Agility: Competing and Winning in a Tech-Savvy Marketplace

This book uniquely describes how technology agility impacts business performance. A must read for leaders defining business strategy and technology implementation. The methodology described will help understand how to measure technology adoption and the derived impact on business results. Examples of well known companies illustrate how the model can be applied to a particular organization. What differentiates Audi, BMW and Mercedes or GM? Understanding it can make or break the future of an organization. The new generation of technology savvy workers is changing the way we look at productivity. Collaboration and innovation take new meaning empowered by social technologies and virtual workplaces. The digital divide will soon be those who take advantage of the technology versus those who merely have the technology. Table of Contents: Preface Acknowledgments Chapter 1: Leading into the future Current Landscape Key Forecast of it Trends and Spends Leading by Example Chapter 2: Maximum Ride - Owning Technology versus just Using IT How the World is Changing Current Research in Enterprise Architecture Making Quantum Leaps and Not Just Incremental Changes Microsoft's Structured Approach Infrastructure Maturity and the Impact on Core Business Performance Trends A Note about Case Studies and the Infrastructure Optimization model Chapter 3: Optimizing for Agility - A Different Way to View Your Business Individual, Organization or Information Technology, where Do You Start? Role of Place, People and Technology Infrastructure Optimization Capabilities: The Areas of Optimization Chapter 4: Technology as the Competitive Edge Why Benchmarking? Auto, Finance, Healthcare, Public Sector View Comparison Chapter 5: Business Impact - Technology Solutions from the Shop Floor to the Top Floor IT as Business Enabler Instead of Cost Center Creating Business Intelligence from Data Overload Improving Customer Contact through Web Site Design and Database Magic Streamlining the Product Development Cycle Retaining Confidentiality while Operating in a Cloud Managing Suppliers and Inventory Security, Security and More Security Working Anywhere, Any Time Making Sustainability Part of the Bottom Line Chapter 6: Assessing Your Situation Where is Your Starting Position? Analyzing Where You Want to Go Define Where You Want to Be Where to Begin? Chapter 7: Making It Happen The Big Picture Goals During Change Optimizing for Simplicity and Agility Off-the-Shelf Solutions versus Customization Building Your A Team Ongoing Upgrades: Moving from Old to Always Fresh Adoption Made Easier: Moving Data, Training People Chapter 8: Optimizing Your Workforce - Leveraging the New with the Old Technology Immigrants and Digital Natives Getting Everyone Across the Chasm Social Networking: A Tool from Home Goes to Work Sector Influence on Change Old Dogs, New Kids and the Naysayers Chapter 9: Starting Over to Stay Ahead Read more