http://www.booz.com Information Technology RSS feed from Booz & Company. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:57:24 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/50115041?gko=edeab Governments in the Middle East and North Africa have begun initiating IT shared services programs to aggregate demand, enable the expert delivery of services, create economies of scale, reduce costs, and boost productivity. But many of these efforts are faltering. A thorough understanding of the shared services ecosystem will allow governments to detail the right roles, capabilities, and responsibilities for each stakeholder. Shehadi, Ramez; Kassatly, Fady; Sleiman, Adham Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/50115041?gko=edeab http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/50103490?gko=3d6fd The enormous popularity of tablet computers among consumers is forcing enterprises of all sizes to accept them as part of their technology arsenal as well. Much of this activity has been driven from the top down, beginning with top executives and board members of large enterprises, but that will likely change soon, as the productivity gains from new ways of using the devices become clearer. Appling, George Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/50103490?gko=3d6fd http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/50066231?gko=ae824 As technology projects increase in complexity, public and private organizations are searching for new mechanisms to control their costs and ensure systems deliver what they need. In doing so, they should go beyond the traditional project management office and consider a strategic implementation office, which extends the scope of oversight and is thus able to prevent common pitfalls before they occur. Bitar, Jad; Shehadi, Ramez; Tohme, Walid; Naamani, Mohamad Mon, 09 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/50066231?gko=ae824 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/50030291?gko=79493 The pace of digitization is picking up rapidly but the speed at which digitization is taking place varies a great deal from industry to industry. To gain a better understanding of the relative degree to which digitization is transforming different industries, we have created the Industry Digitization Index. Whether they are currently digitization leaders or laggards, all industries can benefit by investing in the input, processing, and output capabilities needed to extend their digital footprints throughout their business ecosystems. Friedrich, Roman; Gröne, Florian; Koster, Alex; Le Merle, Matthew Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/50030291?gko=79493 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/50030375?gko=4463d Middle East banks' continued push to deliver new products and services is helping to build new business, but it is also taxing banks' already-stretched IT resources. To prevent bottlenecks in their pipeline of new offerings, regional banks should consider an offshore development center (ODC), which provides access to new labor markets and pools of skilled talent while allowing banks to maintain partial or full ownership of the IT enterprise. Habak, Charles; Shehadi, Ramez; Zakhour, Lutfi Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/50030375?gko=4463d http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49970322?gko=a50fd Web analytics is the measurement, collection, analysis, and reporting of Internet data for the purposes of understanding and optimizing Web usage. Today, Web interactions between commercial businesses and their customers are as important, if not more so, for a business's growth as customer touches through traditional voice and bricks-and-mortar channels. This Leading Research deck discusses the data and technology opportunities and challenges associated with Web analytics. Nair, Ramesh; Parande, Raj; Nair, Balu; Goryunov, Yuri Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49970322?gko=a50fd http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49953075?gko=43985 New startup companies have long been an important driver of innovation and economic growth in the U.S., and few of them would have grown to maturity without early-stage financing. This study, based on a survey of almost 200 angel investors and interviews with 20 prominent venture capitalists, analyzes the extent to which this financing might be affected by the copyright regulatory environment. Ahmed, Tashfeen; Le Merle, Matthew; Pencavel, Christopher; Sarma, Raju Tue, 15 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49953075?gko=43985 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49879464?gko=d1637 Vendor management is being recognized as a capability that's increasingly critical to the overall value a large IT department delivers. This Perspective describes the five elements that are essential to a truly outstanding vendor management capability. Bising, Guy; Chen, Stephen; Cooke, Mike Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49879464?gko=d1637 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49794335?gko=7268f Many business transformation programs entail developing new capabilities that have a substantial IT component. A critical success factor for the transformation program is the adoption of the new capabilities (including technology) by users. A business value realization (BVR) program preps users to accept, absorb, and adopt new capabilities, and ensures management understands and supports the level and type of preparation that's needed. Nair, Ramesh; Pillai, Manoj; Nayar, Ajay; Kumar, Shivani Wed, 21 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49794335?gko=7268f http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49779196?gko=17761 The steady decrease in U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) investment spending will continue for the foreseeable future. To better compete in this new environment, traditional companies should look beyond simple cost-cutting measures to a more comprehensive "next-generation affordability" approach that transforms cost structures and refocuses capabilities on the new market requirements. Adams, Jim; Beckey, Steve; Martin, Joseph; Brukardt, Ryan Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49779196?gko=17761 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49655543?gko=a4b96 Traditional defense manufacturers are facing a period of change that, if poorly navigated, could severely cripple their competitiveness and even threaten their very existence. Success in today's defense market will require (1) under¬standing and investing in new capabilities; (2) attacking structural costs; and (3) advancing systemic processes. Dustman, Eric; Hughes, Thornton; Martin, Joseph; VanHorn, David Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49655543?gko=a4b96 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49655545?gko=e5169 Rising costs are forcing the entire U.S. healthcare industry to find ways to unlock and enhance medical value by delivering higher-quality, more affordable care to empowered and engaged consumers. This Perspective outlines three models--population care, healthcare products, and focused