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Cost Optimization Archive Back to IT & The Economy FUNDAMENTALS STEP 1 STEP 2 STEP 3 STEP 4 The Return to Growth: A Good Time to Consider Moving 'Beyond Budgeting's The Return to Growth: A Good Time to Consider Moving 'Beyond Budgeting' 2 October 2009 The economy's return to growth is highlighting flaws with IT budgeting: The budgeting process takes too long, wastes too much management time and creates organizations that can't adapt to changing conditions. "Beyond budgeting" offers a timely remedy for these budgeting ills. Q&A: How Much Does an Hour of Downtime Cost? Q&A: How Much Does an Hour of Downtime Cost? 29 September 2009 Companies that understand how to estimate the cost of an outage, in the for-profit and the not-for-profit domains, can better plan their disaster recovery investments. CRM Now: Never Let a Good Crisis Go to Waste CRM Now: Never Let a Good Crisis Go to Waste 28 September 2009 In response to the recession and rapid developments in IT, business strategies are being affected by and taking advantage of technical innovation and customer-centric leadership. Economics of the Cloud: Business Value Assessments Economics of the Cloud: Business Value Assessments 25 September 2009 A cloud computing paradigm is better than an on-site paradigm for delivering some critical values, but it is worse for delivering others. This research quantitatively assesses relative values that cloud and on-site computing deliver, enabling intelligent decisions about balancing cloud with on-site. Case Study: Technosite Proves the Potential of Teleworking Case Study: Technosite Proves the Potential of Teleworking 23 September 2009 Spanish technology consultancy Technosite equipped its employees with real-time remote collaboration solutions. It has already improved staff retention and productivity, while saving money and providing a model for how enterprises can attract talent, regardless of disability. 'Just Enough Process' Is Built on Deliverables 'Just Enough Process' Is Built on Deliverables 22 September 2009 Determining what "just enough" means requires organizations to choose a development process, but that's "not enough." It's also crucial to define the level of rigor in any process, and that's based on the deliverables associated with the particular method. Best Practice for Migrating Reports to New BI Platforms Best Practice for Migrating Reports to New BI Platforms 21 August 2009 Enterprises should typically run systems in parallel for a time when they migrate to a new business intelligence platform. This approach costs more in the short run than a fast switch but increases the value of the move and the chances of success. Use Shared Services to Control Enterprise Content Management Costs Use Shared Services to Control Enterprise Content Management Costs 20 August 2009 A tight economy has led many enterprises to examine the shared-services approach to enterprise content management. ECM shared services speed implementations, reduce the number of vendors required and lower costs in several areas. 2009 Agenda for Applications: Cut Costs While Growing the Business 2009 Agenda for Applications: Cut Costs While Growing the Business 12 August 2009 In 2009, Gartner's research for application leaders will focus on cost optimization, key application initiatives that drive business performance effectiveness, and emerging trends and technologies. Stimulus Scams: What Should Enforcement Be Prepared to Do? Stimulus Scams: What Should Enforcement Be Prepared to Do? 12 August 2009 Law enforcement should be ready to better respond to scams related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that are proliferating across the U.S. Application Consolidation Requires a Focus on How Users Define Simplicity Application Consolidation Requires a Focus on How Users Define Simplicity 10 August 2009 Application consolidation can simplify the application portfolio; but in some situations, IT organizations will need to consider the user's unique perspective on what simplification means. Enterprise Architecture Survival Through a Business Downturn Enterprise Architecture Survival Through a Business Downturn 23 July 2009 Chief architects can take the recommendations in this research to minimize the impact of a business economic downturn on their teams. IT Portfolio Management: Waste Reduction in Three Dimensions/a> IT Portfolio Management: Waste Reduction in Three Dimensions 7 July 2009 From project prioritization to application retirement, portfolio management can help target waste and boost added value when delivering IT services to optimize an IT investment. How to Decide Whether Workers Should Shoulder ICT Expenses How to Decide Whether Workers Should