Business Bytes: Unveiling Corporate Wisdom

Configuration Management, or Software Configuration Management, is the tracking and controlling of software changes in a system. Its purpose is to ensure consistency in performance, functionality, and design. In many ways, configuration management is analogous to the architectural framework of a house that sets the tone for the actual materials, such as lumber and windows. In this case, software configuration would be the framework that is intertwined with tools such as cloud computing and other forms of configuration management database, or CMDB for short.

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Typically, when people think about sustainability in the realm of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), they think about the specific activities of companies, such as conservation of natural resources and the integration of alternative energy in buildings and factories.

Some companies, however, take sustainability a step further in their CSR efforts. Unilever, a British-Dutch multinational consumer goods company, focuses not only on the specific activities of their company, but also the supply chain that supports it, as well as the activities of its customers and consumers. This effort to go above and beyond the norm by making sustainable living commonplace is why Unilever is widely regarded as one of the few truly sustainable businesses in the world.

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Sometimes it is necessary to apologize. Apologies usually come after a mistake has been made. The idea of acknowledging that there is something to apologize for is off-putting to many businesses, but the fact is, mistakes sometimes happen.

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The operating system (OS) in your device is as vital to it as your blood is to you. Without an OS, any device is essentially just a shell. Every new device that you buy comes with an OS, usually the latest version from the manufacturer you have selected. When you get the device, you get the OS. That is the good news. The question marks start appearing at the same time as the little pop-up window in the corner of your screen that tells you it is time to upgrade your OS. Here are some of the pros and cons of moving to the latest version of your OS.

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Founded in 1973 by entrepreneur and outdoor enthusiast, Yvon Chouinard, Patagonia is a privately held outdoor clothing company based in Ventura, CA. The company's CSR vision consists of two main components: environmental conservation and restoration. As stated in its website, Patagonia's mission is to "build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis." Upon further investigation, however, it is clear that this mission statement does not fully capture the intense breadth and depth at which these core environmental values are integrated into everything Patagonia does. The company's commitment to the environment goes above and beyond what is required by law, despite the fact that this imposes extra cost on its customers and puts the company at a competitive economic disadvantage. Here are some highlights of the company's efforts to steer the clothing industry in a more sustainable and responsible direction.

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The "Cloud" is everywhere today in technology. Whether it is data storage, or communicating with colleagues and friends, many apps and devices interact with the cloud. But what makes up the cloud?

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