CIO Archives - Innovate. Integrate. Transform. Run.

What is IT Strategy?
What is IT Strategy?

What is IT Strategy?

By Bill Wood|July 7th, 2014|

We hear it almost every day: IT Strategy, Business Strategy, strategic customer accounts, strategic widgets, etc. Strategy is applied to so many areas with so little understanding that the word has almost become meaningless. I decided to build my own research-based model around strategy because of all of the buzz and the lack of clarity or simplicity. I wanted to answer a key question: How do you determine if you are being strategic or just using tactics you are calling a strategy? Wha [...]

SAP & IT Outsourcing – RESULTS MATTER!
SAP & IT Outsourcing – RESULTS MATTER!

SAP & IT Outsourcing – RESULTS MATTER!

By Bill Wood|June 24th, 2014|

Business today is looking for a way to provide shareholder value. Outsourcing has become a popular method to boost stock values because shareholders believe it will reduce costs. While your share price may increase in the short term, you may not see the cost savings, and your share price will suffer later as your cost basis increases. Unfortunately, the cost saving "dream" presented during all those sales pitches often become a "nightmare" of spiraling costs and management headaches. I [...]

SAP and IT Outsourcing – Vendor Management Considerations
SAP and IT Outsourcing – Vendor Management Considerations

SAP and IT Outsourcing – Vendor Management Considerations

By Bill Wood|May 7th, 2014|

A common trend in IT is outsourcing. The allure of smooth sailing, fewer headaches, and lower cost generally capture senior leadership's attention. The sales pitches about all of the success stories are often compelling. However, just like calm (but murky) waters on a mild day hide the rocks under the surface, so do many of the outsourcing vendor claims. With some background understanding (and a lot of due diligence), you can avoid most of those rocks and navigate the waters. However, [...]

SAP & IT Outsourcing – Vendor Management Tactics & Strategies
SAP & IT Outsourcing – Vendor Management Tactics & Strategies

SAP & IT Outsourcing – Vendor Management Tactics & Strategies

By Bill Wood|May 7th, 2014|

In an outsourcing arrangement you have one of two approaches: work up front to reduce potential disputes or be prepared to deal with the fallout. The less aggressive you are with your outsourcing management, the more profitable you are to the outsourcing company. Does fallout mean you will be in court? Sometimes yes, but sometimes it means re-negotiating a contract, or worse still, skyrocketing costs which can exceed the original costs. Outsourcing Relationship or Arrangement The sales personne [...]

Figuring Out IT’s Future in an Organization
Figuring Out IT’s Future in an Organization

Figuring Out IT’s Future in an Organization

By Karl Rheinlander|October 23rd, 2012|

"What is the value proposition for IT in your organization?" IT can be just a service organization that provides a commodity service (and is outsourced to a cheaper provider), or it can identify where to add value to an organization, to the business, and to business leadership. Hallmark does not sell greeting cards-- you can buy the same card cheaper at the grocery store. Rather, Hallmark sells an environment of empathy and customer intimacy. Similarly, exemplary restaurants do not sell food. R [...]

SAP Service Provider to Business Peer Through Center of Excellence Maturity
SAP Service Provider to Business Peer Through Center of Excellence Maturity

SAP Service Provider to Business Peer Through Center of Excellence Maturity

By Bill Wood|May 7th, 2012|

One key pillar of moving Beyond Technology Alignment requires Organizational Change Management Inside the SAP IT Support Organization (OCM inside IT). A key component of that OCM within IT relies heavily on Creating a Knowledge Centered Learning Organization. Within that learning organization, especially with enterprise applications such as SAP, you need to build organizational maturity. A three-tier approach to building that organizational maturity is part of the Series on SAP Competency Cente [...]