Technology Scorecards. Aligning IT Investments with Business Performance

Financial services institutions like international banks and insurance companies frequently need to adapt to changes in their environments, yet manage risk and ensure regulatory compliance. The author Hans Wegener reveals how metadata can be used to achieve a successful and technological evolution. This unique approach is divided into three parts to: Explain how metadata can be used to increase an organization's ability to adopt changes Outline the peculiarities of financial corporations and how they affect value creation and solution design Present the practical side of effectively managing metadata and sustaining long term success Wegener firstly illustrates the peculiarities of both metadata management and the financial services industry. He combines both, puts them into context of use, and explains where and how this makes life difficult, as well as where and how value is created. This enables the reader to understand the impact of metadata management on his/her organization, its typical side effects, necessities, and benefits. The book then goes onto reveal how different crosscutting concerns managed in large financial corporations (change, risk, and compliance management) can revolutionize business by supporting them with metadata management. This provides a blueprint to be used in strategic planning. Finally, the mechanics of three important practical areas are discussed in-depth, namely managing evolution, quality, and sustainability. This provides helpful scripts for practitioners to be used in real-life.

The sixth installment of the Fisher Investments On series is a comprehensive guide to understanding and analyzing investment opportunities within the Technology sector. Fisher Investments on Technology can help you quickly become familiar with this highly diversified sector, how the sector is segmented by industries, their respective macroeconomic drivers, and the challenges facing Technology firms. This reliable guide skillfully addresses how to determine optimal times to invest in Technology stocks, and which industries and sub-industries have the potential to perform well in various environments. The global Technology sector is complex, including a variety of sub-industries and countries—each with their own unique characteristics. Using the framework found here, you'll discover how to identify these differences, spot opportunities, and avoid major pitfalls. Fisher Investments on Technology: Discusses industry fundamentals, drivers, attributes, and potential challenges Addresses the challenges unique to Technology and some common pitfalls to avoid. Delves into top-down investment methodology as well as individual security analysis. Outlines a five-step process to help differentiate Technology firms—designed to help you identify ones that may have greatest probability of outperforming Provides investment strategies for a variety of market environments Filled with in-depth insights and expert advice, Fisher Investments on Technology provides a framework for understanding this sector and its industries to help you make better investment decisions—now and in the future. With this book as your guide, you can gain a global perspective of the Technology sector and discover strategies to help achieve your investing goals.

A guide to getting the crucial business case right?every time Showing professionals how to calculate the value of typical budgeting and funding requests quickly and easily, Making Technology Investments Profitable, Second Edition applies the «Value Realization» process, using proven strategies that maximize the business payoff from IT projects. Filled with case studies, this innovative book enables managers to confidently quantify, in a matter of minutes, the true business value of funding a desired project. New edition explains how to proactively manage the conversion of a business case's value promise to its value realization Includes dozens of new case studies on realizing maximum value from IT enabled investments from various industries and around the world New checklists and tables A dedicated Web site containing additional material, case studies, chat rooms, and blogs on the value-realization process The Second Edition provides senior executives, project managers, and technical staff with new insights on how to get the crucial business case right, while also explaining how to proactively manage the conversion of the business case's value promise into the value reality of a completed project.

The concept of the Balanced Scorecard has become increasingly popular in the global business world as a tool for balancing business strategy with financial concerns, customer care, internal business processes, and learning and growth. This book focuses on the hands-on experiences of companies across a broad range of organizations at both operational and board level. Drawn from cases in the UK, Europe, the United States, and Japan, the book shows that though Balanced Scorecard has been adopted widely, it is practiced in different forms and with varying degrees of success. Making Scorecards Actionable helps in creating and communicating a total comprehensive strategy to all organizational members from the top down. * Provides a long-term view of what the company's strategic objectives really are. * Shows how to make use of knowledge gained through experience. * Demonstrates the required flexibility of such a system to cope with the fast-changing business environment. * This book provides a practice-based follow on from the successful Performance Drivers by Olve, Roy and Welter (0471 986232) Readership: Operational managers, consultants, and business students.

Praise for Business Intelligence Success Factors: Tools for Aligning your business in the Global Economy «Olivia Parr Rud does a remarkable job of weaving together many topics in a strategic way. As 'quants,' we're fascinated with data and fact-based decision-making. But success only comes when you consider the human factor, especially effective communications. Making topics like evolutionary biology, complexity science, and systems thinking relevant for business success is a unique and compelling view. As Max Frisch said, 'We hired workers and human beings came instead.'» —Anne Milley, Senior Director, Technology Product Marketing, SAS «Business Intelligence Success Factors is a must-read for anyone implementing BI on an organizational level. This book explains the business landscape and the underlying reasons for our current volatility, offering clear guidance on navigating our information rich global economy.» —Ron Powell, Editorial Director, Business Intelligence Network Transform challenges into opportunities with emerging Business Intelligence technologies Written by an expert in data mining and statistical analysis, this valuable resource unveils the connection between the increased use of BI and the need for new, proven theories and models in BI, as well as the guidance to implement them successfully in your organization. Are you ready to become adaptable? Learn how to harness today's rapidly evolving global economy with Business Intelligence Success Factors.