transformation--that address the issue of reclaiming lost medical value in a comprehensive and sustainable way. Ahlquist, Gary; Saxena, Sanjay; Spencer, Brett; Gopalka, Abhishek Fri, 05 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49655545?gko=e5169 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49639031?gko=d6c01 To create successful partnerships, an IT project sourcing strategy should answer three critical questions: What is the desired target or result for the project? Who should the organization partner with to deliver results? How should a partner be selected? Bitar, Jad; Shehadi, Ramez; Tohme, Walid; Ramamoorthy, Chandrasekar Mon, 01 Aug 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49639031?gko=d6c01 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49606604?gko=ef98d To strengthen their ICT sectors and foster innovation, governments in the MENA region must act on five core elements: identifying key focus areas, establishing innovation-friendly policies and regulations, making funding more widely available, improving ICT infrastructure, and developing the local talent pool. Abou Chanab, Louay; El-Darwiche, Bahjat; Shehadi, Ramez; El Zein, Tarek Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49606604?gko=ef98d http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49581418?gko=3795a Web 3.0--what we call the Transcendent Web--will offer an entirely new level of connectivity, communications, and information on customers, including their attitudes and preferences. Acker, Olaf; Karam, Danny; Rahbani, Jad; Sabbagh, Karim Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49581418?gko=3795a http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49557056?gko=ab61b The seemingly unending stream of data breaches could be avoided or mitigated with a rigorous approach and a proactive process for risk management. Such an approach can make all the difference when senior management is called to account in the aftermath of a crisis. Gazzini, Alessandro; Holt, Matthew Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49557056?gko=ab61b http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49436985?gko=7a797 There are major opportunities available to CEOs who can shake off the old view of IT as a utilitarian cost center and instead recognize it as a powerful tool that shapes their strategic agenda and underpins capability creation, driving more cost-efficient operations and higher revenue. CEOs need to act now or risk falling permanently behind aggressive adopters such as State Street and JPMorgan Chase. Mavros, Kelley; Nirmal, Suresh; Plansky, John; Regelman, Roman Tue, 26 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49436985?gko=7a797 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49415802?gko=c9f62 E-health initiatives cannot succeed unless five key areas receive sufficient attention: governance policies and regulation, the financing model, technology infrastructure, services, and stakeholders. Bitar, Jad; Kutty, Sindhu; Shehadi, Ramez; Tohme, Walid Mon, 18 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49415802?gko=c9f62 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49371293?gko=68a75 In January of this year, Booz & Company surveyed more than 330 tablet users globally to gain insights into early-adopter profiles, behavior, and usage. This piece presents some of the key results and our accompanying analysis. Friedrich, Roman; Künstner, Thomas; Peladeau, Pierre; Knott, Michael Wed, 06 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49371293?gko=68a75 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49307732?gko=66cce This Perspective lays out how to approach the problem of risk in large-scale, innovation-heavy IT transformation projects; how companies can address any gaps they may have in the capabilities needed to succeed at such projects; and why taking ownership of innovation is the right decision. Chakraborty, Saibal; Koch, Volkmar; Niebuhr, Jens Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49307732?gko=66cce http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49691205?gko=492c7 To assist health plans as they consider and pursue ACOs, Booz & Company conducted extensive primary and secondary research, proprietary economic modeling, and in-depth interviews with academic experts, external vendors, and senior executives of payors and providers. This Perspective reports Booz & Company's findings on the emerging ACO landscape. Ahlquist, Gary; Saxena, Sanjay; Spencer, Brett Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49691205?gko=492c7 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49069240?gko=bbb4e Cloud security must be placed within the context of each company's overall information security program, including risk management, incident management, continuity planning, and governance. Doing so will require the combined efforts of everyone with a stake in ensuring the security of the data being moved into the cloud. Niebuhr, Jens; Holt, Matthew; Aichberger, Thomas; Rosiello, Angelo Mon, 07 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49069240?gko=bbb4e http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49023768?gko=37cc7 It is time for the retail banking industry to come to terms with Web 2.0 and take advantage of the many opportunities it offers. Success in the new Web 2.0 world will require a clearly defined strategy that includes involving the bank's customers in its marketing efforts, creating a carefully blended product portfolio with new segment-specific offerings, and investing in the Web 2.0 technologies needed to pull the entire effort together. Bussmann, Johannes; Hyde, Paul; Sandrock, Jörg Mon, 24 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49023768?gko=37cc7 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/48964235?gko=3765a As products of every description become more and more intelligent, the software they contain will determine how they are differentiated from their competitors, and thus how they create value. In this new environment, every manufacturer must learn how to develop innovative, sophisticated soft­ware. Harter, Gregor; Böckmann, Jörg Tue, 21 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/48964235?gko=3765a http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/48872017?gko=80f1c As governments and businesses in MENA countries seek to reap the benefits of e-payments, how well they fare will depend on the extent to which they are able to spread the benefits to these diverse stakeholders, account for their specific needs, and actively involve them in the design and implementation of e-payments systems. Shehadi, Ramez; Zakhour, Lutfi; Habak, Charles Mon, 29 Nov 2010 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/48872017?gko=80f1c http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/48718857?gko=a7e21 Companies cannot afford to ignore the promise of cloud computing, but they should not rush pell-mell into it. Rather, senior business and IT executives should carefully evaluate whether they will use the cloud as a source of infrastructure, a development platform, or a software delivery mechanism, and determine the right cloud architecture for their