The Politics of Design

Mike Alvarez


I love my family, technology, solving problems and building things (virtual or real). I am a leader, manager, follower, planner, developer, salesman, and designer -- in short; an Architect. I love the multi-faceted aspect of this role. I like the challenge of combining science and art into a craft; a craft that possesses immense value but is extremely difficult to measure and define.

My 17+ year career started with the company that created the first online world. CompuServe was my first job and was an incredible experience partly because I was able to get deeply immersed in advanced technologies like C++, RPC and Win32 programming, but mainly because the talent at that company was overwhelming. Too bad we didn't see that whole Internet thing coming. Big thanks, Al Gore!

My time in consulting taught me how to tame down my overzealous technology penchant and deliver solutions the business needed, not the solutions I thought were cool. I had a startup stint for 5 years at a company that could not fail and was going to revolutionize the networking world. Too bad we didn't see that whole telecom-giant-accounting-fraud thing coming (sensing a pattern?). While we did not revolutionize the networking world, the company did survive and was acquired and I was once again surrounded by incredible technical talent and cutting edge Microsoft-based technology.

If I have to sum it all up, my career has primarily been defined from the people with I have been fortunate (and in some cases, not so fortunate) to work. These people have shaped me much more than the technology. They are the ones who inspire or challenge me to apply that balance of art and science to deliver business value.


Mike Marshall


Through 25 years in the software business, my passion for great design has somehow managed to outrun my natural cynicism. My desire to challenge myself and those around me to create something great -- and the resistance that I sometimes meet along the way -- has more than adequately prepared me to become an old, retired curmudgeon someday.

My first job in the software industry was in 1984 at Reynolds and Reynolds. They taught me how much more important and more challenging understanding people was then understanding technology.

In 1990, I signed on with what would be the first of 4 successive small software product companies where I would be continually re-educated in the subject of creativity. Each small company had its own flavor of challenges ultimately providing me with what I have sometimes called a "graduate degree in Business Bewilderment". Then, with the turn of the century, I sailed into the approaching technology storm front as an independent software architect and consultant. Amidst all the start-up hype and .COM hoopla, the experiences re-affirmed my beliefs that working hard and seeking a deeper understanding produce stronger designs and innovative strategies. Every technology success story has these things at its core.

Over an interesting and varied career, I've been privileged to work with some incredibly talented architects, leaders, developers, and entrepreneurs. The experiences have given me the opportunity to face complex technical and cultural challenges alike. And on the rare occasion, I've seen glimpses of my ultimate goal -- to catch "lightning in a bottle" -- to help create something truly great.