Stories by Patrick Thibodeau

IBM Retirement Plan Promises Jobs Through '13

IBM is offering employees who are nearing retirement, and who might be worried about layoffs, a one-time opportunity to participate in a program that would guarantee their employment through Dec. 31, 2013.

Outsourcing Allows Utility to Refocus IT

Consumers Energy has hired an outsourcer to take over some of its day-to-day IT operations, and it hopes the move will allow its own data center workers to focus on projects that directly impact its bottom line.

For the NFL, Big Is Better -- Except in IT

The National Football League may have big stadiums, big players and big games, but when it comes to computer systems, the league's vice president of IT, Nancy Galietti, doesn't use the word big.

Analysis: HP's layoff plans and what they mean

You gotta love Silicon Valley. The Facebook IPO is creating dozens and dozens of new millionaires. Apple, thanks to the iPhone and iPad, has seen its employment nearly double in two years.

HP plans massive layoff, say reports

The last time Hewlett-Packard Co. announced a layoff of 25,000 people, it was on the same day that Lehman Brothers collapsed and the stock market nose-dived. That was in September 2008.

For Univ. of Kentucky, SAP's HANA is 'disruptive'

The University of Kentucky says it has reshaped its business intelligence (BI) capability as a result of adopting SAP's in-memory system, HANA. Vince Kellen, the university CIO, calls it a "disruptive technology," and for this institution at least, that appears true.

From what to watt, Emerson aims at total information awareness

Someday soon the digital economy will be powered by big black boxes, formerly known as datacentres, that are so self-managing they may be partly robotic.

Senate bill slots 55,000 tech green cards

WASHINGTON - There's a new push in the Senate to set aside as many as 55,000 green cards to science, technology, engineering and math graduates -- so-called STEM workers.

Utility hires outsourcer -- but keeps IT staff

Consumers Energy, a large utility in Michigan, has hired an offshore outsourcing firm to take over some of its IT operations. But instead of cutting its internal IT employees, it is retraining them for new types of work.

Infosys' legal problems prompt analysts' concerns

WASHINGTON - The company that is a target in a federal probe on its use of visas, Infosys, says it is assuring customers that the government investigation, despite its unknown outcome, will not impact its business.

New IBM retirement program guarantees job through 2013

IBM is offering employees who are nearing retirement -- and may be worried about a layoff -- a one-time voluntary program that would ensure their employment through Dec. 31, 2013.

The NFL thrives on big, except in IT

NEW YORK - The NFL may have big stadiums, big players and big games, but when it comes to its IT operation, Nancy Galietti, the NFL's vice president of IT, does not use the word big.

Lofgren says 'toxic environment' stalls visa reform

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) isn't giving up on a bill to give green cards to college graduates with advanced degrees in technical fields, but she has been unable to find any Republican backing for it.

Infosys says it's 'target' of federal probe

WASHINGTON -- One of India's largest IT services firm, Infosys, is warning investors that it is facing a U.S. government probe over its use of work visas, and "cannot predict the final outcome."

CS Enrollments on the Rise, Up 10% in 2011-12

Interest in computer science continues to grow among undergraduates, according to a survey conducted by the Computing Research Association (CRA). The number of students pursuing computer science majors rose nearly 10% in the 2011-2012 academic year, marking the fourth straight year of increases.