Time for a Revolution in IT: Five StepsBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on January 04, 2010We're all tangled up in technologies, processes, standards, governance and deranged technology managers who report to paranoid business executives. Aren't we passed this by now?
How to Survive in IT (the soft evil skills)By Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on December 07, 2009It’s important to have good technical skills, but a variety of soft skills are also essential for success in IT.
IT Management: It's Organic, Not DigitalBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on November 04, 2009Effective tech management isn’t about machines, it’s about changing stupid processes and
deranged corporate cultures.
How Companies Use CrowdsourcingBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on July 06, 2009Crowdsourcing is project-driven outsourcing that makes a lot of sense in these tough economic times.
Where IT is Going (Thin is In)By Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on May 04, 2009We’ll move into the cloud, reorganize ourselves, and finally use thin clients. It’s time to stop talking.
Operational and Strategic Tech: "I Want a Divorce"By Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on April 01, 2009Operational and strategic technologists are about as different as Obama is from Bush. I cannot for the life of me understand why they didn’t divorce ten years ago.
Having IT Both Ways, You BastardsBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on February 03, 2009Tech professionals are now expected to both cut costs and increase revenue. Here’s how to cope with the schizophrenia.
Tech Execs: Can We Stop the Stupidity?By Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on January 06, 2009Stupidity among tech executives is viral – and should be nipped in the bud. If line managers don’t kill stupidity, it will keep growing.
Really Stupid MeetingsBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on November 03, 2008The guy speaking now is an idiot who thinks he knows something about server farms; he’d be better off working on a pig farm.
Big IT Decisions for the Small-MindedBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on October 06, 2008The tech world is distracted with petty squabbling – like PCs vs. Macs – when larger issues need attention.
How to Fight Your Dumb CIOBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on September 03, 2008Arrogant CIOs and self-serving IT managers are everywhere. Here’s an employee’s field guide to defeating them by any means necessary.
What If IT Pay was Performance Based?By Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on August 05, 2008And while we’re at it, what about paying tech software and hardware vendors based on whether their products actually work?
Will Traditional Software Vendors Disappear?By Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on June 30, 2008The old-line software firms are in a state of denial about changes disrupting the industry, from SaaS to open source. If they don’t change soon it may be too late.
What's Wrong with IT?By Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on June 02, 2008Clueless management, staffers with unrealistic expectations, dinosaur-like vendors: A top IT consultant vents on an industry badly in need of a wake-up call.
IT Budgets: Vitamin Pills Versus Pain KillersBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on March 31, 2008While cost management projects are always appealing, when times are tough companies should invest in projects that will eventually make them money.
Consolidation for Sale: the Tech Industry by 2020By Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on January 07, 2008The future of IT is visible in the flurry of mergers and acquisitions now taking place. Here’s an outline of where it’s headed.
It's the Data, StupidBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on December 04, 2007A hypothetical session with a hypothetical therapist helps an IT consultant finally understand what accessible data is all about.
Consultants in the Hen HouseBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on November 12, 2007Many of us who hire well-known consulting firms have more tales of woe than glee. Isn't it time we groomed internal consultants?
Grading Tech Industry CulturesBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on October 02, 2007An industry observer looks at sectors ranging from finance to retail to healthcare, grading them based on their attitude toward technology.
10 'New Rules' for ITBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on July 05, 2007They're not all so nice -- but they're necessary to compete successfully.
Why Are So Many IT Managers So Bad?By Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on May 01, 2007The author marvels at what he sees as a remarkable lack of skill among many tech executives.
Guerilla Tech Budgeting: Finding More MoneyBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on April 09, 2007Tight budgets are perennial, but there are some real world steps you can take to squeeze more dollars for your tech department.
Web 2.0, Sea Changes and the EnterpriseBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on March 07, 2007Wikis, blogs, podcasts, RSS filters, mash-ups, crowdsourcing, and SOA: is it all just hype, or – gulp – is Web 3.0 almost here?
Where Will Software Come From?By Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on February 05, 2007The coming changes in the software industry will “confuse the hell out of everyone,” argues an industry observer.
New Year's Fears: Things to Worry AboutBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on January 09, 2007There’s plenty to feel gloomy about as the new year begins: denial about SaaS, offshore outsourcing, bad business models…
The Five Flavors of AlignmentBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on December 11, 2006Focusing on one style of business-technology alignment is limited – we need the full “sampler” to be effective.
