Communications of the ACM
Data Brokers Are a Threat to Democracy
The unregulated practice of data brokerage is incredibly dangerous and harmful, and policymakers can ignore it no longer.
From Communications of the ACM
The Whole Professional
A new book inspires a reflection on what it means to be a whole, competent, and effective professional — and may portend a wave of disruption in education.
From Communications of the ACM
Learning For the New Digital Age
Digital machines are automating knowledge work at an accelerating pace. How shall we learn and stay relevant?
From Communications of the ACM
Avalanches Are Coming
Computing technology has generated conditions for radical transformations of jobs and professions — including education. How shall we cope?
From Communications of the ACM
'Surfing Toward the Future'
A new report from Chile about improving economic competitiveness advances a novel interpretation of innovation. Timing is everything.
From Communications of the ACM
Design Thinking
Design thinking is the newest fashion for finding better solutions to problems. Combining it with computational thinking offers some real possibilities for improving...
From Communications of the ACM
The Other Side of Language
The conversation for action gives a framework for completing professional actions effectively.
From Communications of the ACM
Thumb Numbers
Rules of thumb stated as numerical rules are enticing, but many are folk theorems that may not apply in your critical situation.
From Communications of the ACM
The Science in Computer Science
Computer science is in a period of renaissance as it rediscovers its science roots.
From Communications of the ACM
Moods, Wicked Problems, and Learning
Wicked problems and learning environments present tough mood challenges for leaders and teachers. Telepresence and sensory gadgets are unlikely to replace physical...
From Communications of the ACM
Moods
Recognizing and working with moods — your own, your team's, and your customers' — is essential to professional success.
From Communications of the ACM
Don't Feel Bad If You Can't Predict the Future
Wise experts and powerful machines are no match for chaotic events and human declarations. Beware of their predictions and be humble in your own.
From Communications of the ACM
The Myth of the Elevator Pitch
Instead of pitching, listen and offer.
From Communications of the ACM
The Idea Idea
What if practices rather than ideas are the main source of innovation?
From Communications of the ACM
The Grounding Practice
The skill of making and recognizing grounded claims is essential for professional practice. Getting objective data to support your conclusions is not enough.
From Communications of the ACM
Managing Time, Part 2
Masterful time management means not just tracking of messages in your personal environment, but managing your coordination network with others.
From Communications of the ACM
Who Are We - Now?
Considerable progress has been made toward the formation of a computing profession since we started tracking it in this column a decade ago.
From Communications of the ACM
Managing Time
Professionals overwhelmed with information glut can find hope from new insights about time management.
From Communications of the ACM
Discussing Cyber Attack
Cyber attack—the other side of cyber defense—deserves a more open discussion than it has been getting.
From Communications of the ACM
The Resurgence of Parallelism
Parallel computation is making a comeback after a quarter century of neglect. Past research can be put to quick use today.
From Communications of the ACM