needs. Alvarez, Eduardo; Gupta, Papiya; Mariolis, Michael Wed, 06 Oct 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/48718857?gko=a7e21 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/48604447?gko=552b3 The CIO job is a high profile position, with the potential to make a strategic impact on the business. Two driving factors--mandate and positioning--are hard to control, yet could provide the platform for sustainable CIO success. Mourtada, Rami; Roets, Martin; Trépant, Hugo Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/48604447?gko=552b3 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/48511729?gko=9ddfa As finance ministers in the Middle East seek to improve their fiscal oversight, one approach gaining favor is the adoption of a government fiscal management information system. This standardized, robust, and automated system for managing government revenues and expenditures offers the tools to improve government services, reduce costs, and attract better borrowing terms. Atalla, George; Oknayan, Shant; Shehadi, Ramez; Zakhour, Lutfi Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/48511729?gko=9ddfa http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/48212979?gko=58ef7 GCC governments should develop comprehensive, well-funded, multi-year programs that address two critical dimensions of ICT development: environment and readiness. By doing so, they will greatly improve the quality and effectiveness of the services they offer their constituents. Bitar, Jad; Khoury, Raymond; Shehadi, Ramez Mon, 12 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/48212979?gko=58ef7 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/48209367?gko=124f2 As companies emerge from the severe economic downturn, more and more of them are adopting capabilities-driven strategies to drive new growth and earn the right to win in their markets. CIOs have an indispensable role to play in these organizations, both in helping to define corporate capabilities and strategies, and in ensuring that IT is properly aligned with them. Alvarez, Eduardo; Filsoof, Ahmad; Waller, Steven Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/48209367?gko=124f2 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/48209373?gko=52e0f Web 2.0 and new media technologies such as blogs, wikis, and social networks are spreading rapidly through companies, often without IT's direct involvement. As new technologies become more popular, and some prove to be strategically relevant drivers of business value, it is incumbent on CIOs to become knowledgeable about and comfortable with them and provide the leadership necessary for the organization to use them effectively. Cooke, Mike; Guha, Aveek; Lockwood, Mark Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/48209373?gko=52e0f http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/48090192?gko=84580 Healthcare organizations are striving to ensure continuity of care for their patients by moving from a paper-based environment to a digital setting in which information is collected, stored, and shared through IT applications. An enterprise integration solution ensures that data can be seamlessly exchanged across different systems and applications, making it available to the right individual in the right place and at the right time. Bitar, Jad; Shehadi, Ramez; Tohme, Walid Thu, 03 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/48090192?gko=84580 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/47987538?gko=2837c As the telecom industry looks to improve the customer experience in all aspects of its business, the billing process is finally getting the attention it has long needed. Critical as it is to replace these old systems, the huge scale and daunting expense of such projects--easily approaching US$100 million and more--have made many operators reluctant to proceed. Operators must analyze their particu­lar needs and business models, and then choose one of an evolutionary or a revolutionary approach. Gröne, Florian; Niebuhr, Jens; Schröder, Germar; Späne, Andreas Wed, 19 May 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/47987538?gko=2837c http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/47987711?gko=3fa5a In times of scarce resources and, concurrently, growing expectations towards efficiency and effectiveness of public operations, traditional structures and governments' mode of action are put to test. The potential of modern ICT to become a key lever for government modernization and structural change is widely acknowledged. Correspondingly, eGovernment is inalienably being accompanied by far-reaching expectations. Whilst almost every country meanwhile runs a variety of diverse eGovernment activities on practically all government layers, experience shows that many of these are rather uncoordinated and merely linked into an overarching modernization strategy. As an inevitable result over time, many large-scale eGovernment programs fray out into a plurality of unmastered ICT-related "construction sites" that fundamentally risk the overall success of the program as such. This viewpoint provides key insights into a successful design and management of public IT-programs. Practical experiences thereby disclose a number of particular activities serving as switch stands for an IT-program's effectiveness. Bernnat, Rainer; Zink, Wolfgang; Thomé, Frank Wed, 19 May 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/47987711?gko=3fa5a http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/47987534?gko=474c1 Fights within organizations are inevitable, and even healthy. But executives need to pick their fights carefully. This is no less true in the case of IT. The fights fought by Charlie Feld to transform technology at railroad giant Burlington Northern and by LaVerne Council to central­ize the IT function at Johnson & Johnson were ones that mattered. Both fights drew on organizational tensions that already existed, and both ultimately generated tremendous financial and strategic value. Beyer, Damon; Joni, Saj-nicole Wed, 19 May 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/47987534?gko=474c1 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/47961472?gko=ec96b As public and private organizations around the world seek to limit their environmental impact, they can both reduce the direct environmental by-products of IT use as well as find IT solutions for business activities that generate emissions. Karam, Danny; Shehadi, Ramez; Trépant, Hugo Mon, 10 May 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/47961472?gko=ec96b http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/47958644?gko=d6503 Top corporate management working with CIOs should develop a robust, comprehensive, and holistic green IT model that leverages technology to minimize the carbon footprint of the entire organization. Such a program would view environmental sustainability as a business strategy, driving eco-friendly approaches throughout the organization to improve business operations, better preserve the environment, enhance productivity, and cut costs at the same time. Karam, Danny; Koch, Volkmar; Shehadi, Ramez; Trépant, Hugo Fri, 07 May 