Shoulder ICT Expenses 24 June 2009 Gartner's decision framework will help IT and business managers determine when it makes sense to transfer some workplace information and communication technology costs to workers and when it doesn't. Business Continuity and Risk Professionals Get Career Management Advice for a Post-Recessionary Economy Business Continuity and Risk Professionals Get Career Management Advice for a Post-Recessionary Economy 18 June 2009 The CEO of one of the largest and oldest outplacement firms in the U.S. warned that, despite an upward trend in the economy, there will not be many new jobs created in all categories, so hang on to the job you have by improving your business knowledge and communication skills. Strategy Is Critical During the Downturn Strategy Is Critical During the Downturn 29 May 2009 IT strategy is not a luxury, especially during an economical downturn. Smart enterprises will not only execute tactical cost optimization, but also focus on what is truly strategic. The CIO and IT are key parts of this focus. Cost Cutting in IT: When to Use Zero-Based Budgeting Cost Cutting in IT: When to Use Zero-Based Budgeting 29 May 2009 A recession is a perfect time to implement an increased level of IT spending accountability, especially between business units and the CFO. If CIOs need to significantly reduce IT spending well beyond savings levels already reached, adopt zero-based budgeting. Finding the Fast Path to Corporate Performance Management Value Finding the Fast Path to Corporate Performance Management Value 28 May 2009 With an increased focus on cost cutting, CPM provides a mechanism to better monitor and manage business performance. Such an undertaking will deliver benefits to any organization, but prospects should consider Gartner's CPM success factors to assess the best approach and starting points. What CIOs Need to Know About Application Simplicity What CIOs Need to Know About Application Simplicity 22 May 2009 CIOs must oversee the simplification of applications if they expect to compete for the attention of their users with software-as-a-service and consumer IT providers. Mismatch of Responsibility, Accountability, and Authority Highlights Governance Hot Spots Mismatch of Responsibility, Accountability, and Authority Highlights Governance Hot Spots 20 May 2009 Disruption in the alignment of three core management factors threatens enterprises' ability to deliver on strategic goals. Cost optimization and other factors can seriously disrupt that alignment. This research explains this problem and what to do. How to Maintain Stable Governance During Periods of Management Turbulence How to Maintain Stable Governance During Periods of Management Turbulence 18 May 2009 Application organizations that don't want to reinvent their governance frameworks every time their management changes should embed responsibility for framework definition in their behavior. Shelfware Is Stealing Your Budget: Spot It and Stop It Shelfware Is Stealing Your Budget: Spot It and Stop It 15 May 2009 Shelfware has many different manifestations, but they all bleed money to no value. IT management teams need to learn how to hunt down and eliminate shelfware to free up their budgets for more-important activities. Decision Framework for Prioritizing Cost Optimization Ideas Decision Framework for Prioritizing Cost Optimization Ideas 13 May 2009 The decision framework described here can help IT leaders prioritize cost optimization ideas and achieve better outcomes from optimization efforts. IT and Business Performance Goals for Cost Optimization IT and Business Performance Goals for Cost Optimization 13 May 2009 Cost optimization is a significant campaign like any other IT initiative. IT leaders should document the quantifiable outcome of their endeavors to monitor progress and prove success. Six Best Practices for Addressing the Unique Attributes of Cost Optimization Initiatives Six Best Practices for Addressing the Unique Attributes of Cost Optimization Initiatives 13 May 2009 Many IT organizations have identified numerous cost optimization opportunities. However, they're encountering challenges in how to evaluate and prioritize these ideas, and then successfully move them to execution. The Gartner Business Value Model: A Lens for Cost Optimization The Gartner Business Value Model: A Lens for Cost Optimization 7 May 2009 Moving from IT cost cutting to cost optimization requires a business-centric approach. A cross-functional set of business metrics can help IT professionals expose how to use IT to drive down costs in the business. Using Benchmarking to Drive EA Progress Using Benchmarking to Drive EA Progress 7 May 2009 Enterprise architects may receive resistance when moving from the conceptual