See, we missed a great opportunity to catch up so many things happened at Dell.

I don’t know where you got the impression that I said “people being more important than process …”. I guess it is probably because I said “number one priority is people and number two is process”. However that’s the priority for “managers” – for me, I can delegate process to our PMO but I can’t delegate people to others. I have to be personally responsible for hiring decisions. At the whole program level, people, process and technology carry the same weight.

As far as “super star”, I am not sure if I want to have that on my resume. I re-read Jim Collins’ book when I prepared the keynote and the first thing he talked about is “Level 5 leadership”. Those people who have made long lasting impacts are the people who have extremely strong professional will but also personal humility to a degree that we can hardly remember their names any more. I think our industry has more super stars than it should and if I have the choice, I’d rather become a person with strong professional will and personal humility like Darwin E. Smith, Colman Mockler etc.

cheers,
Ed

Great post, and I’m super-bummed to have missed your and Carol’s presentation in D.C. as I have only heard great things about it. I wanted to offer one comment about “people being more important than process …”

You’re wrong.

Now, I know you’ll take this the right way since you know me, but I can absolutely assure you that if you continue to hire people at Dell, even the incredibly bright people you have been able to attract recently, if you (and Zita) don’t pay careful attention to the deployment and governance model directing everyone’s work you will end up in largely the same place you were when I was last in Austin.

I promise.

I know you’re a big fan of my “people, process, and technology” mantra — hell, I’ve heard you repeat it from a stage (thanks!) But you have to remember that mantra and not sacrifice any one pillar of analytics success for another.

People without technology is an obvious fail; people without process becomes an insidious fail, one with repercussions that often take much longer to manifest than those associated with technology or resource constraints.

All of the successful digital measurement organizations we work with at Web Analytics Demystified, and all of those we see across the globe, are paying as much attention to process as they do people and technology. The brilliance of Bob Page, Joe Megibow, Shari Cleary, and the other “Monster’s of Analytics” in the industry today is that they have figured out how to balance governance and resources to produce tangible results for the business.

I know you will do the same at Dell. Find balance in Zita’s organization and you will continue to rock the stage at Emetrics and before long we will say “Bob Page, Joe Megibow, Lynn Lanphier, Dylan Lewis, and Ed Wu” when we talk about the best of the best.

(Great thoughts about the need for managers, too!)

Anyway, I am very excited to hear that you are doing so well executing against your and Etienne’s plan. I wish you all the best in your endeavors, and next time I’m in Austin let’s grab coffee.

Best,

Eric T. Peterson
Web Analytics Demystified, Inc.
http://www.webanalyticsdemystified.com

No Sir, I asked you to be on th main stage because Dell has been doing some really great work for many years and and you have kicked it into high gear. I am certain that this audience wants to hear Dell’s story.

As for your perfect attendance and your history with eMetrics: Thank You!

Please send your resume to ed underscore wu at dell dot com

My team and I stumbled across your blog today while doing some research on the WAA Web Analyst Certification Program and I just had to comment. The more we would read the farther our jaws would drop and we would mumble…”this guy understands us!”

I am currently a web analyst for a large retail corporation in Dallas and I applied for one of the web analyst roles with Dell. My dad is a project manager with Dell and I have listened to him praise the company and their forward thinking. So I was very excited when I saw the position come available, and reading your blog just makes me thirsty for it! I am so passionate about web analytics and what we do day to day. It is so great to hear someone else with an “evangelical” spirit for it.

I would love to discuss this position with you further as well as what I can bring to the team. Also, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the Web Analyst Certification process as it is something myself and my current team are very interested in pursuing.

Thanks for your insight as we have thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

Lauren R.

Thanks for the post and the great blog! I am a web content manager and analytics professional from Southern California who is relocating to the Austin, TX area soon. I saw this post and new positions listed at Dell and just had to give it a shot – it sounds like a great opportunity and I’m hoping I can bring some desirable skills and ability to your growing analytics team!

Please look out for my resume – hopefully I’m the only Paul from California you’re considering. See ya.

-Paul (Winchester, CA)

Thank you

Look forward to meeting you sometime in person. San Jose eMetrics summit?

Cheers,
Ed