06.29.10
Innovation on Steroids
[Cartoon]
One thing is for sure. If there is a better way to do something, someone will find it. The better way may be less costly or simply be more fun.
There seems to be no limit to the ingenuity shown by the human race. As far back as recorded time, we humans have always developed fantastic solutions to problems.
The only real barrier to freeing the innovation that lies within each of us is desire, knowledge, and resources. It seems that the desire is always there and resources are generally available. It’s knowledge that seems to get in the way of innovation. Someone would have built an antigravity car by now if we only understood antigravity. Someone would have cured all diseases if we had the knowledge.
When it comes to IT, there has never been a shortage of innovation. IT innovation has been rampant. The great ideas that have germinated out of Silicon Valley are legendary.
Before PCs and Apple computers, the world of IT innovation was limited to the experts. With direct access to personal computing, fearless individuals process the most critical of corporate and personal information themselves using their desktop products. Many have developed very complex spreadsheets, automated forms, and take full advantage of collaborative services.
Now, another change is taking place. This change gives this group of fearless individuals the control of their corporate IT data and processes. The change is being driven by cloud computing and viewing software as a service provider and consumer. Cloud computing simplifies the provisioning of hardware and software infrastructure. Viewing software from a services perspective replaces the concept of application silos.
Non-IT professionals can visually design and deploy new processes using BPM (Business Process Management) services. They can connect the dots in new and better ways. They can also add dots by acquiring new services as SaaS. The possibilities have no limits.
Closing the Business / IT gap
