|
Software – everything from home-grown to packaged– and the middleware they run on has proven to be a source for business innovation and differentiation. To harness this potential, IT managers need to take the next step beyond optimization of the individual business, development and IT operational tiers. IT managers most now focus on collaboration across these groups, across the IT lifecycle. IBM can help. |
 |
The ever increasing digitization of business processes and the associated sensitivity of underlying information have left IT organizations with unprecedented responsibility. Success is no longer a simple matter of keeping the lights on. Rather, IT organizations are now asked to be drivers of value, data integrity and competitive differentiation.
Achieving such an end requires a delicate balance:
- Innovate tirelessly and respond quickly
BUT
- Do so ever conscious of cost, quality and security
IT leaders have turned to companies like IBM to help optimize the efficiency of their IT organization. Working with IT experts such as IBM Rational for business driven development, IBM Tivoli for IT service management and IBM Global Services for strategic governance, these leaders have taken great strides toward streamlining their IT organizations. However, enormous opportunities for efficiency gains remain. In 2004 IT organizations continued to apply up to 85% of their budget towards keep the lights on activities while 65% of new projects were either delayed, cancelled or exceeded budget. These siloed approaches - characterized by excessive focus on individual groups within the IT organization - have their limitations.
The key is for organizations to adopt a more holistic approach, an approach that takes a top-down, end to end view of the IT lifecycle. Ongoing optimization efforts must be coupled with a new perspective that breaks down the silos on either side of the operations and development divide. Tools, metrics, and processes must be normalized across the organization to ensure that all real and virtual lines of business are equally measured and equally accountable for the success - or failure - of the business. The alternative is a highly disconnected organization with islands of efficiency in a sea of lost opportunity.
To help customers tackle this complex effort, IBM provides a set of IT lifecycle solutions - combinations of integrated tools, processes and services - to enable the communication and collaboration of business, development and operations stakeholders. Each solution is specially devised to help teams address a key cross-lifecycle activity that is fundamental to the delivery of timely, cost-effective value to the business. Four solutions are available today, designed to help companies…
| Govern IT |
Balance portfolios, prioritize investments, set objectives, monitor and measure status, align resources with strategic enterprise objectives. |
| Ensure Functional Quality |
Ensure applications meet or exceed end-user functional demands. |
| Ensure System Performance |
Ensure applications meet or exceed SLA performance and availability demands |
| Accelerate Deployment |
Build and deploy solutions into development, test, pre-production and production environments quickly, reliably and consistently. |
Other solutions from IBM are forthcoming:
- Manage Compliance and Risk
- Manage Security
- Employ Strategic Sourcing
- Adopt a Service Oriented Approach
- Manage Change
- Maximize Asset Utilization
Successful management of the IT lifecycle balances agility with quality, innovation with cost sensitivity - and ensures that any organization in the midst of an on demand transformation is prepared to meet the demands of new top line growth initiatives without sacrificing the lessons learned through bottom line optimization efforts in the past.
|
