyrS6wj2B94tNW_lVhwCe75mphlKX9sDDDuTttojai9ActLFDSmdKPiWPLNDBaLDqIhxqafuSvExqctsfYneLqCWvvRcFqN4wc4kvFdm55BIgeoEsmj0Vt71AORnLRf08f7Ybmzw/s640/Run%252BReinvent+success.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><o:p style="font-size: medium;"> </o:p><b style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.1333px;">Figure </span></b><b style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.1333px;">1</span></b><b style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.1333px;"> BMC's Run and Reinvent overview</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
AI, machine learning and analytics provide powerful
opportunities to gain predictive and actionable insight. Complex, widely
distributed networks of hybrid cloud service provide enviable service
flexibility and immediacy, as well making vast amounts of data accessible and
consumable. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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However, so many opportunities to improve operations,
increase efficiencies, and avoid problems can be overwhelming. It can also add
new levels of risks to security, confidentiality, service disruption and
outages resulting from infrastructure failure, mistakes or sabotage. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
BMC’s Helix-based solutions and services facilitates
infrastructure discovery, service creation and delivery, optimization of cost,
processes and workload management, monitor and remediate problems to assure
that users have the best experience possible. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
BMC identified five areas of experience, expertise and
deliverables that provide them competitive advantage as they work with clients
to achieve long-lasting benefits. These are: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Transformation
Strategy – early-on BMC recognized that transformation requires detailed
strategy and planning. Products, processes, even the workplace must be reworked
to be radically user-driven and service oriented to achieve the rapid design
and delivery necessary to fulfill user/customer expectations and demands. BMC
shares their expertise to define, plan and implement the client’s transformation
strategy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cloud
& Datacenter Optimization – hybrid clouds are and will continue to be the
de facto model in enterprise infrastructure. BMC Helix solutions provide a
common platform of functionality that supports discovery, security, operations
management and optimization, vulnerability assessment, predictive analysis and
remediation for on-and off-premise server, network and cloud
infrastructure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cognitive
Service Management – Service delivery is undergoing radical change as customer
expectations and demands evolve and escalate. As new technologies emerge and
current ones evolve, BMC works with clients to identify and realize greater
benefits. BMC Helix leverages existing technologies, e.g. AI, ML, IoT,
chatbots, virtual agents, to speed operation, improve accuracy, and increase cost
savings in service creation and delivery. At the same time, BMC looks ahead to
identify and prepare for emerging technologies that will enable new benefits. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Automation
& Orchestration – <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>BMC will help
transforming (as well as transforming) enterprises succeed by strengthening
their ability to rapidly move from creative ideation to innovative, competitive
differentiated product/service market reality. Close examination, evaluation
and evolution of existing processes and workflows reveals opportunities to
improve them with orchestration, integration, and automation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Mainframe
Modernization – as enterprises run and invent their way thru digital
transformation, they find must deal with increased workloads, complex
workflows, and security requirements. The mainframe remains the platform of
choice to address these problems. No longer isolated, operating remote from
users and systems with dated, idiosyncratic software and tools. Today’s
mainframe is intimately connected and fully integrated with the on-site and
distributed hybrid data center environment. Connected and functioning across
all IT and business operations, infrastructure, management, development and
delivery. Open, automated, enhanced intelligence accessible via familiar, agile
solutions and tools, the mainframe will provide secure, reliable and powerful
platform to address these problems thru cost optimization and digital agility. The
self-managing mainframe is fully realized in BMC‘s </span><a href="https://www.bmc.com/it-solutions/bmc-ami-automated-mainframe-intelligence.html"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">AMI strategy and end-to-end products</span></a><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">. Fully automated intelligence will help
assure that the mainframe’s valuable role continues. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These are the areas where BMC is focusing its efforts and
offering to customers today. But also, of interest are the actions BMC is
taking today to assure that it maintains a position as a forward thinking,
pacesetter for the digital enterprise. We recently had a discussion with BMC
CTO, Ram Chakravarti about the steps they are taking today to assure they can
once again be at the forefront of pacesetting innovation and technology
leadership.</div>
<h3>
Run and Reinvent moving forward</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mr. Chakravarti and his team are responsible for identifying
and planting the seeds of opportunity for future success. They study the future
to determine the decisions and challenges facing enterprises after the winners
of today’s emerging technologies have been settled. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He seeks answers to such questions as: After today’s
superstar technologies have been effectively implemented and applied in 2025
and beyond, what new challenges and uncertainties will fully digitized enterprise
clients face? Where does BMC have to focus their resources and efforts today to
address those challenges? What tools, solutions, services and expertise must
BMC have to assist these customers? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mr. Chakravarti will unveil his plans in due time. However,
I can share a broad outline. His team focuses their efforts in three broad
areas. These are:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Be
the corporate center of ideation – identify unique opportunities in
technologies and innovative solutions that will define the future. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Be
the corporate enabler of product excellence – assure BMC has the technologies,
processes, and expertise to assure their solutions and products are the best
available. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Support
the creation of a world-class ecosystem of partners, alliances and
collaborators to assure comprehensive integrated product and service offerings
for the fully digital enterprise, heterogeneous, interconnected hybrid business-
and technology-driven. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The predictions are that by 2025, worldwide market
competition will by dominated by fully autonomous digitalized enterprises.
Intelligent IT will have penetrated and be fully, intelligently <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>functioning across all enterprise tasks.
Managing, optimizing, monitoring, detecting and remediating problems will be controlled
with highly pragmatic, hyper-automated capabilities. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Technology will be fully democratized. Evolved versions of
today’s modeling, analytics and forecasting tools will routinely applied by
non-technical business and office staff. IT specialists and experts will focus
on the development and application of the newest technologies to address the
challenges and opportunities they provide. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What are the implications today? Mr. Chakravarti believes
that a foundational capability is the need for Actionability. This is
monitoring and observability to get actionable insight that directly lead to
problem avoidance through product redesign or process alteration. Based on, but
far beyond today’s interesting but relatively modest predictive analytics. AI,
extensive automation, and technologies such as quantum analysis will allow
leveraging of extended data sets to provide detailed and actionable
intelligence to development and operations teams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is the vision of AMI 2.0. Today’s actionability extended
forward and backward feeding into product and service development, enrichment, enhancement,
operations and management. It will provide detailed intelligence and insight to
support human action to avoid problems and improve performance. It will access
and leverage data collected from complementary partner activities. It will
extend to the very end of the delivery chain to monitor and report on user
experiences, collecting data that will be used to improve product security,
reliability, operation and functionality. There will be tighter and more
sophisticated integration with 3<sup>rd</sup>-party and partnership solutions
to gain maximum insight for optimization and problem avoidance.</div>
<h3>
In Conclusion</h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 3.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Successfully
becoming and competing as a digital enterprise is both challenging and
rewarding. There are significant pitfalls that will change and evolve over time,
preventing cookie-cutter solutions. BMC recognizes and builds its strategy and
products accordingly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><b><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">BMC
understands the challenges of becoming a digitalized enterprise. They have demonstrated
success and accumulated expertise with services and products to help clients in
transformation. BMC understands multiple partners are necessary to best meet
client needs. They are actively working to build a sustainable eco-system that
can adapt to the changing environment. Navigating the path through
transformation will require most enterprises work with a trusted, knowledgeable
partner. From what we’ve heard and seen, BMC is an excellent candidate to
fulfill that role. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Ptak Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069618857253303098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924124884860809314.post-57229048568007834692019-11-06T17:08:00.001-05:002019-11-07T11:32:30.490-05:00Compuware Delivers Mainframe Agility in 5 Years!<h3>
<i>By Rich Ptak</i></h3>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMdrHmLqe-QOqBcDpemORqSwazFVkwNKqwtOhHaBZ9NCGQgV6LKYGiMlcbdWWUgSbIWPRcDdx0TxFwfgxYcTM2Avac2LRKM5MhvE1ys7vddUeqk700j_GOBG3fyWJ1-s8Mc-EOX12vYjs/s1600/Compuware+Oct+overview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="864" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMdrHmLqe-QOqBcDpemORqSwazFVkwNKqwtOhHaBZ9NCGQgV6LKYGiMlcbdWWUgSbIWPRcDdx0TxFwfgxYcTM2Avac2LRKM5MhvE1ys7vddUeqk700j_GOBG3fyWJ1-s8Mc-EOX12vYjs/s400/Compuware+Oct+overview.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of Compuware, Inc. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">With
20 consecutive quarters of solution delivery, built with a combination of
partnerships, acquisitions, product innovation and DevOps integrations, Compuware
has proven its ability to “mainstream the mainframe” and has become the “mainframe
partner for the next 50 years.” Chris O’Malley and his team successfully
transformed Compuware into a fast moving, agile, DevOps-driven,
customer-focused enterprise. It has a highly productive, cooperative culture
that is creative, motivated and innovative. </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">This
is a completely different enterprise than it was five years ago. Then, developers
were locked into traditional linear waterfall processes. Teams were siloed and
operations were process-bound. Reliably delivering updates every 12 to 18 months,
they had a decades-old model wildly out-of-sync with an increasingly digitized
world. A new generation of Agile-minded, DevOps-savvy developers viewed mainframes
as far from the digitized IT mainstream; boring, and uninteresting to learn or
use.</span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Major
challenges had to be overcome including converting resistance to change to
enthusiastic innovation and building teams to promote knowledge/skill-sharing
in and among teams. It was also critical to set new goals fixated on improving
mainframe software delivery—for both employees and customers—awash with
outdated, platform unique, unintegrated tools with incompatible interfaces. All
to increase efficiency and minimize the loss of individual/institutional knowledge. </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">To
overcome these challenges bold moves were necessary. Compuware focused on four core
philosophies to drive its internal transformation:</span></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Enable ideation and innovation through open communication </span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Drive agility and speed as core values building confidence to fail quickly and succeed faster </span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Maintain quality through consistent testing that is frequent, pervasive, automatic </span><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Listen to customers first, that input underlies and guides every decision Compuware makes</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">These
principles applied to every task, to everyone, at all levels, in every
department. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<b><i><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Significant Takeaways for Large Enterprises </span></i></b></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Compuware’s
transformation and success to date provides some powerful lessons for large
enterprises. First, keeping the customer top of mind pays big market dividends.
Second, embracing big challenges with empowered staff yields significant
dividends in terms of employee engagement, productivity and performance. Third,
growth emerges as a direct result of continuously searching out and creatively
promoting new ideas. Finally, leaders with bold vision are critical to build
and maintain the innovative environment necessary to a successful
enterprise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">The
business results? Here’s a look at some of the highlights along Compuware’s path
to mainframe agility. </span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: black;">Pathway to Mainframe Agility, DevOps, CI/CD</span></i></b></span></h4>
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
</div>
<h3>
</h3>
<b><span style="color: black;"></span></b>
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="color: black;">Compuware’s transformational change yielded an on-going
stream of new products and technologies, e.g. the Topaz suite of development
and testing tools, benefited customers as well as the overall DevOps community.
Creative collaboration and integrations with companies such as XebiaLabs,
SonarSource and Splunk enable enterprises to build cross-platform DevOps
toolchains enabling developers of every stripe to perform and improve the
processes necessary to fulfill each phase of today’s DevOps lifecycl</span>e. </span><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;"></span><br />
<br />
<h2 style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Technologies
</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 110%;">and Products</span></i><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></h2>
<h2 style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="color: black;">Compuware released six new products in five years:</span></span></span></h2>
<ul></ul>
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<br />
<ul>
<li><b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Topaz for Enterprise Data:</span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;"> enables developers
to work with mainframe and distributed data in a common manner. Rich</span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;"> visualization of data relationships and data extracts
increases application understanding, while </span><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">a data editor offers a consistent look and
feel for working with and across virtually all data types, e.g. Oracle, Db2,
IMS, VSAM, etc.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Topaz for Program Analysis</span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">: provides deep
visibility into complex interactions between mainframe programs making it easier
for veteran and novice developers alike to understand, update and troubleshoot
even the oldest and most complex mainframe code.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Topaz for Total Test:</span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;"> automates unit,
functional, integration and regression testing.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Topaz on AWS:</span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;"> </span><span style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">leverages AWS to deploy Topaz securely, quickly and at scale
without additional capital costs. Topaz on AWS templates leverage and manage
AWS network and infrastructure resources to fit organizational needs.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Application Audit:</span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;"> provides detailed
tracking of all user interactions with any application on the mainframe thus
providing active protection against internal security attacks.</span></li>
<li><b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">zAdviser: </span></b><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">provided for<b> </b>free to Compuware
customers, it uses machine learning to identify correlations between developer
behaviors and key performance indicators (KPIs) based on analysis of DevOps
data and Compuware product usage data.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<b><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: black;">Acquisitions</span></span></i></b><br />
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="color: black;">Compuware made
five acquisitions, integrated them, and continues to enhance these products
quarter after quarter: </span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">ISPW (ISPW Benchmark Technologies) – today includes market differentiating<b> </b>SCM, build and deploy capabilities and integrations with XebiaLabs XL Release, CloudBees Flow, SonarSource SonarQube and others making it a leading mainframe CI/CD solution. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%;">ISPW SCM Migrations Services (Itegrations SCM migration and practice methodology) – </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%;">takes customers through the full SCM migration process from project planning, data migration and integration to testing and knowledge transfer. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%;">COPE (Standardware) – virtualizes IMS systems, significantly reducing the delays and costs associated with creating completely new IMS subsystems for critical initiatives.</span> <span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%;">The resulting easily adjusted and modified virtualized images eliminate the time, expense and difficulty of working with physical test systems infrastructures. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%;">ThruPut Manager (MVS Solutions) automatically and intelligently optimizes batch processing. By balancing workloads and improving batch throughput, it yields savings, including reducing software license fees.<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%;">XaTester (Xact Consulting)<b> </b></span><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">enables developers to quickly create unit tests for both batch and CICS-based programs written in COBOL, PL/I and Assembler. </span><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%;">Today Topaz for Total Test, which automates unit, functional and integration testing, combines the unique strengths of XaTester
in a single unified solution.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="color: black;"></span><b><i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: black;">Integrations</span></span></i></b><br />
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="color: black;">Technology integration partnerships are key to
providing mainframe developers agility without compromise and mainstream the
mainframe. They add modern tools familiar to non-mainframe developers, lowering
barriers to mainframe use. For example, integrating XebiaLabs software with
Topaz for Total Test with ISPW provides end-to-end automated application pipeline
management. It allows a consistent, seamless interface in complex environments,
cloud, containers and mainframe as it automatically captures detailed data of
ALL release activities (from development thru all changes and deployment steps).