Who Needs PCs?By Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on October 27, 2006Given communications technologies and trends, our
IT/Biz Alignment columnist writes, it makes sense to invest much more in the server than the client.
Taking It To 'The Board'By Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on September 27, 2006How involved is your board of directors in technology planning or oversight? And how involved should you want it to be?
The Next Wave of CommoditizationBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on August 21, 2006PCs, servers and a variety of services have been commoditized in recent years. What's next? Our
IT/Biz Alignment columnist explores some possibilities.
Who's In Control?By Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on July 10, 2006Steve Andriole examines the role that IT governance plays in compliance and the frameworks out there to help you stay legal.
Ignorance is Anything But BlissfulBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on June 05, 2006There's a growing -- and dangerous -- gap between technology trends and business opportunities, argues our
IT/Biz Alignment columnist.
Dissenting Opinions About OutsourcingBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on May 02, 2006Will outsourcing result in more technology jobs? Our
IT/Biz Alignment columnist weighs in.
What's Your Technology Center of Gravity?By Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on March 22, 2006Companies that see technology as a profit center see business models and processes differently from those that regard it as a cost center.
Top 10 Technology Gifts for the HolidaysBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on November 29, 2005Our
IT/Biz Alignment columnist offers some gift ideas for the technology friends and family in your lives.
Rethinking Open Source StrategyBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on October 28, 2005Columnist Steve Andriole says an increasing number of companies may be forced to rethink moving to open source software. A lot will play out in the next three to five years.
Step Away from the PDA and ReengageBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on September 30, 2005Columnist Steve Andriole is fed up with people who carry around multiple hand-helds, using them as a stylish excuse to disengage from what's happening around them.
Smell of Change Not So SweetBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on August 29, 2005Fewer vendors, commoditization, de-valued skill sets, and modest innovation will combine to change the industry in ways hard to imagine today.
Leadership, Likeability and LifeBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on July 21, 2005A recent book concludes that people like to work with likeable people, even if the nice people don't know very much. Is business technology management and leadership exempt from this phenomenon?
3 Reasons Why More Outsourcing Is InevitableBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on June 23, 2005A trio of trends indicates that outsourcing will increase over the next few years, and even more in the next decade.
CRM Misconceptions Can Be CostlyBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on April 25, 2005Many companies believe that a CRM application is the answer to their customer relationship problems. Our
IT/Biz Alignment columnist explains why that just isn't so.
Putting Technology Acquisitions into ContextBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on March 08, 2005When you're looking to buy into new technology, first check out the context that your company is operating in. Ignoring any of the pieces of your business puzzle will jeopardize any chance of success.
Politics, Culture & YouBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on January 24, 2005Some of us flourish in politically charged work cultures, while others thrive in analytical cultures. What kind of culture do you like?
What Should MIS Schools Be Teaching?By Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on November 22, 2004Our
IT/Biz Alignment columnist, who has spent time in the tech workforce and academia, lays out some ideas about what our MIS schools should be teaching students, and asks for reader input.
Toward a Sensible 'Vinfrastructure'By Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on October 19, 2004It's time for vendors to get serious about offering infrastructure technology for vertical industries, says
Datamation's IT/Biz Alignment columnist.
Not Just Another AuditBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on September 21, 2004If you really want to discover any unexploited business value from existing IT investments, it's time to conduct an optimization audit.
Are Your Vendors Allies or Adversaries?By Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on August 10, 2004There are lots of ways to think about vendor relationships.
Datamation columnist Steve Andriole reveals how your attitude toward vendors can directly impact your enterprise.
If I Only Knew 7 Things...By Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on July 08, 2004Columnist Steve Andriole lays out the major trends he believes may drive business technology optimization over the next three to five years.
The Case for a 'Chief Technology Marketing Officer'By Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on June 11, 2004If you're a large company -- or (especially) a large public company -- then you need to think about who creates, distributes and maintains the technology 'message.'
Do You Speak 'Business'?By Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on May 07, 2004The conventional arguments about business and technology 'silos,' the commoditization of IT and new technology leadership skill sets -- while legitimate -- miss some important points, according to
Datamation's IT/Biz Alignment columnist.
