Project Trends

Anecdotal evidence on information technology investment trends from recent quarterly report by Chordiant, which specializes in customer-focused solutions. ...

... "Although the environment continued to be a challenge in the quarter, we did see initial signs that budgets are beginning to open up and IT projects that can show a return are being approved. " ...

Via Seeking Alpha: Chordiant Software Earnings Call

Strategic Position of Projects

IT project portfolios are currently under-review for reducing investment. Portfolio reviews are a healthy process. Visibility into the business case financials and support for the current business strategy are key inputs to enable the discussion. Exercising this (even if painful) will increase your process maturity, eventually leading to an increased return on the portfolio. ...

... "if the project really is strategic -- if it involves the executive team and will enable transformation across the business -- then it is by definition more than an IT project ... " ...

Via Computerworld: Project Portfolio Management

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

Business Case Reference Material for Talent Projects

Having trouble making the business case for that next HR project? Here's some interesting reference material from IBM and partners for putting that funding request into tangible terms. ...

... "Organizations that apply talent management practices demonstrate higher financial performance compared to their industry peers. Those specific talent management practices that most distinguished financial outperformers from other organizations are understanding and acting upon employee engagement and aligning recognition and performance management systems. " ...

Via IBM: The ROI of Talent Management

IT Value Metric: ROA

Here's an interesting proposal for valuing IT investments using return on assets, similar to capital intensive industries such as the oil industry. ...

... "Kyte contended that IT should now value its investments based on a different metric: return on assets. ROA would enable IT departments to measure success based on the return it gains from assets already deployed in the infrastructure and help IT better plan for future assets going forward. " ...

Via Computerworld: Gartner on technology

Communicating IT Value

Nice tips on transforming the IT value discussion, such as leveraging the role of the business sponsor and integrating IT initiatives in the business agenda. ...

... "burden of defending IT initiatives as standalone project is eliminated; instead the business leader adopts the IT project as a core enabler of the business strategy. " ...

Via CIO Asia: Tips for communicating value of IT

Project Intangible Benefits Should Be Identified

It is a good practice to identify non-financial or intangible benefits when developing a business case. The ideal is when you can generate a tangible return on the investment. However, intangible benefits can be aligned with business goals and may even be able to be measured. This can be helpful when the financial return of a project proposal is at or below the hurdle rate. ...

... "Recognizing what to measure and how to measure can be extremely difficult for intangible assets/benefits. There are some common but key benefits accruing through any large IT project in an enterprise that cannot be tangibly measured. " ...

Via CXOtoday: IT Non-financial ROI

Innovation ROI

Philips CEO sees innovation as disciplined and process-oriented. He also expects a project ROI for innovation investments and a strong connection to profitability. Creativity is allowed within the boudaries. ...

... "Every innovation project should have a return on investment, an internal rate of return, a net present value. And, you need to hardwire it and keep yourself honest, because at the end of the day, it's about generating returns. " ...

Via Knowledge@Wharton: Philips Lighting CEO

Guaranteed Project ROI

Would you guarantee the ROI on your IT project? Here's a market differentiator ...

... "In a bold move for the industry, they are now guaranteeing a positive Return on Investment (ROI), or they will refund the entire purchase cost of the project. " ...

Via Intellident: Guaranteed ROI or your money back

IT Project Visibility to Wall Street Analysts

Insights on how Wall Street may view an IT project and how to address their concerns. ...

... "Red flags pop up when, for example, management offers analysts vague time lines of when the company expects to start or finish integrating systems in a merger or acquisition ... " ...

Via CIO: Wall Street

IT Portfolio Management

Meta Group insights on managing IT investments as a portfolio to maximize returns while balancing risk. ...

Business Intelligence Business Case

A business intelligence project proposal can be challenging. Can't calculate a positive NPV or ROI? Don't despair. However, you can link the investment to reducing the cycle time of your current management reporting process ... or, you can identify the incremental value of making certain decisions that you cannot make today. Often, though, BI investments are seen as strategic. ...

... "The survey found that measuring the ROI for BI investment is more challenging that for other IT projects. The overall objective of BI is to improve company performance by putting the right information into the right hands at the right time. " ...

Via TMCnet: BI ROI

Justify Business Intelligence Project

Struggling to justify that next business intelligence project? Try pilots and phased implementations to garner support and build investment momentum. ...

... "Traditional project planning and ROI measurements are ineffective in calculating the value of BI because calculating the potential value of unknown information is similar to a prospector digging for gold. " ...

Via CIO: Project Justification

Return on Data

Traditional financial analyses, such as ROI, NPV, are challenging for IT projects. Better information does lead to more informed decision making and ultimately to a better performing business. ...

... "By and large, these are effective in analysing the hoped-for returns from a project or capital asset and for comparing one project with another. But they have little to say about what is probably the most valuable part of an IT project, namely the data. " ...

Via Computer Weekly: Profiting From Technology

ROI of SOA

SOA hype is high. Is there an ROI? Certainly, reusability, possibly speed - if robust set of architecture services exist. ...

... "And that is to define and prove ROI for SOA on a project basis, not on the holistic and longterm IT-strategy basis. " ...

Via ZDNet: SOA ROI For Real?

CIO Articulates Business Value of IT

The business value of IT can be described in financial terms, but should be balanced with other perspectives. Framing and re-framing IT in the context of the business is a good start. ...

... "One way this can be done, says Salvadori, is by explaining the business value of IT's deliverables in terms of a tangible return on investment (ROI). " ...

Via ITWorld Canada: Business Value of IT