</span></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="color: black;">Integrating the SonarSource SonarLint dashboard with
ISPW and Topaz Workbench adds visual displays and reports on COBOL coding
errors and complexity. This improves code quality and performance. Detailed analysis
and reporting aid identification and correction of problematic coding and code
behavior. The modern interface makes it easier for even new-to-COBOL staff to
write efficient code. </span></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="color: black;">Finally, the integration of Splunk with Compuware’s
Application Audit will collect, index and correlate mainframe operational data.
It can be combined with data from other SIEM solutions including non-mainframe
operational data. From these IT and enterprise staffs can derive actionable
insights into operations via alerts, visualizations, dashboards, reports,
etc. Data can also be shared with other
modern SIEM solutions. </span></span><span style="font-size: 10pt;"></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<h4>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><span style="color: black;">The Final Word</span></i></b></span></h4>
</div>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">For 20 consecutive quarters, Compuware has met its
90-day commitment, delivering products and services that make life easier,
simpler, and less complex for mainframe developers, admins, operations and security
staff. They integrated, innovated and modernized tools that demolished barriers
that discouraged or intimidated non-mainframe IT staff from using or learning
about the mainframe. They provided access to IT tools/technologies once used
only in distributed environments. They automated onerous, time-consuming and
error-prone tasks.</span> </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">No competitor matches their pace of delivery. Their
record is impressive, and they have the </span><a href="https://www.compuware.com/resources?_sft_Assets=op_case_studies"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">customer case studies</span></a><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"> from some of the world’s largest organizations to document
their success. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="color: black;">Compuware has proven that an
enterprise can succeed when they are willing to take a risk, trust their
people, think BIG, risk failure and continuously learn and improve.
Congratulations and good luck to them. We look forward to further commenting on
their future endeavors. </span></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Ptak Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069618857253303098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924124884860809314.post-46834883066072026372019-10-14T11:36:00.001-04:002019-10-14T16:37:43.916-04:00Do Quantum use cases really exist?<h4>
<i>By Rich Ptak</i></h4>
<br />
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<![endif]--><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTwvvTaMe9TBYcnnAkDlkC6upFhAIRM7fKsrZRvrpQylDMaWe2UroZbQcLW5qQQTCQIKe4TIDGL_7qxGOpr1GWIILhQ66_5tH7y7RL8Ovv9d1BnizAAZ-P9gIyqS6BOOu52Z9JjFjLN8s/s1600/IBM+Q+-+8-19+-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="448" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTwvvTaMe9TBYcnnAkDlkC6upFhAIRM7fKsrZRvrpQylDMaWe2UroZbQcLW5qQQTCQIKe4TIDGL_7qxGOpr1GWIILhQ66_5tH7y7RL8Ovv9d1BnizAAZ-P9gIyqS6BOOu52Z9JjFjLN8s/s200/IBM+Q+-+8-19+-19.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;">Quantum
theory has a long history beginning with an early thought exercise by
Democritus<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 110%;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a>
(c.460 BC to c.370 BC). Skipping ahead, in 1926<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 110%;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a>,
we find England’s Winston Churchill reading about quantum theory. Amidst war,
in 1941, after a luncheon meeting with scientific adviser Frederick Lindemann, Prime
Minister Churchill challenged the physicist to explain quantum theory in words
of one syllable – in five minutes. Lindemann did so with seconds to spare.
Unfortunately, no one recorded the explanation. </span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;">More recently,
quantum theory and science are again making news as the era of Quantum
Computing (QC) readiness begins. The “readiness” era is marked by expanded QC education,
engineering, experimentation and innovation with the goal to determine if, where,
and how QC can be leveraged for tangible market benefit. Conventional wisdom
holds that practical application of Quantum Computing (QC) remain years, if not
decades, away. Interest persists as pioneers continue to expand their efforts
with results that are changing opinions. Also note that for the foreseeable
future, working quantum systems will be hybrid-systems, i.e. combinations of quantum
computers working with classical computers and/or cloud systems.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;">Savvy vendors
recognized that a broad ecosystem of QC-knowledgeable resources and
entrepreneurial activities would speed scientific development and build market
interest. Emulating earlier efforts<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 110%;">[3]</span></span></span></span></a>
to grow (and apply) knowledge through broadly dispersed communication and
collaboration, QC advocates began building globally distributed networks open
to educators, enterprises and innovators to accelerate the path to
commercialization. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;">Today, multiple
vendors, including IBM,</span><span style="color: red; font-size: small; line-height: 110%;"> </span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;">D-wave, Rigetti
Computing, Google, Intel, Microsoft, AWS and others are conducting research and
working to deliver a variety of quantum products and services. These range from
chips, software algorithms, quantum simulators and processors to full systems. It
should be noted that there is little consistency in the definition of the
meaning of a “full stack” quantum product. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;">That said, the
first five provide access to quantum services on quantum computing<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 110%;">[4]</span></span></span></span></a>
hardware. IBM delivers quantum systems hardware; Rigetti and D-wave offer
services via a full stack” which include real quantum hardware. Intel provides
chips for assembly into quantum processors with the expectation of full quantum
systems in the next 10 years. Google is developing quantum processors and
creating quantum algorithms. Microsoft offers “full stack” quantum software services
with a statement of commitment and a promise of quantum hardware in the future.
Others offer access to similar software simulating or emulating quantum
machines. All work with a variety of partners, collaborators, enterprises,
research labs, government and educational institutions. For
example, Microsoft has organized the </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/quantum/quantum-network"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk17989845;"><span style="line-height: 110%;">Microsoft Quantum Network</span></span></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk17989845;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 110%;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 110%;">[5]</span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk17989845;"><span style="line-height: 110%;"> (global coalition of individual & enterprise partners, private,
Azure services, workshops) providing network access to their quantum “stack” to
advance quantum computing progress. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; mso-bookmark: _Hlk17989845;"><span style="line-height: 110%;">IBM offers </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.research.ibm.com/ibm-q/network/members/"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk17989845;"><span style="line-height: 110%;">IBM Q Network</span></span></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 110%;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 110%;">[6]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="line-height: 110%;"> (global, private, for-fee, quantum
systems hardware) for enterprise, educational and research efforts.
Multi-levels of participation with access to IBM quantum system hardware via
the IBM Cloud. IBM also created the </span><a href="https://www.ibm.com/quantum-computing/technology/experience/index.html"><span style="line-height: 110%;">IBM Q Experience</span></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn7;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><u><span style="color: #0070c0; line-height: 110%;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><u><span style="color: #0070c0; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 110%;">[7]</span></u></span></span></span></u></span></a><span style="line-height: 110%;"> (global, free, public-access to
quantum software and services) offering broad access to a larger public. Recently
added is the </span><a href="https://www.ibm.com/blogs/research/2019/09/quantum-computation-center/"><span style="line-height: 110%;">IBM Quantum Computation Center</span></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftn8" name="_ftnref8" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn8;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 110%;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 110%;">[8]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="line-height: 110%;"> to meet service demand. IBM offers a
complete a set of quantum hardware, software, and cloud-based services that is
probably the most expansive and well-structured infrastructure available to the
widest variety of quantum interested innovators and explorers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/2019/04/quantum-computing-act-now-for-tomorrows.html"><span style="line-height: 110%;">Rigetti Computing</span></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftn9" name="_ftnref9" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn9;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 110%;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 110%;">[9]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="line-height: 110%;"> identifies their offering as the
first fully commercial quantum computer (others would dispute that). They offer
qualified users direct, exclusive, dedicated access to real quantum system
hardware, including tech support if desired. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;">Providers
and offerings are increasing and evolving rapidly. Thousands of individuals in enterprises,
universities, and research centers are actively acquiring and sharing knowledge,
performing experiments, running applications on quantum simulators, chips, systems
and/or through clouds. There exists a diverse ecosystem working to discover where
and how QC’s problem-solving potential can be used and exploited. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;">Learning how</span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;"> to leverage
QC is advancing more rapidly than earlier anticipated. No, we’re not yet ready
to have a quantum solution in every home. Nor, has the “killer app” been
discovered. Most likely it will be some time before the quantum equivalent of VisiCalc
or MS Windows appears to make QC everyone’s tool. These are the early days of
the QC era of experimentation and learning. But expectations are changing as
the spectrum of application and realizable benefits becomes more evident. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Jv2YrzpprKxoGdL7_iNHptWNmt_iY8CzeQ2kN7gAgzVHltSVpuMrr5_0ZRx9NP2YjXQHZGBKV70CboejbqWYqSua82bmGY1uz5W7es056JAmlGQ3qFDtsrr65jjOP5AOvFNO36BXVCY/s1600/sidebar-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="333" height="97" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Jv2YrzpprKxoGdL7_iNHptWNmt_iY8CzeQ2kN7gAgzVHltSVpuMrr5_0ZRx9NP2YjXQHZGBKV70CboejbqWYqSua82bmGY1uz5W7es056JAmlGQ3qFDtsrr65jjOP5AOvFNO36BXVCY/s200/sidebar-1.png" width="200" /></a><span style="line-height: 110%;">Community
efforts and shared communication are leading to an improved understanding of where
to focus QC application activities. Accumulating experience is yielding insights
that lead to intellectual property that will provide competitive advantage. Learning
quantum computing takes time. It is accessible to those willing to make the
effort and the payoff promises to be huge for those who do. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;">Today, the enterprise business case
to initiate quantum-oriented education and efforts has evolved from a
speculative need to an absolute necessity</span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;">. Two sure signs indicate a growing interest in QC.
These are:</span></div>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;">The
number and variety of articles about QC appearing in the business and general
press (even if they are not technically accurate).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;">The
proliferation and variety of QC consulting services and resources to help
business and technical staffs wanting to acquire QC knowledge as they attempt
to identify and evaluate how and where they might use QC.</span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;"> </span></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;">There is no
clear indication which vendor(s) will dominate QC. Several competing building
block models for qubits exist. Each has its own merit in addressing the major
problems of qubit stability, loss of coherence, shelf-life, error correction,
etc. These factors means that the</span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/2018/03/speeding-advancement-of-quantum.html"><span style="line-height: 110%;"> number of qubits</span></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftn10" name="_ftnref10" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn10;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 110%;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 110%;">[10]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="line-height: 110%;"> available make a very poor metric of
performance or comparison. IBM has proposed Quantum Volume, a composite of
those problems as a more realistic, comprehensive, vendor-neutral, and coherent
metric. As structured Quantum Volume works for any gate and circuit-based
quantum computing system.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;">The next
section summarizes conclusions about quantum use cases based on the experience
of IBM and IBM Q Network users. Other vendor views will be covered as they
become available. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 110%;">IBM suggested market focus
and usage cases <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;">With its </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://www.research.ibm.com/ibm-q/network/members/"><span style="line-height: 110%;">IBM Q Network</span></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftn11" name="_ftnref11" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn11;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 110%;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 110%;">[11]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="line-height: 110%;"> and <a href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk18589847"></a><a href="https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/2018/04/expanding-access-to-quantum-computing.html"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk18589847;">quantum access</span></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftn12" name="_ftnref12" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn12;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 110%;">[12]</span></span></span></span></a>
via IBM Cloud (</span><a href="https://www.ibm.com/quantum-computing/technology/experience"><span style="line-height: 110%;">IBM Q Experience</span></a></span><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftn13" name="_ftnref13" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn13;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;">[13]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;">), <span style="font-size: small;">IBM has been a leading provider of
access to real quantum systems and quantum simulators (very useful for sandbox
experimentation and testing). IBM and Q Network participant experiences suggest
that near-term applications of QC should focus on:</span></span></div>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;">Improving
models of natural physical processes interactions at a molecular level – yield
a more detailed understanding of the details of changes, interactions, etc.as
well as assessing the impact of external stimuli.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;">Driving
improved solution scenarios – by more efficiently and quickly running multiple
simulations quality is improved – more iterations, faster performance, using less
but higher quality data.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;">Improving
quality of optimized solutions - run more iterations faster using less, but
higher quality data.<span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;">Improve
AI/ML pattern recognition to increase accuracy and precision. QC allows broader
context to identify and test dependencies, relationships, interactions, etc.</span></li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;">IBM also discussed
three areas of validated proof of benefit or potential for benefit. IBM usage
experts discussed specific results relating to: <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<ol><span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;">Financial
Services – as an aid to quantitative financial analysis, e.g. using simulations
to create and evaluate models for pricing derivatives;</span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;">Chemistry
– modeling individual chemical molecular changes during a process, e.g. modeling
the process of lithium decay (in a battery) to learn how to extend battery
life;</span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;">Manufacturing
– applies to numerous, highly diverse areas, such as distribution and supply
chain optimization, design and creation of new materials with specific
desirable characteristics, e.g. strength, durability, flexibility, etc.</span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;">
</span>
<li><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-size: small;">Both
categories will grow and expand significantly as QC experience and
experimentation accumulate. For more on IBM, Rigetti, Google and Microsoft
visit the Ptak Associates</span> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/"><span style="line-height: 110%;">Technology Blog</span></a></span><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftn14" name="_ftnref14" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn14;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;">[14]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></li>
</ol>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Further thoughts on usage</span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-size: small;">The number and variety of use cases and areas of application
is expanding. The pattern for use will be realized in hybrid combinations of
classical and quantum systems. QC knowledge can yield benefits in solving
classical computing problems. For example, classical algorithms<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftn15" name="_ftnref15" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn15;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 110%;">[15]</span></span></span></span></a>
have benefited. Working with quantum algorithms, in many ways distinctly
different from classical algorithms, has led to reformulation of classical
computing algorithms to run faster and yield more accurate solutions on
existing classical computers, even besting the quantum approach. </span></span></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Summary</span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;">Use cases do
exist. We repeat, NOW is the time to start on the road to understanding and
potentially benefiting from quantum computing’s unique capabilities. Even if
specific benefits remain unknown, today’s efforts yield results clearly
indicating <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>quantum computing‘s potential
to significantly benefit users. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;">We firmly believe that: </span><br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;">The era of quantum readiness
is well underway and expanding rapidly with emerging results and an impressive
number of vendor efforts.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;">QC requires learning and
experience to frame problem definition and solution design in quantum terms.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;">Time and effort invested
in QC learning today; will pay off in competitive advantage that will be hard
to overcome by latecomers.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;">For the foreseeable
future, progress will be made via hybrid-systems combining quantum computers,
classical computers and cloud systems.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;">QC will radically change
how we view, think about, and solve problems while greatly expanding the
frontiers of what can be done.</span></li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;">We don’t know who will first
deliver TRUE Quantum Advantage defined as a programmable general- purpose
computer solving a real problem. The number of competitors is growing. IBM
appears to be leading with IBM Q Network, IBM Q, use case scientists and
business experience. Their latest move providing a quantum textbook and
tutorials reflects their on-going commitment to growing the quantum community.
