The Outsourcing Carousel & Enterprise IT Intelligence -Enov8

The Outsourcing Carousel & Enterprise IT Intelligence -Enov8

12
JANUARY, 2018by Niall Crawford
 
A key responsibility of any CIO is to find the correct technology partners to deliver IT services.
Ideally services delivered will be:
  • Better
  • Faster
  • Or at very least, Cheaper
A process that involves RFPs, Presentations, Strategy Workshops, Vendor Short Listing & eventual Selection. And it might be added, a process that invariably involves a whole bunch of very smart SMEs (Technology Gods) coming in, advising how it will be done.
12
JANUARY, 2018by Niall Crawford
 
A key responsibility of any CIO is to find the correct technology partners to deliver IT services.
Ideally services delivered will be:
  • Better
  • Faster
  • Or at very least, Cheaper
A process that involves RFPs, Presentations, Strategy Workshops, Vendor Short Listing & eventual Selection. And it might be added, a process that invariably involves a whole bunch of very smart SMEs (Technology Gods) coming in, advising how it will be done.

Then the music starts!

  • The Partner’s SMEs are replaced by mere & much cheaper mortals.

In fact, these Techno Gods are never seen again.

  • There is some form of ‘transformational dance’ or, as some call it, a ‘100-day sprint’.

Which to be fair is less of a sprint and more of a zombie shuffle.

  • The process of ‘knowledge transfer’ is blocked by disgruntled employees

That are suddenly somewhat absent or very forgetful.

  • The client’s original SMEs depart.

Leaving nothing to found as the information was in their head.

  • The new staff (i.e. the mortals) go through a whole process of re-learning & re-invention

A process which takes many months and even years to optimise.

  • There is a whole lot of disruption and project delays.

Caused by IT environment instability and IT operational inconsistency and human error.

  • The client eventually loses all comprehension of their IT Landscape & Operations

Leaving behind an inability to analyse behaviour and make effective decisions.

Then, after about 4 or 5 years, the music stops and the whole endeavour starts again. A new transformation with a whole bunch of new ‘kiddies’ that will be:
  • Better
  • Faster
  • Cheaper
Yep! another RFP, a new set of technology partners and the same set of recurring challenges.

A Better Way

At Enov8 we believe that the number one reason organisations struggle so badly with any ‘Transformational Endeavours’ (including outsourcing) is due to a fundamental lack of Enterprise IT Intelligence i.e. lack of visibility across their IT Landscape (systems, processes, relationships) and supporting IT Operations (Application Operations, Data Operations & Infrastructure Operations).

Definition: Enterprise IT Intelligence

Enterprise IT Intelligence is a key framework for supporting successful IT transformation. It encompasses the need to intrinsically understand your IT environments, relationships, operations, and automation; using this complete information for ongoing optimisation, and better IT and business decision making.As such, we offer two suggestions (or cautions) before starting or re-embarking on a transformation.
  1. Never assume the various IT divisions and operations teams have done the right thing with respect to maintaining knowledge about your IT & Test Environments, Systems or Operations. All too often these teams will ‘fly by the seat of their pants’ and rely on information in people’s heads and the occasional heroics.
Tip: Consider your division’s behaviour by using a maturity model like the EMMi.
  1. Don’t assume that the incoming vendor can, or wants to, miraculously turn ‘Lead into Gold’.
Reminisce the Idiom: ‘Garbage in, garbage out’.As we see it, if you haven’t made the effort yourself, then you probably shouldn’t expect the new incumbent to create more work for themselves – (particularly if that work makes it easier for you to switch vendors in the future).

Innovate with Enov8

If you are interested in learning more about ‘Enterprise IT Intelligence’ then contact us about Ecosystem.Enov8 EcoSystem is the worlds leading IT Enterprise Intelligence platform.Ecosystem is a fully configurable and easily integratable solution that comes with out of the box “enterprise management” functions that support IT & Test Environment Management, Release Management, IT Operations Management, Configuration Management & Service Management.
Niall CrawfordNiall is the Co-Founder and CIO of Enov8. He has 25 years of experience working across the IT industry from Software Engineering, Architecture, IT & Test Environment Management and Executive Leadership. Niall has worked with, and advised, many global organisations covering verticals like Banking, Defence, Telecom and Information Technology Services.

Relevant Articles

8 DevOps Anti-Patterns to Avoid

8 DevOps Anti-Patterns to Avoid

It’s the normal case with software buzzwords that people focus so much on what something is that they forget what it is not. DevOps is no exception. To truly embrace DevOps and cherish what it is, it’s important to comprehend what it isn’t. A plethora...

An Introduction to Application Rationalization

An Introduction to Application Rationalization

In today's fast-paced digital landscape, organizations often find themselves grappling with a sprawling array of applications. While these applications are crucial for various business operations, the lack of a structured approach to managing them can lead to...

What Makes a Great Test Data Management Tool

What Makes a Great Test Data Management Tool

What Makes a Great Test Data Management Tool? In today's fast-paced IT landscape, having a robust Test Data Management (TDM) tool is crucial for ensuring quality, compliance, and efficiency in software development and testing. At Enov8, we pride ourselves on providing...

The Top Application Portfolio Management Tools

The Top Application Portfolio Management Tools

Managing an application portfolio is essential for organizations aiming to optimize their IT operations, reduce costs, and enhance overall efficiency. Application Portfolio Management (APM) tools are designed to help organizations achieve these goals by providing a...

What Is a Test Data Manager?

What Is a Test Data Manager?

Testing is a critical aspect of software development, and it requires the use of appropriate test data to ensure that the software performs optimally. Test data management (TDM) is the process of creating, storing, and managing test data to ensure its quality,...

Sprint Scheduling: A Guide to Your Agile Calendar

Sprint Scheduling: A Guide to Your Agile Calendar

Agile sprints can be a powerful, productive and collaborative event if managed properly. However, when neglected or set up incorrectly they risk becoming chaotic and inefficient. Crafting an effective schedule for your sprint is essential to ensure the success of your...