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/47958644?gko=d6503 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/47909489?gko=3d7e6 CIOs can take one of two paths to accommodate the consumer revolu­tion in corporate IT. They can "bring in" employees under the corporate umbrella, allowing them to use corporate devices for work and non-work activities and loosening restrictions on Web surfing and the use of social media. Or they can "reach out" to employ­ees, allowing them to use their own personal devices to do their work, perhaps within virtual clients installed on the devices. Either way, companies need to assess carefully their readiness for consumerization, use the results to determine how different groups of employees should make the switch, and set up pilot programs to under­stand better the effect of consumer­ization on productivity, security, and other factors. Acker, Olaf; Bernnat, Rainer; Bieber, Nicolai; Johnson, Mark Tue, 27 Apr 2010 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/47909489?gko=3d7e6 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/47774888?gko=fb5f8 There is a better strategy for reducing IT operational costs that will not diminish a company's ability to differentiate itself by the technology initiatives it embraces. It involves a holistic approach that carefully analyzes key aspects of supply and demand and how best to deliver IT hardware and software to satisfy the needs of the entire organization. Ahlemann, Dietmar; Böckmann, Jörg; Dresel, Stephan; Rieder, Bernhard Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/47774888?gko=fb5f8 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/47544564?gko=aed13 Companies operating in the information, communications, and technology sector have a unique opportunity to trigger significant environmental benefits, not only by upgrading their operations but also by developing greener products and services for their clients. Harter, Gregor; Karam, Danny; Sabbagh, Karim; Shehadi, Ramez Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/47544564?gko=aed13 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/47491243?gko=abf68 Organizations around the world are embracing integrated risk-management strategies that combine the right blend of physical, information, and IT security controls. Gazzini, Alessandro; Shehadi, Ramez Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/47491243?gko=abf68 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49779118?gko=31e12 Electronic medical records can enhance quality of care, reduce medical errors and costs, and improve business performance for healthcare organizations. But healthcare facilities must choose the technology carefully and tailor it to their needs. Bitar, Jad; Shehadi, Ramez; Tohme, Walid Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/49779118?gko=31e12 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/47349336?gko=10c8b Manufacturers of traditional desktop and laptop personal computers for the enterprise face an uncertain future. On every front, their position is under attack. Even in those markets where the enterprise PC is most likely to see growth--the developing world, and especially the BRIC countries--its potential may be limited by the head start that mobile phones already have, and by the rise of ultra-low-cost computers. In light of these changes, players in every enterprise PC market must prepare for a future that looks very different from the present. Harter, Gregor; Hyde, Vanessa; Jaruzelski, Barry; Koster, Alex Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/47349336?gko=10c8b http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/47341074?gko=51884 IT outsourcing has traditionally been one of the most effective levers companies can apply to reduce costs. A highly leveraged sourcing model can potentially reduce operating costs by 20 to 25 percent. However, delivering these savings requires a careful and well thought out execution plan. Blansett, Tim; Kapoor, Namit; Newham, Denton; Paladugu, Naveen Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/47341074?gko=51884 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/47341076?gko=82da7 The complexity and high cost of implementing service-oriented architecture (SOA) have slowed adoption considerably in the years following its much-hyped introduction. Yet a pragmatic, business-oriented approach to the technology has enabled numerous companies to reap the long-term benefits of SOA, including lower costs and increased agility. Habermann, Tim; Strada, Enrico Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/47341076?gko=82da7 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/47341073?gko=9bb53 Competitive pressures in the retail sector are increasing, and all retailers are looking for ways to improve their bottom lines. Success in the long term will depend on whether they can keep controlling costs while enticing consumers to stay loyal to the products and services they offer. That, in turn, will depend on their ability to develop technologies to please customers in every sales channel they serve. To do so, retailers must rethink all of their IT operations. Blansett, Tim; Horvath, Michael; Kapoor, Namit; Newham, Denton Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/47341073?gko=9bb53 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/47189813?gko=5747c In a world overrun with marketing messages, the next wave of marketing technology will cut through the clutter, building automated marketing campaigns that address your customers' wants and needs individually. The result: greater customer intimacy, improved loyalty, and higher revenues. Moving quickly will gain real competitive advantage for you, so start planning for the future now. Acker, Olaf; Gröne, Florian; Hölbling, Klaus Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/47189813?gko=5747c http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/47177106?gko=d7d47 Large corporations have long struggled to make their IT organizations more effective and more adaptable, often by reorganizing the IT department itself. Yet the importance of restructuring may have been overstated. According to a recent Booz & Company survey, how your IT department is structured has little effect on how well it executes its mission and responds to changes in the business environment. Centralized, decentralized, hybrid, or federated--virtually any organizational scheme can get the job done. What does matter is the free flow of information and the proper allocation of decision rights. Trépant, Hugo; Roets, Martin Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/47177106?gko=d7d47 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/47177120?gko=9f7a8 In today's maturing consumer markets, emphasis is shifting from straightforward sales to a more holistic approach to customer life-cycle management, with a stronger emphasis on how sales are generated and service provided all along the customer journey. Effectively managing these different marketing, sales, and service channels poses a significant challenge. Companies need new strategies, structures, processes, and tools to deliver customer value across all channels. A multi-channel, integrative customer