to the logical future state because it is time-consuming and implies change. Benchmarking can be used to cost-justify progressing with enterprise architecture. Applying the Hype Cycle as a Portfolio Review Tool in a Recession Applying the Hype Cycle as a Portfolio Review Tool in a Recession 30 April 2009 A recession brings changes to priorities, risk attitudes and innovation adoption behavior. Applying the Hype Cycle as a management tool can help structure the necessary changes to your project portfolio and avoid costly strategy mistakes. Business Unit CIOs Are Uniquely Positioned to Reduce Business Costs Business Unit CIOs Are Uniquely Positioned to Reduce Business Costs 29 April 2009 Because of their proximity to business lines, regions or divisions, business unit CIOs are uniquely positioned to use IT to drive costs out of the business. Five Questions the CIO Should Be Asking About Enterprise Architecture Five Questions the CIO Should Be Asking About Enterprise Architecture 29 April 2009 In the current economic climate, an effective enterprise architecture program is a necessity, not a luxury. These five questions will help CIOs ensure that the EA initiative is on track to deliver business value. Keep Telework Off the Cost-Cutting Chopping Block Keep Telework Off the Cost-Cutting Chopping Block 28 April 2009 Companies looking for cost reductions should be cautious about canceling or drastically changing their spending on telework programs. Top Ten Ways to Reduce Your Conferencing Costs Top Ten Ways to Reduce Your Conferencing Costs 27 April 2009 Enterprises have an immediate opportunity to reduce conferencing costs, while locking in productivity gains. This research outlines the top 10 ways to reduce your conferencing costs. Plan Legacy Application Retirements Carefully Plan Legacy Application Retirements Carefully 24 April 2009 Shutting down an application demands careful planning. Use these guidelines to execute graceful application retirements and minimize unintended consequences. How Business Leaders Achieve Their Top Priorities Using Enterprise Architecture in Challenging Economic Times How Business Leaders Achieve Their Top Priorities Using Enterprise Architecture in Challenging Economic Times 23 April 2009 During challenging economic times, some business leaders may overlook EA as a crucial part of survival and recovery. In their pursuit of gaining the most value from IT investments, business leaders should enlist EA teams to ensure a coordinated response to today's global events. How to Calculate the Cost of Continuously Available IT Services How to Calculate the Cost of Continuously Available IT Services 22 April 2009 Continuously available IT services require multiple systems in multiple sites. This significant investment is rarely properly acknowledged. Businesses must balance business availability, business risk and the cost of downtime. The Principles of Application Consolidation The Principles of Application Consolidation 22 April 2009 Consolidating applications simplifies the portfolio, reduces IT costs and facilitates the standardization of business processes. To be successful, application consolidation initiatives must be led by business managers with IT support. Cost Optimization Using Enterprise Information Architecture: Go Smaller, Simpler and Smarter to Meet Savings Goals Cost Optimization Using Enterprise Information Architecture: Go Smaller, Simpler and Smarter to Meet Savings Goals 22 April 2009 Through the process of enterprise architecture, organizations develop the information viewpoint. We present three examples for using EIA to support cost optimization efforts. These examples illustrate how organizations achieve short-term savings targets that support longer-term business strategies. Zero-Cost CRM Strategies Zero-Cost CRM Strategies 21 April 2009 In a tight economic climate, many companies are still interested in CRM. They just need strategies that don't cost them any (or much) money. The good news is that there are several such strategies. E-Discovery Vendor Pricing: Quick Return on Investment if You Know Where to Look E-Discovery Vendor Pricing: Quick Return on Investment if You Know Where to Look 21 April 2009 Litigation is a very expensive proposition, especially when companies add in the cost of e-discovery. The better you understand the cost components and possible options for e-discovery, the easier it will be for your company to control litigation costs. Findings From Gartner's 2009 Business Intelligence Summits: Companies Focus on Cost Cutting and Quick Payback Findings From Gartner's 2009 Business Intelligence Summits: Companies Focus on Cost Cutting and Quick Payback 16 April 2009 Clients at Gartner's Business Intelligence summits indicated