Kudos to them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-size: small;">Google, Rigetti Software,
D-wave, Microsoft, etc. have also demonstrated an ability and willingness to
compete. We wish good luck to all. We believe that a functioning quantum
hardware platform will be necessary for long-term success.</span> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: small; line-height: 110%;">Visit our </span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><a href="https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/"><span style="line-height: 110%;">blog</span></a><span style="line-height: 110%;"> to see more of our </span><span style="line-height: 110%;">commentaries</span></span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: small; line-height: 110%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"> on
the</span></span></span> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/2017/09/ibm-research-on-road-to-commercial.html"><span style="line-height: 110%;">evolution</span></a></span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftn16" name="_ftnref16" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn16;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #1f497d; line-height: 110%;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 110%;">[16]</span></span></span></span></span></a></span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">of quantum from theory as well as quantum ready computing, and community growth.</span>
</span></span></div>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a>
Scott Aaronson, <b><i>Quantum Computing since Democritus</i></b>,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2013)</div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a>
Andrew Roberts, <b><i>Churchill: Walking with Destiny</i></b>,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Viking, 2018), p664 </div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[3]</span></span></span></span></a>
<i>Republic of Letters, Europe-wide effort from 1600 to mid-800’s to share and
advance knowledge </i></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn4" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[4]</span></span></span></span></a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note D-wave builds quantum annealing systems
vs. universal quantum gate systems (IBM, Rigetti, etc.)</div>
</div>
<div id="ftn5" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[5]</span></span></span></span></a>
<a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/quantum/quantum-network">https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/quantum/quantum-network</a></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn6" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[6]</span></span></span></span></a>
<a href="https://www.research.ibm.com/ibm-q/network/members/">https://www.research.ibm.com/ibm-q/network/members/</a></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn7" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn7;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[7]</span></span></span></span></a>
<a href="https://www.ibm.com/quantum-computing/technology/experience/">https://www.ibm.com/quantum-computing/technology/experience/</a></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn8" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftnref8" name="_ftn8" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn8;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[8]</span></span></span></span></a>
<a href="https://www.ibm.com/blogs/research/2019/09/quantum-computation-center/">https://www.ibm.com/blogs/research/2019/09/quantum-computation-center/</a></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn9" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftnref9" name="_ftn9" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn9;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[9]</span></span></span></span></a>
<a href="https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/2019/04/quantum-computing-act-now-for-tomorrows.html">https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/2019/04/quantum-computing-act-now-for-tomorrows.html</a></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn10" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftnref10" name="_ftn10" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn10;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[10]</span></span></span></span></a>
<a href="https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/2018/03/speeding-advancement-of-quantum.html">https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/2018/03/speeding-advancement-of-quantum.html</a></div>
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<div id="ftn11" style="mso-element: footnote;">
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<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftnref11" name="_ftn11" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn11;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[11]</span></span></span></span></a>
<a href="https://www.research.ibm.com/ibm-q/network/members/">https://www.research.ibm.com/ibm-q/network/members/</a></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn12" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftnref12" name="_ftn12" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn12;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[12]</span></span></span></span></a>
<a href="https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/2018/04/expanding-access-to-quantum-computing.html">https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/2018/04/expanding-access-to-quantum-computing.html</a></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn13" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftnref13" name="_ftn13" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn13;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[13]</span></span></span></span></a>
<a href="https://www.ibm.com/quantum-computing/technology/experience">https://www.ibm.com/quantum-computing/technology/experience</a></div>
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<div id="ftn14" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftnref14" name="_ftn14" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn14;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[14]</span></span></span></span></a>
<a href="https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/">https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/</a></div>
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<div id="ftn15" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftnref15" name="_ftn15" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn15;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[15]</span></span></span></span></a>
Step-by-step instructions to solve a problem.</div>
</div>
<div id="ftn16" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftnref16" name="_ftn16" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn16;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[16]</span></span></span></span></a>
<a href="https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/2017/09/ibm-research-on-road-to-commercial.html">https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/2017/09/ibm-research-on-road-to-commercial.html</a></div>
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]-->Ptak Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069618857253303098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924124884860809314.post-68990488052750102232019-10-01T14:19:00.000-04:002019-10-01T14:19:17.205-04:00IBM licenses POWER ISA to speed, spread and encourage development <span style="font-size: small;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">By Bill Moran, Rich Ptak</span></b></i></span><br />
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;">IBM recently
announced they will open the POWER architecture to align with open software
rules. Further, IBM will license its POWER ISA<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a>
to the OpenPOWER Foundation to enable royalty-free implementations on POWER. This
is a big deal. First, a comment on an IBM perspective and a journalistic view.
Then, our thoughts. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;">OpenPOWER GM
Ken King’s </span><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.ibm.com/blogs/systems/embracing-and-expanding-the-open-hardware-ecosystem/"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;">blog</span></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;">[2]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;"> provides his perspective on the
announcement’s significance. As you will see, we generally agree with him. But
we take a wider view as we consider some risks in IBM’s plan. An </span><a href="https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/news/ibm-opens-power-architecture-bolster-flagging-cpus/"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;">article</span></a><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Arial", sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;">[3]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;"> in DataCenterDynamics, discussing
the licensing focuses heavily on this move as a reaction to the end of Moore’s
law. This is only partially true. IBM has aggressively promoted (and pursued)
the idea that the focus of innovation must shift from the CPU chip to the
overall system. Given that the two most powerful supercomputers in the world
are POWER9 based, IBM’s strategy is valid and should continue; opening POWER
will only help the process. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;">First, with
this move POWER’s instruction set details become completely transparent rights
to implement open to anyone. Developers can view instruction specifications and
have the right to develop new hardware using POWER’s instruction set.
Developers can enhance new versions of POWER systems with patentable
innovations. While backward POWER compatibility will be protected, other compatible
changes will require majority vote approval by OpenPOWER group members. However,
IBM can (and will) continue to enhance the ISA in the AIX compliance subset and
with optional features.</span> Note that <span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;">IBM is not giving over complete control of the POWER
architecture. Expect new versions of POWER to appear over time; just as new
Linux versions do.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;">Next, there
are financial implications for IBM (revenue impact, net investment recovery),
these lie outside the scope of our research. There are international
implications to consider. There are organizational and governmental concerns
over risks of embedded malignant code and/or back-door access points, as well
as uncertainties in renegotiations to trade treaties and relationships. </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;">Both entities have become very sensitive to potential (backdoor)
openings in technology that could be used for espionage purposes. OpenPOWER has
obvious appeal in such environments. </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;">Also, for example, a looser connection to IBM may add
significantly to the platform’s existing international appeal. For instance in China,
where IBM has significant business and research investments involving multiple
products. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;">There exists
yet another potentially connected development.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>IBM recently completed their Red Hat purchase. Red Hat developed a
highly successful business around open Linux software. It isn’t much of a
stretch to imagine IBM hoping to realize similar success built around open
hardware. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;">However, hardware
and software markets differ in significant ways. The software market is far
larger than that for hardware. Customer buying patterns are totally different.
Hardware profit margins are thinner than software’s. The competitive landscape
differs significantly. Different barriers-to-entry exist in the hardware
business than for software. Finally, there are far fewer hardware engineers
than software programmers; the talent pool available to develop and evolve POWER
is much smaller than what Linux draws upon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;">Considering
these factors, IBM’s strategy faces some significant risks. The POWER
acceptance that IBM is looking for (and needs) may not exist. It took time to
reach today’s wide market acceptance of Linux. While popular, POWER hardware
may not have the same ability to grow demand. Other companies may not see the
value in developing POWER systems to satisfy a not-so-dynamic demand. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;">Clearly, HP
and Dell never felt compelled to offer a POWER-based system; correctly viewing
it a direct competitor to their existing offerings. Nor are they “married” to
any chip; each offers both Intel- and AMD-based systems. We think they will
closely monitor POWER growth. They would need a very compelling
market/technological reason to add a POWER-based product. At present, there
appears no rush to do so, but that can change. However, even if both companies
offer POWER products, it would not necessarily guarantee long-term success. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;">Before continuing, IBM explicitly targets OpenPower at
the hi-performance, domain specific and heterogeneous computing, not the
generic market. IBM describes it this way “open strategy is focused on
capturing the future white space and growth in purpose-built computing/domain
specific computing/heterogeneous computing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Of course, we may get legacy too, but the market opportunity is in all
the things not built yet that people are looking to build". They have had
some significant success there. The risk lies in the rate of demand growth along
with the number and entry speed of competitors pursuing that market. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;">There is
speculation that this move provides IBM a graceful way to exit the POWER
business. We cannot prove this view is wrong. But we think it highly unlikely
for the following reasons. Current IBM POWER customers fall into one of four
categories: Linux, AIX, IBM i and supercomputer customers. AIX and IBM i are
legacy customers. The remaining two are in dynamically high-growth areas.
Supercomputers were a highly promoted, specifically targeted segment. Linux is
an all-in market with the Red Hat purchase. Today, taken together, they
represent a significant portion of IBM’s revenue. IBM exiting or dead ending
some or all, would be embarrassingly bad PR and a financial blow. We reiterate,
possible, but highly unlikely to happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;">IBM may be
planning to reduce overall POWER investment by passing future enhancements to
OpenPOWER. However, we don’t find this believable. How negatively this might
affect current customers depends on how aggressively OpenPOWER (and other
vendors) invest. This, in turn, depends on OpenPOWER’s market appeal. The
amount and timing of on-going IBM financial and technology support for
OpenPOWER is equally influential. We reject this idea. We do not think<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>IBM has any plans to reduce investment. IBM
retains the option to enhance the ISA in the AIX compliance subset and add
optional features. This ensures IBM can continue to enhance the ISA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;">We think
current POWER customers (whether Linux, AIX or IBM i) have little short- or
medium-term downside risk. They can reasonably expect continued innovation and support.
Some hardware firms have already voiced support of IBM’s move. In fact, if new
POWER-oriented companies keep entering the market, customer hardware choices
may increase. The Power ecosystem have interest to further enhance
accelerators, memory controllers, systems, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;">IBM i
customers using IBM’s proprietary OS are in a unique position. Moving workloads
to another OS is expensive. They must rely on IBM for new device and technology
support; a strategy that has historically worked well. In the longer term, IBM
has a good track record of arranging support for customers when it exits a
business. Note we are <b>NOT</b> suggesting that IBM has any plans to drop IBM i.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;">Finally,
there is a very good chance that IBM’s gamble on POWER Systems’ future will pay
off. While we are not forecasting runaway success, we expect the number of POWER-supporting
vendors to steadily increase, along with the number of POWER-related products.
Existing users will likely increase their usage, finding new uses as POWER
technology evolves.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt; line-height: 110%;">On balance,
open POWER will likely benefit customers and vendors. Even those not supporting
POWER will benefit from the competition that will drive responses to future POWER-driven
technological innovation. The new POWER organization will continue innovating.
