Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Commoditisation of
Information Technology and
the Need for Strategic
Approach to Sourcing
Alan McSweeney
Objectives
29 December 2010 2
Topics
29 December 2010 3
Arguments About Information Technology
Commoditisation - Who Is Right?
“IT is Dead, IT Does Not
Matter” “IT is Strategic”
“IT’s Strategic Importance Has
Diminished” “IT Can Deliver Significant
Business Value”
“Oh Yes It Has”
“Oh No It Hasn’t”
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Commoditisation of Information Technology
29 December 2010 5
Qualities of a Commodity
29 December 2010 6
What Is So Great About Commodities Anyway?
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Lots of Words Associated With Information
Technology as a Commodity
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Layered View of Information Technology Landscape
Operations, Usage,
Layer 8+ Management, Control,
Governance What the Business
Layer 7
Applications, Systems and is Concerned With
Business Processes
Layer 5 Communication
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Levels of Commoditisation Within Layers of
Information Technology Landscape
Layer Components Level of Commoditisation
Layer 8+ Operations, Usage, Management, Control, Limited and Specific Elements
Governance
Layer 7 Applications, Systems and Business Processes Limited and Specific Elements
Layer 6 Data Presentation, Data Security Pervasive
Layer 5 Inter-system Communication Pervasive
Layer 4 Connections Pervasive
Layer 3 Network Transmission Pervasive
Layer 2 Storage and Network Addressing, Physical Pervasive
Addressing
Layer 1 Storage Media and Network Signals Pervasive
• Some elements of Information Technology have become commoditised and others have
not
• Commoditised elements can be outsourced - others cannot
• Also bear in mind that out of sight cannot be allowed become out of mind
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What Ever Happened to Application Service
Providers (ASPs)?
• Forecasts in 1999
− IDC (International Data Corporation) - worldwide ASP market worth USD$16
billion in 2002
− Forrester - USD$21 billion by 2001
− Gartner - worldwide ASP market would reach USD$22.7 billion by 2003
• The reality was around 10% of the forecast values
• Many suppliers jumped on the ASP bandwagon
• What was the ASP model but just a early manifestation of cloud
computing?
• Lessons
− Hype surrounding ASP was never delivered on
− Lots of businesses entered into ASP market leading to lots of failures because
of inadequate business models
− Generic software provided by ASP model is less useful than software
customised to suit your exact needs
− What lessons can be learnt and applied to today’s information technology
trends and fads?
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Be Careful About Jumping on Bandwagons
29 December 2010 12
Framework for Exploiting Commoditisation in
Information Technology
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Commoditisation of Elements of Information
Technology Landscape …
• … Means you have to become good at:
Implementing and operating an
effective sourcing strategy
Understanding and
Understanding what can
managing outsourcing risk
and cannot be outsourced
effectively
29 December 2010 14
It’s Not About xShoring/xSourcing …
29 December 2010 15
Risks in Outsourcing – Lots of Them
Outsourcing Risks
Strategic Reputation
Compliance Operational
Termination Financial
Country Contract
Access Concentration/Systemic
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Strategic Risks
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Reputational Risks
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Compliance Risks
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Operational Risks
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Termination Risks
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Financial Risks
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Country Risks
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Access Risks
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Concentration/Systemic Risks
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Principles of Outsourcing
• Need a comprehensive policy to guide the assessment of whether and how activities can be
appropriately outsourced
• Senior management needs to be responsible for outsourcing policy and related overall
responsibility for activities undertaken under the policy
• Need to establish a comprehensive outsourcing risk management programme to address
the outsourced activities and the relationship with the service provider
• Need to ensure that outsourcing arrangements does diminish its ability to fulfil obligations
to customers and stakeholders
• Need to conduct appropriate due diligence in selecting outsourcing service providers
• Outsourcing relationship needs to be governed by contract that clearly describes all
material aspects of the outsourcing arrangement, including the rights, responsibilities and
expectations of all parties
• Need to establish and maintain contingency plans, including a plan for availability and
disaster recovery and regular testing of backup arrangements
• Need to take appropriate steps to ensure that outsourcing providers protect confidential
