When we discuss software operations, we are often implicitly referring to the technical activities involved with day-to-day operations; that is, the parts of operations that are related to the infrastructure of a running system. This includes setting up and configuring hardware (whether virtual or physical) as well as the installation of operating systems and the base software needed for the final system.

If anything, the pace of change in technology is speeding up. So how will 2013 be different than 2012? Will 2013 actually be the "year of collaboration" -- something people have been predicting every year for the last 20 years?

If anything, the pace of change in technology is speeding up. So how will 2013 be different than 2012? Will 2013 actually be the "year of collaboration" -- something people have been predicting every year for the last 20 years?

According to our research, approximately 24% of organizations have standardized on tablet platforms for enterprise use. Another 27% say they plan to do so within the next 12 months or so.

This Executive Report proposes personalized dashboards for all managers in an enterprise as well as an active business model based on the Value Delivery Modeling Language (VDML). The report describes the VDML concepts and facilities that model the operation of the enterprise, the mechanisms for integrating the model with operational business systems, and, finally, the implications of the shared VDML model and modeling facilities to the future evolution of the enterprise.

An executive dashboard addresses the need for an executive to have timely information regarding exceptions in the operation of the enterprise. However, when the dashboard reveals an exception of concern, typically the executive must go elsewhere to determine the more specific cause of the exception and identify those responsible for taking action.

With the advent of cloud computing and SaaS, there is a new business model that can be adopted by the IT industry that forces a direct linkage between the cost of IT and the value that the customer receives. First, cloud computing introduces a new business model where organizations can manage IT as an independent entity outside of the customer's business or business unit.

Devops has only been around for a brief few years, and it is already having a significant impact throughout the development community. While there are those who might view the integration of development and operations as a useful fad that serves a limited number of situations, evidence suggests that there are serious advantages to this approach

There has been a lot of noise in the application development area around what are being called "systems of engagement." In this Executive Update series, we will explore this newfound principle and what architects must contemplate in order to foster improved enterprise efficiency and innovation.

I was talking with a colleague this past week. He is not at all tech savvy. In fact, his remedial understanding of things is even self-proclaimed. And he just got a Microsoft Surface tablet.

"I love it," he blurted.

"Why?" I asked.

Jens Coldewey's Advisor "Why 'Agile vs. CMMI' Leads Down the Wrong Track" rightly argues that "Agile vs. CMMI" is not the right direction to go.

While conducting business process reviews has become a core activity for many business analysts, I have observed that there is still room for improvement on how these reviews are done in some organizations.

The tablet market is currently very dynamic; not only are new products by the leading providers like Apple, Google, and Samsung getting introduced with hyper-frequency, but new vendors -- the most recent and notable being Microsoft -- are also appearing, while other players are fighting for their lives.

The tablet market is currently very dynamic; not only are new products by the leading providers like Apple, Google, and Samsung getting introduced with hyper-frequency, but new vendors -- the most recent and notable being Microsoft -- are also appearing, while other players are fighting for their lives.

The tablet market is currently very dynamic; not only are new products by the leading providers like Apple, Google, and Samsung getting introduced with hyper-frequency, but new vendors -- the most recent and notable being Microsoft -- are also appearing, while other players are fighting for their lives.

"Risk management was regarded as a constraint on the business rather than integral to it."

"Risk management was regarded as a constraint on the business rather than integral to it."

In his Advisor "Why 'Agile vs.

There has been a lot of discussion on some business architecture forums lately about the relationship between capabilities and processes and their role in business architecture.

Is it possible to learn from experts in other disciplines? Indeed, can we improve our own practices by watching other professionals ply their trade?

Racing and medicine are not normally reckoned to have a lot in common. Formula One racing offers many thrills to viewers and fans, but apparently it can also offer instructive lessons in process improvement.

Last year, organizations across almost every industry became really serious about using mobile technology.

Last year, organizations across almost every industry became really serious about using mobile technology.

It is so easy, and tempting, to try to envision precisely how 2013 will unfold. Levels of business uncertainty abound, and yet for some reason, we invest significant chunks of our time trying to forecast what's going to transpire in the world around us and determine its lasting effects on our actions and lives.

CMMI is the de facto standard for process improvement in the software development domain. This standard encourages a systematic approach to process improvement. On the other hand, agile software development fosters high customer collaboration, rapid feedback, and empowerment of the individual developer. Both approaches have already been proven to be compatible and synergistic. Nevertheless, there is still great debate about CMMI's ability to "be agile" and agile methods' capacity to adapt to CMMI requirements without losing agility.

Welcome to the eighth-anniversary edition of my enterprise architect's New Year's resolutions. I hope it will give you food for thought and some inspiration for architectural growth in 2013.