Multi-year large IT programs and projects often fail. Business and IT often still have a “frenemy” way of collaborating. Sometimes the CEOs and CIOs don’t even know how much technology investment they are making across the whole enterprise. The list goes on…we can even argue that technology doesn’t matter!
This site is about the fundamental principles of integrating business and technology, offering objective and pragmatic advice to senior leaders that will make technology matter more in their organizations.
Multi-year large IT programs and projects often fail. Business and IT often still have a “frenemy” way of collaborating. Sometimes the CEOs and CIOs don’t even know how much technology investment they are making across the whole enterprise. The list goes on…we can even argue that technology doesn’t matter!
This site is about the fundamental principles of integrating business and technology, offering objective and pragmatic advice to senior leaders that will make technology matter more in their organizations.
Multi-year large IT programs and projects often fail. Business and IT often still have a “frenemy” way of collaborating. Sometimes the CEOs and CIOs don’t even know how much technology investment they are making across the whole enterprise. The list goes on…we can even argue that technology doesn’t matter!
This site is about the fundamental principles of integrating business and technology, offering objective and pragmatic advice to senior leaders that will make technology matter more in their organizations.
Technology matters. doesn't matter.
Integrated transformation
One of the questions that consultants must always answer is how to win client work. Clients issue RFPs and they employ scoring criteria to select consultants. The scoring criteria are typically centered around technical competency and commercial arrangements. Clients’ procurement teams will lead the charge, score the vendors, and go through the selection processes.
Technology is just a means to an end
Too many people are treating technology as an end. Technology, unfortunately, is just a means. We need to use technology to drive outcomes. This is why Amazon doesn’t call itself an AI company even though Amazon probably has invested more
Chief Technology Officer vs. Chief Business Technology Officer
For many companies, technology doesn’t really matter because they don’t have the right leaders to help them identify opportunities to deploy technology to change their business. A Chief Business Technology Officer is one of the opportunities for companies to identify
“Contract Coding” – the next frontier for IT Supply Chain
To truly be able to deploy technology across all facets of the business, companies should explore the 7 habits of Tech-Empowered Companies and embark on a journey to transform themselves. As Marc Andreessen famously said in 2011, “software is eating the world”. Technology is becoming an essential part of every industry and every business. More and more companies are making the statement that they are becoming a technology company.
Architecture MVP – An Agile approach to IT architecture development
Architecture changes are hard. An MVP approach to architecture can eliminate many of the problems current architecture design faces. Instead of PowerPoint marketecture (i.e., architecture in a nice picture, as marketing brochures), an MVP for architecture would enable architects to
10 Questions for Tech Strategy consultants
Majority of consulting firms are now talking about the same topics: agile, AI, cloud, micro-services, ecosystem, and API. One would almost wonder if strategy, which is fundamentally about choices, is still relevant. In addition, with the integration of business and
7 Levers for Accelerating Technology Transformation
Leading companies are increasingly using annual reports to discuss their digital ambitions and their journey to become a technology empowered company. In the annual reports, they clearly articulated their technology vision, their accomplishments so far, and their future digital direction.
Four As that make technology matter more
To make technology matter more, companies need to understand the underlying drivers for the magnitude of achieved technology impact. Having worked with many organizations across the world on similar topics, I have designed a formula to illustrate how to amplify
Using Technology to Fix Process Bugs – a no-regret way to digitize business processes
Many companies already have mature business processes in place and core systems such as ERP/MRP and HR/Payroll systems installed to help automate such processes. These companies are now asking the questions of what to do with those processes during digital
10 Questions for PE Firms Evaluating Target’s IT Landscape
One of the questions that consultants must always answer is how to win client work. Clients issue RFPs and they employ scoring criteria to select consultants. The scoring criteria are typically centered around technical competency and commercial arrangements. Clients’ procurement teams will lead the charge, score the vendors, and go through the selection processes.