that the weak economy has placed the focus on cost cutting. However, BI and performance management projects can still secure funding if they demonstrate quick payback. Cost Optimization: Business-IT Alignment Style Drives IT Management Priorities Cost Optimization: Business-IT Alignment Style Drives IT Management Priorities 7 April 2009 IT organization goals and capability levels for cost optimization vary in the 12 core disciplines of IT management, according to the enterprise's position in the Gartner business-IT alignment framework. This research identifies the priority disciplines for each alignment style. EA and Cost Optimization, Part 2: Cutting Costs Beyond IT EA and Cost Optimization, Part 2: Cutting Costs Beyond IT 7 April 2009 Enterprise architecture can take a significant role in business cost optimization, while improving synergy and alignment of IT efforts. EA must address the 94% of business spending that is not IT. Darwin Meets Metadata; Publishing Meets DITA Darwin Meets Metadata; Publishing Meets DITA 7 April 2009 Darwin Information Typing Architecture can make publishing less costly and more effective but requires significant effort. Gartner's framework will help business and IT leaders decide whether DITA makes sense for their enterprise. Cost Optimization Demands New Value Propositions and Best-Practice Focus for BI and Performance Management Initiatives Cost Optimization Demands New Value Propositions and Best-Practice Focus for BI and Performance Management Initiatives 6 April 2009 This research summarizes the advice that was given during the North American Business Intelligence Summit panel discussion with Gartner and system integrators on BI cost reduction and leveraging BI to optimize performance in the enterprise. Avoid Damaging Key Business Capabilities When Cost Cutting Avoid Damaging Key Business Capabilities When Cost Cutting 1 April 2009 Business capabilities are difficult to build. Avoid inadvertently damaging the ones that are most valuable to your future business when looking for cost-cutting opportunities. SAP Business Suite 7: SAP's Engineered Suite SAP Business Suite 7: SAP's Engineered Suite 26 March 2009 The introduction of SAP Business Suite 7 is SAP's response to a difficult economy, focusing on total cost of ownership and the simplicity of consuming additional business functionality. SAP Business Suite 7 is a foundational development for bridging SAP's application silos. Cost-Cutting Approaches to E-Discovery Featured at LegalTech Cost-Cutting Approaches to E-Discovery Featured at LegalTech 24 March 2009 Discovery of electronically stored information for litigation purposes remains a hot topic and drew thousands of attendees to this year's LegalTech New York, where against the backdrop of a recessional economy, lawyers and IT professionals sought ways to save money. Use Supplier E-Invoicing to Help Optimize Operating Costs Use Supplier E-Invoicing to Help Optimize Operating Costs 24 March 2009 Supplier e-invoicing networks can improve accounts payable processes and reduce operating expenses. IT leaders and CFOs should understand this technology and its potential impact as part of a cost optimization program. Centralizing IT: Assess Benefits and Barriers in Cost-Optimizing Times Centralizing IT: Assess Benefits and Barriers in Cost-Optimizing Times 20 March 2009 Many IT organizations include centralization in their cost optimization plans. This usually also involves significant business process and governance changes that may delay implementation and increase costs, so it's important to use this framework to ensure that the benefits outweigh the risks. Roundup of BI and Information Management Cost Optimization Research Through 1Q09 Roundup of BI and Information Management Cost Optimization Research Through 1Q09 20 March 2009 This report summarizes the cost optimization research focused on business intelligence and information management initiatives that Gartner has published to date. Leaders of these initiatives can use this overview to quickly locate relevant research that can assist them in reducing costs. Customization: The Cost That Keeps on Costing Customization: The Cost That Keeps on Costing 19 March 2009 Customizing a packaged application is an expensive activity. But it is only when the full life cycle costs of a customized application are measured that the true cost is revealed. Saving Money With Financial Governance Applications Saving Money With Financial Governance Applications 13 March 2009 The emerging financial governance market provides a set of applications that can improve financial management efficiency and reduce costs for the processes that it targets for improving governance. To Upgrade or Not to Upgrade: The Big ERP, SCM, CRM