We will be writing about that as it happens. </span></div>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a>
ISA refers to instruction set architecture. It is the terminology used by IBM
and OpenPOWER Foundation.</div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a>
<i>Embracing and expanding the open hardware ecosystem, </i>August 21, 2019,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.ibm.com/blogs/systems/embracing-and-expanding-the-open-hardware-ecosystem/">https://www.ibm.com/blogs/systems/embracing-and-expanding-the-open-hardware-ecosystem/</a></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[3]</span></span></span></span></a>
Peter Judge wrote: <i>IBM opens Power architecture to bolster flagging CPUs</i>,
August 22, 2019, <a href="https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/news/ibm-opens-power-architecture-bolster-flagging-cpus/%20">https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/news/ibm-opens-power-architecture-bolster-flagging-cpus/
</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
</div>
</div>
Ptak Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069618857253303098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924124884860809314.post-43686540338150103362019-07-30T15:51:00.001-04:002019-07-30T15:51:16.652-04:00Modernizing the DevOps pipeline w/ zAdviser Analytics, ISPW Git Integration & Advance Cross-platform CI/CD! <div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiojfsfgNqEjCy5ydDXRp93Je4IhZGkTlesRarZGqjpLiCD5vTH2hFp8lwje9t_uy7e0fcjeinrTmaCOGZeXqWc_HR-ImotAdd1D_JDmohcX_3pkE_eg2iac87-KpiF_OHxxMK6kfObSl4/s1600/Compuware+-+logo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #0066cc; float: left; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="497" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiojfsfgNqEjCy5ydDXRp93Je4IhZGkTlesRarZGqjpLiCD5vTH2hFp8lwje9t_uy7e0fcjeinrTmaCOGZeXqWc_HR-ImotAdd1D_JDmohcX_3pkE_eg2iac87-KpiF_OHxxMK6kfObSl4/s320/Compuware+-+logo+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiojfsfgNqEjCy5ydDXRp93Je4IhZGkTlesRarZGqjpLiCD5vTH2hFp8lwje9t_uy7e0fcjeinrTmaCOGZeXqWc_HR-ImotAdd1D_JDmohcX_3pkE_eg2iac87-KpiF_OHxxMK6kfObSl4/s1600/Compuware+-+logo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Compuware
continues its quarterly delivery of innovative enhancements, products and
solutions aimed at easing the task of efficiently leveraging and extending mainframe
capabilities in today’s data centers. This time at center stage is the debut of
Compuware zAdviser Analytics, utilization of enhanced machine learning in
zAdviser, expanded Git integration for Compuware ISPW, and the availability of
fully customizable post-implementation ISPW support services. </span></div>
<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">In 1922,
John Wanamaker, CEO of the very successful Wanamaker retail chain, lamented <i>“Half
the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is I don't know which
half”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>A problem that until fairly
recently applied to virtually every budgeted enterprise operating department,
including IT and data services.</span><br />
<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">
</span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Today,
enterprise digitization is leveraging existing and emerging technologies
combined with automated data analytics to void that lament. We have Compuware’s
continuing stream of product integrations, new service offerings and
partnerships focused on the DevOps pipeline. The latest enhancements will help
managers to pinpoint where to focus and allocate scarce IT resources </span></div>
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
What’s the issue? What’s needed? </h3>
<div style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Compuware solutions have been focused on resolving
day-to-day challenges that IT <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>managers
and their staffs have been trying to eliminate for years. Tight budgets and
delivery timelines have long delayed, even stalled efforts to update obsolete
code, revise/refactor inefficient code, remove bottlenecks, etc. The result is
an ever larger “technical debt” that imposes a debilitating tax on IT
performance, efficiency and quality which frustrates managers and DevOps
staff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Valuable staff time is consumed attempting to identify
weak code, inefficiencies and obsolete workflows</span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text2;">.</span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"> Manual efforts to identify what code/apps must be
rewritten/refactored to improve reliability, speed, etc., <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>or to determine where to focus efforts to get
maximum payback and operational improvement, play havoc with operational
productivity and efficiency. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Compuware’s contribution</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Compuware
is making it easier for data center staff to leverage sophisticated data
analytics, automated AI and machine learning to help to identify specific
procedures and apps that negatively impact developer and operation performance.
Their primary focus has been and is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>on
the mainframe. Their solutions strive to improve the quality, velocity and productivity
of mainframe operations. The results, in fact, contribute mightily to that end.
However, they also end up positively affecting the total data center. More on
that later.</span></div>
<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">With this release some new capabilities included are:</span></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Compuware <a href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk15295611"></a><a href="https://www.compuware.com/zadviser/"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk15295611;">zAdviser’s</span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk15295611;"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk15295611;"></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202019%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/Compuware%20-%20July%202019%20announcement%20-%20FINAL.docx" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[1]</span></b></span></a> enhanced analytics –</span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> uses Compuware ISPW data to identify the programs that are most regressed, most fallbacks, most checked out so IT teams know where to focus their efforts; </span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Expanded </span></b><a href="https://www.compuware.com/integrations/"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">ISPW integration</span></b></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202019%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/Compuware%20-%20July%202019%20announcement%20-%20FINAL.docx" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[2]</span></b></span></span></b></a><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> with Git – </span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">facilitates enterprise-wide adoption of<b> </b>standardized source code management practices;</span><a href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk15295658"><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></a></div>
</li>
<li><div style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://www.compuware.com/ispw-services/"><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk15295658;"><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">ISPW Sentry Services</span></b></span><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk15295658;"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk15295658;"></span><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202019%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/Compuware%20-%20July%202019%20announcement%20-%20FINAL.docx" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[3]</span></b></span></span></b></a><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> – </span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">brings for-fee<b> </b>fully customizable access to expert technical resources that will assist enterprise teams increase proficiency in ISPW administration, maintenance and upgrade procedures.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> </span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Some additional details about
specific areas. Expanded ISPW Git integration means that: </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-themecolor: text2;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text2;">Developers with little mainframe experience can work confidently with
mainframe source code;</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text2;">Changes in Git automatically synchronized back into the mainframe
where ISPW’s automated build, deploy and fallback capabilities can be leveraged
in a CI/CD pipeline;</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-themecolor: text2;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text2;">Provides consistent visibility into diverse codebases and eases the
process of managing code throughout the enterprise;</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text2;">Standardizes CI/CD practices.</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">The newly available </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 110%;">ISPW</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"> Sentry Services is a </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 110%;">customized end-to-end offering that:</span></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text2;">Complements existing ISPW SCM Migration Services;</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text2;">Provides remote access to technical resources and proven best practices that support ISPW administration, maintenance and upgrades;</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text2;">Services designed to help customers ensure ISPW runs at peak performance at costs significantly lower than current administrative costs.</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-themecolor: text2;">Of course, there is much more to the
release. Topaz Workbench has a new editor for editing source code (supports COBOL,
PL/I, JCL,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>REXX, C, Assembler) and additional
automated test enhancements that create a test case working from a Xpeditor
debug session.</span></div>
<h3 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
The Final Word</h3>
<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Nineteen
quarters ago, Compuware began to “mainstream the mainframe”; with quarterly
enhancements. They have delivered impressive results. Even better, they also made
access easier and more transparent across platforms. Skilled mainframers are better
able to do their jobs with the latest in IT technologies and tools. Non-mainframe
skilled staff find it easier to discover and leverage mainframe capabilities using
familiar tools.</span><br />
<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">By removing
the barriers of platform unique tools and operational silos, enterprise IT, as
well .as the business and service managers can concentrate on really important
issues. That is, conceiving, designing, developing, implementing and delivering
the services and apps that provide an extraordinary experience to clients and
customers. The issue is not the platform per se. It is the optimal use of
enterprise resources and technologies to delight, draw-in and retain customers.
That is the basis of enterprise success. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">Compuware’s efforts helped eliminate the barriers (technology
and solutions) that separated mainframe staff from server staff. </span><span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">They solve long-running problems
(process and operational) and annoyances that existed across platforms frustrating
mainframe experts and newbies alike. It is now easier for DevOps staff to
update and improve existing code, speed development and improve the quality,
reliability and efficiency of DevOps.</span></div>
<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">One last
note, IBM recently closed on the acquisition of Red Hat. Related to that was
considerable emphasis on Linux on the mainframe. We’re curious how that may
impact upcoming Compuware offerings.</span></div>
<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;">We look
forward to next quarter’s announcements, the 20<sup>th</sup> consecutive one as
they mainstream the mainframe. </span></div>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202019%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/Compuware%20-%20July%202019%20announcement%20-%20FINAL.docx" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[1]</span></span></a>
<a href="https://www.compuware.com/zadviser/">https://www.compuware.com/zadviser/</a></div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202019%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/Compuware%20-%20July%202019%20announcement%20-%20FINAL.docx" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[2]</span></span></a>
<a href="https://www.compuware.com/integrations/">https://www.compuware.com/integrations/</a></div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202019%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications-in-process/Compuware%20-%20July%202019%20announcement%20-%20FINAL.docx" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[3]</span></span></a>
<a href="https://www.compuware.com/ispw-services/">https://www.compuware.com/ispw-services/</a></div>
</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Ptak Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069618857253303098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924124884860809314.post-66576554830233135042019-07-15T12:32:00.001-04:002019-07-16T15:42:54.500-04:00IBM acquires a Red Hat – ownership or partnership? <h3>
<i>By Bill Moran</i></h3>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i> </i><br />
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
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<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFjkYraXciNEjFlAWYqFTAm5dPNeSRVQgH6BKUrEES6CZBaZ_JBJ0rDMiIcJ0PpRG_LTgeQNOicuE55UwfH5covfZpU9u38ChsEbflC-yGa3S5O6DL7DvXQLvw-59_5lomfPfAAmni7g/s1600/IBM-logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFjkYraXciNEjFlAWYqFTAm5dPNeSRVQgH6BKUrEES6CZBaZ_JBJ0rDMiIcJ0PpRG_LTgeQNOicuE55UwfH5covfZpU9u38ChsEbflC-yGa3S5O6DL7DvXQLvw-59_5lomfPfAAmni7g/s200/IBM-logo.png" width="200" /></a>We reviewed the announcement of the completion of IBM’s acquisition
of Red Hat via an all-cash ($34B) purchase of all outstanding shares. IBM now officially
owns Red Hat. Previous Red Hat stock owners have no say on the company’s future
direction. Unless, of course, they buy IBM stock. Even then, their influence
will be minimal. Why are these even worth mentioning?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, both companies are emphasizing (and staking a lot on)
this as a “partnership” and Red Hat operational “independence” not “ownership” as
the basis for the future direction of both companies. No doubt with all the
best intentions. Let’s examine some issues around this relationship.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A Board of Directors (BoD) is ultimately responsible to shareholders
for running a company. The Board selects the CEO and should support his/her strategy
for the company. We assume that IBM’s Board agrees with the announced strategy
as jointly presented by IBM and Red Hat. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Red Hat preserves its operational independence with their
deep commitment to open source products and development. Both companies agree
on this. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>IBM and Red Hat both view open
source, hybrid cloud as the future of the enterprise data center.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of particular interest, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Red Hat’s ability to partner with IBM competitor’s
even against IBM, will continue. We fully expect that skeptical competitors will
want to test this. We<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>do think IBM has a
reasonably good chance of making this relationship work.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, execution challenges abound, e.g. impact on sales
reps & partners come immediately to mind. Management will need to
proactively address such challenges. Both have already revealed some details<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a>
about partner relationships. Monitoring IBM’s stock prices will provide additional
insight into the success (or not) of the relationship. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As long as the markets favor the partnership, it will
continue as is. For instance, both believe only about 20% of enterprise
customers have completed the move to a hybrid cloud. If, or rather when business
conditions change significantly, say when 80% complete the transition, then the
IBM partnership with a very independent Red Hat will be reexamined. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Other types of events may occur to drive relationship
changes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The IBM board and the IBM CEO
at that time will determine when and what it will be. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is critical for Red Hat's credibility and continued faster-than-market growth that it be vendor neutral, while effectively leveraging its relationship with IBM. We think they will pull this off for the immediate future.Having attracted some ex-IBM staff to senior positions, all of whom appear to have fit nicely into Red Hat's operations, the future looks promising. Whatever happens, we'll be observing and commenting. </div>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="https://draft.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=924124884860809314#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a> <a href="https://www.arnnet.com.au/article/663898/red-hat-ibm-synergise-partner-programs-hybrid-cloud-focus/">https://www.arnnet.com.au/article/663898/red-hat-ibm-synergise-partner-programs-hybrid-cloud-focus/</a></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
and <a href="https://www.crn.com/news/cloud/ibm-and-red-hat-what-s-next-for-their-channel-programs">https://www.crn.com/news/cloud/ibm-and-red-hat-what-s-next-for-their-channel-programs</a></div>
</div>
</div>
Ptak Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069618857253303098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924124884860809314.post-73811855649323546252019-07-15T12:12:00.001-04:002019-07-16T14:23:30.243-04:00Good info and insight into China's trade negotiation strategyAn interesting and insightful article about on-going trade negotiations with China - something of particular importance to IT since product line inventory pipelines are connected to China.... <a href="https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2019/07/15/now-it-makes-sense-beijing-assigned-hardline-trade-handler-to-vice-premier-liu-he">https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2019/07/15/now-it-makes-sense-beijing-assigned-hardline-trade-handler-to-vice-premier-liu-he</a>/Ptak Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069618857253303098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924124884860809314.post-28340549635725961922019-07-14T10:51:00.000-04:002019-08-02T15:33:44.896-04:00AT&T partnerships with both Microsoft & IBM – what’s up with that?<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<i>By Bill Moran</i></h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">AT&T has
announced major deals with IBM and Microsoft involving collaboration and built
on using the respective partner’s clouds. These being Microsoft’s Azure cloud
and IBM’s cloud with the popular Red Hat OpenShift platform. The current deal
follows last year’s deal when AT&T purchased IBM’s Global Networking
business for $5 billion. At first glance, this decision seems confused. Why two
separate deals? Why not stick with a single partner? </span></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">A little
analysis reveals that AT&T may have made very good decisions. Before
discussing this, know that the contract details are confidential. We have no
privileged information. Therefore, we indulge in speculation mixed with historical
knowledge and known facts. Therefore, some obvious questions must remain
unanswered. </span></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Let’s look
at the Microsoft deal first. The contract between AT&T Communications and
Microsoft has AT&T switching most of its desktop users to Office 365 and
Windows 10. With 260K+ employees (Q1 2018 AT&T), this is a massive project. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">By contrast,
the IBM deal with AT&T Communications involves business applications. We suspect
that many of these are Linux-based. There are references to the Red Hat
platform as well as mentions to AT&T’s commitment to open source in general.
We think that IBM’s experience with hybrid cloud in the data center is equally important
to AT&T. </span></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Both
Microsoft and IBM are talking about collaboration with AT&T around the arrival
of 5G technology. Technology which is will significantly affect all three. Also,
they all anticipate AI in various forms playing a role in that future. Finally,
IBM will be including AT&T networking as a standard part of its offerings.</span></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Now we begin
speculating. First, we examine the potential benefits to each company. We
assume that each of the companies has done its homework to convince themselves
the deal will be profitable. Note that, historically such calculations are not always
correct. Only time will reveal whether these expectations are met. With no
details available about AT&T’s licensing costs for Office 365, we must assume Microsoft is
satisfied they will profit there.</span></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Taking a
closer look at AT&T. In addition to
any economic benefits, AT&T is clearly expecting help from its partners in solving
important business & technical issues. Such help allows AT&T to focus
its telecoms skilled resources on preparing for the challenges associated with
5G introduction. Without these deals AT&T would need to dedicate
significant technical skills to IT data center tasks as well as desktop and
data center cloud migrations. </span></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">No details have been provided on how and what form
IBM & Microsoft contributions to these projects will take. Will they staff
projects, or just provide project management? Another more speculative benefit for AT&T results
from the potential for collaboration
with Microsoft & IBM on applying AI that results in competitive advantages.</span></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Turning to
IBM and Microsoft, both will benefit by growing the usage of their respective clouds.