A 4R methodology to digitally improve business processes
Many companies are looking for a systematic methodology to apply technology to digitize and improve existing business processes. 4R, from Results to Root Causes to Remediation to Rhythm, is a proven way to identify process improvement opportunities, apply technology to
Eight lessons learned when reviewing IT cost
While most IT organizations have been conducting IT budget reviews regularly for years, there are always opportunities to further improve the processes and get even more out of the IT cost review effort. COVID-19 further amplified the need to review
Business is the right brain, IT is the left brain, and we need the whole brain
While most companies still talk about business and IT alignment, the alignment between business and IT implies that business and IT are still opposite of each other. Companies are transforming themselves to become technology-empowered and make technology a core part
Building Technology Proficiency in Business
Future businesses will all be centered around technology and technology will be a core part of the business for every company. Companies must be bi-lingual across the language of business and the language of technology and both business and IT
Flywheel over “Field of Data Dreams” – A better approach to generate analytics impact
Only 31% of companies view themselves as data driven in 2019. According to a recent McKinsey survey, only a small fraction of the value that could be unlocked by advanced-analytics approaches has been unlocked – as little as 10 percent
Inconvenient Truths of Data Quality
Data is an asset. But it is also a liability. Data quality issues, when not managed correctly, would become a critical enterprise risk. KPMG’s 2016 Global CEO Outlook reported that 84% of CEOs were concerned about the quality of data
IT after COVID-19 – What is going to happen?
Post COVID-19, technology’s stature within companies will continue to rise. Companies will make strategic portfolio shifts and redesign its global supply chain. Working remotely will likely to stay. More investment will be made to business continuity. All these changes will
The ABCDE of Tech-Empowered Companies
With the amount of technology advances happening today, every company must become technology-empowered. It is no longer a choice. Becoming Tech-Empowered means that companies must have accelerated metabolism, be bi-lingual with business and technology, continuously evolving products and services and
7 Timeless Classics for Aspiring Consultants
What books should budding consultants read? How can consultants build the skills to solve clients’ most urgent issues, build long lasting client relationships, and continue to evolve consultants’ own toolkit? Are there good books that can help? Over my course
Which industry are tech giants going to disrupt next? Maybe it’s consulting?
Globally, a number of technology giants such as Amazon and Alibaba are getting into the consulting space. They are not only providing advisory services on the implementation of their hardware and software capabilities, they are also starting to become the
7 Levers for Accelerating Technology Transformation
Technology transformation is often similar to replacing an airplane’s jet engine while flying at 39,000 FT in the air. Past approaches to technology transformation took too long and often didn’t create immediate benefits. By the time the transformation was finished,
Intelligent Assistants for Managers
The 18M managers in the US, 11% of the total US workforce, can become much more productive when they are augmented by five AI assistants: Intelligent Executive Assistant, Intelligent Financial Analyst, Intelligent Coach, Intelligent HR Assistant, and Intelligent Strategy Consultant.
Technology Metrics Framework for Tech-Empowered Companies
For tech-empowered companies, a new set of metrics are required to measure the outcome of technology investments and evaluate if the foundation is sound to enable companies to continue to evolve with technology advances. Current commonly used IT metrics won’t
Why Technology Still Doesn’t Matter Today
“Technology doesn’t matter” – this was my opening when I was giving a “Future of IT” presentation to the IT executive team of one of the largest oil companies in the world.
Five C-Suite Roles for Next Generation IT Organization
The organization structure for most companies’ IT organizations hasn’t changed dramatically over the last 30 years. Most IT organizations have the following key roles reporting to the CIO…
Four Criteria for Selecting a Strategic Advisor
One of the questions that consultants must always answer is how to win client work. Clients issue RFPs and they employ scoring criteria to select consultants. The scoring criteria are typically centered around technical competency and commercial arrangements. Clients’ procurement teams will lead the charge, score the vendors, and go through the selection processes.
Four A’s that Make Technology Matter More
To make technology matter more, companies need to understand the underlying drivers for the magnitude of achieved technology impact. Having worked with many organizations across the world on similar topics, I have designed a formula to illustrate how to amplify the technology impact, i.e., how to make technology matter more.