Important insights into the true purpose of IT?from a CIO's perspective Focusing on the qualities required to transform an organization through the lens of the CIO, this book provides practical advice on how to address key issues, as well as create a context for the type of leadership qualities required to broaden the CIO's impact in every aspect of the corporation. Provides practical advice on key issues for leadership qualities Looks at the differences between leadership and management and the need for effectiveness in both disciplines Explores relationship management, communication skills, change management, developing human capital, sustainability, alignment, and qualities of great leaders A timely look at how the IT function can become totally aligned with the strategies and operational direction of the business enterprise, Lessons in IT Transformation reveals how CIOs can?and should?evolve from managers of utility services to business leaders who can drive revenue, value, and process redesign.

Praise for IT Portfolio Management Step-by-Step «Bryan Maizlish and Robert Handler bring their deep experience in IT 'value realization' to one of the most absent of all IT management practices–portfolio management. They capture the essence of universally proven investment practices and apply them to the most difficult of challenges–returning high strategic and dollar payoffs from an enterprise's IT department. The reader will find many new and rewarding insights to making their IT investments finally return market leading results.» –John C. Reece, Chairman and CEO, John C. Reece & Associates, LLC Former deputy commissioner for modernization and CIO of the IRS «IT Portfolio Management describes in great detail the critical aspects, know-how, practical examples, key insights, and best practices to improve operational efficiency, corporate agility, and business competitiveness. It eloquently illustrates the methods of building and integrating a portfolio of IT investments to ensure the realization of maximum value and benefit, and to fully leverage the value of all IT assets. Whether you are getting started or building on your initial success in IT portfolio management, this book will provide you information on how to build and implement an effective IT portfolio management strategy.» –David Mitchell, President and CEO, webMethods, Inc. «I found IT Portfolio Management very easy to read, and it highlights many of the seminal aspects and best practices from financial portfolio management. It is an important book for executive, business, and IT managers.» –Michael J. Montgomery, President, Montgomery & Co. «IT Portfolio Management details a comprehensive framework and process showing how to align business and IT for superior value. Maizlish and Handler have the depth of experience, knowledge, and insight needed to tackle the challenges and opportunities companies face in optimizing their IT investment portfolios. This is an exceptionally important book for executive leadership and IT business managers, especially those wanting to build a process-managed enterprise.» –Peter Fingar, Executive Partner Greystone Group, coauthor of The Real-Time Enterprise and Business Process Management (BPM): The Third Wave «A must-read for the non-IT manager who needs to understand the complexity and challenges of managing an IT portfolio. The portfolio management techniques, analysis tools, and planning can be applied to any project or function.» –Richard «Max» Maksimoski, Senior Director R&D, The Scotts Company «This book provides an excellent framework and real-world based approach for implementing IT portfolio management. It is a must-read for every CIO staff considering how to strategically and operationally impact their company's bottom line.» –Donavan R. Hardenbrook, New Product Development Professional, Intel Corporation

A timely look at how to evaluate and determine executive pay Recognized as the leading expert on executive compensation, Robin Ferracone combines her own 20 years of experience with interviews with executives and compensation committees to provide a clear examination of and guidance on determining pay packages, actions, and designs. and Over the past 25 years, the author has created a database of executive pay across 44,000 companies, broken down by company performance, company revenue and industry. Using this data, the author provides boards and individuals evaluating executive pay with the ability to analytically determine an appropriate compensation package. Provides real-life stories, perspectives, and insights from thought leaders on executive compensation Contains interview with compensation committee members, executives, academicians, government leaders, and shareholder activists Research based on 44,000 companies broken down by performance, revenue and industry Offers a timely resource on a hot button topic.

Timely guidance for transforming IT into a strategic business partner Today's leaders are expected to reduce costs, increase productivity, drive innovation and help the business identify and pursue new business opportunities. Successful IT leaders will be the ones that become strategic business partners and decision influencers in their organizations. Unleashing the Power of IT describes in actionable detail, the new mindset, core skill set, and interpersonal tool set that are necessary for IT leaders to thrive in today's increasingly complex challenging business environment. Provides tangible, hard-hitting, real-world strategies, techniques and approaches that will immediately transform your IT workforce and culture Includes Top Ten lists of tips and techniques, proven frameworks and practical guidance to help you launch and sustain your IT culture change and professional development initiatives Addresses how to build a client-focused IT culture; move your organization from order takers to trusted business partners, market IT's value, lead change with confidence, manage projects and vendor relationships A special feature of this book includes a chapter profiling several world-class organizations that have implemented the principles in this book. Learn about the culture change challenges they overcame and benefit from their best practices and successes.

Go from the «IT guy» to trusted business partner If you're in IT, quite a lot is expected of you and your team: be technologically advanced, business-minded, customer-focused, and financially astute, all at once. In the face of unforgiving competition, rampant globalization, and demanding customers, business leaders are discovering that it's absolutely essential to have a strong, active partner keeping a firm hand on the decisions and strategies surrounding information technology. Unleashing the Power of IT provides tangible, hard-hitting, real-world strategies, techniques, and approaches that will immediately transform your IT workforce and culture, presenting the new mindset, skill set, and tool set necessary for IT leaders to thrive in today's challenging environment. Includes new discussion on social media Offers online access to the IT Skill Builder Competency Assessment Tool Features top ten lists of tips and techniques, proven frameworks, and practical guidance to help you launch and sustain your IT culture change and professional development initiatives Profiling several world-class organizations that have implemented the principles in this book, Unleashing the Power of IT reveals the best practices to get you on the path to implementation.