information from intentional or inadvertent disclosure
• Need to be aware of the potential risks posed where the activities of multiple outsourcers
entities are concentrated within a small number of outsourcing providers
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Using Risks and Principles to Achieve Effective
Sourcing
• Use as a checklist to validate any outsourcing activities
Risk Mitigation/ Principle Complied With or
Circumvention/ Reason for
Acceptance Derogation
Risk 1 Principle 1
Risk 2 Principle 2
Risk 3 Principle 3
Risk 4 Principle 4
Risk 5 Principle 5
Risk 6 Principle 6
Risk 7 Principle 7
Risk 8 Principle 8
Risk 9 Principle 9
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Core Competencies for Exploiting Commoditisation
in Information Technology
• Sourcing – having an effective approach to outsourcing
− Concerned with managing the IT function like a business
• Supplier Management – plan, analyse and manage the ongoing
relationships with suppliers
− Concerned with managing the IT function
• Need frameworks to measure and manage organisational maturity in
these key areas
• Systematic approaches in these areas improves value IT can derive
from its suppliers
• IVI (Innovation Value Institute - www.ivi.ie) IT CMF (IT Capability
Maturity Framework) to measure and develop maturity and
competence
• Measurement provides an objective assessment of where you are,
where you want to be and where to invest to get greatest returns
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Sourcing and Supplier Management
Supplier
Sourcing Management
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Sourcing and Supplier Management
Procurement of IT Services and IT Hardware/Software
Sourcing Competence Supplier Management Competence Sourcing
Competence
Order
Contract
Strategic Management
Supplier Management
Sourcing (Ordering/
Selection (Payment,
Decision Delivery/
Penalties)
Distribution)
Performance
Supplier Supplier
Contracting Measurement Evaluation
Engagement Communications
And Monitoring
Governance and
Supplier Risk Supplier
Partner Transition
Monitoring Development
Integration
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Sourcing Competence
29 December 2010 31
Sourcing Competence
Planning Cycle
Partner
Partner integration
Contracting Transition Reevaluation
Selection and
Governance
Sourcing Cycle
29 December 2010 32
Sourcing Competence
29 December 2010 33
Sourcing Competence Scope
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Dimensions of Sourcing Competence Measurement
Framework
Sourcing
Strategy
• Measure state of
Sourcing competence
along three dimensions
− Sourcing Strategy
− Contracting
− Sourcing Execution
• Define facets of each Contracting
dimension
• Measure each facet in
terms of:
− Associated processes and
their state of development
− Scope or extent within the Sourcing
organisation Execution
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Measurement Framework for Sourcing Competence
Sourcing Competence
Maturity Assessment
Framework
Organisational Readiness
Reevaluation
29 December 2010 36
Measurement Framework for Sourcing Competence
Strategy • Aligning sourcing strategy with overall IT- and business strategy.
Alignment
• Evaluating whether a process should be in- or outsourced and clarifying sourcing
objectives (e.g. quality, cost, flexibility, risk) so that expectations are clearly understood
Objectives and and established.
Scoping • Selecting processes to be outsourced or out-tasked according to an agreed prioritisation
scheme with focus on qualitative aspects. Setting up comprehensive criteria for this
scheme.
• Defining of structural dimensions of the sourcing model: onshore/nearshore/offshore,
Sourcing internal/external, single/multiple vendor relationship.
Model • De-averaging structural dimensions into process criteria: partner/location selection
Sourcing Selection criteria (e.g. existing knowledge, cost, quality, political stability, country specific legal
Strategy issues etc.).
• Baselining and forecasting cost and volume as well as calculation of business cases for
Business Case services according to selected model.
Calculation • Integrating qualitative aspects (e.g. performance, quality, flexibility) into business case.
• Determining the organisational readiness (e.g. process standardisation, org structure,
Organisational available resources and skills) as well as the cultural readiness for outsourcing (e.g.
Readiness change willingness, restructuring experience).
• Designing the structure of the retained organisation.
• Regularly reviewing chosen sourcing strategy with focus on generated value, realised cost
Re-Evaluation savings, changed business context (e.g. M&A) and new opportunities – this includes a
plan-B-design (e.g. re-insource).
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Measurement Framework for Sourcing Competence
• Selecting the optimal partner based on "hard" criteria defined under sourcing model as
well as "soft" criteria such as fit of company culture and trust between partners
Partner • Selecting partner consists of creating a long list of candidates, a request for information, a
Selection
short list, a request for proposal and the final decision on vendor(s). There is a difference
Contracting between a first bidding process and a renewal.