Microsoft is currently #2 in cloud suppliers (AWS is #1). The deal with
AT&T could provide an important boost in enterprise acceptance and cloud
market share. </span></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">Any 5G experience
gained by working with AT&T could yield expanded and improved service
offerings by IBM and Microsoft. Both companies could benefit working with
AT&T to speed innovation as they cooperate to leverage new AI applications.
IBM can also point to this deal as additional justification for their ($34B) acquisition
of Red Hat. </span></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">
</span></span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">AT&T
benefits from its association with two highly competitive, technologically
sophisticated partners eager to grow market share. The downside is that cooperative
efforts get bogged down in details of cooperation vs. competition. </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">These deals certainly have the potential of significantly benefiting all players. Things look and sound promising, more details are needed to assess the reality. We’ll be following closely
to see and comment on progress.</span></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
Ptak Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069618857253303098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924124884860809314.post-73489781649212631192019-06-28T15:37:00.000-04:002019-06-28T15:37:06.501-04:00Red Hat + Open Source solutions define the Data Centers’ future<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCerOOwSY9GHNS0yX05xiOzCOeK6r9QiZo3gUN6aoVOq969qCvmnCsTxHKFDmyBxsU5cmoDyN5y9jt4IE029KLlNIRowlkt1B5vlgP043voOoXaVf1jiyDIjFnLDAuO3UCCI7Kg2dsk9c/s1600/RH+logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="160" data-original-width="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCerOOwSY9GHNS0yX05xiOzCOeK6r9QiZo3gUN6aoVOq969qCvmnCsTxHKFDmyBxsU5cmoDyN5y9jt4IE029KLlNIRowlkt1B5vlgP043voOoXaVf1jiyDIjFnLDAuO3UCCI7Kg2dsk9c/s1600/RH+logo.png" /></a><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We recently attended the Red Hat
Summit 2019 event in Boston. We’ve missed a few of these. Both the company and the
event have undergone significant growth resulting in larger, more influential event
by a well-positioned company with deeper pockets and plenty of opportunity to
continue growth. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One executive said a client
described the Summit as a cross between a religious revival meeting and a tech event.
I’d agree it did so in the past. However, this year the atmosphere has shifted
to <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>biz/tech event with subtle tones of
Open Source revival roots evident in some breakouts. </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Red Hat
summarized their progress over the last few years and their path for the
future:</span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Two years ago, Red Hat demonstrated their product portfolio working together to run traditional workloads on a hybrid cloud.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Today, Red Hat discussed their portfolio working together to run modern, sophisticated, data-intensive workloads across a hybrid, multicloud environment.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tomorrow, Red Hat will power next generation edge, A.I., and super computing applications across a hybrid serverless environment.</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Summit 2019
was about how they will accomplish this. Comments and recommendations follow. </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Event
Highlights</span></b></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">First, we congratulate Red Hat CEO Jim
Whitehurst for getting the CEOs of both IBM (Ginni Rometty) and Microsoft
(Satya Nadella) as Keynote speakers. That alone is a significant indication of
just how influential Red Hat has become in the enterprise market. Of course,
Ginni was there to address the “elephant-in-the-room” topic, i.e. the as yet-to-be-completed
acquisition of Red Hat. Satya was there to announce a major support/integration
partnership with Red Hat.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12.5pt;">To the great delight of Red Hat aficionados and open
source enthusiasts, </span><span style="font-size: 12.5pt;">IBM CEO Ginni Rometty and Red Hat CEO Jim Whitehurst
hugged each other on stage. IBM’s interest in acquiring Red Hat, reflects the
success of both Red Hat strategy and enterprise acceptance of the open source model
and movement. A movement with UNIX-roots and founded in reaction to large
vendor (read IBM) market dominance. Also very interesting was the </span><span style="font-size: 12.5pt;">acknowledgement by Ginni Rometty </span><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">that the
organizational and management impact (anticipated results of the acquisition)
would be more significant to and require more effort from and adjustments by
IBM than by Red Hat. This underscores importance of a successful integration and
not a makeover of Red Hat. </span></span><span style="font-size: 12.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 12.5pt;">Moving
on. Also</span><span style="font-size: 12.5pt;">
well-received was the announcement by CEO Satya Nadella and Jim Whitehurst of a joint Microsoft-Red Hat
program to provide and manage Red Hat OpenShift on Microsoft Azure. Announcing
this before the completion of IBM’s acquisition greatly strengthens Red Hat’s
Open Source bona fides, revenue opportunities, and market positioning, while increasing
its potential value to IBM’s revenue stream . </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5pmWjpw9_QO_cyIL0YMuO-9TP4gWMOjtKwyHwvMuiaSyomeSjcDifxpPQYTcglPAk_1m0wcm8UJ9tbZjutl_4kAkNEM_2CAlTjFhdHbqK_oB7NPe117lOWl1CjZdY8dujlBCj7dS5EU/s1600/hybrid+-+tndc+-+BORDER.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="924" height="339" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5pmWjpw9_QO_cyIL0YMuO-9TP4gWMOjtKwyHwvMuiaSyomeSjcDifxpPQYTcglPAk_1m0wcm8UJ9tbZjutl_4kAkNEM_2CAlTjFhdHbqK_oB7NPe117lOWl1CjZdY8dujlBCj7dS5EU/s640/hybrid+-+tndc+-+BORDER.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> <span style="font-size: small;"> <i>Figure 1 The Open Hybrid Cloud Data Center </i></span><i>All figures courtesy Red Hat, Inc</i></b><span style="font-size: small;"><i>.</i></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><span style="font-size: 12.5pt;"><span style="color: black;">Which leads us to IBM’s conspicuous presence in breakout sessions,
as well as a topic in presentations and keynotes. Legal restrictions prevented discussion
of any details related to the acquisition. IBM expanded on topics covered in
their San Francisco THINK event relating as appropriate to Red Hat capabilities.</span></span><br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12.5pt;"><span style="color: black;">No
surprise, Red Hat’s direction and strategies are very complementary to IBM’s
own. Red Hat and IBM acknowledge and support the hybrid/multi-cloud model that
has taken over in enterprise data centers. It is now embraced as foundational
in IBM’s strategy. Red Hat continues to expand its efforts and development of integrated
solutions and services for cross-platform systems management, security, data,
analytics, A.I., blockchain as critical, influential technologies. </span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Red Hat has
an enviable record of consistent revenue growth in a fluctuating market. This
would be especially attractive to IBM as their own recent revenue growth has
been rather shaky. Red Hat’s success is a result of their ability to foster and
grow market interest with open source solutions, excellent customer support
(and relations), strategic partnering and well-managed employees. Let’s take a
quick look at the strategy underlying Red Hat solutions.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Red Hat solutions strategy</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"></span>More specifically the Red Hat (Figure
2) portfolio is targeted to address challenges in:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hybrid Cloud Infrastructure – where they will provide open source model infrastructure software solutions spanning major cloud offerings;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cloud-native development – provide software to rapidly and efficiently develop and deploy apps across hybrid cloud environment with the goal of transparent user access;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Management & Automation – provide software that simplifies management and automation of the major hybrid cloud environments.</span><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></li>
</ol>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNwy54I6nTvFNXhRq9PDRRiFmCZVGfDD4j__at8PXraPpIbojpUkmrQPlU0_LF0sp69zC7nKXnoc4UgOcjqwzoEsqhafTN6UItZDE2okRZyIhA1Ak_f9JK58QvGE8E9wUx7ms_Nn6EL8/s1600/RH+portfolio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="1103" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqNwy54I6nTvFNXhRq9PDRRiFmCZVGfDD4j__at8PXraPpIbojpUkmrQPlU0_LF0sp69zC7nKXnoc4UgOcjqwzoEsqhafTN6UItZDE2okRZyIhA1Ak_f9JK58QvGE8E9wUx7ms_Nn6EL8/s640/RH+portfolio.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">Figure 2 Solution Portfolio - key to Red Hat's success</span></i></b> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div align="center" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_8" o:spid="_x0000_i1026" style="height: 264.75pt; mso-wrap-style: square; visibility: visible; width: 467.25pt;" type="#_x0000_t75">
<v:imagedata o:title="" src="file:///C:/Users/TEST/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image002.png">
</v:imagedata></v:shape></span><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In addition, Red Hat (RH) will maintain and offer a range of
support services and industry focused solutions. The </span><a href="https://www.redhat.com/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux"><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">solutions
portfolio</span></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202019%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications/PtakAssociates_RHSummit2019%20FINAL.docx" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> will focus
on five key areas:</span><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<ol>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cloud via OpenHybrid Cloud software enablement, infrastructure management, etc.;</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Middleware via RH Ansible, RH Smart Management bundled in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 (</span><a href="https://www.redhat.com/en/enterprise-linux-8"><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">RHEL8</span></a><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">)<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202019%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications/PtakAssociates_RHSummit2019%20FINAL.docx" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a> the latest version of Red Hat’s industry-leading Linux distribution specifically designed for use across and in hybrid clouds;</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Operating platform with the open source Kubernetes-dominant application container software, RH OpenShift 4 with extended sophisticated management covering multiple functions; </span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Storage leading RH Gluster Storage (for unstructured file-based storage) and RH Ceph Storage;</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Virtualization expanding the long-time partnership with VMware in networking, storage, and containers – announcing a joint project with VMware to add and support Red Hat OpenShift in VMware’s SDDC stack, effectively integrating RH OpenShift and RHEL with VMware’s vSAN, NSX-T and vSphere.</span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In addition, Red Hat will focus on
providing applications and technologies involving A.I., analytics and data in
all aspects – aiming to become the solution platform of choice for
container-native A.I. solutions as it applies these technologies in
industry-specific solutions. Industries targeted include financial services,
government, healthcare and telecommunication. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With the benefits of open hybrid
clouds combining hyper-scalable public clouds, private cloud architectures and distributed
services. The OpenStack open source project model is the de facto basis of
enterprise data center operations. Software designed infrastructure with
application and service transparency and portability across hardware platforms
and architectures is becoming the norm. Figure 3 shows Red Hat’s open source
model. Note this shows a sampling of the partners in the Red Hat open source
ecosystem. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: 2; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7YcaZnN41iYlJBNZE5jCZLZcmC5x8tsxDszD9Owd89LvY40RM9N9DEZX0PyAAZBmqWB8hJwIzCNJJzrSgsZ43fJYO7Wkc2kUENRRzGp4EpBX5Nc9k4HGHJJEOz4UoQkADDsKWHiZdRw/s1600/RH+-+all+built+with-+border-rs80.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="837" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7YcaZnN41iYlJBNZE5jCZLZcmC5x8tsxDszD9Owd89LvY40RM9N9DEZX0PyAAZBmqWB8hJwIzCNJJzrSgsZ43fJYO7Wkc2kUENRRzGp4EpBX5Nc9k4HGHJJEOz4UoQkADDsKWHiZdRw/s640/RH+-+all+built+with-+border-rs80.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 80%; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">Figure 3 Red Hat's Open Source Development model</span></i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">However, all
this transparency and openness comes at a significant cost in complexity,
rapidly evolving technology and rapid updates. Very much a burden for any IT
staff whose activities are more and more important in achieving enterprise
success. Learning new technologies, integrating them into the environment and
managing all the disparate infrastructure underpinnings is difficult,
time-consuming and a distraction to the pursuit of enterprise success. Hence
the role of Red Hat. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A major move in the market is the
containerization of applications software environments with Kubernetes at the
heart. Red Hat has over 1000 customers using its container orchestration
platform, OpenShift which is based on Kubernetes. One of the hottest emerging
areas in today’s market is container-native Artificial Intelligence systems
built around the Kubernetes and OpenShift containers. Red Hat has built the
platform that they intend to be the default choice for data, analytics and
Artificial Intelligence projects. See Figure 4. </span><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCnhMof7jVOdmS-CPGt6oos-fs81um2JrUDP6agYt3S60x68neOBjbm7TyhBGgq9nMkWeSFBbcII2k4UsHnEDrYgdLvS2PNgWr2HtkRAEJQf-AlH5YSrGN758kSxFOTs7NwmsjVBwB8Q/s1600/Container+w+border+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="503" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCnhMof7jVOdmS-CPGt6oos-fs81um2JrUDP6agYt3S60x68neOBjbm7TyhBGgq9nMkWeSFBbcII2k4UsHnEDrYgdLvS2PNgWr2HtkRAEJQf-AlH5YSrGN758kSxFOTs7NwmsjVBwB8Q/s400/Container+w+border+3.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">Figure 4 Red Hat's platform for A.I., data and analytics</span></i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<v:shape alt="A screenshot of text
Description automatically generated" id="Picture_x0020_10" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" style="height: 247.85pt; margin-left: 15.75pt; margin-top: 0px; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 350.25pt; z-index: 251662336;" type="#_x0000_t75"><br /></v:shape><v:shape alt="A screenshot of text
Description automatically generated" id="Picture_x0020_10" o:spid="_x0000_s1027" style="height: 247.85pt; margin-left: 15.75pt; margin-top: 0px; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 350.25pt; z-index: 251662336;" type="#_x0000_t75"><br /></v:shape><span style="font-size: 12.5pt;">In
support of those plans, Red Hat announced significant enhancements to
their<span> </span>flagship products, including RHEL8
mentioned earlier as designed specifically for hybrid and open clouds. There is
RH OpenShift on Microsoft Azure expanded capabilities in </span><a href="https://www.redhat.com/en/about/videos/introduction-red-hat-smart-management"><span style="font-size: 12.5pt;">RHEL Smart
Management</span></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202019%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications/PtakAssociates_RHSummit2019%20FINAL.docx" name="_ftnref3" title=""><span><span style="font-size: 12.5pt;"><span><span><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: &quot; font-size: 12.5pt; line-height: 110%;">[3]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12.5pt;">,
certification of RHEL on Nvidia DGX-1 and<span>
</span>DGX-2 AI systems, as well as Nvidia T4 GPU-powered systems to make life
easier for Dev/Ops staff. </span></div>
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<br /></div>
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</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<div>
<div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</v:textbox></v:shape><div style="line-height: normal;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12.5pt;"><span style="color: black;">The Red Hat OpenStack enterprise cloud platform includes
infrastructure services for storage, test environments, application
development, data analytics, and data center. OpenStack is the preferred
platform for modern container, Kubernetes-based programmable public/private
cloud infrastructures. OpenStack is at the heart of an astonishingly large
number of other open source projects. We expect the growth to continue to
expand. Red Hat plays a major role in third-party management of open source,
software defined infrastructure to assure reliable access to the latest in
technology, lowers the costs, improves delivery and speeds delivery of new
solutions. </span></span></div>
<br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Summary</span></h2>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12.5pt;">All
told, Red Hat Summit 2019 was an impressive, informative event.</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Red Hat’s success is predicated on assuming much of the cost
and effort to maintain the development and operating environment that assures
consistent user access, product currency, and functionality of open
source-based products across evolving hybrid cloud platforms. They provide the
integrated stack along with a variety of products and support services that
free enterprise IT and Dev/Ops staff to focus on using data center resources in
pursuit of enterprise success. They have enjoyed significant, consistent growth
in revenues, staffing and customer base. </span><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-size: 12.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Red Hat does have some catching up
to do. For example, it must add network service capabilities. Even if it
becomes part of IBM, other companies in the cloud space are heavy-weight,
well-established, technically astute, well-heeled, fierce and aggressively
competitive. A lot will depend on how IBM changes and adapts once/if the
acquisition closes. After all, the whole Red Hat Linux open source market had
its birth as a reaction to big vendor (IBM) domination. It’s going to be
