IT Optimization, Benefits Realization and the Digital Transformation 

Kurt Potter, Vice President and Distinguished Analyst for Gartner Inc.

IT Optimization – the precursor to Digital Business? (Part 1 of 3)

In the first of a three part series, Jim Love, CIO and Chief Digital Officer at IT World Canada interviews Kurt Potter, Vice President and Distinguished Analyst talk about why IT Optimization is the foundation of the move to Digital Business.  The “sins of cost optimization” hold back and hamper many large enterprises.  We talk about the balance between Optimization and other key goals.

We discuss the eight elements of Transparency and how these change the way IT relates to the business.  How Portfolio categorization can help IT understand how IT creates value so that the organization can make more intelligent choices about IT investment.

Benefits Realization – Making the circle of investment complete. (Part 2 of 3)

In the second of a three part series, Jim Love, CIO and Chief Digital Officer at IT World Canada interviews Kurt Potter, Vice President and Distinguished Analyst talk about deferred Benefits Realization. In a time of slow growth, businesses are challenged with how to free up funds to invest in the future.  This makes it even more important that companies manage the Benefits Realization processes.  At the end of every investment there should be a review to establish the Benefit to be realized and to ensure that these are achieved and factored into ongoing budgetary planning.  Delayed Benefits Realization reflects this process of aggregating the benefits and of ensuring that organization does all the things necessary to achieve those benefits.

We also discuss how the move to Digital Business requires combining the formerly distinct areas of Information and Operational Technology.   This will require not just new technology but also new metrics to drive Portfolio Management.

How the low level of maturity in transparency and metrics is holding back the perception of IT value. (Part 3 of 3)

In the third of a three part series, Jim Love, CIO and Chief Digital Officer at IT World Canada interviews Kurt Potter, Vice President and Distinguished Analyst talk about how most organizations are at a very low level of maturity in the area Gartner calls Transparency.  Transparency is a composite of a number areas including chargebacks, benchmarking and service catalogue.  Kurt points out that even a small increase in a handful of the drivers of Transparency makes a big difference in the perceived performance and value of IT.  We discuss how paying attention to the nuts and bolts is an important foundation of Digital Business and why IT needs to start on this now.

About the CIO to CIO series:

Fair warning – this series is for those who want to get to a slightly deeper level in some complex topics. Our discussions are still at a strategic level – we aren’t ‘in the weeds”. But we don’t simply “skim the surface”. The length and the depth of the discussion may go beyond what you are used to in typical internet videos. So I’ve broken them up into bit sized chunks at about 6 minutes each. Grab a cup of coffee. Close the door and let some of Gartner’s leading analysts bring you up to date on key issues.