Contract • Developing own position (negotiable and non-negotiable items) in advance, but also
Preparation considering incentives for the vendor to deliver on time and on quality – understanding
and Closing the vendor's success criteria to create a win-win-situation.
• Defining joint transition support units, esp. project management office, HR,
communication team. Ensure infrastructure connectivity and access rights to ensure a
Transition smooth transition of knowledge, staff, and assets to provider.
• Developing project reporting tools for tracking project progress and implement reporting.
Sourcing • Communicating progress and any deviances from project plan to all stakeholders.
Execution
Partner • Designing the governance model for the partnership and integrating outsourcing partner
Integration into overall governance model including integration of services and systems.
and • Setting the basis for evaluating achieved benefits, impact and business relationship by
Governance defining a comprehensive monitoring and managing system.
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Sourcing Maturity Profile Levels
Strategy Alignment
Objectives and
Scoping
Sourcing Model
Sourcing Selection
Strategy
Business Case
Calculation
Organisational
Readiness
Reevaluation
Partner Selection
Contracting Contract
Preparation and
Closing
Transition
Sourcing
Execution Partner Integration
and Governance
Current Sourcing Competence Maturity Level Desired Future Sourcing Competence Maturity Level
29 December 2010 40
Measuring Sourcing Maturity and Importance
5.0
Partner
Integration
4.0 and
Transition Governance
Level Strategy
Alignment Business
Of Case
3.0 Reevaluation
Maturity Calculation
Level of Importance
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Supplier Management Competence
29 December 2010 42
Supplier Management Competence
29 December 2010 43
Supplier Management Competence Scope
Performance Measurement
Supplier Portfolio Analysis Relationship Operations
and Monitoring
Supplier Engagement
Supplier Development
Strategy
29 December 2010 46
Measurement Framework for Supplier Management
Competence
Category Capability Description
Analyse existing suppliers based on criteria such as quality, TCO, market conditions, level
Supplier Analysis of product/service innovations, etc in order to support selection of appropriate ongoing
engagement strategy
Joint analysis of all IT suppliers to identify the relative roles of each supplier within the
overall IT supply chain and the interplay between suppliers and the enterprise processes,
with the objective of enhancing the ongoing value of the supplier portfolio to the IT
organisation
Supplier Portfolio
Analysis This can help to identify the relative importance of suppliers and the opportunities to
leverage certain relationships at different stages of the relationship lifecycle (based on
volume), or alternatively to identify paths for consolidating suppliers, thereby enhancing
the overall value of the supplier portfolio to the IT organisation.
Supplier
Alignment Develop and implement appropriate ongoing supplier engagement strategy based on
results of supplier analysis and supplier portfolio analysis.
This strategy will state the optimal approach to be taken for the supplier portfolio and
individual suppliers. As such, changes in IT Strategy and Enterprise Procurement Strategy
Supplier which occur over the duration of these supplier relationships must be reflected in the
Supplier engagement strategy to enable continued strategic alignment – similarly,
Engagement identifying potential new opportunities for enabling the IT strategy through our suppliers
Strategy must also be highlighted.
This will enhance the potential for identifying collaborative win-win relationships with
suppliers to provide innovative products with a customer they value and trust, without
introducing unnecessary risks to the IT organisation (such as migration from supplier to
partner).
29 December 2010 47
Measurement Framework for Supplier Management
Competence
Category Capability Description
Plan and manage communications approach with suppliers (inc internal organisation,
supplier organisation, mapping of relationships, meetings plan, review points, shared
Supplier vocabulary, external marketing of relationship, basic rules of engagement, etc.).
Communications
The level of activity for each supplier will typically vary in accordance with the supplier
engagement strategy.
Undertake fundamental relationship activities to enable supplier operations in line with
the agreed supplier engagement strategy.
Relationship This encompasses activities such as: regularly communicating with supplier, providing
Relationship
Management input on ongoing requirements/orders, agreeing actions to overcome deficient supplier
Operations performance, imposing sanctions/penalties/bonuses in response to
quality/performance/delivery issues, advocating supplier within organisation and vice
versa, understanding new product/service roadmaps, managing issues and escalating
conflicts via agreed joint management process, managing legal aspects of relationship.