Question To Upgrade or Not to Upgrade: The Big ERP, SCM, CRM Question 13 March 2009 To upgrade or not to upgrade is the question business application managers are asking about ERP, supply chain management and CRM. This research defines four key factors to consider when determining when and how to upgrade aging business applications. Extending Videoconferencing to the Desktop Without Overextending Your Budget Extending Videoconferencing to the Desktop Without Overextending Your Budget 4 February 2009 Solutions for extending the reach of room-based videoconferencing can drive additional use while adding important levels of control and manageability that the enterprise needs. Enterprises Should Consider Hosted and SaaS Contact Centers as Part of Their IT Environment Enterprises Should Consider Hosted and SaaS Contact Centers as Part of Their IT Environment 3 February 2009 Hosted contact center and software as a service offerings are an appropriate option for the mainstay of businesses that are satisfied with off the shelf contact center features and functionality. Four Key Reasons That Dried-Up Capital Budgets Prompt Companies to Consider SaaS Four Key Reasons That Dried-Up Capital Budgets Prompt Companies to Consider SaaS 30 January 2009 Shrinking capital budgets and reduced IT staff make software as a service an attractive option for companies. However, the short-term advantages of this approach may turn into risky vendor propositions or longer-term expenses. Gartner Interviews Andrew McAfee on Why Investment in Enterprise Applications and ERP Matters Gartner Interviews Andrew McAfee on Why Investment in Enterprise Applications and ERP Matters 30 January 2009 We sat down with Professor Andrew McAfee of the Harvard Business School to discuss his latest research showing that investment in IT gives a competitive edge. We also asked how business leaders can practically apply his findings. Key Technical, Delivery and Economic Forces That Drive the Enterprise Software Markets, 2009 Key Technical, Delivery and Economic Forces That Drive the Enterprise Software Markets, 2009 21 January 2009 Technological, delivery and economic forces are changing the way people and organizations deploy, access and use software. Driven by the continual demand for software and process innovation, a new wave of change is required as the IT industry struggles with market discontinuities. The 10 Key Server Virtualization Unknowns, and What to Do About Them The 10 Key Server Virtualization Unknowns, and What to Do About Them 16 January 2009 As infrastructure virtualization hype runs rampant, does anyone know whether total or comprehensive virtualization will benefit all enterprises? Can we predict best-case/worst-case behavioral effects to create service-level-agreement-predictable deployments? Here are 10 crucial factors and advice. Fact Checking: The Five Most-Common SaaS Assumptions Fact Checking: The Five Most-Common SaaS Assumptions 16 January 2009 A number of assumptions are emerging about the software-as-a-service delivery model. We fact check the top-five assumptions, separating truth from fiction. Economic Factors Accelerate Employees' Use of Personally Owned Equipment Economic Factors Accelerate Employees' Use of Personally Owned Equipment 7 January 2009 Forty-three percent of knowledge workers in U.S. enterprises with 500 or more employees already use non-company-owned equipment on enterprise networks and systems, and this number is growing. Budget cuts will hasten the trend, as will employees' greater willingness to buy equipment as prices fall. The Top Six CRM Marketing Processes for a Cost-Constrained Economy The Top Six CRM Marketing Processes for a Cost-Constrained Economy 12 December 2008 Marketing budgets are most at risk during economic downturns. Here, we describe six marketing processes that can be automated to drive revenue and to cut costs, maximizing marketing budgets and return on investments. 'Green' IT: Cut Your Travel Costs and Carbon Footprint With Web Conferencing 'Green' IT: Cut Your Travel Costs and Carbon Footprint With Web Conferencing 5 December 2008 Reducing the amount of corporate travel makes good sense for several reasons. Web conferencing can help to reduce business travel and, if used effectively, can increase overall effectiveness.	Stay Connected Gartner Analysts on Twitter Stay Up To Date 28th Annual Data Center Conference 1-4 December 2009 Las Vegas, NV 22nd Annual Application Architecture, Development & Integration Summit 7-9 December 2009 Las Vegas, NV Events Calendar Set up Email Alerts IT and the Economy Add + Reducing or Controlling Costs Add + Budget Management Add + IT Spending Add + Optimize IT Investments Add +
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