Seven Habits of Tech-Empowered Companies
To truly be able to deploy technology across all facets of the business, companies should explore the 7 habits of Tech-Empowered Companies and embark on a journey to transform themselves. As Marc Andreessen famously said in 2011, “software is eating the world”. Technology is becoming an essential part of every industry and every business. More and more companies are making the statement that they are becoming a technology company.
How to Discuss Technology in Annual Reports
As technology becomes the driving force for companies across industries, more and more CEOs are viewing technology as a core part of their top agendas. In the meantime, many companies are still struggling to raise the profile of technology within their companies.
Integrated transformation
One of the questions that consultants must always answer is how to win client work. Clients issue RFPs and they employ scoring criteria to select consultants. The scoring criteria are typically centered around technical competency and commercial arrangements. Clients’ procurement teams will lead the charge, score the vendors, and go through the selection processes.
Technology is just a means to an end
Too many people are treating technology as an end. Technology, unfortunately, is just a means. We need to use technology to drive outcomes. This is why Amazon doesn’t call itself an AI company even though Amazon probably has invested more
Chief Technology Officer vs. Chief Business Technology Officer
For many companies, technology doesn’t really matter because they don’t have the right leaders to help them identify opportunities to deploy technology to change their business. A Chief Business Technology Officer is one of the opportunities for companies to identify
“Contract Coding” – the next frontier for IT Supply Chain
To truly be able to deploy technology across all facets of the business, companies should explore the 7 habits of Tech-Empowered Companies and embark on a journey to transform themselves. As Marc Andreessen famously said in 2011, “software is eating the world”. Technology is becoming an essential part of every industry and every business. More and more companies are making the statement that they are becoming a technology company.
Architecture MVP – An Agile approach to IT architecture development
Architecture changes are hard. An MVP approach to architecture can eliminate many of the problems current architecture design faces. Instead of PowerPoint marketecture (i.e., architecture in a nice picture, as marketing brochures), an MVP for architecture would enable architects to
10 Questions for Tech Strategy consultants
Majority of consulting firms are now talking about the same topics: agile, AI, cloud, micro-services, ecosystem, and API. One would almost wonder if strategy, which is fundamentally about choices, is still relevant. In addition, with the integration of business and
7 Levers for Accelerating Technology Transformation
Leading companies are increasingly using annual reports to discuss their digital ambitions and their journey to become a technology empowered company. In the annual reports, they clearly articulated their technology vision, their accomplishments so far, and their future digital direction.
Four As that make technology matter more
To make technology matter more, companies need to understand the underlying drivers for the magnitude of achieved technology impact. Having worked with many organizations across the world on similar topics, I have designed a formula to illustrate how to amplify
Using Technology to Fix Process Bugs – a no-regret way to digitize business processes
Many companies already have mature business processes in place and core systems such as ERP/MRP and HR/Payroll systems installed to help automate such processes. These companies are now asking the questions of what to do with those processes during digital
10 Questions for PE Firms Evaluating Target’s IT Landscape
One of the questions that consultants must always answer is how to win client work. Clients issue RFPs and they employ scoring criteria to select consultants. The scoring criteria are typically centered around technical competency and commercial arrangements. Clients’ procurement teams will lead the charge, score the vendors, and go through the selection processes.
A 4R methodology to digitally improve business processes
Many companies are looking for a systematic methodology to apply technology to digitize and improve existing business processes. 4R, from Results to Root Causes to Remediation to Rhythm, is a proven way to identify process improvement opportunities, apply technology to
Eight lessons learned when reviewing IT cost
While most IT organizations have been conducting IT budget reviews regularly for years, there are always opportunities to further improve the processes and get even more out of the IT cost review effort. COVID-19 further amplified the need to review
Business is the right brain, IT is the left brain, and we need the whole brain
While most companies still talk about business and IT alignment, the alignment between business and IT implies that business and IT are still opposite of each other. Companies are transforming themselves to become technology-empowered and make technology a core part
Building Technology Proficiency in Business
Future businesses will all be centered around technology and technology will be a core part of the business for every company. Companies must be bi-lingual across the language of business and the language of technology and both business and IT
Flywheel over “Field of Data Dreams” – A better approach to generate analytics impact
Only 31% of companies view themselves as data driven in 2019. According to a recent McKinsey survey, only a small fraction of the value that could be unlocked by advanced-analytics approaches has been unlocked – as little as 10 percent
Inconvenient Truths of Data Quality
Data is an asset. But it is also a liability. Data quality issues, when not managed correctly, would become a critical enterprise risk. KPMG’s 2016 Global CEO Outlook reported that 84% of CEOs were concerned about the quality of data
IT after COVID-19 – What is going to happen?
