Opinion The 10 Most Mispronounced Terms in IT (And How to Say Them Right) Max Jahn, June 29, 2025June 29, 2025 Ever wondered if it’s “LIE-nucks” or “LIN-ucks”? Or why your colleague insists NGINX is pronounced “engine-X”? From PostgreSQL to Kubernetes, developers routinely mispronounce common tech terms because we learn them through reading, not speaking. Here are the correct pronunciations for IT’s most butchered names—and the stories behind them. Continue Reading
Opinion Am I the only one experiencing Gen AI fatigue? Max Jahn, November 12, 2023July 22, 2024 Though Gen AI tools have been exciting in recent years, there has been a growing sense of exhaustion about them. According to Oguz Acar in Harvard Business Review, generative AI may already have reached its peak. Even though generative AI has had great success in the past, there are still so many structural issues to fix. In the current climate of FOMO, overheated discussions about generative AI are fueling a lot of projects. Stop the hype. Continue Reading
Analysis Seeing Stripes? How to Tame the Cargo Cults in Your Tech Herd Max Jahn, June 18, 2023June 20, 2023 Ever discovered painted horses masquerading as zebras in your tech landscape? My last post helped you spot these instances of cargo cults in tech – the adoption of innovations and trends without truly understanding the principles behind. This time, we’re focusing on the next crucial step: dismantling these misguided initiatives. In ‘Seeing Stripes? How to Tame the Cargo Cults in Your Tech Herd’, I share strategies to revert the influence of these ‘painted horses’ and foster an environment that breeds true zebras. Continue Reading
Opinion Summit or Mirage? The Misrepresentation of Tech Progress Through the Mountain Metaphor Max Jahn, May 31, 2023June 4, 2023 Mountain climbing is a popular metaphor for long and arduous business transformation projects, but it paints a false picture of technology’s constant change and evolution. The metaphor of climbing a mountain should be replaced with a more appropriate one that communicates the idea of continual progress and adaptation, rather than climbing a mountain. Continue Reading
Opinion Dispelling the Universal Need for a Cloud Center of Excellence: When Your Organization Might Fare Better Without One Max Jahn, May 21, 2023May 21, 2023 An increasingly popular choice for companies just getting started in the cloud is the Cloud Center of Excellence (CCoE). Although a CCoE may be a useful resource for many companies as they make their way into the cloud, this is not always the case. Before deciding whether a CCoE is the best option, each company must take a hard look at its own requirements, strengths, and long-term objectives. This post explores some indicators that setting up a CCoE might not be the perfect match for you. Continue Reading
Opinion The Cloud Center of Excellence: A Modern Cargo Cult or Catalyst for Cloud Success? Max Jahn, May 14, 2023May 16, 2023 The Cloud Center of Excellence (CCoE) has become a must-have for organizations, but is it driven by the real need or a consultant-driven fad? To reap the benefits of the cloud, it is important to have a solid IT and cloud strategy first. A CCoE must be tailored to the organization’s specific requirements, goals, and context, not a generic one-size-fits-all solution. Strategic thinking before embarking on a CCoE journey is essential to unlock the full potential of the cloud and avoid the pitfalls of the cargo cult mentality Continue Reading
Opinion Redefining the Battlefield: Conquering the Business-IT Divide Max Jahn, April 16, 2023April 12, 2023 In today’s fast-paced business world, bridging the gap between business and IT is crucial for achieving success. Business professionals are more tech-savvy than ever, but conflicts often arise from rigid and bureaucratic IT environments. To overcome this divide, organizations must foster a shared understanding of value streams, streamline work processes, create feedback loops, build enduring cross-functional teams, and reconsider the outsourcing of critical IT systems management. Continue Reading
Opinion Will AI turn labor markets into rockstar markets? Max Jahn, April 8, 2023April 9, 2023 As AI systems like GPT-4 and Midjourney continue to advance, they are taking over tasks traditionally done by junior employees, potentially reducing entry-level roles and the pool of people available to develop into masters of their craft. This shift may lead to a smaller number of highly sought-after experts and a rise in interdisciplinary skills, adaptability, and critical thinking. Continue Reading