model that delivers customer value and significant return on investment (ROI) requires both a strong understanding of customer preferences and behaviors and a robust IT architecture that supports the overarching customer relationship management (CRM) strategy. Even those organizations that have embraced the need for sophisticated multi-channel orchestration often still fall short in their execution. This "Perspective" Viewpoint offers strategic guidelines in four areas to ensure success with multi-channel orchestration. Gröne, Florian; Kammer, Karsten; Kirscheneder, Julius; Peterson, Michael Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/47177120?gko=9f7a8 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/46776440?gko=e83ee The development of electronic government capabilities--government services offered online to citizens, businesses, other government entities, and employees--is crucial both for its own sake and as part of a nation's broader technological development. To successfully implement e-government models, nations in the Middle East must take a customer-centric approach to their government services, understanding each service from their constituents' perspective to determine how best to provide them. Khoury, Raymond; Shehadi, Ramez Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/46776440?gko=e83ee http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/45946254?gko=a0a87 To determine how much value Enterprise Architecture can contribute to the business, Booz & Company recently surveyed executives across a mix of financial services and government organisations. The results are revealing. Respondents across the board viewed EA as a key capability for building long-term business value, and are making significant investments in it. EA maturity levels vary greatly and the amount of value captured through EA was clearly linked to EA maturity level. Companies looking to improve their EA maturity must work to develop their capabilities in five critical areas: strategic alignment, staff competency, performance measurement, organisational structure, and formal EA processes. Burns, Peter; Neutens, Michael; Newman, Daniel; Power, Tim Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/45946254?gko=a0a87 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/45811323?gko=d675b Now that the hype stage is over, it is time for every CIO to take a serious look at cloud computing--what it offers today, and what it will offer in the long term. To that end, we provide a realistic assessment of cloud computing--the companies that are already migrating applications to the cloud, and the vendors that are aiding in the process. Cloud computing isn't perfect, and CIOs are right to worry about security, business continuity, data availability, and cost. This Perspective proposes ways to overcome these concerns. Approaching the cloud as a serious alternative will be well worth the effort--especially at a time when every CIO is looking to cut costs. Acker, Olaf; Kumar, Aneesh; Stroh, Stefan Wed, 20 May 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/45811323?gko=d675b http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/45712502?gko=d4f78 Despite the legendary difficulty of implementing ERP systems, these tools offer companies distinct advantages: They provide a way to integrate and share critical information across various business functions, from finance to logistics to marketing; they lower the cost of processing transactions; and they can help reduce IT support costs. Yet the lack of effective and efficient end-user support remains a top reason why too many ERP systems don't reap all those promised benefits. Ensuring proper ERP support requires a careful, objective analysis of support processes following implementation and a willingness to make the sometimes wrenching process changes necessary to make support work. Bussmann, Johannes; Fauconnet-Nielsen, Tomas; Shortley, Kate Tue, 12 May 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/45712502?gko=d4f78 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/45358642?gko=bbb81 Media consumers are rushing online in record numbers, and corporate marketers must go there too. CIOs and CMOs must work together to develop a marketing architecture that can analyze consumer behavior, help make marketing decisions, and automate customer interaction, content management, and publishing processes. Koch, Volkmar; Peterson, Michael; Vo, Kiet; Gröne, Florian Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/45358642?gko=bbb81 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/45281326?gko=35846 Traditional IT cost reduction methods alone are not powerful or sustainable enough to respond to this recession. CIOs also need to address the structural components of the IT cost base and align IT more closely to the business by creating more flexible and adaptive cost structures. Successful CIOs will aggressively attack total and fixed costs, while partnering with business leaders to place smart bets on new technology and capabilities that are affordable today, will drive near-term profitability, and offer a payback period of 18 months or less. Alvarez, Eduardo; Fletcher, Louise Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/45281326?gko=35846 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/45205719?gko=8da9c FedEx Corp.'s chief information office Rob Carter has undertaken a major renewal of his firm's technology architecture in hopes of reducing complexity and increasing connectivity. Mike Cooke, a partner in the Chicago office of Booz & Company, recently chatted with Rob in his Memphis office about the program, and how the company's "information technology culture" has helped sustain it. Cooke, Mike Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/45205719?gko=8da9c http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/44590166?gko=d8097 To gain a deeper understanding of the obstacles IT departments face and to uncover some of the innovative methods that CIOs are developing to overcome these obstacles, Booz & Company conducted a survey of global worldwide Tier One automotive suppliers with annual revenue ranging from US$500 million to more than $50 billion. This short paper offers a brief outline of the four major challenges facing IT organizations in automotive companies and how they must be addressed. Cooke, Mike; Johnson, Marc; Milner, Jordan Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/44590166?gko=d8097 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/44515265?gko=088ec In today's turbulent environment, businesses are significantly altering both their operating models and their portfolios. IT organizations, and the CIOs who lead them, must take on a key role in pushing change and supporting the business through this transition. Many companies will have to change their IT operating models and budget structures as well. Cost control will remain a critical factor, but IT's new strategy must go far beyond the continuous cost reduction initiatives that have been in vogue over the past five years. A carefully managed transformation program can deliver dramatic changes in IT efficiency and effectiveness, reducing spending