Enterprise Architecture Models

Variants of enterprise architecture models are never a perfect fit as we strive to link applications and technology in a useful business context. ...

... "The framework layers the enterprise architecture by three decision-making levels (Enterprise, Domain and System) that are crossed by the four widely accepted architecture dimensions (Business, Information, Systems and Technology). " ...

Via eBizQ: EA Dimensions

Org Controls

Decentralized and flat organization model distributes controls into the customer-focused workforce. Hierarchy and team roles are minimized while responsibility and accountability to the customer are emphasized. ...

... "Control rests with the front lines, where it adds the most value. It works. Still, customers visiting FAVI are often astounded at what they perceive to be a total lack of control. " ...

Via Idea Hub at American Express OPEN Forum: Design a Flat Organization

Open Innovation through Contests

Have a problem? Post a bounty. Use an open innovation model to cost-effectively source solutions. ...

... "Organizations have found contests to be a cost-effective method that allows them to tap into the vast intellectual resources outside their walls. " ...

Via San Francisco Chronicle: Drive innovation

G-Cloud Project

Government leaders are looking to the cloud computing model as a means to leverage their IT applications investment, so that over time a robust application portfolio is available to the community. ...

... "Development of G-cloud is to be made a priority, according to the Digital Britain report, and while the plan is developed over the next three years, all other IT services procurement should look to follow a similar model in preparation. " ...

Via UK Computing: Government app store

Project Management Model Positioned for Business Success

Lowe's adapts its project management model and tests it as a customer experience differentiator, to position the company for success as the business cycle evolves. ...

... "One of the ways we are doing that is by testing a centralized project management model that will enable Lowe's to capture an increased share of project revenue while providing an experience that will differentiate Lowe's. We will provide more details as this test continues but we are optimistic these changes will position us very well for the eventual increase in project demand when economic conditions improve. " ...

Via Seeking Alpha: Lowe's Earnings Call

Agile Cycle Time Reduction Boosted by Global Sourcing Model

Global delivery models and agile techniques converge to reduce the cycle time of IT projects. ...

... "Mr Ratnayake said in the case of a telecom client in Europe, the agile technology usage was instrumental in being able to shrink the cycle of an IT project from what would have been 12 months, to less than two months. " ...

Via Economic Times: Agile Techniques in Practice

Scalable Green Clouds

Some interesting points in the following article re ... analogy of on-premise computing with on-site power generation, a scalability success story with cloud computing, and alignment of IT sustainability goals with future cloud computing models. ...

... "Energy efficiency, as well as reliability and scalability, ought to be factors in your cloud computing migration strategies. " ...

Via InformationWeek: Cloud / Electric Generator

Work Breakdown Structure for Innovation

Here's a WBS for creative work. ...

... "It is a rather complex tool/technique, but it is very effective in breaking down a very complex problem and getting manageable work packages out of the other end. " ...

Via Think For A Change: Creativity

Valuing IT Assets

Researchers exploring ways to make the information technology asset life-cycle conversation more meaningful for business leaders. ...

... "Executive management and CEOs don't have the language, models and tools to have a business-oriented value conversation around their IT infrastructure, says Peppard. We're also trying to think about how an organisation might put a value on legacy [past IT] investments. " ...

Via The Irish Times: IT project value

Organizing for Innovation

Here's an organizational model and mindset for innovation, which has produced results over the years. ...

... "Unbounded thinking is encouraged, failure is not punished, and thinking big is the norm, but at the same time there's an emphasis on producing a result. Program managers are selected for their technical excellence, their entrepreneurial spirit ... " ...

Via Baseline: DARPA Continue

Business Process Modeling Projects

Bill Gates reflects on the future and sees business process modeling and process change maturing significantly. ...

... "Really modeling the business where you can actually see schema models that really let you understand what's going on in your business and . . . change those models without having to go back and have some two-year IT project to do it, that's probably in the 10-year time frame. " ...

Via Computerworld: Bill Gates Crystal-Ball

The Networked Organization

Future models of design, manufacturing, and distribution are considered and mapped, such as the concept of a networked organization that leverages outside-in perspectives. ...

... "Seeking an outside-in perspective on internal challenges may require long-held processes to be rethought, from the design cycle to R&D budgets to intellectual property strategies. Once open to the idea of a networked organization, it's relatively easy to identify and engage with external networks of exceptional people through community R&D platforms such as Instructables, InnoCentive, and NineSigma. " ...

