service oriented

IT Consortium Explores Need for Service Innovation

Sun, 03 Jun 2007 20:01:39 -0400

A new IT consortium was recently launched to raise awareness of the need for service innovation and to increase the level of funding for services research. Dubbed the Services Research and Innovation Initiative, participating companies include IBM, Microsoft, Oracle and EMC, among others. The consortium held its first symposium last week in Santa Clara, CA with approximately 200 IT professionals attending. Speakers included Geoffrey Moore, author of "Crossing the Chasm" and "Dealing with Darwin"; Sophie Vandebroek, president of Xerox Innovation; and Irving Wladawsky-Berger, vice president of Technical Strategy and Innovation for IBM. J.B. Wood, president and CEO of the Technology Professional Services Association, one of the key sponsors of SRII, told attendees that over the last eight years, the U.S. IT sector has become significantly more service-oriented, rather than product-oriented.

For more on the symposium:
- see this eWeek article

Taking a chance on white box PCs

Mon, 14 May 2007 20:01:36 -0400

Instead of going with the tried-and-true big guns when it comes time to replace desktops or laptops, consider an independent builder of white boxes. Cost is attractive, as is their more hands-on, service-oriented approach. To avoid getting burned, check the certifications; that is, make sure the PC OEM you're using has Intel, AMD and Microsoft membership or certification. Secondly, make sure your PCs will come with the original Windows installation discs and manuals. If a PC doesn't, you could be getting an unauthorized copy of Windows, which is a big red flag. Third, be sure the dealer tells you exactly which components will be in the systems and who will warrant them. Fourth, make sure the PC dealer is really listening to your needs and concerns, and not just steering you toward what's on hand. Finally, ask for references.

Learn more about buying PCs from a white box builder:
- read the article at Small Business Computing

Integrating Service-Oriented IT and Infrastructure as a Service

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 20:01:38 -0400

Now that applications developers and IT operations have embraced service-oriented delivery, the next IT area ripe for a service-orientated overhaul is infrastructure, including equipment, facilities and management systems. Traditionally, integration between these elements has been limited, as the form factor for computing has remained mostly static. But if IT infrastructure elements could be integrated and the functions of those elements could be delivered over a network connection, the result would be enterprise IT functions that are more responsive, cost-effective, manageable, reliable, secure and compliant. This is possible today because of the maturation of virtualization technology, integrated functional management systems and best practices architectures and frameworks. The IT infrastructure as a service model presents a compelling alternative to conventional approaches such as "do-it-yourself," which often requires high up-front capital expenditures and long lead times, and traditional outsourcing, which can be difficult to manage and scale.

Learn more about infrastructure as a service:
- read the column at CIO

The ROI of ITIL

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 20:01:38 -0400

The IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL), a service-oriented approach to IT development, can help organizations manage their IT infrastructures and assure the availability of IT services. Often, however, it's difficult to justify the large investment ITIL requires and to demonstrate the ROI. Setting milestones and measuring the value of each phase of an implementation can help prove the project's value and shape its focus.

Learn more about justifying the ROI of ITIL:
- download the white paper at SearchCIO

ALSO: read this on putting business ahead of technology

Putting business ahead of technology

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 19:01:38 -0500

The IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL)--a widely accepted approach to IT service management that offers a host of best practices--turns IT development on its head. The service-oriented approach to IT development encourages IT staff to first understand the company's business needs and only then to determine what technology is required to accomplish those goals. ITIL also improves communication by providing a common language.

Learn how to apply ITIL to your organization:
- read the article at Insurance Networking News