levels by 30 to 50 percent. Cooke, Mike; Krishnamurthy, Kumar; Milner, Jordan Mon, 16 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/44515265?gko=088ec http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/44380022?gko=bc2b2 Cost and capacity pressures on the corporate data center are mounting. Increasing computing power demands, poor asset utilization, excess complexity, and growing concerns about energy usage and costs are forcing companies to reassess how they manage their data centers. Companies that don't do so face a future of rising costs and declining performance relative to their competitors. Companies that do make the effort can expect to cut the cost of operating their data centers by as much as 40 percent. Gröne, Florian; Schröder, Germar; Stroh, Stefan Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/44380022?gko=bc2b2 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/44260776?gko=59d2c Over the past 30 years, profitability in the airline industry has rarely exceeded the average cost of capital employed, despite steady increases in passenger traffic and destinations. In the coming years, it is likely that airline profits will be throttled further by the global economic downturn, high fuel costs, and the prospect of ever more stringent environmental regulations. In order to survive and prosper in these conditions, airlines must rationalize their processes and increase asset utilization to a greater degree than ever before. This will require business-driven IT transformation--that is, the fundamental redesign and integration of business systems and processes within and across airline functions. Kaib, Michael; Koch, Volkmar; Röska, Daniel; Stroh, Stefan Mon, 23 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/44260776?gko=59d2c http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/44149382?gko=e7ec9 Allegations of accounting fraud at Indian IT and business process outsourcer Satyam have raised serious concerns for CIOs who have outsourced large portions of their IT operations, both to Satyam and other firms. In order to maintain their trust in any potential outsourcing vendor, customers will no doubt expect much higher standards of financial transparency and due diligence. Every company needs to set up a systematic way to analyze its current outsourcing relationships and develop workable risk mitigation against short-term service disruptions. Couto, Vinay; Sengupta, Suvojoy Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/44149382?gko=e7ec9 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/43470897?gko=6cea5 Many companies have their direct spending under control, but their indirect spending is far less disciplined and much too costly. In order to reform procure-to-pay--essentially, the second half of the procurement process, in which employees actually purchase the items or services negotiated with vendors during the first half of the process--companies need to have a holistic understanding of the IT systems that support it. Replacing procurement's existing IT infrastructure with an end-to-end solution is not the answer. The best approach avoids the inefficiencies and integration problems of large systems by blending together individual modular applications, each meant to address a specific area of the procurement process. Weinberg, Jim; Rieder, Bernhard; Barta, Jeffrey Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/43470897?gko=6cea5 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/43213873?gko=3826e Some companies tackle IT talent shortages by recruiting aggressively. But recruitment alone is not the answer: To address these issues, Booz & Company has developed a framework that can identify shortfalls in IT skills and capability targets based on the overall business strategy. This framework also provides a road map for improving IT teams' efficiency, value, and return on investment. Bussmann, Johannes; Fletcher, Louise; Korwin-Szymanowska, Christine; Wyatt, David Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/43213873?gko=3826e http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/43147385?gko=3f32c Judging by numerous companies' satisfaction with service-oriented architecture (SOA), its benefits are real. SOA's powerful combination of technical flexibility, standardization, and openness can help solve the many technical problems companies face as they move beyond proprietary systems and toward modular, reusable services that can make business processes more agile. But to business users, the cost of implementing SOA can be dauntingly high, and the business benefits remain elusive. Even among IT practitioners, misconceptions continue to swirl around the definition of SOA and what it really delivers in terms of business benefits. This Perspective gives IT professionals a clear explanation of the fundamental concepts of SOA and its business benefits, and then puts forth an effective approach for addressing the technical and business challenges inherent in implementing an SOA program. Habermann, Tim; Hagens, Robert-Jan; Lasagni, Paolo; Strada, Enrico Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/43147385?gko=3f32c http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/43134849?gko=ee946 Financial institutions are facing an unprecedented set of pressures, brought about by the recent upheaval in global markets. Those pressures have, in turn, created a new set of imperatives for IT departments in addition to their current priorities. To manage this balancing act, IT will need take a strong and distinct leadership role. Desai, Mehul; Gupta, Amit; Plansky, John Wed, 19 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/43134849?gko=ee946 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/43101780?gko=db5ac To gain a deeper understanding of the obstacles IT departments face and to uncover some of the innovative methods that CIOs are developing to overcome these obstacles, Booz & Company conducted a survey of global worldwide Tier One automotive suppliers with annual revenue ranging from US$500 million to more than $50 billion. This Perspective paper outlines the four major challenges facing IT organizations in automotive companies and how they must be addressed. Cooke, Mike; Johnson, Marc; Milner, Jordan Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/43101780?gko=db5ac http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/42915814?gko=2d2d7 As information technology (IT) becomes ever more integral to the business of companies in all industries, IT executives are called on to perform many varied and increasingly demanding roles. While continuing to enhance efficiency across the enterprise, CIOs are also being asked to help fuel revenue generation at the business-unit level. It is little wonder, then, that CIOs and their organizations feel like they are being stretched thin. In light of these pressures, many companies are focusing attention on the challenge of optimizing their IT organization. To discover what they've learned, Booz & Company recently surveyed 1,500 IT executives and their customers on the elements of an effective IT organization. Ahlemann, Dietmar; Bussmann, Johannes; DeCamp, Corrie; Mourtada, Rami Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/42915814?gko=2d2d7 