The Real Truth...By Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on April 02, 2004Columnist Steve Andriole generated an avalanche of email -- some heated -- with his recent piece questioning the tech industry's ability to deal with problems that have held back business/technology alignment for decades. Here's a sampling.
Can We Handle the Truth?By Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on February 11, 2004How honest are we about our ability to deal with the problems that have held back business technology alignment for decades?
A Little CRM, PleaseBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on January 27, 2004Maybe we haven't come all that far -- at least in the computer industry -- with customer service.
The Real Technology ChasmBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on December 30, 2003How do network professionals determine which emerging technologies deserve their investment dollars? IT/Biz Alignment columnist Steve Andriole offers some insights.
It's Finally Time to Think ThinBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on December 05, 2003Ten years ago, our networks weren't ready to handle a 'thinfrastructure.' Our
Datamation columnist says all of that has changed and it's finally time to go thin.
3 Brands for the MillenniumBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on October 24, 2003How can IT professionals reinvent themselves in the next few years to avoid becoming obsolete? IT/Biz Alignment columnist Steve Andriole outlines three models for success.
Outsourcing EssentialsBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on September 26, 2003Everything in a network is a candidate for outsourcing. But before you leap into an outsourcing agreement, you need to know some things, advises IT/Biz Alignment columnist Steve Andriole.
Getting a Grip on TCO and ROIBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on September 11, 2003The ultimate argument for a technology initiative is made in the business case. But key to good business cases is qualitative and quantitative data about the cost of a project's entire life cycle and the strategic impact it will have on meaningful business processes.
Rethink Management to Create Loyalty and DriveBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on August 18, 2003It's time to focus on cultivating a creative, driven staff who enjoy their work and respect their employer. Sound impossible in these rough economic times? Columnist Steve Andriole says it's possible and he talks about how to make it happen.
How's the Team Doing?By Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on July 30, 2003Many people believe that business/technology alignment depends almost completely on the quality and availability of the right people at the right time. Our columnist offers a tool to help you profile your people based on key characteristics.
Sea Changes, Tsunamis & Wake-Up CallsBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on June 20, 2003We love to pay attention to macro trends, to pretend we're in the midst of 'significance.' Is the business/technology relationship changing? Are really big things about to happen? Yes.
Still Too Many DollarsBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on May 14, 2003Despite how powerful much of our information technology is, and in spite of bear market prices, we still spend too much money on business technology, argues columnist Steve Andriole, who offers ways to get more bang for the buck.
Does Any of This Sound Familiar?By Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on April 03, 2003This conversation between a group of executives about the relationship between business and technology may touch some nerves.
Project Management: Exciting, No...Essential, YesBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on March 10, 2003Project management has never really achieved star status in the enterprise world. But it's a real discipline we don't practice very well, and therefore always need to improve.
That Was Then, This Is NowBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on January 06, 2003In the 1990s, we overspent on technology, deployed questionable killer apps, and generally suspended the use of due diligence and ROI requirements. Steve Andriole offers his thoughts about what we may have missed while we were intoxicated.
Of Markets, Pills and TimingBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on December 12, 2002Capital markets drive spending, which in turn determines the market for IT 'vitamin pills' and 'pain killers.' Knowing where the markets are and where they're going is crucial to making intelligent IT spending choices.
The Golden Rule Of Business Technology InvestmentsBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on November 01, 2002Investments in business technology should be made only if they're consistent with collaborative business models and enable technology integration and interoperability.
Improving Biz/IT Convergence: An Action PlanBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on September 27, 2002Every once and while it's therapeutic to step back and look at the forest. Then after you feel a little better, it's fun to target some trees. Here are 10 things you can do to improve the relationship between business and technology.
What You Need to Know About Pervasive ComputingBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on August 23, 2002'Pervasive computing' -- the connecting of computing devices in a networked environment -- is a reality now. Here's a checklist you can use to prepare yourself for the inevitable connectivity that will change the way we all do business.
Selling Tough IT ProjectsBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on July 22, 2002More than ever, IT executives need to make an effective 'business case' in
order to get their technology proposals funded. IT/Biz Alignment columnist
Steve Andriole outlines a process for building that case.
How To Avoid An IT Project 'Death March'By Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on June 20, 2002We all need tools to help manage the pace of business and technology change every organization is experiencing. Here's a simple but effective methodology that can provide insight into IT project requirements before you spend serious money.
