business model

Are you training your staff for IPv6?

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 06:59:58 -0500

The expansion of the Internet, known as IPv6, is on its way. But will your staff know how to handle it? The federal government is on a timetable to expand access to the Internet starting in June 2008. It will require the government to move to expanded codes for Internet addresses that will allow the Internet to handle far more addresses than it does now. The General Services Administration, which handles many technology contracts, said it wants information on IPv6 training from companies that already have GSA contracts suitable for providing training. And that means that private sector companies doing business with the federal government need to expand their offerings for training sooner than later. It is only a matter of time--very short, as a matter of fact--when the new Internet will be the norm, not the exception. And it is just as important for CIOs, in their business model, to be able to train their own workers for this expansion, too.

For more on Internet expansion:
- See this Federal Computer Week Article

SaaS-based security gets some buzz

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 06:59:58 -0400

Executives are learning that security technologies delivered via the SaaS (software-as-a-service) business model are proving to be a big success. Imperial Chemical Industries--a London-based maker of paints and chemicals, which is in the process of being acquired by industrial conglomerate Akzo Nobel for $16 billion--is engaged In a focused effort to secure its assets and data. The company is using SaaS applications--like vulnerability scanning tools, email and spam filtering and Web filtering. "We're pushing the envelope in terms of what's out there with security SaaS, but so far, it's been a fantastic success," Paul Simmonds, global information security director at ICI, told Infoworld. Still, he says that not all security applications should be offered using a SaaS model, including security tools like NAC systems and endpoint-oriented products.

For more on delivering security tech through SaaS:
- read the article in Infoworld

Gates and Jobs Take the stage at D5

Wed, 30 May 2007 20:01:39 -0400

The much-anticipated public meeting between Bill Gates and Steve Jobs finally became a reality yesterday at the D5 conference in Carslbad, CA. Jobs had some nice words to say about Gates: "Bill built the first software company in the industry," Jobs said. "The business model turned out to be one that worked very well for the industry. Bill was really focused on software before anyone else had a clue." Gates, meanwhile, praised Jobs for pursuing the idea that the computer could really be a mass market idea and then for betting heavily again on the Mac. Both Gates and Jobs shrugged off the notion that the computer is waning as more and more work is handled via the browser. "The PC has proved to be very resilient," Jobs said, later clarifying that he was referring to the PC generally, not Windows specifically, news.com reported.

For a full report:
- see this CNET article

Network security for the new age

Sun, 13 May 2007 20:01:38 -0400

Threats to the enterprise are varied and complex, but the biggest threat of all is complacency. The first step toward safeguarding information from harm is recognizing that threats exist and deciding that information warrants security measures. And half-hearted security measures are worse than none at all; an inadequate security system not only fails to keep out threats, but also offers a false sense of security to the organization. Naïve employees also can cause real problems: many users find security procedures irritating and ignore them. To mitigate these growing threats, think first about following a process, assessing and determining risks and designing a security policy. Only then should you begin building a security architecture based on the policy and looking for tools that are aligned with it. And make sure you're constantly changing and monitoring the security policy and system in accordance with changes in the external environment and the business model that it follows. Adopt the best practices in the industry but keep your requirements in mind. Security solutions should be custom-built and very specific to your business' needs and infrastructure.

Learn more about network security for the 21st century:
- read the article at CIO

The ROI of innovation

Mon, 07 May 2007 20:01:39 -0400

The real challenge of innovation isn't the development of ideas but successfully managing the process so that it delivers a good ROI in money, time, and people. Most attempts fail to generate enough payback--especially in cash. To address this problem, think about innovation as a process that uses new knowledge to generate a payback in terms of process (a tightly managed, flexible process that drives a string of business results), new knowledge (the innovation process uses new knowledge to generate more new knowledge, which in turn spurs even more innovation), and payback, either as a direct or indirect result. Numbers frequently fail to measure what matters most when it comes to innovation. To provide better information for innovation decisions, draw a cash curve that graphically plots cumulative cash flow over time. Make sure the information needed to measure the four areas of improvement-startup costs, speed to market, scale to volume, and support are available.