interesting to watch. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202019%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications/PtakAssociates_RHSummit2019%20FINAL.docx" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a>
<a href="https://www.redhat.com/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux">https://www.redhat.com/en/technologies/linux-platforms/enterprise-linux</a><br />
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202019%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications/PtakAssociates_RHSummit2019%20FINAL.docx" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[2]</span></span></span></span></a>
<a href="https://www.redhat.com/en/enterprise-linux-8">https://www.redhat.com/en/enterprise-linux-8</a><br />
</div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202019%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications/PtakAssociates_RHSummit2019%20FINAL.docx" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[3]</span></span></span></span></a>
<a href="https://www.redhat.com/en/about/videos/introduction-red-hat-smart-management">https://www.redhat.com/en/about/videos/introduction-red-hat-smart-management</a><br />
</div>
</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Ptak Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069618857253303098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924124884860809314.post-26293199149132336372019-05-09T16:24:00.001-04:002019-05-09T16:24:12.210-04:00Topaz for Total Test Enables Developers to “Shift Left” with Automated Testing <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7LnZ1zT8Gx_DmBuoED7C3GZbamaP_-W7u38aG26nCl7VPgHa2H3t9yzjnk5tJ7h3nF1inEK7ROdwBUHfjShn1PxvEoGWOPAJgnzpEucNSPP_t4oHgNpLhuxtgT_FzmrLUoH9PoQ1eW0/s1600/Topaz+-+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="353" data-original-width="486" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7LnZ1zT8Gx_DmBuoED7C3GZbamaP_-W7u38aG26nCl7VPgHa2H3t9yzjnk5tJ7h3nF1inEK7ROdwBUHfjShn1PxvEoGWOPAJgnzpEucNSPP_t4oHgNpLhuxtgT_FzmrLUoH9PoQ1eW0/s400/Topaz+-+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;">It’s a new quarter, time for
Compuware to deliver on its commitment to make life easier for the mainframe
community with new functionality and integrations. Slightly over two years ago,
Compuware introduced <a href="https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/2018/01/mainstream-mainframe-with-automated.html">Topaz for Total Test</a><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/Compuware%20-%202019%20April%20announcement/Compuware%20-%20April%202019%20Announcement%20-%20Final%20.docx" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 110%;">[1]</span></a>, the industry’s first fully automated COBOL
unit testing tool. Shortly thereafter, Topaz for Total Test was integrated with
Jenkins and SonarSource
SonarQube to enhance mainframe agility while dramatically reducing dependency
on the specialized knowledge of mainframe veterans aging out of the workforce. Then,
in July of 2018, Compuware acquired Xact Consulting's XaTester and committed to integrating its functionality with Topaz for Total Test.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: black;">Compuware
delivered on that vision: the latest release of Topaz for Total Test, unveiled
in April, leverages the unique strengths of Topaz for Total Test and XaTester
under the Topaz brand. The solution combines unit, functional, integration and
regression testing capabilities into a single product – an industry first in
testing automation. See Figure 1. </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">With a growing
array of DevOps partners, Compuware continues to expand access to and use of mainframe
capabilities to benefit IT staff at all levels of mainframe experience. Let’s
look at the back story and highlights of this announcement.</span><br />
<span style="color: #1f497d; mso-themecolor: text2;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: red;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Mainframe challenges </b></span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">The siloed culture of the mainframe, in combination with slow processes
and antiquated tools, constrains
continuous improvements to software development and delivery quality, velocity
and efficiency. </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">Manual testing imposes a particularly hefty constraint. Many mainframe
programs, the biggest of which containing hundreds of thousands of lines of
code, have been running for years. Developers, particularly
mainframe-inexperienced programmers, are afraid to touch them for fear of
introducing defects into the code. Over time, the code may accumulate undocumented
changes, custom workarounds (also poorly, if at all documented), and complex
relationships buried across widely dispersed lines of code. On-going
maintenance and updates pose a daunting task. </span></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">Traditionally, solutions to improve the mainframe testing process have
been focused, unintegrated, time-consuming and manual therefore error prone.
Attempts at automation were spotty and isolated, requiring staff to move
between multiple independent tools with no common user interface. </span></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">In the digital economy, the impact of any quality problem or service
disruption is quickly visible and a threat to client satisfaction. With
services closer than ever to systems operating environments, siloed processes
are too isolated and unwieldy. They tend to slow operation and development efforts.
Development and Ops must operate in a manner intensely aware of and responsive
to customer satisfaction. </span></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">Operational and testing processes must be streamlined, while
maintaining, if not increasing, quality while strictly controlling costs. Mainframe
testing processes must be automated to enable developers to spend their
valuable time innovating on large, complex mainframe applications. </span></div>
<h1 style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Topaz for Total Test delivers a radical change </span></span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></h1>
<span style="color: black;">Compuware is
meeting this critical need with Topaz for Total Test, which enables developers
and testers to adopt a “shift left” approach to testing to improve software
development and delivery quality, velocity and efficiency.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">The newest enhancements
to Topaz for Total Test fundamentally change how mainframe developers and
testers create, execute and automate tests. Figure 2 provides a schematic view
of how users can leverage Topaz for Total Test in a DevOps pipeline. In a quick
summary, developers and testers are now able to:</span></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="color: black;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span>Run
unit, functional and integration tests from the same test scenario (eliminating
wasteful switching between screens and tools). </span></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="color: black;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span>Set up
a functional test case in minutes (and store for reuse and sharing).</span></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="color: black;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span>Orchestrate
a sequence of test steps in a flexible test scenario (saves time and effort for
comprehensive testing). </span></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="color: black;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span>Design
test cases up front and in support of Test-Driven Development (TDD) (more
efficient use of scarce skilled resources).</span></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="color: black;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span>Design
specific tests for how programs interact with each other (saves time and
effort, increases flexibility in testing). </span></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="color: black;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span>Integrate
a test scenario into a DevOps pipeline orchestrated by Jenkins and XebiaLabs (necessary
for CI/CD). </span></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.5in;">
<span style="color: black;">•<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span>Automatically
generate JCL for test execution at runtime (much appreciated at every
mainframer skill level). </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpOdMivRIa053iMhJteKwF17oXjMYDHj37BiDnM8dBMGkBnB918slpoy0MQbXnKcci5xjoAZcaQ6KByJB9vvoxxuS3BZbR8Pso5vQdZl8pzHpTOpBy0ak2UDqZXemkUnq0AEx5I0YQu4/s1600/TTT+2+-process.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="654" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpOdMivRIa053iMhJteKwF17oXjMYDHj37BiDnM8dBMGkBnB918slpoy0MQbXnKcci5xjoAZcaQ6KByJB9vvoxxuS3BZbR8Pso5vQdZl8pzHpTOpBy0ak2UDqZXemkUnq0AEx5I0YQu4/s640/TTT+2+-process.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="color: black;">There is a lot more in
Compuware’s announcement. ISPW adds functionality with APIs that provide more
granular control for code deployment and lists Assignment, Release, Sets and
Worklist <span style="color: black;">information. ISPW usability is improved by the ability to check out a task from a previous historical version along with the ablility to view “Version Audit” information. </span>ThruPut Manager has been
extended to provide more information for better batch job management and
throughput. It also provides more z/OS health check details. There’s more that
makes these releases well worth checking out. We encourage you to do so. </span></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: #444444;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Final Word</span></span></b><br />
<span style="color: black;">I began my career
developing quality control plans for manufacturing telephone switching systems.
I learned first-hand the tensions and trade-offs necessary to satisfy development,
operations and QC staff while still meeting customer needs. Application testing
as a manual task was difficult, time-intensive and error-prone. In truth, quality
control efforts sometimes were forced to take a back seat in order to meet
production quantity and delivery goals. </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Today’s mantra is
for continuous development, production and delivery, while also demanding continuous
improvement in services, speed of implementation and service quality to
increase customer satisfaction. Compromises in any of these areas are no longer
tolerable and especially not in the mainframe environment. </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">In short, just getting along isn’t good enough. Mainframe
operations can’t afford it. It is high time that automation was applied to test
processes. Compuware Topaz for Total Test delivers a significant, radical first
step with automation of unit, functional, integration and regression testing in
a manner that makes it dramatically easier for mainframe developers and testers
at all skill levels to test program functionality. </span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Combining insightful acquisitions with speedy integrations,
Compuware has established an impressive record for quarterly delivery of new or
enhanced solutions to modernize and improve the mainframe operations,
development and management environment.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Compuware’s
success combines insightful problem identification, open cooperation and
continuous focus on delivery. They bring popular development and operations
solutions into the mainframe environment and integrate them to create new,
innovative solutions. The result is easier, more efficient access to mainframe
capabilities for a new generation of developers and operations staff (mainstreaming
the mainframe), while also benefiting existing, experienced mainframe staff
with accessibility to the latest in DevOps solutions.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">We’ll close with a quote from Compuware’s CEO Chris O’Malley
that we wholeheartedly agree with, “Automated testing was the missing link to
true mainframe Agility and DevOps. Without it, large enterprises found it
difficult to rigorously safeguard the quality of their mission-critical
mainframe applications as digital demands increase. Topaz for Total Test fills
that gap, enabling our customers to automate the design, iteration and
execution of tests, boosting development velocity, quality and efficiency.”</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><br />
<br />
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/Compuware%20-%202019%20April%20announcement/Compuware%20-%20April%202019%20Announcement%20-%20Final%20.docx" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS Mincho"; mso-fareast-language: JA;">[1]</span></span></span></span></a>
Ptak Associates commentary: <a href="https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/2018/01/mainstream-mainframe-with-automated.html">https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/2018/01/mainstream-mainframe-with-automated.html</a><br />
</div>
</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Ptak Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069618857253303098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924124884860809314.post-24799778655739842782019-05-09T06:28:00.000-04:002019-05-09T09:36:52.711-04:00Gyrfalcon Technology’s lowers cost and eases access to AI’s potential by licensing its technology<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1LjwyCB2zh64tRk66kzOLHrI4xPTObS8u9Zg_8Hx1bK1qOxPinQR_3VK4IM0E-VsNW-ZQLRbV1Z9UQS95l4uSvWbK3uUb7qGx_2p_SJ_XJzRZel19bzN_AcrgSYFQzT0VxBQm3pOBrXY/s1600/Gyrfalcon-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="223" data-original-width="724" height="98" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1LjwyCB2zh64tRk66kzOLHrI4xPTObS8u9Zg_8Hx1bK1qOxPinQR_3VK4IM0E-VsNW-ZQLRbV1Z9UQS95l4uSvWbK3uUb7qGx_2p_SJ_XJzRZel19bzN_AcrgSYFQzT0VxBQm3pOBrXY/s320/Gyrfalcon-logo.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">One of the
great pleasures in working with technology is the opportunity to meet emerging,
leading edge, highly innovative companies that we can introduce to our clients
and social media followers. Meet </span><a href="https://www.gyrfalcontech.ai/about-us/company-overview/"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Gyrfalcon
Technology, Inc. (GTI)</span></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/Gyrfalcon%20AR%20-%20Kristin/Gyrfalcon%20-%20new%20licensing-DRAFT.docx" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[1]</span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
a company expanding the market for AI-driven solutions. In just two years, they
have carved out a significant market position by delivering extremely dense,
high performance AI inference accelerator chips at low cost. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-top: 2.0pt; mso-outline-level: 4; mso-pagination: widow-orphan lines-together; page-break-after: avoid;">
<b><i><span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 18.0pt; font-variant: small-caps; letter-spacing: 0.25pt; line-height: 110%;">Positioning GTI a<span style="color: #3d85c6;">nd Chips</span> </span></i></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">GTI has a
solid history of successful performance with chips embedded in a large number
and variety of commercial products. These include smart home & office
products, robot vacuums, monitoring devices (baby and pet), defect detection
equipment and AI Data Center solutions. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The typical
chip for AI applications is vendor-customized to provide optimal performance at
a narrowly defined task or application. Such customized chips require
specialized knowledge and close collaboration between the manufacturer and
buyer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The results are long development
cycles, low production runs, large devices and high cost which slows market
growth and frustrates buyers. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike most, GTI’s architecture is a
general-purpose design using software for optimization and development by GTI
or purchaser staff. The result is a high-performance, flexible-use chip at much
lower cost. A proprietary (Matrix Processing Engine™) architecture yields a
chip with extremely high processing speeds, very low power consumption and very
small footprint.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In today’s
market, vendors designing AI-driven products want easier, faster, even transparent
access to AI capabilities. Chips/systems must be more accessible (easier to
use), more powerful (on-chip memory and processing), adaptable
(general-purpose) as well as small enough and cheap enough for large volume
implementation and distribution. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To serve and
expand this market, GTI is <a href="https://www.gyrfalcontech.ai/solutions/ip-licensing/">licensing</a><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/Gyrfalcon%20AR%20-%20Kristin/Gyrfalcon%20-%20new%20licensing-DRAFT.docx" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[2]</span></span></a> its GAINBOARD™ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>System of proprietary technology and support
items. These include the technology itself (chip, architecture, system),
development and software optimization tools (documentation and product), and (optional)
technical support services. GAINBOARD™ is packaged as 16 chips on a single PCIe
card. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Two GTI chips
are available. The Lightspeeur® 2801 delivering 2.8 TOPS at 300 mW for Edge AI
applications. The Lightspeeur® 2803 delivers 16.8 TOPS at less than a watt for
Cloud AI applications. GTI continues to develop more powerful and efficient
chips. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Licensee can
access a variety of GTI proprietary software, hardware <a href="https://www.gyrfalcontech.ai/tools/">development kits</a><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/Gyrfalcon%20AR%20-%20Kristin/Gyrfalcon%20-%20new%20licensing-DRAFT.docx" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[3]</span></span></a>, e.g. Raspberry Pi and USB
3.0 dongles that work with Windows and Linux PCs. These allow for model
creation, chip evaluations and Proof-of-Concept designs. Also available is domain
specific software for the customer to optimize and customize the system for
their own use or do so with GTI’s help. </span></div>
<br />
<h4>
</h4>
<h4>
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</h4>
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launch, GTI products have established a record of successful performance
embedded in a wide variety of commercial AI products. They have proven the
value and versatility of general-purpose technology. Chips are used in smart
home &office products, robot vacuums, monitoring devices (baby and pet),
defect detection equipment, situation assessment monitoring and AI Data Center
solutions. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The hi-volume, general use
chip design for use in optimized local devices has proven attractive to hi-volume,
distributed AI-driven applications.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">GTI’s products
are well-thought through. Their strategy is makes sense as they add significant
value by making easier and cheaper to use AI commercially. This appeals to innovators;
it expands the <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>universe of conceivable applications.