Post COVID-19, technology’s stature within companies will continue to rise. Companies will make strategic portfolio shifts and redesign its global supply chain. Working remotely will likely to stay. More investment will be made to business continuity. All these changes will
The ABCDE of Tech-Empowered Companies
With the amount of technology advances happening today, every company must become technology-empowered. It is no longer a choice. Becoming Tech-Empowered means that companies must have accelerated metabolism, be bi-lingual with business and technology, continuously evolving products and services and
7 Timeless Classics for Aspiring Consultants
What books should budding consultants read? How can consultants build the skills to solve clients’ most urgent issues, build long lasting client relationships, and continue to evolve consultants’ own toolkit? Are there good books that can help? Over my course
Which industry are tech giants going to disrupt next? Maybe it’s consulting?
Globally, a number of technology giants such as Amazon and Alibaba are getting into the consulting space. They are not only providing advisory services on the implementation of their hardware and software capabilities, they are also starting to become the
7 Levers for Accelerating Technology Transformation
Technology transformation is often similar to replacing an airplane’s jet engine while flying at 39,000 FT in the air. Past approaches to technology transformation took too long and often didn’t create immediate benefits. By the time the transformation was finished,
Intelligent Assistants for Managers
The 18M managers in the US, 11% of the total US workforce, can become much more productive when they are augmented by five AI assistants: Intelligent Executive Assistant, Intelligent Financial Analyst, Intelligent Coach, Intelligent HR Assistant, and Intelligent Strategy Consultant.
Technology Metrics Framework for Tech-Empowered Companies
For tech-empowered companies, a new set of metrics are required to measure the outcome of technology investments and evaluate if the foundation is sound to enable companies to continue to evolve with technology advances. Current commonly used IT metrics won’t
Why Technology Still Doesn’t Matter Today
“Technology doesn’t matter” – this was my opening when I was giving a “Future of IT” presentation to the IT executive team of one of the largest oil companies in the world.
Five C-Suite Roles for Next Generation IT Organization
The organization structure for most companies’ IT organizations hasn’t changed dramatically over the last 30 years. Most IT organizations have the following key roles reporting to the CIO…
Four Criteria for Selecting a Strategic Advisor
One of the questions that consultants must always answer is how to win client work. Clients issue RFPs and they employ scoring criteria to select consultants. The scoring criteria are typically centered around technical competency and commercial arrangements. Clients’ procurement teams will lead the charge, score the vendors, and go through the selection processes.
Four A’s that Make Technology Matter More
To make technology matter more, companies need to understand the underlying drivers for the magnitude of achieved technology impact. Having worked with many organizations across the world on similar topics, I have designed a formula to illustrate how to amplify the technology impact, i.e., how to make technology matter more.
Seven Habits of Tech-Empowered Companies
To truly be able to deploy technology across all facets of the business, companies should explore the 7 habits of Tech-Empowered Companies and embark on a journey to transform themselves. As Marc Andreessen famously said in 2011, “software is eating the world”. Technology is becoming an essential part of every industry and every business. More and more companies are making the statement that they are becoming a technology company.
How to Discuss Technology in Annual Reports
As technology becomes the driving force for companies across industries, more and more CEOs are viewing technology as a core part of their top agendas. In the meantime, many companies are still struggling to raise the profile of technology within their companies.