Facilitate value-driven, long-term improvements in supplier
products/services/relationship from key suppliers by identifying critical areas for
Supplier development (e.g. ISO 9001 certification, low levels of innovation) and working with
Development supplier in a collaborative fashion to drive improvements in these areas. (e.g. education,
extensive info exchange, joint development of new products, etc.).
29 December 2010 48
Measurement Framework for Supplier Management
Competence
Category Capability Description
Monitor ongoing supplier relationship risks and evolving external environment risks and
implement appropriate mitigating actions.
Supplier Risk
These risks may originate internally (e.g. through overly frequent changes in
Performance Management requirements), from the Supplier (e.g. changes in financial viability of supplier/Single
And Risk Point of Failure / lack of integrity) or from changes in the external environment (new
Management product from supplier rival).
Performance Perform performance measurement and monitoring of relevant KPIs across multiple
dimensions (e.g. balanced scorecard approach) potentially using automated systems,
Measurement and covering both internal and supplier performance (and benchmarking), in line with
Monitoring requirements defined in the suppler engagement strategy.
29 December 2010 49
Supplier Management Maturity Profile Levels
Maturity Supplier Alignment Supplier Operations Supplier Performance and
High Risk Monitoring
Engagement strategy is focused on Optimised order management processes OLAs in multi-supplier environments
enabling collaboration and innovation (across supply chain) Metrics support measurement of
5 across IT supply chain Incentives rewards innovation and compliance with IT Strategy
Senior level representation at key collaboration Risk across extended IT supply chain
Optimising strategic and operational meetings Direct investments in IT suppliers (capital, monitored
from each party time) with shared risk
Engagement strategy extended to Robust order mgmt processes with Monitoring focuses on efficiency
knowledge sharing / shared objectives enterprise-level prioritisation and effectiveness of interactions
underpinned via aligned incentive between IT, IT suppliers and
4 mechanisms
Compliance focus is on improving
business
communication and alignment
Advanced Strong IT-Supplier advocacy roles Supplier development targets gaps based Long-term strategic risks monitored
function in both directions on IT roadmap (e.g. supplier insolvency, legislative
changes, etc.)
Ongoing engagement strategy now Order management in place but Monitoring tracks performance and
extended to include quality, and is prioritisation at departmental level quality vs SLAs
3 aligned with IT Sourcing strategy, Compliance focus is on rewarding good Medium term operational risks
IT Supplier interfaces are formally performance monitored (e.g. dependence on a
Intermediate defined for all points of interaction single IT supplier, stability of
Supplier development addresses
identified SLA issues business requirements, etc.)
Engagement strategy is defined but Basic order management processes are Performance monitoring focuses on
primary focus is price and delivery defined and implemented availability and price
2
Communication via nominated IT and Compliance focus is on penalties Risk focus is on tactical events (e.g.
Basic supplier contacts Informal approach to supplier short term availability dips,
Basic operating principles agreed development unexpected price inflation, etc.)
No defined strategy for engaging with Ad hoc order management, not Ad hoc monitoring of IT supplier
Low 1 suppliers on an operational basis formalised performance
Ad hoc approach to IT supplier No formal processes to manage contracts Minimal awareness of IT supplier
Initial communications risk
No supplier development
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Assessing Current and Future Desired Supplier
Management Competence Maturity
1 - Ad-Hoc 2 - Defined 3 - Repeatable 4 - Managed 5 - Optimised
Supplier Analysis
Supplier Portfolio
Supplier Analysis
Alignment
Supplier
Engagement
Strategy
Supplier
Communications
Relationship Relationship
Management Operations
Supplier
Development
Supplier Risk
Performance Management
And Risk Performance
Management Measurement
and Monitoring
Current Supplier Management Competence Desired Future Supplier Management Competence
