Tips

Tips

Digital business management

• Turning your business into a platform business

  Leading Edge Forum offers four paths CIOs can take to develop the sophisticated ecosystems necessary to transform into a platform business.  Continue Reading

• Risk-based digital identity benefits CIOs, CMOs and customers

  Asking customers to reaffirm their digital identities by sharing private information undermines CX and data security. Instead, use a risk-based approach to digital identity.  Continue Reading

• Agile practices endure and continue to adapt

  As the 20th anniversary of the Agile Manifesto approaches, Agile practices remain vital to software development and are being adapted to critical business functions outside of IT.  Continue Reading

• Efficiency vs. effectiveness in business: Which comes first?

  Operational efficiency gains do not equate to operational effectiveness. Expert Dan Morris explains efficiency vs. effectiveness in business process automation.  Continue Reading

• Facebook's Libra project -- why enterprises should prepare

  Facebook's foray into cryptocurrency is setting off alarm bells in government and finance circles. The question is how could the Libra project help the enterprise?  Continue Reading

• New BPMS architecture is answer to 'future-proofing' the enterprise

  An aging, complex IT environment needed to become more nimble -- and remain stable. A months-long project using a new BPMS architecture pointed the way.  Continue Reading

• The C-suite case for hiring a chief customer officer: 5 elements

  Delivering world-class digital customer experiences has become job No. 1 for companies. Nemertes' Robin Gareiss makes the case for putting a chief customer officer in charge.  Continue Reading

• 6 potential blockchain limitations for enterprise use

  The potential benefits of blockchain for enterprise use must be weighed against blockchain's limitations. Here are six.  Continue Reading

• 4 integrated monitoring strategies that will improve IT operations

  Digital transformation expert Isaac Sacolick offers four ways to build an integrated monitoring architecture that will actually improve IT operations -- not slow them down.  Continue Reading

• BPM tools mitigate business disruption amid digital transformation

  A major challenge in digital transformation is avoiding harmful disruption to the business while doing the work of creating a new business/IT operating model. BPM tools can help.  Continue Reading

• How to sustain hard-won ITSM automation gains

  The ITSM automation gains you've reaped from your ITSM provider can vanish when you need to switch vendors. These five tips will prevent that from happening.  Continue Reading

• BPMS architecture modernizes legacy tech, makes IT more strategic

  The technology of the past put humans on the moon, but it's bringing businesses to a breaking point. Here's why CIOs should consider a BPMS architecture to modernize legacy systems.  Continue Reading

• ITSM governance essential as new tech trends drive business processes

  New tech trends in AI, cloud and robotic process automation create capabilities that are reshaping ITSM. But for the innovations to reach their full potential, strong governance over ITSM processes are required.  Continue Reading

• IoT adoption gets a C+ from Cisco expert -- how can CIOs improve?

  Why is IoT adoption in trouble? Underestimating the disruption to the business is one reason, says Cisco's Jon Stanford, in this tip on the challenges and best practices for IoT adoption.  Continue Reading

• 5 open source software problems -- and how to manage them

  Open source software's appeal is understandable: It's free, accessible and relatively easy to implement. But CIOs should be aware of the pitfalls.  Continue Reading

• Resist 'garbage in, gospel out' doctrine -- defend data quality

  The 'garbage in, gospel out' approach to business analytics may be a valid approach for doing big data projects, but CIOs should resist it for business transformation.  Continue Reading

• How to start a blockchain project: Questions for IBM's Jerry Cuomo

  A blockchain project starts with a belief that business needs to be done in a different way. Here's what happens next, including the role CIOs play in a blockchain journey.  Continue Reading

• Bad data stops business process transformation in its tracks

  Dan Morris introduces his new eight-part series on exploring how bad data can sabotage business process transformation and what CIOs need to do to fix it.  Continue Reading

• How to measure usability when selecting an RPA tool

  If an RPA tool isn't user-friendly and isn't built for the long term, chances are the dividends won't be immediate. Read this before choosing your RPA tools.  Continue Reading

• Enterprise digitization's secret ingredient: Fusion teams

  Cross-functional or 'fusion' teams are critical to meeting fast-changing digital challenges. Here are the four must-have team attributes for successful enterprise digitization.  Continue Reading

