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Complete IT Framework For Success

by Michael K. Wons and John J. Goody

256 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #02-0966; ISBN 1-55395-252-9; US$29.99, C$46.00, EUR29.90, £20.80

We created the Complete IT Framework for Success publication series from Instant Einstein™ to capture our thoughts and practical experience in dealing with the linkage between Information Technology and the management of the business enterprise.

The methodologies and practices are designed for the thinking IT Manager or Business Manager who could take the concepts and ideas laid out in these books, and adapt and apply them to their own situation.

This is the way we ourselves have used these methodologies. There is no one prescription or IT success, but by understanding and adapting these methods and practices to their own situation, the IT Professional or Business Manager can develop a strong Information Technology Group in alignment with the companies strategic plan and objectives.

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about the book      about the authors      sample excerpt - Preface      catalogue info

About the Book The Complete IT Framework for Success publication series provides the linkage between business and information technology, aligns business strategy and IT strategy, allows this to be kept under review, and allows an understanding of what is needed, when it is needed and what will work for your organization. It also sets expectations about the benefits of technology at the right level and in the right perspective. It enables the company to act as its own consultant through the provision of checklists and methodologies that allow self-analysis and appropriate conclusions to be drawn without outside help. It also provides the same roadmap should the company use a facilitator for the process. Instant Einstein provides a complete "IT Framework for Success".

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About the Authors

John J. Goody has over 37 years of progressively more responsible positions in major corporations and has served in a number of roles including CEO of a large NYSE listed Water Technology company, President of a Global Engineering and Consulting company, Sr. VP of Operations, CFO, and CIO. John has extensive broad-based exposure developing and implementing strategy on a global basis and has taught strategy at the University of - Alabama - Birmingham.

John possesses an MBA from the University of Houston and is currently President of a large Water Filtration and Treatment Group of companies.

Michael K. Wons has over 20 years of IT experience holding progressively more responsible positions from Developer to Senior Management roles in IT including Senior Director, VP, Sr. VP, Business Unit CIO, and CTO. Mike has significant experience as a hands-on effective leader in Information Technology management with proven capabilities in the alignment of business and technology objective to derive measurable value from IT investments.

Mike is a graduate of the Kellogg Management Institute at the Northwestern University Graduate School of Management and was named Transportation & Logistics sector's CTO of the Year by InfoWorld Media Group, a division of IDG and Publisher of CTO Magazine and InfoWorld in 2001.

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Sample Excerpt - Preface

In the exciting world of technology one item is constant. That constant is change. Today, computing capabilities have far surpassed the greatest expectations that existed just a few years ago. Companies worldwide are spending millions and millions of dollars on technology as a cost of doing business as well as a strategic differentiator.

In the new millennium the face of business is going to continue to change and that change is driven by technology. The ten major technology trends that executive management and company leaders must be aware of are as follows:

1. Cost of computing power drops 30% annually
2. Computer processing and performance doubles every nine months
3. Communication and networking technology is sophisticated and rapidly changing
4. Emergence of the Internet
5. Technology enabling of the knowledge worker
6. Information Technology staffing shortage
7. Information Technology staff retention
8. Secured Computing Environment
9. Technology is no longer a luxury ... it is a cost of survival in today's business climate
10. Companies that do not embrace technology will not survive and prosper

Technology is here to stay and it must be managed effectively, be appropriately aligned with the business, and optimized to deliver real value.

Whether you are buying a company, selling a company, involved in change at your company, or attempting to further integrate Information Technology with the business model, the following publication will provide a quick, usable guide to maximizing your IT dollars.

For the past 20 years since the emergence of Information Technology the cost justification for technology related investments have been as follows:

• Displace Labor
• Enhance Analysis
• Reduce Cycle Time
• Improve Tracking
• Improve Communications
• Integrate Work
• Enhance Knowledge Transfer
• Remove Middle Parties
• 4-5 Year Average Payback on Investment

The cost justification model of the past is no longer valid. Many companies in today's fast paced business environment require a shorter payback on investments. Today technology is no longer a cost of doing business. It has moved to the forefront of key business decision-making and has become the differentiator that allows companies to survive. Today, companies that have embraced technology have outdistanced those companies that have been slow to adapt to the changing business world. Most of our more successful companies exist and thrive because of their ability to exploit technology to provide a sustainable competitive advantage.

Looking back for a moment we note that the past decades have been characterized as follows:

Late 70's to Mid 80s:

• Emergence of the Personal Computer
• Rapid technology changes with limited acceptance

Late 80's to Mid 90's:

• Frustration due to limitation of technology
• Empowering of the knowledge worker

Late 90's - 2000's and beyond:

• Many new technologies
• Lack of reliability and integration

The changes have been driven by several factors:

• Lower cost of computer processing power
• Emergence of the knowledge worker
• Changing face of company IT organization
• The Internet
• Increased Speed of new hardware and software
• Quality improvements have remained silo-ed
• Lack of integration and ability to coexist ...

The telecosm of the information technology market continues to take hold across the world. Today many things that once seemed impossible are handled in just seconds with computer processing technology. The formerly unthinkable is now considered do-able.

Information Technology has taken the world by storm. Today it is estimated that over 90% of U.S. workers use technology to complete their day-to-day job tasks. Clearly, technology is here to stay.

Significant opportunities exist to leverage the latest processes and technologies and in doing so to insure IT strategies are optimized. There is an opportunity to develop and align business and IT strategy to provide real value for money invested, and to derive a sustainable competitive advantage from these investments.

Morgan Stanley estimates that U.S. companies threw away $130 billion in the past two years on unneeded software and other technology, according to its study of 25 years of tech spending. Worldwide, companies waste as much as 20% of the $2.7 trillion spent annually on tech, estimates research firm Gartner.

Many companies do this because they stampede into the wrong technology, experts say. They buy too much and don't implement new technology properly. They also underestimate the time needed to make it work. Senior company management, especially during the go-go years, often spent too quickly without clear goals.

The following table highlights the wasted investment and what that means to companies of all sizes.

"Why can't this just work" syndrome:

The strategic opportunities provided by IT, and the ability to manage massive amounts of data are very evident advantages that technology brings, and is clearly recognized by executives. However, there is also a frustration with the use of technology, and the expected results compared to the actual results derived from the investment. Thus the "Why can't it just work " syndrome ...

Instant Einstein Publication Series:

The Instant Einstein publication series provides the linkage between business and information technology, aligns business strategy and IT strategy, allows this to be kept under review, and allows an understanding of what is needed, when it is needed and what will work for your organization. It also sets expectations about the benefits of technology at the right level and in the right perspective. It enables the company to act as its own consultant through the provision of checklists and methodologies that allow self-analysis and appropriate conclusions to be drawn without outside help. It also provides the same roadmap should the company use a facilitator for the process. Instant instein provides a complete "IT Framework for Success".

Instant Einstein includes a comprehensive IT Framework for business success. The Framework includes the following methodologies and approaches to tackle the complex IT issues facing business leaders today:

IT Optimization for Business, which provides a five phase, eight step process to assess your current IT efforts and aligning them with your key business directions via a comprehensive strategic plan.

IT Staff Management and Retention, which provides a proven framework for staff motivation, retention, retooling, and overall satisfaction.

IT Implementation Management, which includes all the necessary components for the effective implementation and rollout of technology, based solutions.

Combined the framework provides the basis for successful investment, usage, deployment, and on-going support of necessary technology enabled solutions.

Further publications and additional information can be found on the Internet at www.instanteinstein.com

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Catalogue Information

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