The Good, The Bad, The ugly

One of Australia's biggest outsourcing deals has turned sour and could get pretty ugly with millions of dollars of services in dispute. According to the GBU grapevine one of the big four banks is feeling very "blue" about the nasty dispute. Let's hope it doesn't end in tears which is the way South Australian premier John Olsen's career ended last week. The premier was forced to resign after a finding that he had been dishonest during an inquiry into how phone company Motorola set up operations in the state. The report did clear him of any criminal or illegal activities with Olsen pointing out if he was guilty of anything "its creating jobs".

The Good

Users at the Asia Pacific Oracle Applications User Group did a little crystal ball gazing last week as they pondered the meaning of Oracle. Put simply it is: "The response given through a medium, often in the form of an enigmatic statement or allegory". Reflecting on the definition, Warren Orlandi, of the Australian Regulation Authority, quipped, "This statement describes Oracle pretty well -- puzzling."

The Bad

Gartner retrenched two of its most senior staffers last month -- a former research director of 10 years standing and a senior analyst -- both leaving the firm on September 29. A Gartner spokesman declined to comment but GBU understands up to 18 staffers may be shown the door as part of a regional cost-cutting drive. The analyst has also reportedly consolidated its Auckland marketing group into the firm's Wellington branch.

The Ugly

By week's end the GBU e-mail box was getting pretty ugly, one read: "Like mad cow disease, anthrax is one of the few bacteria or viruses that is not transmissible through Microsoft Outlook". Ouch!

* Keep the hot tips flowing to sandra_rossi@idg.com.au