As outsourcing becomes entrenched as a means to deliver IT solutions, horror stories from vendor projects are becoming commonplace. The landscape is littered with multimillion dollar failures in which years of investment leave buyers with partially functioning systems or with the necessity of having multimillion dollar annuities to keep systems operating.

Although all Capability Maturity Model (CMM)-certified organizations follow the same practices, there can be wide variance in how these organizations operate. CMM is not just about following certain key practices; it must also include a learning-oriented cultural identity. Thus, it's important to carefully question any potential outsourcing partner about its software process status -- beyond simply asking its CMM level.

Although all Capability Maturity Model (CMM)-certified organizations follow the same practices, there can be wide variance in how these organizations operate. CMM is not just about following certain key practices; it must also include a learning-oriented cultural identity. Thus, it's important to carefully question any potential outsourcing partner about its software process status -- beyond simply asking its CMM level.

Centralizing a corporation was once considered an efficient way to run an enterprise. Decisions and information processing occurred in an orderly, top-down, hierarchical manner.

Centralizing a corporation was once considered an efficient way to run an enterprise. Decisions and information processing occurred in an orderly, top-down, hierarchical manner.

© 2000 by Andersen Consulting. All rights reserved.

© 2000 by Andersen Consulting. All rights reserved.

Walt Kelly, creator of the Pogo comic strip, used this line about the real nature of many problems l

Walt Kelly, creator of the Pogo comic strip, used this line about the real nature of many problems l

Application availability is increasingly becoming a significant business risk management issue for major IT data centers. Why a business risk issue rather than an IT risk issue?

One of the more interesting developments at the Object Management Group's (OMG) EAI Conference in February involves the OMG's XML standard, called XMI (XML Meta Interchange).

Years ago, I started noticing people doing the wrong things at work. I first saw this while working in a computer lab. We worked with the leading edge computer hardware, software, and peripherals -- the best toys available. The problem was that people were looking for problems so they could buy the solutions. These people were wonderful problem solvers and spent their time doing that. They were comfortable solving problems rather than defining them; doing versus thinking. The trouble was, they often solved the wrong problems.

Years ago, I started noticing people doing the wrong things at work. I first saw this while working in a computer lab. We worked with the leading edge computer hardware, software, and peripherals -- the best toys available. The problem was that people were looking for problems so they could buy the solutions. These people were wonderful problem solvers and spent their time doing that. They were comfortable solving problems rather than defining them; doing versus thinking. The trouble was, they often solved the wrong problems.