The document discusses key challenges in IT transformation including financial constraints, legacy infrastructure issues, lack of processes, and need for technical skills updates. It identifies quick wins like implementing change control and architectural blueprints. New opportunities include business-IT collaboration and proliferation of technologies. The way forward involves reducing distractions, implementing quick wins, and developing strategic and tactical plans covering people, processes, and technology. This would help build an agile IT environment leveraging approaches like cloud, outsourcing, and maturity models.

1. IT Transformation
Challenges & Choices …
Indranil Guha
10th Sep 2012

2. Key Challenges
 FINANCIAL
• Reduced Funding (Budgets)
• Balance Spending on “Run” vs “Change”
• “Lights-ON”, Secure, Comply, Change
• IT is perceived “Expensive” & “Slow”
 TECHNOLOGY
• Legacy Infrastructure & Application Systems
• Availability, Reliability, Maintainability & Performance
• Silo Systems lacking integration
• Poor Architecture
• Lacks Agility – Says “No” & justifies vs. “Yes” can be done
 PROCESS
• None or Sub-optimal Processes
• Lacks Quality & Consistency
• IT is losing the control and governance
 PEOPLE
• Technical Skills Brush-up
• Belief in Process, Initiative Taking & need to Do Things Differently
1

3. New Paradigms Brings New Opportunities
“IT Simplified” & “Blurring Lines”:
 Business - IT JVs- Collaborative; Not Reactive
 CIO & CxO Roles – Enhanced Common Grounds
 Proliferation & Consumerization of IT – BYOD
 New Computing Models – Smarter Applications
 Business (almost) Selects IT Solutions – Impacts
Architectural Harmony; Security; Performance &
Sustainability
 Constant Race Against Time – Delays Imply Loss of
Competitive Edge
 Eroding Budgets; Pressure of Cost Effectiveness – Be
Efficient & Be Agile ! 2

4. Way Forward – Quick Wins
 DISTRACTORS & INHIBITORS
• Lights-ON issues?
• Too many changes are being implemented?
• Doubts on what is being implemented follows an
architectural blue-print?
• Simple routine activities do not follow a well defined
process?
• Is any sort of Enterprise Monitoring available?
 QUICK WINs
 Probably Change Control is a bit slack; Tighten it
 Implement a “good enough” release management
 Come up with an Architectural Blue-Print
 Implement proper processes for key & routine activities
 Ensure monitoring of key CIs & Systems – Manual Check-
List, if required
3

5. Lights-ON Improved Scenario
4

6. Strategic Plan
INPUTS
 Corporate Strategy
 Business Plans
 Business Targets
 Security & Threat Landscape
 Risk & Compliance Requirements
 Application Systems Robustness & Ability to Deliver Value
 Degree of Current Automation & STP (Straight-Through-Processing)
 Budgets & IT Costs
IT STRATEGY 3~5 Years
 How IT will support the business in Agility, Innovation & Growth
 IT Architecture – Internet, Extranet, Intranet & Security
 Systems – Keep, Upgrade, Replace
 Integrate via Middleware – Avoid Point-to-Point
 Infrastructure (Security, Network, Servers & Storage)
 DR Capabilities
 Governance, Risk & Compliance
 Process, Quality & Certifications
 Skills Matrix, Training & Succession Planning
 IT Career Path 5

7. Tactical Plan
TACTICAL PLAN 2~3 Years
 Cover Holistic View of People, Process & Technology
 Key Initiatives/Projects Showing Current Pains & Expected Benefits
 Investment Dashboard
 Quarterly Breakdown of Investment Plan
6

8. Risk & Compliance
Effective IT Governance:
 Enterprise Architecture – Predict & Architect; Reengineer (if needed)
 IT Architecture Board (ITAB) – Ensure Architectural Compliance. Avoid
Rework & Wastage
 Risk & Compliance (Cloud related policies too….) – Policies. Roles (Who Does
What). Govern & Comply!
IT Governance
Authorities
Regulatory
ICT Initiatives
Compliance
Business
Security
Risk &
Plans
Frameworks &
Policies
Inside Security
Outside &
Threats
7

9. Building Blocks Towards Agile IT
AGILE IT
 Enterprise Architecture
 Modular Infrastructure, Application & Security (SOA)
 Infrastructure
 Virtualize Servers – TCO, Provisioning Time, Asset Utilization
 Virtualize Desktops/Applications –
Mobility, Deployment, Upgrade, Security
 Virtualized & Tiered Storage –
Interoperability, Performance, Thin-Provisioning
 Backup, DeDup & Archival – Faster Backup, Secure Data
Movement
 Active-Active DR Capability – Resilience & Site
Recovery, Investment Utilization
 ESB
 Avoid Point-Point connection; Use a solid Middleware
 Modularity
 SDLC
 Optimized SDLC, Faster & Consistent Service Provisioning
 ERP, CRM, BI, EDMS & Workflow
 Automation & Integration for enhanced Efficiency
8