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/42343726?gko=d1c50 The IT organization in many CPG companies increasingly finds itself caught between opposing imperatives--being encouraged to provide greater support to the business while being ordered to cut costs. In response, some IT organizations have already begun to pursue lower cost structures, but blindly targeting a particular spending level may ignore critical business needs. Every company must determine its own "magic number"--the percentage of revenue that should be devoted to IT spending--and learn to build the capabilities it needs for growth while keeping costs down. DeCamp, Corrie; Mavros, Kelley; Tucker, Jeffrey Tue, 09 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/42343726?gko=d1c50 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41902012?gko=a769a Financial services firms can lower costs and reduce their risk exposure by better managing their software assets. McKeon, Mike; Plansky, John; Yeo, David Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41902012?gko=a769a http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/42102494?gko=f8305 Discusses our research on how government departments can do more to improve customer service and reduce operating costs without spending so much on IT. Brown, Anna; Dayani-Fard, Homy ; Schofield, Robin; Trépant, Hugo Sun, 15 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/42102494?gko=f8305 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41901860?gko=b1192 How leading-edge A&D firms can achieve a step change in performance, delivering higher value to the business with an efficient cost structure approaching 1% of revenue. Bloom, Jeffrey; Bollinger, Marty Wed, 26 Mar 2008 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41901860?gko=b1192 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41901808?gko=16305 This strategy+business magazine feature-length article makes a case that the chief information officer is about to play a more significant role as IT (and Web 2.0-related technologies) evolve to their next business incarnation. Tucker, Jeffrey Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41901808?gko=16305 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41901750?gko=58122 The authors propose a framework for driving down IT costs in financial services while simultaneously increasing IT's value to the business. Gupta, Amit; Plansky, John; Regelman, Roman Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41901750?gko=58122 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41901800?gko=bbf6f This year, the study of world's 1,000 largest corporate R&D spenders finds two primary success factors: aligning the innovation model to corporate strategy and listening to customers every step of the way. Jaruzelski, Barry; Dehoff, Kevin Tue, 27 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41901800?gko=bbf6f http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41902112?gko=fb65c Despite technological advances over the past ten years, paper-based tickets are still reality in public transport outside the airline world. Regardless of potential benefits for public transport operators and missed opportunities for customer service improvements, eTicketing has not yet been able to live up to its expectations. But now, with the next generation of eTicketing, a break-through is near that will take customer convenience to the next level. Kreft, Christian; Schneiderbauer, Dieter; Stroh, Stefan Thu, 01 Nov 2007 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41902112?gko=fb65c http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41902084?gko=5eec9 China is on the threshold of the convergence age, and the government is joining industry to embrace the trend and create the infra-structure. Early mover advantage is important, so companies must act decisively if they wish to lead and shape the convergence trend. Artero, David; Tse, Edward Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41902084?gko=5eec9 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41902082?gko=a9597 Emerging markets have become the new battle ground for mobile operators in pursuit of ambitious and continued growth. Given the different types of emerging markets that exist, success will ultimately be determined by the eco-system that stimulates local innovation. Friedrich, Roman; Lesser, Andy; Singh, Milind; Ward, John Fri, 01 Jun 2007 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41902082?gko=a9597 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41901764?gko=df92d The 1 percent IT organization within industrial manufacturing that can transform its operating model to act as both cost center and strategic enabler will be poised to manage both the cyclicality of the present and the growth needs of the future. Cooke, Mike; Guha, Aveek; Weinberg, Jim Mon, 28 May 2007 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41901764?gko=df92d http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41902016?gko=db7e1 In this new era of interactivity, corporations must be aware of what is taking place on the Internet and in social media spaces like MySpace, Wikipedia, and Second Life, and must decide how to participate themselves. They must develop a strategy to address the threats posed by Web 2.0 and seize the opportunities it offers. Hajj, Jad; Hasbani, Ghassan; Peterson, Michael; Eikelmann, Stefan Mon, 23 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41902016?gko=db7e1 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41901802?gko=c21c3 Once again, Booz Allen's annual study of the world's 1,000 largest corporate R&D budgets shows that high investment can't buy success. Jaruzelski, Barry; Dehoff, Kevin Fri, 01 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41901802?gko=c21c3 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/43000328?gko=ed81c In the highly competitive environment of enterprise software, catching the next technological wave used to be the way to win. Unfortunately for both vendors and clients, no major innovations are expected in the enterprise software market in the next three to five years. How should vendors cope with the struggle ahead, and what opportunities does that struggle create for systems integrators and clients? Chen, Stephen; DeCamp, Corrie; Tucker, Jeffrey Thu, 15 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/43000328?gko=ed81c http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41901834?gko=ef3b0 A survey of innovation leaders in 186 companies in 19 nations reveals the best strategy for global networks of R&D centers. Veldhoen, Steven; Goldbrunner, Thomas Mon, 01 May 2006 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41901834?gko=ef3b0 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41901910?gko=e4836 Given China's tumultous market environment, companies need to take a flexible approach and respond quickly to sudden changes in supply and demand patterns. Haddock, Ronald; Tse, Edward Sat, 01 Apr 2006 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41901910?gko=e4836 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41902076?gko=ee3e3 