For many businesses, this is the time of year that is taken up with discussions on annual planning. On one end of the spectrum, some companies we have worked with have started their process in July and are wrapping up by the time October comes around. For others, annual planning can bleed into the new year. To some on the edges of the process, it […]
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The way we do business is consistently evolving. The primary driver of this evolution has always been advances in technology, and it’s likely to always be the main reason corporations will continue to transform. However, strategies and expectations aren’t the only components forced to adapt alongside changing technology. Our IT organizations are not only working to keep up with the latest and greatest but are […]
For any complex organization that relies on technology, digital transformation is a “when” not an “if.” Business leaders are recognizing what can happen when they start looking at IT as a partner, not a vendor. That means the stakes are getting higher. Leaders expect not only to break even on IT transformation, but to generate meaningful results. So, what if your business could not only […]
In 2016, businesses are racing towards digital and technological transformation. They are acquiring smaller companies and the associated capabilities, growing internal IT budgets and/or departments, restructuring their entire strategy and IT planning, and launching digital projects and platforms in search of improved ROI. Throughout these transformations, many things can happen to the business and its strategy. When a business transformation makes headlines, the employees here […]
As enterprises embark on the path to digital transformation in hopes of becoming more responsive and proactive, business leaders are recognizing the need for IT strategy. However, even with a strategic initiative in place, most IT organizations fail to effectively execute and/or deliver the desired results. In either scenario, IT executives often struggle to demonstrate the value technology brings to the business across the enterprise. […]
Most business leaders are quick to claim they put customers first. In our experience, that’s not always the case. All too often in business, revenue comes first—and the customer is a distant second. In other instances, the customer comes first—but at a detriment to the business. When a handful of customers drive the majority of revenues, business leaders want to invest in keeping those buyers […]
More often than not, business leaders tell us that their IT organizations don’t deliver what’s needed—or when it’s needed. At the same time, IT feels pressure to satisfy everyone in the company—and ends up pleasing no one. Either way, initiatives fail and everyone is dissatisfied. The reality is this: Demand for IT solutions will always be greater than supply. It’s true even in sophisticated organizations […]
The Inca Trail is an 8-mile stretch of uneven terrain that leads travelers to the site of the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu. Having recently led a group of fellow entrepreneurs on a trip to the Andean compound, I can attest that not only does the hike seem much longer than eight miles, but also that the experience was as emotionally profound as it was […]
Recently I spoke at the Evanta CIO Conference in Dallas, talking with Randy Sloan, the CIO of Southwest Airlines, about the transformation of the Technology function from “cost center to value creator” in a journey he has led over the last three years. But I spent most of my time listening to a number of other speakers and influencers: Ed Dolanski (CEO of Aviall), Mike Rawlings (Mayor of Dallas), Kevin […]