IT Strategy ultimately will align the efforts of the IT Organization with that of the enterprise. Determining the operating principles of the organization will foundationally drive this alignment, and determine the initiatives which will be required as part of this alignment.
Read More...When you align your must-do initiatives with business intents (strategy or direction) the first realization is that you now have a North Star for driving your IT organization. The next realization is that the funding mechanism for your organization becomes very clear.
Read MoreChanging your way of thinking is not easy. Culture, habit, and time pressures conspire to keep the things as they are. getting to the next level, regardless of what level that may be, requires this very change however...
Read MoreWhen companies are young, there is often abundant enthusiasm, and a scarcity of funds. From an IT perspective your decision horizon is also not too far out. You will typically have comparatively few users for the systems you have to build (or buy, or rent, or...). The criteria that you have to work with will typically be very basic functionality, low volume, and little interaction between functions. Given that the expectation that you will pull off minor miracles with two quarters and a dime, the best and easiest answer is to develop point solutions with minimal investment in the software platform. If you have enough foresight to the types of applications required ahead of time you may even invest time in an application and system architecture. Congratulate yourself if were able to pull this off in the typical start-up organization.
Read MoreWhile not a complete list, these notable items clearly show that Newton's physics do apply to IT organizations. Looking at your IT organization in this light allows you additional ways to think through your decisions, and how to direct your organization to its future state.
Read MoreWe never really begin any of our endeavors in an organization from a point of total calm. There are many forces at play, internal and external, which cause us fight headwinds in all that we do. In physics, we can calculate the net force in effect through vector arithmetic. From this set of calculations we learn that forces compound in both direction and magnitude resulting in the net force in play.
Read MoreAcceleration is defined as the change in velocity (velocity is equivalent to rate of change). In practical terms an object which is moving at a given velocity can increase it's velocity with an external force being applied (pressing an accelerator). The velocity can also be reduced with an external force being applied (pressing a brake). In our swimming pool example, if we were to increase the temperature to heat in the water in the pool, or move more water to heating elements (external forces) we can accelerate the rate of change
Read MoreA former colleague of mine, John Calvello, has penned Corporate Physics. A great book which draws insightful comparisons between implementing complex change and Newtonian Physics. These two topics would normally not share a sentence, but they have inspired the next series of posts as I draw similar correlations to traditional IT organizations.
Read MoreWe help organizations take their next steps, whether that be by through establishing a vision, and supporting operations to realize the vision, introducing emerging technologies, or working through the human capital challenges, we are there for you, engaging at whatever point you are in your journey,.
