Increase, Decrease, or Shift Investments in Projects

Companies with healthy balance sheets are positioned to make strategic investments during a downturn to threaten competitors and emerge from the business cycle in a much stronger market position. Can you raise the capital to invest or shift in-flight investments using a severe portfolio review? Now may be the time to invest. ...

... "Although now is the time to take a close look at your IT projects, an economic downturn can be exactly when IT investment should take place. " ...

Via Accounting Web: IT Strategy and Recessionary Actions

Brutal IT Strategy

Financial industry achieves competitive advantage through brutal IT strategy that "kills the competition and takes no prisoners". ...

... "The front office is conducting the war and IT is one of their assets to be deployed on the battlefield and make something work better, cheaper or across a wider geographic area. " ...

Via ComputerWeekly: Banking IT strategy

Project Management Opportunity to Differentiate

Tata shares results of IT project performance survey and the results aren't flattering for the info tech profession. This consistent trend of non-performance offers companies that perform well to differentiate from the pack --- and, maybe, even achieve a sustainable competitive advantage. ...

... "Yet despite these worrying levels of failure to deliver, 43% of organisations say that their business managers and the Board accept problems as the norm. This attitude is especially common in Europe (44%) and AsiaPac (48%). Despite the general poor performance of IT projects globally, such results do not evoke a sharp reaction from management. " ...

IT Project Underperformance is the Norm

The Dell Supply Chain Competitive Advantage

Dell's competitive advantage ... cooking the books ...

... "The investigation raised questions relating to numerous accounting issues, most of which involved adjustments to various reserve and accrued liability accounts. The investigation identified evidence that certain adjustments appear to have been motivated by the objective of attaining financial targets. According to the investigation, these activities typically occurred at the close of a quarter. The investigation found evidence that, in that timeframe, account balances were reviewed, sometimes at the request or with the knowledge of senior executives, with the goal of seeking adjustments so that quarterly performance objectives could be met. The investigation concluded that a number of these adjustments were improper, including the creation and release of accruals and reserves that appear to have been made for the purpose of enhancing internal performance measures or reported results, as well as the transfer of excess accruals from one liability account to another and the use of the excess balances to offset unrelated expenses in later periods. The investigation found that sometimes business unit personnel did not provide complete information to corporate headquarters and, in a number of instances, purposefully incorrect or incomplete information about these activities was provided to internal or external auditors. " ...

Via Dell: Dell Independent Investigation Completed; Will Restate Financials

Strategic Alignment Through Tech Education

What level of tech-savvy is required of business leaders? A partnership is a two-way street. This article explores the appropriate level and approach for making progress in educating the business about technology. ...

... "Rare is the CEO who knows the difference between enterprise architecture and landscape architecture. ... CIOs need to educate their business counterparts about technology, but that is easier said than done. " ...

Via CIO Asia: Business Leaders and IT