10. Policies, Processes, Work Instructions ….
IT Asset Lifecycle – IMAC-D
 Distinguish Between:
• Policies
• Processes
• Work Instructions
• Checklists
• Guidelines
 Policies Are Clear, Concise, Unambiguous & Addresses IMAC-D
 Processes Exists for all Routine & Operational Activities
 Work Instructions & Checklists are equally important
 Apply PDCA approach for Continuous Improvement
9

11. IT as a Service & Charge-Back to Business
IT Services & Service Catalog
 Ensure to have all IT Service Delivery Processes Well Documented
 Have all Services Listed
 Create an User Friendly IT Service Catalog with Service Costing
 See which Services can be offered as a Self-Service
 Have an SLA signed with the Business
 Have relevant Under-pinning Contracts
 Provide the Services
 Generate Service-Reports by Department, By User etc.
 Charge-Back the Business for the Services Offered
Ensure to Have the Services Delivered Efficiently and Cost Effectively
10

12. Outsourcing & Managed Services
Key Considerations:
• Is This Strategic or Even Tactical?
• Which is a good candidate for outsourcing?
• Dimensions of Outsourcing – How Much is Too Much
• Contractual side of IT Sourcing
• Service Levels Agreements (SLAs)
• SLA Matrix and KPI
• Intangible; yet key factors of successful outsourcing
11

13. Business & IT Transformation
In-House 
Outsourcing 
Cloud
- Full Control - Lack of Agility
Do IT In-House - Secure (CIA & IP) - Complex Environment
- High Tech Skills
- High Mgmt Overheads
- Technical Management
- Improved Efficiency & - Risks Around IP & CIA
Business Process Outsourcing Accuracy - New Dimensions of IT
- Low Tech Skills Vendor Management
- Reduced Technical Mgmt - Challenge of Performance &
- Medium Mgmt Overheads SLA Measurement
Large Scale or Total Outsourcing - Fosters Focus towards - Risk of Cost Escalation
Core Business Matters
- Much Improved Agility - Complex Decision Making
- Substantial Reduction of - Risks Around CIA & IP
Cloud Services (PaaS, IaaS, SaaS) Managing Technical - Where is the Cloud (Here,
Complexity Near or Far)?
- Fosters Focus towards - What Are The Standards?
Innovation & Core Business - What Are The Governing
Matters Laws
- How Do I Retrace My Steps?
12

14. Risk Takers, Early Adopters & Vantage Players
 New Business Models – New Advantages, New
Risks, New Challenges
 Early Adopters Are The Risk Takers Who Shapes
Transformations
 Corporate IT Strategies To Include Cloud
 The “Here”& “Near” Scores Higher
 Local ISP Clearly Are at A Vantage Point
o Example: Common Security Threats
 Service Delivery of Routine & Common Services:
o Holding & Government Organizations Can Setup Their Private
Cloud
13

15. Decision Making – To Spark Your Thoughts …..
• Is this Service Related To Your Core
Competencies? – If Not, Think….
• What Is the Cost & Effort to Provide This
Service? - If Substantial or Even
Considerable, Work Out the ROIs ….
• Is A Cloud Service Available? – Locally, In
the Region, Distant….
• Are There Any Governing Policies/Laws
That Inhibits? – Within Your Org or Local
• If Indicators Are Favorable - Go
14

16. Project Funding & Business Case Ideas
CAPEX intensive projects
 Joint Ventures & Co-Funding
 Differed Payment Models
 3 years OPEX, TCO & ROI + Indirect Costs
Business Cases – “The Tough Nuts”
 Risk, Probability & Impact -- $$$
 Cost of lost Opportunity
 Cost of losing Market-Share
 Cost of losing Image as “Innovates & In The Forefront”
15

17. Maturity Models & Certifications
IT Maturity – Evolve your IT
 Reactive – Business decides; IT requirement is conveyed
 Collaborative & Proactive – IT is involved with Business
 Predictive & Influential – IT predicts & influences Business
 Service Oriented & Well Orchestrated – Agile IT
 IT Costs are Charged-Back – IT has to be Competitive
Frameworks, Capability & Quality Certifications
 COBIT
 CMMI
 ITIL
 ISO – Service Management; IT Security, IT Governance
Business Is Happy; Credibility is Endorsed !!
16

18. Summary of IT Transformation Road Map
 Quick Wins
 Strategic Plans
 Tactical Plans
 IT Risk, Compliance & Governance
 IT Architecture – Simple, Modular, Secure & Future-Proofed
 Agile IT – Infrastructure, Applications, SDLC & Process
 Cloud, Outsource, Co-source, JVs & Insource – Balance IT
Right
 Service Delivery – Efficient, Optimized & Consistent
 HR Assets – Honed Skills, Motivated & Believes
Keep All Stakeholders Well Informed
17

19. Thank You
indranil.guha@cbd.ae
Questions?
18