AKIBIA'S PRACTICAL GUIDE TO ENTERPRISE TECHNOLOGY
Thursday, March 31, 2011
AFCOM Data Center World - Day 2
My experience on Day 2 of the AFCOM conference has oriented on datacenter operations process and financials. As a general theme, IT managers are preoccupied with effective execution and managing costs. A couple of observations:
- Discussions and presentations on the topic tend to focus on one side or the other, not both.
- “Baselining” the data center, to know what you have, is critical to both areas and is not a small task.
- Executing standardized and consistent procedures are not a given, and while effective industry frameworks like ITIL are available to map to, there is room to improve adoption.
- The mindset on financials seemingly continues to be oriented to IT as a cost center; while cost control and reduction are important, for myself and others, this undermines the value IT can provide to the business.
I believe much would be gained if IT were viewed and operated as a profit center. It would facilitate IT as an equal partner on business issues, leading to an external (vs. internal) customer oriented culture, which in turn would facilitate a more effective and profitable operation integrated with other parts of the business. In addition, a “for profit” environment among IT organizations would drive innovations. Being a deliverer of technology, IT professionals have unique customer and technical insights into external influences which can have a significant impact on companies future growth and cost control. As one example, IT professionals can play a key role in helping businesses understand and grow existing and new revenue streams through social networking. For this shift to happen, it has to come from IT leadership.
