Gartner Research

Application Portfolio Management

Published: 21 May 2007

ID: G00203293

Analyst(s): Lyn Robison

Summary

Information technology (IT) planning often follows a linear path of deploying software applications and then operating them forever, without a clear idea of when any of the applications will be retired. This linear thinking is not sustainable and will eventually cripple the IT group's ability to respond to new business requirements. Application portfolio management (APM) turns this straight-line IT planning into a closed loop that feeds metrics for application retirement back into the software acquisition process. In this Application Platform Strategies overview, Analyst Lyn Robison provides guidance on instituting APM.

Table Of Contents

Synopsis

Analysis

  • What Is Application Portfolio Management?
  • The Need for APM
  • A Proven Methodology
  • The Macro View of IT Portfolio Management
    • The Stage-Gate Process
  • APM Metrics
  • Recommendations

The Details

  • Overview of APM
    • Three Portfolios
    • Understanding the Stage-Gate Process
    • Thresholds for Application Retirement
    • Establishing a Project Management Office
  • APM Maturity Model
    • Organizational Readiness for APM
    • Management Roles
    • Five Levels of APM Maturity

Conclusion

Notes

Related Research and Recommended Reading

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