12.24.09
The Perfect Corporate Gift
[Cartoon]
Have you ever noticed that most corporate projects move along at an almost boring pace? Solid management principles are applied and everything goes along as planned. Even potential disruptions are identified and predetermined actions defined. We like to say, “Just like clockwork.” What could be more boring than watching a clock work?
Have you also noticed that Information Technology projects are not so boring? Oh, the same solid management principles are applied, but somehow things do not go as planned. Disruptions occur that were not expected and consequentially not predetermined in the plan. This is when the rolls of duct tape come out to meet a project’s deadlines. Heroes are born that save the day.
Most managers had rather not run their organization on duct tape. Corporate Management and Information Technology are better than that. I believe that everyone that understands and uses a PDA (Personal Data Assistant) will understand the value of the perfect corporate gift. The gift is the EDA (Enterprise Data Assistant). With the EDA, the planning process is different.
Just like the PDA, the EDA provides multiple views of pertinent information. These are the multiple views of the enterprise’s Information Technology. Using visual presentations, anyone in the enterprise can locate the metadata about everything within the structure of their corporation. Everyone will have full access to the knowledge of everything they need to know when developing project plans.
The data may even be augmented by production and project metrics. This can provide individuals the ability to receive alerts and notices. They could even modify process rules to respond to unique situations.
Alright, you are beginning to see the value of having an EDA. The next question is, “Where do you buy one?” The answer is that you need to hire one. Either permanently or on contract, you need an Enterprise Architect. Enterprise Architects lead the effort to build the repository that will expose the interworking of IT. The EDA will be the holistic view of all of the models that govern the use of Information Technology.
With this perfect gift, the EDA, innovation in the corporation will soar. Attention will be more focused on providing the customer better products and services. New ways to reduce costs and reduce time-to-market will be woven into the corporate fabric.
The outcomes of IT projects driven by corporate innovation will be exciting. Unfortunately, the actual IT projects will become rote and somewhat boring. The heroes will be the innovators that add business value. The need for heroic duct tapers to meet deadlines will disappear. You will be able to have your EDA and declare that you “Control Information Technology Yourself”.
So, as you enjoy Christmas and, hopefully, get to play with some new gadgets, remember the EDA.
Closing the Business / IT gap.