Maturity Level Maturity Level
29 December 2010 51
Measuring Supplier Management Maturity and
Importance
5.0
4.0 Supplier
Analysis
Level Supplier
Portfolio
Of Analysis Relationship
3.0 Operations
Maturity
Supplier Supplier Risk
Engagement Management
Strategy
2.0
Supplier
Communicat Performance
ions Supplier Measurement
Development and
1.0 Monitoring
1.0 2.0 3.0 4.0 5.0
Level of Importance
29 December 2010 52
Achieving Effective Exploitation of Commoditisation
in Information Technology
29 December 2010 53
Using Measurement Framework Effectively
29 December 2010 54
Phases of Outsourcing Relationship
Outsourcing Organisation
Plan for outsourcing of selected services, evaluate and select a service provider,
Initiation create an outsourcing agreement and transfer resources and personnel to service
provider
Plan for completion, ensure service continuity, transfer resources and personnel
Completion from outsourcing organisation and transfer knowledge
29 December 2010 55
Key Capabilities Within Outsourcing Lifecycle for
Outsourcing Organisations
Outsourcing Organisational
Governance Relationship Value
Strategy Change
Management Management Management
Management Management
Technology People
Management Management
Ongoing
Threat Knowledge
Management Management
1 Outsourcing
2 Outsourcing 3 Outsourcing 4 Service Provider 5 Outsourcing 7 Sourced Services 8 Outsourcing
Opportunity 6 Service Transfer
Approach Planning Evaluation Agreements Management Completion
Analysis
3.1 Establish 7.1 Perform
1.1 Define Current 2.1 Outsourcing 4.1 Communicate 5.1 Negotiations 6.1 Service 8.1 Completion
Outsourcing Outsourcing
State Approach Requirements Guidelines Transition Planning
Project Management
4.2 Evaluate
1.2 Outsourcing 3.2 Service 5.2 Confirm 7.2 Performance 8.2 Service
2.2 Business Case Potential Service 6.2 Verify Design
Criteria Definition Existing Conditions Monitoring Continuity
Providers
3.3 Service 4.3 Select 8.3 Resources
1.3 Demand 2.3 Governance 6.3 Resources 7.3 Financial
Provider Selection Candidate Service 5.3 Negotiations Transfer from
Identification Model Transferred Out Management
Procedures Providers Service Provider
8.4 Personnel
1.4 Outsourcing 2.4 Impact and 3.4 Evaluation 5.4 Agreement 6.4 Personnel 7.4 Agreement
Transfer from
Options Risk Analysis Criteria Roles Transferred Out Management
Service Provider
3.5 Prepare 7.5 Problem and 8.5 Knowledge
2.5 Outsourcing 5.5 Define SLAs 6.5 Knowledge
Service Incident Transfer from
Initiation Decision and Measures Transferred Out
Requirements Monitoring Service Provider
7.6 Service
5.6 Create
Delivery Change
Agreements
Management
7.9 Stakeholder
Feedback
7.11 Continuation
Decision
29 December 2010 57
Key Capabilities and Constituent Practices for Outsourcing
Organisations - 2 Outsourcing
Capabilities and
Skills
Ongoing Phase
Competency
Governance Environment
and Change
Focused Focused
Focused
13
9 Outsourcing
10 Governance 11 Relationship 12 Value Organisational 14 People 15 Knowledge 16 Technology 17 Threat
Strategy
Management Management Management Change Management Management Management Management
Management
Management
12.1 17.1
10.1 11.1 Service 13.1 Prepare for 14.1 Assign 15.1 Provide
9.1 Outsourcing Organisational 16.1 Asset Outsourcing
Outsourcing Provider Organisational Outsourcing Required
Sponsorship Outsourcing Management Risk
Policy Interactions Change Responsibilities Information
Performance Management
17.2
10.2 Service 11.2 Service 13.2
9.2 Outsourcing 12.2 Capability 14.2 Personnel 15.2 Knowledge 16.2 License Organisational
Provider Provider Stakeholder
Constraints Baselines Competencies System Management Risk
Management Relationships Involvement
Management
14.3
9.3 Potential 10.3 Internal 12.3 Benchmark
11.3 Internal 13.3 Define Organisational 15.3 Market 16.3 Technology 17.3 Intellectual
Outsourcing Stakeholder Outsourcing
Relationships Future State Outsourcing Information Integration Property
Areas Management Processes
Competency
9.5 13.5
10.5 Align
Organisational Communicate 15.5 Share
Strategy and 11.5 Cultural Fit 12.5 Innovation 17.5 Compliance
Outsourcing Organisational Knowledge
Architectures
Strategy Changes
12.7
10.7 Adapt to 11.7 Innovative
Outsourcing
Business Change Relationships
Alignment
29 December 2010 58
Key Capabilities and Constituent Practices
29 December 2010 59
Summary
29 December 2010 60
More Information
Alan McSweeney
alan@alanmcsweeney.com
29 December 2010 61