For those considering an AI-driven solution, product or service, they are well
worth a look! </span><br />
<br />
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/Gyrfalcon%20AR%20-%20Kristin/Gyrfalcon%20-%20new%20licensing-DRAFT.docx" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[1]</span></span></a>
<a href="https://www.gyrfalcontech.ai/about-us/company-overview/">https://www.gyrfalcontech.ai/about-us/company-overview/</a></div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/Gyrfalcon%20AR%20-%20Kristin/Gyrfalcon%20-%20new%20licensing-DRAFT.docx" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[2]</span></span></a>
<a href="https://www.gyrfalcontech.ai/solutions/ip-licensing/">https://www.gyrfalcontech.ai/solutions/ip-licensing/</a></div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/Gyrfalcon%20AR%20-%20Kristin/Gyrfalcon%20-%20new%20licensing-DRAFT.docx" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[3]</span></span></a>
<a href="https://www.gyrfalcontech.ai/tools/">https://www.gyrfalcontech.ai/tools/</a></div>
</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Ptak Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069618857253303098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924124884860809314.post-79042899654111252242019-04-22T17:02:00.000-04:002019-04-30T16:34:59.004-04:00IBM aims to speed international payments while reducing costs!<span style="color: red;"></span><b></b><b></b><br />
<div style="line-height: 106%;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIeTRgAOQFPi85hqm8s_mBr0ArwtP50UhBrkFR7K1d1IZJFyZB3hElmWFtCOrEr5zsWSqSzcPf3RwyllWV0PIJRzaZw8mBrBJrVgQ-6LSamLQFZ-g27hNQ-EeR8GqDycd7JRYtVaJFWA4/s1600/IBM+Blockchain+2019-04-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="403" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIeTRgAOQFPi85hqm8s_mBr0ArwtP50UhBrkFR7K1d1IZJFyZB3hElmWFtCOrEr5zsWSqSzcPf3RwyllWV0PIJRzaZw8mBrBJrVgQ-6LSamLQFZ-g27hNQ-EeR8GqDycd7JRYtVaJFWA4/s320/IBM+Blockchain+2019-04-22.jpg" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;"> Image courtesy of IBM, Inc.</span><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;"> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk6842882;">Blockchain technology has the potential to fundamentally change many traditional business procedures. IBM is a major sponsor of and contributor to Blockchain technology. IBM identified an area of international finance, i.e. cross-border payments, that they believe can be disrupted by Blockchain and with digital assets. </span><br />
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk6842882;"><br /></span>
<span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk6842882;">So, no surprise, IBM
created a new platform to facilitate the creation and sending of global
payments based on Blockchain, IBM World Wire. This article describes the IBM
offering and our opinions on the subject. Note that we are computer industry
analysts, not experts in the fintech</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202019%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications/IBM%20-%20World%20Wire%20Blockchain%20-%20FINAL.docx" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk6842882;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[1]</span></span></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark: _Hlk6842882;"> area. Nor are we particularly expert on the intricacies
of cross border payments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, our
background does give us significant understanding of technology and the
difficulties of introducing new technology. Now, our thoughts on blockchain and
international financial transfers. </span><br />
<br />
In the U.S. today, moving money internationally is typically
done through commercial banks and can also involve several financial
intermediaries, including the use of a messaging system run by<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="https://www.swift.com/">SWIFT</a><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202019%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications/IBM%20-%20World%20Wire%20Blockchain%20-%20FINAL.docx" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[2]</span></span></a>, a
Belgian company. Several years ago, we did a transaction that involved
transferring money from Australia to the U.S. To our surprise, we discovered
that the transaction was not only surprisingly expensive but would also take
more than a week before the transaction was settled. We investigated
alternatives with other banks and even a credit union. We were unable to find a
faster, less expensive process.<br />
<br />
We investigated further to see if this was unique to
Australia. It was not. We spoke to the U.S. branch of a Canadian bank about doing
a similar transaction. Still no difference. That bank also expressed that there
would be a delay that exceeded a week at essentially the same cost. We were
frustrated and suggested we could almost walk to Toronto<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202019%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications/IBM%20-%20World%20Wire%20Blockchain%20-%20FINAL.docx" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[3]</span></span></a> and get
our money far more rapidly than the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>banks’ process. The banker was not amused.<br />
<br />
Let’s summarize. The current correspondent banking system is
slow and expensive. You lose the use of your money for up to a week plus pay a
significant fee to initiate the transfer. Another cost is incurred as the
currency needs to be converted in the process; in our case from Australian to
U.S. dollars. Exchange rates fluctuate, frequently and sometimes rapidly and
significantly depending on the currency. When converting currencies, there is
always a cost incurred to the sender, which needs to be taken into
consideration to ensure one is sending the correct amount to the receiver.
Typically, a bank can generate a significant amount of revenue by managing the
buy/sell foreign exchange rates being charged as part of these cross-border
payments.<br />
<h1 style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
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Description automatically generated" id="Picture_x0020_5" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" strokecolor="#0070c0" stroked="t" strokeweight="3pt" style="height: 200.25pt; margin-left: 0; margin-top: 34.4pt; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-percent: 0; mso-height-relative: page; mso-position-horizontal-relative: text; mso-position-horizontal: absolute; mso-position-vertical-relative: text; mso-position-vertical: absolute; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-percent: 0; mso-width-relative: page; mso-wrap-distance-bottom: 0; mso-wrap-distance-left: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-right: 9pt; mso-wrap-distance-top: 0; mso-wrap-style: square; position: absolute; visibility: visible; width: 361.1pt; z-index: 251662336;" type="#_x0000_t75"></v:shape><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Introducing IBM
Blockchain World Wire</span></h1>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dkmlPxFPy90trUdiL0dt9A2tq2sZVD8dKu0QNorYf2Jlh3jZdjkgeE3KNzOqmTfqfb66-iCgmf1qdqlkTloSa0G443pgQEIig6n5HkK8-XcFycLnkz4GILNj_U7m5MxdTLdziM4Bqtk/s1600/WWN-2+2019-04-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="488" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9dkmlPxFPy90trUdiL0dt9A2tq2sZVD8dKu0QNorYf2Jlh3jZdjkgeE3KNzOqmTfqfb66-iCgmf1qdqlkTloSa0G443pgQEIig6n5HkK8-XcFycLnkz4GILNj_U7m5MxdTLdziM4Bqtk/s400/WWN-2+2019-04-22.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
World Wire will transform the way banks and other Money
Transfer Operators initiate cross border payments. See Figure 1. First, with
the use of a digital asset being used for settlement, the transaction can be
completed in virtually real time; probably only taking less than a minute in
total. Thus, the money is readily available and accessible to the recipient for
reinvestment or whatever the use with no time lost. Second, because of the
efficiency of the platform, the transaction cost is much lower than what one
would normally see from banks using the more traditional correspondent bank,
SWIFT initiated transaction. IBM estimates total transaction costs would be cut
by more than 50%. From our viewpoint, IBM World Wire appears to be an excellent
idea that we believe may very well succeed.<br />
<br />
Let’s compare the Blockchain process to SWIFT.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, IBM World Wire allows point-to-point
transfers to take place versus the SWIFT system’s reliance on multiple
intermediary banks, which adds to the time and cost it takes to complete the
transaction. Second, IBM World Wire would be more efficient and less error
prone. Finally, the IBM’s system is based<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>on Blockchain technology, therefore IBM World Wire easily handles
digital assets such as stable coins. SWIFT indicated it was studying the path
to the use of <a href="https://www.swift.com/insights/press-releases/swift-and-accenture-outline-path-to-distributed-ledger-technology-adoption-within-financial-services">Distributed
Ledger technology</a><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202019%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications/IBM%20-%20World%20Wire%20Blockchain%20-%20FINAL.docx" name="_ftnref4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[4]</span></span></a> within
its messaging service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Digital assets
represent a huge growth area for payments. As near as we can tell today,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the advantage goes to IBM World Wire. <br />
<br />
<h1 style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 110%;">What
about SWIFT? </span></h1>
<br />
Let’s take a closer look at SWIFT as the competitor. Their
website indicates that they are planning to upgrade their service to satisfy
their banking customers. (NOTE: the statement appears to be a few years old. No
details are included.) The large banks are significant shareholders of SWIFT.
IBM’s presentation noted that payments represent more than 30% of global
banking revenue. Thus, the incumbent that IBM World Wire is competing with is
not only closely (financially) tied to the banks but also represents an
important part of banking revenue. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that none
of the largest global banks appear in IBM’s list of those involved in the World
Wire project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
Some other considerations. Generally, it is very difficult
to displace a well-established incumbent based only on cost savings and better
technology. This case has occurred many times in computers. There are various
reasons for this; (not-so-) simple inertia is one reason. Another reason is
that change typically involves risk and many organizations are very risk
adverse. If the potential change risks or even <a href="https://draft.blogger.com/null" name="_Hlk6571445">threatens
a significant erosion of a bank’s revenue</a>, that is an excellent reason to
delay or resist the change.<br />
<br />
However, if the new technology company identifies a growth
area where the incumbent is not strong, they have a more advantageous (level)
playing field. This is a good entry-point and opportunity for a challenger to
grow revenue. Several trends in the payments industry appear to provide such an
opportunity for IBM. These include the entry of non-banks into payments. Also,
developing countries without strong existing ties to SWIFT have significant
growth <span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 110%;">potential. </span><span style="line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Europe (since the advent of
the euro) itself may be tempted to explore this new technology.</span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 110%;"></span><br />
<br />
<h1 style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 110%;">A
Final Word</span></h1>
<br />
A 2018 quote from a McKinsey<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202019%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications/IBM%20-%20World%20Wire%20Blockchain%20-%20FINAL.docx" name="_ftnref5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[5]</span></span></a> <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/financial-services/our-insights/synergy-and-disruption-ten-trends-shaping-fintech">web
site</a>, appears to be quite germane to our discussion.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“While
cutting-edge technology is exciting, it can also be complex; demand is also
untested, which can result in long lead times with little opportunity to
validate the business model. As an example, consider cross-border money transfer,
a market that has traditionally been dominated by large incumbents such as
Western Union. Despite much hype about fintech—particularly blockchain-based
solutions—entering the space, no start-up has gained anywhere near the scale of
</i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TransferWise"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">TransferWise</i></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202019%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications/IBM%20-%20World%20Wire%20Blockchain%20-%20FINAL.docx" name="_ftnref6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[6]</span></b></span></i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">, a digital business built on top of
traditional payments rails, rather than a reinvention using the latest tech.
