Radical Shift 1: Information over Process
This is about the value drivers of IT. The current focus is on the automation of business process. This is expected to shift to a focus on more output related elements such as customer or user experience, data analytics, enablement of knowledge workers and facilitation of a service oriented approach. Yes, SOA is still there, especially in the customer interface and interaction area.
This shift is obviously driven by the rise of social networking, new ways of customer interaction, requirements of knowledge workers and the enablement of smart data capture through GPS, external services, smart devices and wireless connectivity.
The role and focus of IT changes from business processes to combing various data elements and presenting them to customers, employees and other stakeholders alike. Information Architecture becomes more important and the IT function is the natural owner of this.
In the Natural Resources industry, we tend to be late adopters of new front-end information technology (as opposed to the adoption and innovation of operational technology). Our relationships with customers are B2B and long term with Metal Exchanges playing an important role in price setting. The focus of production units is on safety, production and cost reduction. These objectives can however benefit from automatic capture of data and combining these data elements to drive better informed decision-making. Our focus should shift to end-user experience and the enablement of analysis of data from Distributed / Process Control Systems, Manufacturing Execution Systems and Safety systems. With the rapid emerge of wireless devices, remote operations and GPS enablement, IT has the opportunity to play a central role in capturing and elevating data to value added information.
IT will need to focus on engaging with operations to become a trusted partner. The real shift is the move from a back-office department to a critical partner that facilitates information management for value added decision making. This has implications for IT organisation structures, required competencies and mindset in general.
Frits de Vroet
1 comment:
Frits - good to see your BLOG. I agree with the move to information architecture and analytics. However good, consistent processes are a prerequisite of robust information architecture so the move of IT focus is not away from process management but must also incorporate analytics. The other key component is data standards. With a highly heterogeneous set of systems, new SAAS solutions and the outside world, the drive to standardisation (e.g. GS1) is an imperative which must be managed - unfortunately most likely by IT! It's not sexy and is very hard work but someone has to do it or all attempts at providing robust business intelligence will founder. Having worked in Healthcare for the past 5 years, I now have the scars to prove it.
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