CIO actions to build/ improve IT operations

Companies are facing very challenging times. Here, a list of key actions that CIO and Heads of IT should consider. Many of these actions could be financed by vendors/ partners through managed services, cost and risk sharing models:

Build Operations

-          Enable ecosystems of things to respond to action, rather than static, predefine work flows and procedures. Guide end-to-end experience through user personae and journey maps. Monitor/ detect signals and predict impact in the market.

-          Decide on architecture based on use case and business outcomes: Embed intelligence on edge/ each device, in network, cloud broker or back on enterprise hub. Channels and Customer touch points are multiplying the complexity to bring things together

-          Manage all physical and functional attributes of sensors and devices; enable to remotely manage devices. Keep overview of spectrum of network technologies and protocols. Manage properly.

-          Integrate information flow from varying type of devices with proprietary protocols

-          Secure the entire system of devices, connectivity and information exchange. Manage security at the seams (devices, sensor, communication chips, analytics, event analytics, rules engine, etc.)

-          Virtualize and automate operating environment (server, storage, network, security)

-          Implement software defined networking (SDN). Systems must allow real-time integration across multiple services, servers, clouds, data stores enabling mobile devices to initiate requests from everywhere.

-          Build/ support digital platforms to handle all channel, campaign, context and content related activities. Effectively work with CMO to provide richer, target driven, targeted campaigns, promotions and properties. Understand that Marketing is becoming increasingly technology driven and enabled. Connectivity, data and technology have become part of the new marketing mix (with engagement as the forth).

Improve operations

-          Streamline, optimize and automate operations

-          Switch to out-of-the box solutions, minimize customizations and work on technical debt

-          Improve current technical systems through a persona based, user-centric focus.

-          Move applications to the cloud

-          Implement DevOps improving  requirements management, Continuous build, configuration and release management across the organization

-          Upgrade core applications on the existing platform, implement new solutions or overhaul / rebuild platform

-          Drive down operations, people and infrastructure costs. Lead progress in Software defined storage and Software defined data centers as far as feasible (applications strongly dependable on legacy hardware)

-          Drive other sustainable, green initiatives (including energy efficiency programs)


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