Skills Links

Conducting Best and Current Practices Research-A Starter Kit
http://www.ctg.albany.edu/resources/abstract/abbest-current_kit.html
When facing a problem in your organization, it's helpful to find out how other groups confronted and solved similar issues. This guide teaches you different methods for researching best and current practices. The starter kit contains step-by-step instructions on how to do best and current practices research. It also has helpful Internet resources, databases, listservs, publications, and professional associations.

Making Smart IT Choices
http://www.ctg.albany.edu/publications/guides/smartit2
This CTG handbook (in PDF format) helps government managers evaluate and choose the best technology solutions for their business problems. A variety of practical tools for analysis and interpretation are also presented.

And Justice for All: Designing Your Business Case for Integrating Justice Information
http://www.ctg.albany.edu/resources/abstract/abdoj_justice.html
This CTG guidebook was written for the justice community, but is applicable to all government organizations. The guide leads readers through the analysis, design, and presentation of project business cases. It also contains appendices of useful tools, references, examples, and resources.

Models for Action: Practical Approaches to Electronic Records Management and Preservation
http://www.ctg.albany.edu/publications/reports/models_for_action
This CTG report (in PDF format) describes tools that show how analysis and work flow can help agencies incorporate electronic records requirements into the design of new information systems. These tools link an organization's business objectives to its records management processes.

StatSoft
http://www.statsoftinc.com/textbook/esc1.html
This electronic textbook helps build statistical skills by explaining basic concepts like variables and significance. It also covers more advanced statistical processes.

Association for Information Management Professionals
http://www.arma.org/publications/publications.cfm
This not-for-profit association provides good information management resources. The Web site includes two online publications, "Information Management Journal" and "InfoPro." It also has a searchable bibliography of books on information management.

ERIC Clearinghouse
http://ericacve.org/pfile2.asp?ID=1
Part of Ohio State University, ERIC is a clearinghouse for adult, career, and vocational education. This section of ERIC provides links to information management issues, skills, and tools.

Data Warehousing Knowledge Center
http://www.datawarehousing.org/
This resource is provided by the Foundation for Strategic Enterprise Knowledge Centers. This site is a comprehensive source book and information center about data warehousing technologies.

KDnuggets
http://www.kdnuggets.com/
This newsletter covers data mining and Web mining. The site includes links to such topics as education, training, standards, publications, and solutions.

California State University Technology Training Guides
http://www.csun.edu/itr/guides/
These online guides teach people how to use Microsoft Office 2000 applications, operate e-mail, create and publish Web pages, and perform other basic technical activities.

University of Kansas Virtual Presentation Assistant
http://www.ukans.edu/cwis/units/coms2/vpa/vpa.htm
This site is a tutorial designed to help people become better public speakers. It covers basic preparation and presentation skills and includes useful links.

Strategic Communications
http://www.strategiccomm.com/disasters.html
This article tells you how to handle presentation disasters. You’ll learn what to do if "you find you have 15 minutes instead of the 45 you planned on to present" or "the decision maker is forced to leave before you have gotten to your key points."

ZUniversity of Newcastle upon Tyne - Presentation Skills
http://lorien.ncl.ac.uk/ming/Dept/Tips/present/present.htm
This site provides information on different presentation skills, from preparing your presentation to tips for effective communication with your audience. Written specifically for people in technical fields.

Computing and Communications
http://www.washington.edu/computing/training/560/zz-tufte.html
This site explains how to present data on the Web. It’s based on Edward Tufte’s books: "The Visual Display of Quantitative Information," "Visual Explanations," and "Envisioning Information."

The Center for Project Management
http://www.center4pm.com
The Center site offers project management information including a project process model and an article on how to monitor the vital signs of your IT project.

The Project Management Institute
http://www.pmi.org
The Institute is a nonprofit professional organization that establishes project management standards, and provides seminars, educational programs and professional certification. The site has a list of relevant articles on project management. "PM Network," the Institute’s journal, is also online.

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