• How to create the best RPA architecture

  Enterprises are embracing robotic process automation to automate rules-based, repetitive tasks in a cost-efficient manner. ROI depends on having the right RPA architecture.  Continue Reading

• Digital transformation plan: RPA and BPMS tools, better together

  A sound digital transformation plan gives companies the ability to change quickly. Business process management suites and robotic process automation -- used together -- do that.  Continue Reading

• Blockchain implementation: Connecting the missing DLT links

  Blockchain implementation is helping streamline governance processes, but a few questions must be answered first to take full advantage of distributed ledger technology.  Continue Reading

• Your digital transformation initiative is probably not future-proof

  A digital transformation initiative will fail if you simply dump new tech into an old tech black box, says expert Dan Morris. His readiness checklist points the way forward.  Continue Reading

• Security practices don't have to hinder IT speed

  Speed-to-market strategies shouldn't be bogged down by IT security. Here are two steps that will help CISOs adapt governance practices to support IT speed.  Continue Reading

• Setting up a service automation framework

  In this third tip in a series on service automation, the global CIO searches for and finds a service automation framework.  Continue Reading

• What is IT service automation? Exceeding user expectations

  In this second tip in a series on IT service automation, the global CIO calls an urgent meeting of his executive team then gives the summer intern the floor.  Continue Reading

• A CTO offers advice on managing acquisition risks

  An ambitious project to modernize legacy software has added IT prowess and is driving innovation. One unforeseen consequence? Acquisitions are up, and so are acquisition risks.  Continue Reading

• Compliance battle over digital ownership has begun

  Rules defining digital ownership will dictate how the data-based economy evolves. CIOs should get ahead of data asset management before competitors write rules to their advantage.  Continue Reading

• Robust DevOps trend fueled by IT's need for speed, survey says

  A survey from IT service management provider Pink Elephant pinpoints the motives and success factors driving the burgeoning DevOps trend.  Continue Reading

• Time to replace 'corral and control' with a digital data strategy

  As data volumes explode and business uses for data increase, the old "data-first" mindset no longer applies. CIOs must develop a digital data strategy. Here is what's required.  Continue Reading

• App development teams need to adapt to business-led IT

  App development teams are at an inflection point: They can act as sole producers -- and fail to meet digital demands -- or enable business-led IT with application building blocks.  Continue Reading

• A cloud implementation methodology for legacy apps

  Maximizing the benefits of cloud while minimizing risk requires a fine-tuned migration strategy. Here, Scott Lowe lays out a cloud implementation methodology for legacy apps.  Continue Reading

• How to create an enterprise transformation roadmap

  The rapidly evolving techno-society is increasing competition for all kinds of businesses and forcing them to create a plan for enterprise transformation. Here's advice to help.  Continue Reading

• Modern information asset management present new rules for CIOs, others

  Information asset management has fallen lower on CIOs' list of priorities, but other departments and roles are stepping in as high-quality data drives business decisions.  Continue Reading

• How to monetize data

  CIOs are increasingly being tasked with capitalizing on company information. Learn how to monetize data in this report from Outsell's DataMoney Conference.  Continue Reading

• Clear goals, patience required for successful IT automation strategy

  More companies are investing in automation to streamline processes. But for an IT automation strategy to be successful, it's important to start with clear, well defined goals.  Continue Reading

• Social movements offer CIOs a model for sustaining innovation

  How to sustain innovation is a challenge for startups and large companies alike. Studying the ties that bind social and political movements could help.  Continue Reading

• Digital labor: What forward-looking CIOs should know

  In this Q&A, ISG Insights analyst Stanton Jones describes the various types of digital labor and offers pointers for CIOs on how to start deploying it.  Continue Reading

• 2017 CIO priorities: If you do anything next year, do this

  Analytics, security, data privacy and IT specialization loom large for 2017. Here is my CIO guide for surviving another whirlwind year.  Continue Reading

• Crushed by the pace of technology change? Do these two things

  Is complexity killing your ability to keep up with the pace of technology change? Niel Nickolaisen offers a path forward.  Continue Reading