Read more about the ROI of innovation:
- read the article at Optimize

ALSO:
- read this about how innovation starts with a better business model
- this about creating processes for innovation
- this about what innovation is really all about
- and this about looking for innovation within the IT department

Successful IT strategic plans

Mon, 07 May 2007 20:01:39 -0400

To craft an effective IT strategic plan, you have to know where the company will be in the next five years, what shape its business will take, and how its business model and customer base will evolve. But creating a picture of that "target state" can be challenging. It's the CIO's job to help the business shape this "target state" to the point where IT management can plan how technology will help enable the company's future. That means asking the right questions in the areas of company growth strategy, products and services strategy, volume growth strategy, mergers and acquisitions strategy, partners and channel strategy and IT growth strategy. These aren't easy questions to answer, there may be multiple answers to the questions, and some questions may have no hard answers. But the answers create a basis for the IT organization to develop a strategic plan that's aligned with the company's goals.

Read more about effective IT strategic plans:
- read the blog at CIO

ALSO:
- read this on making IT-business alignment work
- this on why the quest for IT and business alignment continues
- and this on aligning business and technology goals

Implementation+ Innovation= Success

Sun, 06 May 2007 20:01:39 -0400

New IT-driven business model innovations can only occur when organizations achieve the right balance between the CIO's two key roles: one as Chief Innovation Officer and the other as Chief Implementation Officer. Both innovation and implementation lenses are required to achieve growth and profits. To gauge your company's readiness, ask yourself these questions: What proportion of management attention should be devoted to IT's role in innovation versus implementation? What should be done to re-balance IT competencies and skills for shaping future business strategies versus IT's traditional operational competencies? What is the role of external IT alliances, partners and vendors in this new environment of growth and innovation? How can you best organize the IT function to ensure balanced attention to future opportunities versus current operations? What portfolio of performance indicators are needed to balance IT's contribution to future versus present?

Read more about innovation and implementation:
- read the article at Silicon

ALSO:
- read this on why innovation starts with a better business model
- this on why you shouldn't stifle innovation
- and this on what innovation is really all about

Don't stifle innovation

Mon, 30 Apr 2007 20:01:39 -0400

By focusing on activities needed to "keep the lights on," companies are stifling the innovation and creativity that IT departments need to consider and implement new technology. Instead, IT departments should be a source of ideas and act as a "lightning rod," fostering a culture that explores innovative ideas. Businesses must allow their IT divisions to underpin the business strategy with an IT strategy that adds true value instead of being forced down a narrow path. One idea is to have a Google-style "creativity allowance" for staff to work on their own ideas. But on the other hand, some believe that CIOs should be the sanity check in the face of hype around new technology trends.

Read more about what CIOs think about stifling innovation:
- read the article at Silicon.com

ALSO:
- read this about how innovation starts with a better business model
- this about creating processes for innovation
- this on what innovation is really all about
- this on spearheading innovation through IT
- and this on why innovation means success for CIOs

Looking for innovation within the IT department

Mon, 09 Apr 2007 20:01:36 -0400

Conventional wisdom says that innovation comes from the top, but that's not always the case. Innovative leadership can come from the middle of the organization, and proactive CIOs look for these future leaders to move up through the ranks over time. Attributes of innovate mid-level workers include passion, the ability to see potential, leadership, creativity, fearlessness of authority, experience, energy, and, most of all, a penchant for thinking outside of the box.

Learn more about what makes a mid-level employee an innovator:
- read the article at CIO Insight

ALSO:
- read this on listening to junior employees about innovation
- this on creating processes for innovation
- this on what innovation is all about
- this on the impact of the business model on innovation
- and this on spearheading innovation through IT

Creating processes for innovation

Sun, 01 Apr 2007 20:01:39 -0400

Companies create processes for innovation in different ways, but the unifying thread is that they all focus first on creating a process. Process is important because it provides a structured way to choose ideas and take them to execution. Innovation processes can take different forms, such as this one divided into six phases:

Discovery, or the search for opportunities and design
Design, where concepts turn into prototypes
Qualification, where ideas are validated
Readiness, or preparing for launch
Launch
Leverage, which helps market and maximize adoption of IT solutions.

Once the process is in place, the IT team can understand an innovation's risk. The most difficult aspect of the innovation process often is the launch, when an IT innovation is 'commercialized,' or adopted by customers. But even if you develop something that's good, people are slow to adopt new things. IT must talk about what it's done in a way that will excite users and compel them to change their behavior. Change management is another difficult part; change takes a lot of commitment and leadership from the CIO.

To learn more about processes for innovation:
- read the article at CIO Canada

Related Articles:
What innovation is really all about. Report
Why innovation has to start with a better business model. Report
Spearheading innovation through IT. Report
Innovation means success for CIOs. Report