Via Institute for the Future: Future of Making is Mapped (PDF)

CIO Role Shifts Reporting Relationships

To keep IT relevant and better connected to the overall business strategy, shouldn't the CIO report to the CEO? The data supports a different trend. As CIOs have aligned more investments with the business, has their influence dimished? Or, is reporting relationship irrelevant in the grand scheme of things? No doubt about it ... the sand keeps shifting ...

... "The increasing prominence of the CFO in IT management signals a change in the way companies view technology strategy and deployment. " ...

Via CIO Insight: Meet Your New Boss

UK IT Contract Projects Market Forecast for Resource Planning

A downturn in IT investment is forecast in the UK for 2008. Any decline should be gradual as the first quarter is expected to be flat. ...

... "Should the IT contract market decline, organisations will be focusing on manning IT projects using permanent staff. The real focus will be on maintaining a lower cost model. " ...

Via UK Contractor: 2008

Organize for Virtualization Success

A virtualized environment offers the ability to achieve significant scalability. Benchmarks and heuristics can help you assess the future state model for your organization post-implementation. ...

... "Management team: 15 percent of IT groups are creating a dedicated team, often called the virtual computing team, that brings together experts from various IT disciplines to manage the overall virtualization effort ... " ...

Via CIO: Benchmarks

PMO Organize for Transformation

The program management office is seen as an organizational model for transformation. In this situation, four operating teams are under the leadership of the PMO - delivery, process, visibility, and communications. This office will provide oversight of the various project teams deployed to achieve the transformation. ...

... "Higher Education Ministry has set up the programme management office (PMO) in line with its recent launch of the National Higher Education Strategic Plan ... " ...

Via The Malaysia Star: Transformation

Organizing for Business Intelligence

Nice reference matrix on segmenting business intelligence needs to enable creation of targeted solutions. ...

... "Table 1 illustrates the characteristics and differences between strategic, tactical and operational BI. The business focus, users involved, currency of the data, and even the types of data used differ significantly, depending on the type of business intelligence. " ...

Via B-Eye: Operational Business Intelligence

Innovative China Business Models: Localized and Modular

Insights on ... creative business models in China that require innovation to compete effectively in their markets. ...

Update: There is a downside to this innovative growth ---> Lack of Sustainability.

... "This so-called localised modularisation approach has been very successful and delivered big cost reductions and quality improvements, says John Seely Brown ... " ...

Via Economist: China Innovation

Finding the Central-Local-Equilibrium for IT Services

Insights on DHL's model for balancing central services with local business needs. The role of local IT in a shared services organization model is discussed. ...

... "A key element of this is that each country has a demand manager who sets out the required level of service and type of applications that are needed and then works closely with the local IT manager to ensure that they are delivered. " ...

Via SiliconRepublic: DHL Ireland

IT Org Model Seeks to Integrate Distributed Teams

Government reorganizes IT leadership in order to increase performance on key projects and initiatives. ...

... "The idea is for the governor's respected Chief Information Officer Michael Locatis to forge better collaboration and expertise-sharing among information technology teams now scattered across 20 agencies ... " ...

Via GovExec: Reorganizing for IT Project Success

Chargeback IT Strategy Takes Standardization

Here's successful use of IT chargeback model, which leverages standards and shared service organization models. ...

... "Kaushik's hard work does come with great returns. He says Ivanhoe was selected by consulting firm Deloitte Touche as one of the top 5 per cent companies in the world with the best IT strategy. With a standardised IT infrastructure, the company is able to achieve a network with full redundancy at a communication cost that has gone down by 50 percent. " ...

Via MISWeb: Successful IT Chargeback Strategy

ITIL Accelerator Tool

Tool accelerates ITIL implementation through reusable business process models. ...

... "ITIL, published by the British Office of Government Commerce, is grounded on fundamental principles such as client orientation, service level agreement, and quality management. The MEGA ITSM Accelerator is a graphical, ready-to-use repository of ITIL best practices. It enables IT managers to deploy these best practices in a consistent framework, thus reducing project risks and implementation costs. " ...

Via MEGA International: MEGA International Releases Advanced MEGA ITSM Accelerator