Intelligent Systems Technology In The EnterpriseBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on May 20, 2002Your network already may be running a variety of sophisticated intelligent tools, but a second, much more powerful generation of intelligent applications will revolutionize how you compute and communicate.
Develop A Winning Technology Investment StrategyBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on April 15, 2002Most companies don't have formal positions to track the major technology trends that can impact their organizations. If yours is one of those companies, maybe it's time to rethink your technology watch strategy.
Continuously Train Your Technologists -- Or Fall BehindBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on March 14, 2002If you haven't outsourced lots of technology, you have some serious training requirements to satisfy. And even if you have outsourced some work, it's imperative that you keep your technology professionals current.
Key Questions When Considering OutsourcingBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on February 12, 2002How do IT managers know which activities to keep in-house and which to outsource? The answer comes from identifying your core competencies. IT/Biz Alignment columnist Steve Andriole helps you ask the tough questions.
Services, Skillsets and StructureBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on December 11, 2001In the third and final part of this month's IT/Biz Alignment column, Steve Andriole concludes his "open letter" to your company's business and IT pros by detailing how services, alternative funding mechanisms and, yes, people play a role in an effective organizational alignment.
The Organization Of ITBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on December 07, 2001In Part 1 of this month's IT/Biz Alignment column, Steve Andriole highlights major trends shaping IT organizations and how IT should fit into and enhance evolving business models. In Part 2, Andriole outlines steps that IT execs can take to make "IT the strategic weapon it's destined to become."
You Report To ... Who?By Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on December 06, 2001Beyond the endless discussions about death march CIOs who report to CFOs, and Chesire CIOs who have landed seats at the big table courtesy of their CEO-reporting relationship, are huge issues around how to make IT "work" in your company. Steve Andriole outlines a few, and how best to approach them, in this multi-part column.
Determining Your IT Funding Requirements, Part 2By Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on November 08, 2001In Part 1 of this month's IT/Biz Alignment, columnist Steve Andriole introduced tools to help IT executives develop a baseline assessment of where and how their IT money gets spent. In Part 2, he explores determining how your organization funds what it buys, as well as which part of your organization logically should bear the cost of funding IT projects.
Determining Your IT Funding RequirementsBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on November 07, 2001How much are you spending on IT annually? How does it break down? Are your hardware expenses rising faster than your software expenses? Are your personnel costs rising faster than your hardware and software costs? IT/Biz Alignment columnist Steve Andriole provides you with some tools to answer these and other critical budget issues. First of two parts.
Standards Now Or (Lots Of) Cash LaterBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on October 02, 2001Most companies don't associate standards-setting with business models, processes, profits or losses. But as IT/Biz Alignment columnist Steve Andriole argues, standards are closely related to expenses.
Around Your Infrastructure in 8 WaysBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on September 04, 2001Do you know every piece of your organization's infrastructure? Do you know what it costs to own? Do you have processes for its support? Do you suffer from "infrastructure gap"? Our columnist helps you answer these questions and describes eight elements of a sound infrastructure alignment strategy.
8 Keys To A Sane Security StrategyBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on July 31, 2001The insidious Code Red worm plaguing computer systems worldwide provides a sobering reminder to IT professionals that security isn't part of their network -- it
is their network. Our IT consultant looks at eight elements integral to a successful security strategy in the cyberspace age.
Killer AppsBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on July 03, 2001Is your applications portfolio is a hodge-podge of programs developed over the past 20 years, many of which require life support? Is your e-business strategy driven by a mix of mainframe-based, client-server, and Internet applications? Do you support some in-house, outsource support for others? Time for an applications health check-up.
Data's Still KingBy Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on June 06, 2001Whether we call it information, knowledge, or content, data forms the lifeblood of business applications and the linking of employees, customers, and suppliers in a virtual world. An overview of the changing world of database management.
Strategy, Anyone?By Steve Andriole |
IT/Biz Alignment Article Published on April 04, 2001To Align IT for Future Business Needs, Begin with Scenario Planning
One of the ways around the issues of security and control that make some businesses wary of cloud computing is to build a private cloud -- one that remains within the corporate firewall and is wholly controlled internally. Private clouds also increase the agility of IT an organization's IT infrastructure and make it easier to roll out new technology projects. Download this eBook to get the facts behind the private cloud and learn how your organization can get started.