TransferWise used great user experience and distinctive marketing campaigns to
grow rapidly, enabling it to successfully disrupt the space, and to report £117
million in revenues in March 2018”</i></div>
<br />
While we are enthusiastic about the prospects for IBM World
Wire, we believe IBM will have to battle for success. It may take a while for
IBM World Wire to gain enough market share for the offering to become
profitable. We hope that IBM is in this project for the long haul. As the
reader might expect, we believe that McKinsey’s caution is justified.<br />
<b></b><i><br /></i><b></b>
<br />
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202019%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications/IBM%20-%20World%20Wire%20Blockchain%20-%20FINAL.docx" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[1]</span></span></a>
Fintech is a term new to us. It stands for the application of technology to
financial services.</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202019%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications/IBM%20-%20World%20Wire%20Blockchain%20-%20FINAL.docx" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[2]</span></span></a>
See <a href="https://www.swift.com/">https://www.swift.com/</a>.</div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202019%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications/IBM%20-%20World%20Wire%20Blockchain%20-%20FINAL.docx" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[3]</span></span></a>
We hope the reader can forgive our sarcasm. </div>
<div id="ftn4" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202019%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications/IBM%20-%20World%20Wire%20Blockchain%20-%20FINAL.docx" name="_ftn4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[4]</span></span></a>
From Swift website: <a href="https://www.swift.com/insights/press-releases/swift-and-accenture-outline-path-to-distributed-ledger-technology-adoption-within-financial-services">https://www.swift.com/insights/press-releases/swift-and-accenture-outline-path-to-distributed-ledger-technology-adoption-within-financial-services</a></div>
<div id="ftn5" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202019%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications/IBM%20-%20World%20Wire%20Blockchain%20-%20FINAL.docx" name="_ftn5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[5]</span></span></a>
McKinsey’s website for 2018 quote. <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/financial-services/our-insights/synergy-and-disruption-ten-trends-shaping-fintech">https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/financial-services/our-insights/synergy-and-disruption-ten-trends-shaping-fintech</a></div>
<div id="ftn6" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/_%20%20000%202019%20Commentaries%20and%20Publications/IBM%20-%20World%20Wire%20Blockchain%20-%20FINAL.docx" name="_ftn6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[6]</span></span></a>
There is an interesting article on TransferWise in Wikipedia that is worth
reading. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TransferWise">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TransferWise</a></div>
</div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>Ptak Associateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14069618857253303098noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-924124884860809314.post-18741532901717530902019-04-19T16:55:00.000-04:002019-05-09T09:41:26.874-04:00Quantum Computing - act now for tomorrow’s advantage<h3>
<i>By Rich Ptak</i></h3>
<div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtnEANSP2gnDYuXL509N4Hce8kQIjsKYejo04Gkr32BpqKmm9daSHrAVft1KLmMx1XHzJyZochGvB-QGSSx7EDIwqdjUh4ly_hoAbAK8l1MLEGr2CVKXs4XVmrQLD7Pyyj47YzC4PJ534/s1600/Rigetti+logo+excellent.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtnEANSP2gnDYuXL509N4Hce8kQIjsKYejo04Gkr32BpqKmm9daSHrAVft1KLmMx1XHzJyZochGvB-QGSSx7EDIwqdjUh4ly_hoAbAK8l1MLEGr2CVKXs4XVmrQLD7Pyyj47YzC4PJ534/s1600/Rigetti+logo+excellent.png" /></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We’ve been spending more time
with quantum computing (QC) vendors lately. Partially because we find QC to be
fascinating and intellectually challenging and partially and somewhat more
importantly, because we’ve concluded that the time for enterprises to start
educating some employees on and about quantum computing is<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> now</b>. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.1pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The number of enterprises, institutions
and individuals involved in quantum computing has increased dramatically over
the last year. Enterprises that delay team development and education will be
seriously handicapped when QC becomes a commercial reality. We discuss </span><a href="https://www.rigetti.com/"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Rigetti
Computing</span></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/Quantum%20Computing%20-%20Rigetti/Rigetti%20Computing%20WEB%20VIewoverview%20-%20FINAL.docx" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[1]</span></span></span></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> one of two firms currently providing public
access to real quantum computers. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.1pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.1pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There exists a global
competition to capitalize on the potential power of quantum computing. This
includes major efforts in Australia, Canada, China, India, Japan, and UK. (China
is arguably furthest along with its $11Billion budget for a new QC research
center.) In December 2018, the US Congress and President Trump authorized some
$1.2B for coordinating quantum research and development efforts. This is in
addition to a Department of Energy $218 Million project budget. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.1pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.1pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Yes, we know that the actual day
of a fully commercialized quantum computer lies in the somewhat hazy future.
And, yes it remains important to maintain focus on today’s rapidly evolving,
global competition and the technical challenges and benefits to be realized
with proper application of AI, blockchain, etc. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.1pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.1pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">All that said, you really need to
start preparing for that ‘hazy day in the future’. Because, visible progress is
being made from theory toward practical application. The fact is solution
providers and developers face a significant learning curve to acquire the
quantum computing understanding they need to effectively leverage quantum
computer systems for commercial applications. Quantum computing systems require
a radical change in thinking from current DevOps in order to effectively apply
quantum systems in a useful way. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.1pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
</div>
<h2 style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.1pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 13.0pt;">What’s going on</span></h2>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.1pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.1pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There exists a global
competition to capitalize on the potential power of quantum computing. This
includes major efforts in Australia, Canada, China, India, Japan, and UK. (China
is arguably furthest along with its $11Billion budget for a new QC research
center.) In December 2018, the US Congress and President Trump authorized some
$1.2B for coordinating quantum research and development efforts. This is in
addition to a Department of Energy $218 Million project budget. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.1pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Yes, we know that the actual day
of a fully commercialized quantum computer lies in the somewhat hazy future.
And, yes it remains important to maintain focus on today’s rapidly evolving,
global competition and the technical challenges and benefits to be realized
with proper application of AI, blockchain, etc. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.1pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">All that said, you really need to
start preparing for that ‘hazy day in the future’. Because, visible progress is
being made from theory toward practical application. The fact is solution
providers and developers face a significant learning curve to acquire the
quantum computing understanding they need to effectively leverage quantum
computer systems for commercial applications. Quantum computing systems require
a radical change in thinking from current DevOps in order to effectively apply
quantum systems in a useful way. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.1pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.1pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">For now, we think Rigetti
provides sufficiently significant differentiation to make them interesting and
a particularly attractive partner for an introduction to quantum computing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrxNnHZpVFLtV6fGLr2bj33gDJmyRZ7xZcrSWgIbvT8nb4xPwel3nU56XMFQC-h5FUe3M2yMGIdB8OYyPKS9hfIcvi0s1bfyPzm59h9AhIBMWPyIDrZa8lutdqKgxUtT8yH5M2CaTvhI/s1600/Rigetti+-+QCS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="531" data-original-width="704" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrxNnHZpVFLtV6fGLr2bj33gDJmyRZ7xZcrSWgIbvT8nb4xPwel3nU56XMFQC-h5FUe3M2yMGIdB8OYyPKS9hfIcvi0s1bfyPzm59h9AhIBMWPyIDrZa8lutdqKgxUtT8yH5M2CaTvhI/s400/Rigetti+-+QCS.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Figure </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">1</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rigetti Quantum Cloud Service model<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></span></b></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Rigetti Computing stands out from
most of the quantum computing field for a number of reasons. Here are a few
that caught our attention: </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.1pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .55in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-line-height-alt: 1.1pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.3in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Pragmatic,
action-oriented focus –</span></i></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> organized
and dedicated to deliver pragmatic, productive entrepreneur- and user-oriented
systems, services and solutions. Experimentation and knowledge advancement
shared with and through the network of research and engineering partners with
marketability the goal. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.1pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .55in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-line-height-alt: 1.1pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.3in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Engineering
and research & development operate in parallel</span></i></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">– </i></b>Closer interaction allows them to
more rapidly engineer and integrate research advances into the production
process. Thus engineering (pragmatic, production oriented) and development
(leading-edge in knowledge and access) complement and support each other. This
operational model allows Rigetti to more efficiently develop and distribute custom
circuits and production-oriented tools; the intent is to advance not only the
knowledge and understanding of quantum computing, but to increase and
facilitate access to quantum computing on its the path to full commercialization
and problem resolution.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.1pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .55in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-line-height-alt: 1.1pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.3in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Rigetti
Quantum Cloud Services</span></i></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">– </i></b>will
help users as they develop and run their models and algorithms on Rigetti’s
quantum-classical hybrid computers. They currently have 2-16 qubit computers,
will increase to 32 qubits later this year and plan 128<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>qubits within 18 months.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.1pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .55in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-line-height-alt: 1.1pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.3in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Training
and mentorship program</span></i></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">–</i></b>
targeted to aid early career engineers and technicians with internship get quantum
computing experience via their Junior Quantum Engineer (JQE) program.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.1pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: .55in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-line-height-alt: 1.1pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.3in;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Rigetti
Quantum Advantage Prize –</span></i></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of $1M for developing an algorithm that
when run on Rigetti’s QCS platform, will either reach a faster solution time,
improve the quality of the solution or at a lower cost compared to the best
classical algorithm.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDt0ZSv_MpX-wImPsuZYZGSf7Z5go_AO0SgPUoIcbED7l9AMnkbcDwevPDqP2QHYl5Sdw6vhZoAGREL8K8fU_Yse0UMQ0YW2qyXw1T77Y4zIfom5zS80vVoK37nsb5ajCREQbtOQZCEw/s1600/Rigetti+Full+Stack+image.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="501" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDt0ZSv_MpX-wImPsuZYZGSf7Z5go_AO0SgPUoIcbED7l9AMnkbcDwevPDqP2QHYl5Sdw6vhZoAGREL8K8fU_Yse0UMQ0YW2qyXw1T77Y4zIfom5zS80vVoK37nsb5ajCREQbtOQZCEw/s400/Rigetti+Full+Stack+image.JPG" width="310" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;">Figure </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;">2</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 110%;"> Rigetti Full Stack capability<span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></span></b></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 6pt 0in; text-align: left; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Rigetti’s success is seen in the demonstrable evolution of full-stack
systems, strong support services and a growing library of shared apps for
solution development. Figure 2. Their In-house foundry facilitates rapid (4-6
week) turn-around (design-to-delivery) of customized integrated circuit boards.</span></div>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.1pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Rigetti is one of only two
vendors providing widespread direct public access to their quantum systems. Their
unique access model gives users exclusive real-time access to Rigetti’s
quantum-classical system. Rigetti users schedule sessions on quantum-classical
systems. Users load their experiments/apps onto classical computers co-located
with the quantum system; then have dedicated, uninterrupted access to the
quantum processor during their scheduled session. Notable also because the job
is not queued nor submitted remotely; but run as a dedicated real-time job. This
allows more experiments or iterations of experiments to be run. Local access also
eliminates remote access induced delays. Rigetti support service teams are
available to work with customers if they desire. </span></div>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.1pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">One more observation, we found
Rigetti documentation and writing to be clear and concise. Of course, there are
deeply detailed, highly technical articles which communicate experimental
details with great precision. Most of which is distinctly unhelpful during the
very early part of an introduction to aspiring developers or engineers
interested in learning about quantum computing. Rigetti staff understand the
necessity for clear, concise communication and they deliver just that. Kudos to
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
</div>
<h2 style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.1pt;">
<span style="font-size: 13.0pt;">Recommendations</span></h2>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.1pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Significant effort and investments in quantum computing are currently
underway worldwide. All manner of institutions, aerospace, energy, even
retailers have organized teams at work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Through networks, partnerships and cooperative arrangements, these<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>teams are working to develop applications
usable in chemistry (modeling), financial (risk analysis), medicine, artificial
intelligence(AI)/machine learning (ML) as they work to optimize existing and
develop quantum unique algorithms. </span></div>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.1pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, the reality of global
competition increases the importance of technological leadership in quantum
computing. Those who lag in quantum knowledge and expertise will find
themselves at a significant competitive disadvantage. Multiple efforts are
underway to accelerate the maturation of application development tools beyond
esoteric physics and quantum mechanics for use by a wider audience. </span></div>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-line-height-alt: 1.1pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It is critical to act today to facilitate the growth of a larger,
dispersed base of quantum knowledgeable and quantum-literate staff. Some will
be early adopters while others will actually pioneer the earliest at commercialization
of a quantum advantage. Those that put off acquiring any knowledge in this
area, will find themselves at a serious competitive disadvantage when full quantum
commercialization arrives. </span></div>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<br clear="all" /></div>
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/Quantum%20Computing%20-%20Rigetti/Rigetti%20Computing%20WEB%20VIewoverview%20-%20FINAL.docx" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[1]</span></span></a>
Find more info on Rigetti here: <a href="https://www.rigetti.com/">https://www.rigetti.com/</a></div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/Quantum%20Computing%20-%20Rigetti/Rigetti%20Computing%20WEB%20VIewoverview%20-%20FINAL.docx" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[2]</span></span></a>
Find more info here: <a href="https://www.research.ibm.com/ibm-q/">https://www.research.ibm.com/ibm-q/</a></div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/Quantum%20Computing%20-%20Rigetti/Rigetti%20Computing%20WEB%20VIewoverview%20-%20FINAL.docx" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[3]</span></span></a>
Find more info here: <a href="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/quantum">https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/quantum</a></div>
<div id="ftn4" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/Quantum%20Computing%20-%20Rigetti/Rigetti%20Computing%20WEB%20VIewoverview%20-%20FINAL.docx" name="_ftn4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[4]</span></span></a>
Find more info here: <a href="https://www.dwavesys.com/quantum-computing">https://www.dwavesys.com/quantum-computing</a></div>
<div id="ftn5" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/Quantum%20Computing%20-%20Rigetti/Rigetti%20Computing%20WEB%20VIewoverview%20-%20FINAL.docx" name="_ftn5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[5]</span></span></a>
Find more info here: <a href="https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/aws/introducing-qc2-the-quantum-compute-cloud/">https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/aws/introducing-qc2-the-quantum-compute-cloud/</a></div>
<div id="ftn6" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/Quantum%20Computing%20-%20Rigetti/Rigetti%20Computing%20WEB%20VIewoverview%20-%20FINAL.docx" name="_ftn6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[6]</span></span></a>
Our comments on: IBM: <a href="https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/2018/03/speeding-advancement-of-quantum.html">https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/2018/03/speeding-advancement-of-quantum.html</a></div>
<div id="ftn7" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/TEST/Documents/Quantum%20Computing%20-%20Rigetti/Rigetti%20Computing%20WEB%20VIewoverview%20-%20FINAL.docx" name="_ftn7" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn7;" title=""><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span style="color: #213f7d; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 110%;">[7]</span></span></a>
More from us on IBM: <a href="https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/2018/03/speeding-advancement-of-quantum.html">https://ptakassociates.blogspot.com/2018/03/speeding-advancement-of-quantum.html</a></div>
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