Service-oriented architectures (SOA) are proving effective at keeping spiraling IT costs in check and still allowing evolution. Alvarez, Eduardo; Jackson, Tim; Benson, Jim Thu, 02 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41902076?gko=ee3e3 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41901938?gko=94af5 This white paper spells out the answer to one of the most fundamental dilemmas facing any company entering China today: Do we go in alone, or do we find a Chinese partner? Tse, Edward Wed, 01 Mar 2006 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41901938?gko=94af5 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41972546?gko=6f0ce The gap between vehicle manufacturers and their dealer-franchisees is the last mile separating automakers both from their real customers and from sustainably profitable businesses. Automakers now have tools they can use to partner with dealerships and end consumers to drive the last mile in a transaction. They now can facilitate purchase intent with the kind of technology-enabled support that already leads to confident, informed buying in industries as different as books and computer hardware. Wheeler, Steven Mon, 01 Aug 2005 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41972546?gko=6f0ce http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41979320?gko=68c26 Process complexity is one of the silent killers of profitability. Any time a new product is added or changed or a service level is increased without addressing complexity the result is a process that is a little more cumbersome and a little more costly. Over the long haul, many good strategies go wrong simply because of the drag created by all those incrementally increasing costs. CIOs have an important role to plan in managing that complexity. Egol, Matthew; Hirsh, Evan; Irwin, Gil; Martin, Karla; Rao, Giridhar Fri, 01 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41979320?gko=68c26 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/42030077?gko=c4231 The pressure on card issuers is continuing to increase: Regulators and consumer groups are challenging pricing and therefore profitability, innovation is noticeably absent, growth rates are slowing, and specialist processors and associations are expanding across the value chain. In this environment, a detailed understanding of where value exists (and may be captured) will be a key determinant of success for all players -- for card issuers to protect their profit pools and for others to capture share. Gemes, Alan; Koss, Victor Fri, 01 Jul 2005 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/42030077?gko=c4231 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41945518?gko=0bc63 Roughly 25 years have passed since TQM first galvanized the executive suite. Since then, we have seen cycles as predictable as the seasons, in which new methodologies become the latest fad and then settle down into accepted management tools such as ISO 9000, BPR, JIT, Value Engineering, and others. These methodologies essentially promised to transform the enterprise into a sleek, disciplined, process-focused organization, and to measure the improvement they had delivered. Despite the abundance of methodologies and endeavors, however, results have proven illusive or unsustainable. Alvarez, Eduardo; Gupta, Amit; Kaul, Anil; Neilson, Gary Sat, 01 May 2004 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41945518?gko=0bc63 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/42340410?gko=6fd05 In recent years, as top-line growth has stalled, companies have had to get creative about cost reduction. As always, they are looking first to pare expenses in internal services. What is different is the lens they are applying; the perspective has broadened. Instead of relying solely on supply-side tactics to cut costs (e.g., process reengineering, automation, outsourcing, offshoring), companies are now managing the demand for internal services as well, challenging both service providers and business-unit customers to make serious affordability and service level trade-offs. Couto, Vinay; Pigorini, Paolo; Saddi, Joe Wed, 15 Oct 2003 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/42340410?gko=6fd05 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41902058?gko=149d4 Current economic conditions are forcing companies to significantly rebase General & Administrative costs. For many organizations, the cost cutting in the IT function is expected to deliver 40% or more of overall savings. The problem is, many organizations are already struggling with budgets that are barely adequate to the demands being placed on their IT function. With no place else to squeeze, the traditional approaches to IT cost management aren't effective anymore. It's time for a new approach. Our recent experience indicates that managing the "demand" for IT services yields as much, if not more, benefit than traditional "supply" focused cost reduction programs. Alvarez, Eduardo; McNeese, Cynthia Tue, 01 Jul 2003 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41902058?gko=149d4 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41902020?gko=897a7 Growing complexity in information systems poses a significant challenge to senior managers. Mergers and acqusitions, changing markets and customer demands have encouraged piecemeal investments in new functionality. The resulting patchwork of systems often fails to provide adequate support for key business objectives. Alvarez, Eduardo; Irwin, Gil Thu, 01 May 2003 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41902020?gko=897a7 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41972760?gko=5f8be The last five years, Tier 1 suppliers have experiencedunprecedented automotive industry trends:- Record production volumes- More extensive OEM outsourcing- Revenue growth fueled by consolidationThis article discusses five imperatives for success that allow suppliers to sustain advantaged positions and maintain operationalexcellence. Jackson, Bill; Miecznikowski, Jan Sat, 01 Feb 2003 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41972760?gko=5f8be http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/43000317?gko=d552f Buyers of high technology infrastructure are increasingly demanding end-to-end solutions from their vendors. This makes it critical for vendors to have robust Solution Interoperability Testing Programs in place. This article addresses some of the key issues surrounding the non-technical aspects of designing an interoperability testing program for solutions Jaruzelski, Barry; Ribeiro, Frank; Ripsam, Thomas Sat, 15 Jun 2002 00:00:00 -0500 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/43000317?gko=d552f http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41902026?gko=6307b Does Customer Relationship Management (CRM) technology truly enable improved customer alignment or is it simply a repeat of the ERP debacle of the 1980s and '90s? How can executives sort through the discord around CRM to take decisive actions that result in bottom-line benefits? Casey, Thomas Fri, 01 Feb 2002 00:00:00 -0600 http://www.booz.com/global/home/what_we_think/reports_and_white_papers/ic-display/41902026?gko=6307b