Value-Driven IT Management (COMPUTER WEEKLY PROFESSIONAL)

Book Description
Value-Driven IT Management explains how huge sums are wasted by companies (and governments) on poorly aligned, poorly justified and poorly managed IT projects based on 'wishful thinking' cost and benefit assumptions and that even 'successful' projects rarely seem to realise the benefits promised.

The author contends that the root cause of the disappointment and disillusion often found in senior management with the value extracted from its IT investments is a complacent corporate culture that can actually foster uncommercial behaviours in both users and internal suppliers of IT solutions.

The author sets out a detailed, pragmatic framework for commercialising the internal IT Function and measuring its value to the business. This is not to be achieved by deploying conventional IT best practices or by making the IT Function look like an external service provider. Instead the author proposes that the IT Function should transform its value to the business by embracing a small set of best value practices that will engender more commercial behaviours in both IT staff and users and will focus the IT Function's energies on delivering successful business outcomes that will win the respect of senior management.

* Sets out a detailed approach to transforming the value that an IT department can and should add to the business it serves
* Firmly rooted in the real world
* Practical and based on 27 years of experience of what actually works in delivering IT services


Book Info
Text sets out a detailed framework for commercializing the internal IT function and measuring its value to the business. Proposes that the IT function should transform its value to the business by embracing a small set of best value practices that will engender more commercial behaviors in staff and IT users. Written in an informal, entertaining style.


About the Author
Iain Aitken is the Managing Director of Iambic Consulting Ltd. He entered the IT industry directly after obtaining his degree in Computer Science from Edinburgh University and now has 27 years of experience in the industry, including 17 years working as a management consultant with the 'Big 5' consultancy firms. His key consultancy clients over the years have included Marks & Spencer, J Sainsbury, Reuters, The Royal Mail, Barclays Bank, Cable & Wireless, and Lloyds of London. He has published a number of articles in the national and computer press on various topics IT topics and has spoken at numerous conferences and seminars in Britain and abroad, principally on the topics of IT value, benchmarking, and control. He has specialised in the performance improvement of large IT functions, whether that be by reducing costs, improving quality, improving productivity, or enhancing the value.


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Value-Driven IT Management deals with a subject of vital interest to Chief Executives, Chief Information Officers, IT Managers, IT consultants and, indeed, governments, by maximizing the value extracted from IT investments. To make this subject as accessible as possible the author has written this book in an informal and entertaining way to illustrate his message. It is based on his 10 years of experience managing groups in large IT functions and on his subsequent 18 years of experience advising the IT functions of many of Britain's largest and most successful companies.


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