• Achieve digital success: Takeaways from CEB's Summit for IT Leaders

  Faster IT operating models, companywide change, new hires: The CEB Summit for IT Leaders maps out the steps to digital success.  Continue Reading

• Readers debate using the Apple Watch for business

  The Apple Watch offers nuggets of data that could drive employee productivity. We asked our readers to weigh in on the potential usefulness of the Apple Watch for business.  Continue Reading

• Lessons learned from FedEx's social networking platform project

  What big company doesn’t want a social networking platform that lets employees really connect, communicate and create? Take it from a pro: The benefits are many and, yes, it is hard to do.  Continue Reading

• The complexities of a diversified cloud strategy

  Experts urge using a diversified cloud strategy to offset cloud vendor instability, but the sophisticated management skills this approach requires may make it unfeasible for some IT organizations.  Continue Reading

• Use a diversified cloud strategy to offset provider instability

  It can be tough for CIOs to get cloud providers to commit to providing long-term services. One way to ensure stability is by using a diversified cloud strategy.  Continue Reading

• Free templates: IT vendor selection, social sharing and mobile devices

  SearchCIO has rounded up free templates from around the Web providing guidance on IT vendor selection, social sharing and mobile device policies.  Continue Reading

• On digital transformation, will CIOs get stuck in the shadows?

  Organizations must play to their digital strengths if they want to survive digital disruption, advises Forrester. Is there a place for the CIO?  Continue Reading

• Move like Jagger to nail down a digital strategy

  The collaborative skills of Quincy Jones, longevity of the Rolling Stones and tenacity of Tina Turner are the makings of a potent digital strategy.  Continue Reading

• Forrester: Three competencies CIOs need to master digital disruption

  CIOs need three competencies to keep pace with digital disruption. Plus, do you play soldier, captain or general in digital disruption?  Continue Reading

• Rolling out a mission-critical application: We can do better

  Does the glitch-ridden Health Insurance Marketplace bring back bad memories? Niel Nickolaisen offers his Rx for rolling out a mission-critical app.  Continue Reading

• Forrester: Achieve business agility by adopting these 10 attributes

  Is your company struggling to keep up with the lightning-quick pace of change? Forrester explains the 10 attributes of business agility.  Continue Reading

• Forrester CXi shows CIOs key to improving customer experience

  Companies that excel at customer experience work hand in glove with CIOs and IT, according to the Forrester 2013 Customer Experience Index.  Continue Reading

• Steps CIOs can take to harness digital disruption

  How does a CIO get involved in digital disruption? Analyst Nigel Fenwick offers a framework.  Continue Reading

• Retaining Millennial employees: What you need to know

  Are you committed to retaining your Millennial employees? Learn about the characteristics of Millennials and how CIOs can keep them happy and productive.  Continue Reading

• Tips for honing your organization's digital strategy

  Is it IT's job? Marketing's? Companies need a digital strategy, but it's difficult to decipher who should lead this effort. Online experts offer advice.  Continue Reading

• Enterprise social media policies and strategies: A guide for CIOs

  Enterprise social media policies and strategies are evolving as organizations recognize the benefits, risks and functions that social networks like Facebook and Twitter provide.  Continue Reading

• SQL Server business intelligence and self-service BI in the midmarket

  Could your users benefit from SQL Server business intelligence? SQL Server 2008 R2 introduces valuable self-service BI tools that may be worth a look for the midmarket.  Continue Reading

• Simple project management software options for when Excel isn't enough

  A low-cost, simple project management software solution is often the next step for organizations that have outgrown Excel. Learn more about a few of the available options.  Continue Reading

• Self-service technology helps companies help themselves

  Self-service technology can help organizations reduce costs, but also improve the customer experience and let workers focus on what's important.  Continue Reading

• CMS proves its ROI mettle

  Once implemented successfully, a content management system not only improves organization and efficiency, but also pays for itself within a year and a half.  Continue Reading

• Top 10 considerations for selecting a platform

  With hardware costs for Windows, Solaris and Linux running neck and neck these days, here's a rundown of the top 10 things beyond initial cost to consider when choosing a platform.  Continue Reading

• How to choose the right data storage device

  Need storage? Ed Tittle offers an essential list with considerations and recommendations for more storage space on an SMB network.  Continue Reading