The IT Skeptic - strategy

The purpose of IT

skeptic — Sat, 07 Sep 2019 06:17:52 +0000

Our purpose is not to write code. Our purpose is to create, deploy and operate a human/machine system that delivers satisfying value, and continues to do so over the expected lifetime of the service it provides. Code is one of the easier parts of that whole.

Multi-Speed IT

skeptic — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 23:07:32 +0000

Enterprises are wrestling with the conflicting needs to chase competitiveness in a world of endlessly changing technology, whilst still remaining mindful and careful. In IT we are caught in the same bind. I have written about this squeeze before in "To Protect and Serve".

This year I'm looking at solutions: how IT can deal with the dichotomy with Multi-Speed IT. By embracing Agile, DevOps, BYOD and other "liberation" approaches, and integrating them into our ITSM, risk, and governance practices, we can create an IT environment with a better chance of responding at the speed of business, whatever the business chooses that speed to be. This article proposes a nuanced approach to two-speed IT, where each lifecycle implementation is a blend of the two "speeds".

"Business" in ITIL?

VarSan — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 11:06:15 +0000

Dear Wizard,

It's been a few days since I started to discover the world of ITIL and to study for the Foundation exam.
In the book(s) there is a number of "Business" words, and I cannot understand what side of business do they talk about: "Business Capacity Management", "Business Service (Management)", "Business Continuity Plan", "Pattern of Business Activity", etc. Their definitions are really puzzling.

5 Tips For Developing An ITSM Strategic Road Map

skeptic — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:21:13 +0000

Over on the Pink Elephant conference blog, I talked to Pink Elephant’s AVP Product Strategy, Troy DuMoulin, who blogs regularly and – I think – with lots of insight. We don’t always agree (see my recent post) but anyone who themes his blog around the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy has got to be worth reading, and the content rewards the effort.

The halo effect applies to IT

skeptic — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:08:29 +0000

As a skeptic I have to count The Halo Effect as one of the most important business books of all time. Read it. It has a lot to do with the stuff we talk about on this blog.

Governance directives as input to ITIL

skeptic — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:50:06 +0000

Being a simple soul with only a limited grasp of ITIL, sometimes I'm sure I've missed something obvious. Like when I went looking in the Service Strategy book to find where the overall business plan or organisational strategy informs the service strategy. If IT is your business, if you are an IT service provider company, then I can see SS working. But for an internal service provider, for an IT department, SS reads as if service strategy is developed in isolation from the rest of the organisation, as if we treat the rest of the organisation as a remote customer of services instead of as the same team, from whom we take direction. At what point in SS do we ask the Board? At what point does the corporate executive inject policy? Where do we align with the business strategy? Or did I miss something?

Review ITILV3 Service Strategy - The IT Skeptic

skeptic — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 09:23:55 +0000

10:18 minutes (4.14 MB)

A podcast of the original article [updated: fixed the sound quality]

The first of the five books in the ITIL Version 3 core suite, Service Strategy is ITIL’s bid for credibility outside the back-room. Well actually, much of Version 3 is a cry for acceptance at higher levels in the organisation (or a power grab for more of the business depending on your perspective). But Service Strategy leads the charge, making an effective case for delivery of IT as a service, and for a strategic, analytical and theoretical approach to such delivery.

The IT Skeptic reviews ITIL V3 book "Service Strategy"

skeptic — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 09:06:07 +0000

This post has been podcast

[Updated: My review of ITIL V3 "Service Strategy" is no longer available at the original website so I am reposting it here.] If V2 taught us how to walk, V3 teaches us to run. Trouble is, many organizations are still sitting down.

Is ITIL Version 3 "Strategy Generation" a mystery process?

skeptic — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 08:57:18 +0000

Perhaps readers can help out one of your fellows who is stuck on the ITIL Version 3 process "Strategy Generation".

The Sheep from the Goats: ITIL vendors and Version 3

skeptic — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 08:19:20 +0000

ITIL Version 3 makes a big ask of the ITSM industry. It will be fascinating to watch how it shakes out. The scope of ITIL is an order of magnitude wider now: how many individuals and organisations will have the knowledge and skills to step up to the new requirements?

Let us start with an interesting quote:

McKinsey on IT Strategy; a combination of insight and gibberish

skeptic — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 04:01:24 +0000

Most analysts produce a combination of insight and gibberish, none more so than McKinsey.