Technology is king, so why are so many IT departments playing backseat roles?

Reblogged from GigaOM:

Today’s IT departments face an identity crisis. Technology is an integral part of every single business process, and has come to dominate the lives of consumers who are routinely shopping online, downloading information, and browsing the Internet.

Yet ironically, in an era when technology rules, IT departments are losing ground fast:  The forces of cloud computing, social media, and information management are evolving rapidly, and business managers are discovering and adopting new technology before IT departments even have a chance to master it.

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Metrics and Management: New Book, New Implications

Reblogged from Information | Mixology:

The Org: The Underlying Logic of the Office, by Ray Fisman and Tim Sullivan (Twelve, 2013), was featured today on first page of the New York Times Business Day section. The article starts out by comparing British Petroleum's record as a government enterprise, and then later as private corporation. (Pop quiz: what are the two biggest disasters BP created, and when did they occur?). 

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Want to change the BI status quo?

Reblogged from Driving Business Transformation:

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Let's assume we have all heard (and at times delivered) the value proposition around Business Intelligence technology and its ability to centralize structured (and unstructured) data, driving business efficiencies that:

• Enable agile decision making and empower business users to:
  • Save time from having to search for data
  • Perform self service analysis, driving better decisions
  • Automate and streamline processes

The question asked by most is "where do we start and how do we get there?"   Followed by, "what are other companies doing to address there data management strategy?"  To start, when looking at any technology initiative it comes down to company culture and management support.  

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CRM Can no longer be an island Part 1

Reblogged from Stanton Allen:

A great deal has been written over the years about how to implement CRM systems successfully in a professional services firm.  By now I think it’s fair to say that most people are familiar with the keys to success.

• Make sure you have senior management buy-in
• Be really clear what it is your trying to achieve with your CRM system…

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Memo to higher ed: get ready for remote learning to rock your world

Reblogged from GigaOM:

Like it or loathe it, web-enabled remote learning is increasingly pushing its way into colleges and universities around the world. And, according to a survey from the Pew Internet and American Life Project and Elon University, a majority of technology stakeholders expect it to significantly change the world of higher education by 2020.

In a report released today, Pew and Elon University said that 60 percent of internet experts, researchers, observers and users polled said they agreed that by 2020, “there will be mass adoption of teleconferencing and distance learning to leverage expert resources … a transition to ‘hybrid’ classes that combine online learning components with less-frequent on-campus, in-person class meetings.” By comparison, 39 percent endorsed the contrary position that "in 2020 higher education will not be much different from the way it is today.”

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Online education startups: a field guide

Reblogged from GigaOM:

Online education is on a tear. Every few weeks or so, it seems like yet another startup offering online classes announces a multimillion dollar funding round. This week, San Francisco-based UniversityNow, which provides affordable higher education degrees online, said it raised $17.3 million. In the past three months, at least seven online course startups have launched or announced funding.

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Pharmaceutical giant goes deskless

Reblogged from GigaOM:

Increased use of remote work may be changing management styles and the tech tools teams use to communicate, but as we've covered here on GigaOM before, it's also changing our physical workspaces. Some offices are opting to go modular, making their workspaces as flexible as their occupants' work schedules. Others are emphasizing spaces for collaboration, ripping out some traditional individual work areas in favor of places where groups can huddle together.

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Increased use of remote work may be changing management styles and the tech tools teams use to communicate, but it’s also changing our physical work-spaces.